Theo 201 Short Essay 1

Kimberly Bolden: Short Essay 1
January 27, 2014

The Bible has authority in it as being the word of God. The authority the Bible comes from God that is given to the people by an inspiration and revelation by the power of the Holy Spirit from God. God said in His word that He is the Great I Am. Inspiration is nothing more than a revelation, or shall I say, a mere comforting and confirming word from God. As it states in John 16:33 "I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace, in this would you will have trouble. But take heart; I have overcome the world." Once inspiration has been given then we move into inerrancy; which is not demonstrable. This teaches you how to interpret things correctly. It helps us to tap into our faith to learn the hidden miracles and treasures that God has in the Bible. This is why it is very important, according to Proverbs 3:5-6 "to trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he will direct thy paths." In defending inerrancy I chose to stand behind the Biblical Argument because as it states in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, 2nd ed; “The scriptures are the breath of god; which guaranteed they are without error." John 1:1 reads "In the beginning was the word, the word was with God, and the word was God." Just as God blew His (Ruah) breath into Adam to bring life to him; He did the same to the word when Jesus came down to the earth in the form of a baby. God is not a man that He should lie. He said in His word that Heaven and earth shall pass away but His word shall remain forever. The historical argument speaks from the church perspective as it related to doctrines and traditions such as the Sadducees and the Pharisee’s in the Old Testament as it pertained to the Sabbath. Nevertheless, epistemologies arguments have to be proven. Look at the resurrection of Jesus. In order for Thomas, a disciple whom walked with Jesus, was taught by Jesus, and even witnessed the miracles Jesus performed still had to be shown that Jesus was who He said He was after the resurrection. Jesus proved Himself by allowing Thomas to touch His hands and His sides where He was pierced in order for Him to believe. On the other hand, slippery argument is when we reject God. Like the children of Israel did in the wilderness. They lost their faith in who God was and what God did for them; therefore, turning to an idol gold, a golden calf. This angered God. God is a jealous God. This is why He commanded us that we shalt have no other Gods before Him because He is the Great I Am. The strongest of the four arguments is the Biblical Argument and the weakest is the Slippery Slope Argument. The relationship between inspiration and inerrancy is the revelation of God. My view as it pertains to how one should live their life is that we must go to God in prayer and ask for understanding of His will and His way for our lives. As it states in Isaiah 55:8-9; 11: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it" to give you an expected end according to Jeremiah 29:11.