What Type of Book is the Holy Bible?

The Holy Bible should not be bound by the language and implications of the term book. The Bible is more than a book and the connotations of book restrict the essence of scripture and its actions. The Holy Bible as a book is the bound collection of the Christian scriptures. The importance of the Holy Bible is derived from its contents, the Christian Scripture. The significance of the Holy Scripture is characterized by what they are, their essence, and what the Christian scriptures do, their actions. In their essence the Christian scriptures are the inspired, Holy Word of God, recorded by man[1]. The scriptures are act by equipping the people of God; the scriptures are a means of grace and act as a true mark of the church.

In their essence the Christian scriptures are the authoritative, Holy Word of God recorded by man[2]. These three factors define what scripture is by shaping its significance and meaning. They work together to form a view of scripture which results in the scriptures being active within the church. The Lutheran Catechism begins to acknowledge these connections, it says, the Holy Spirit gave “to His chosen writers the thoughts they expressed and the words that they wrote[3].”

To understand scripture it is necessary to recognize it the most basic elements of scripture; the recorders and the giver. In short the Scriptures were recorded by the hands of men and given by the Holy Spirit. Carl Wisløff sums up the foundational elements of scripture in book I know In Whom I Believe when he writes, “Those who recorded the holy writings were enlightened, led and instructed by the Holy Spirit[4].”

Scripture was recorded by the hands of men. The internal testimony of scripture witnesses to the concept human recorders. The Pauline Epistles consistently testify to Paul being their author; 1 Corinthians 1:1 reads, “Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,” revealing Paul as the author of the letter which follows[5]. In contrast to Pauline authorship God himself is the author of the Ten Commandments, Exodus 31:18 reveals this, it testifies that the tablets on which the Ten Commandments were written are “inscribed by the finger of God.” However, God’s direct authorship of the Ten Commandments does not contradict the human recorder concept of Scripture. Deuteronomy later testifies to the human recorder concept, it reads, “So Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the priests,” this direct testimony to the Moses recording the scriptures. He did not write the Ten Commandments, God did, he recorded them for the people of Israel.

Human recordership is distinctly different than human authorship. The use of the concept of human authorship carries connotations that are not helpful in understanding scripture. An author is the person who forms or creates stories[6]. Biblically God is credited as being the “author of salvation” in this cause the word author is used to mean source or cause[7]. It is because of this use and modern connotations that it is not appropriate to refer to any man as the author of scripture. Moses, Paul, Timothy, and others did not author the Bible. They recorded the Words of God. The term recorder refers to someone who keeps records. Given this usage the word record is appropriate because the Bible is the record of God’s love and interaction in human life. To say that men recorded scripture is to say that at a time in history the interaction of God in history was put onto paper[8]. This is not to say that the authors received dictations from God, their styles and personalities were not suppressed[9].

The second foundational basis for scripture is the concept that it was given by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gave scripture to the recorders. This concept is more commonly known as the inspiration of scripture which refers to the “supernatural influence of the Holy Spirit on the scripture” recorders[10]. Using Biblical language inspiration is “that which is breathed into, infused,” this language appears in 2 Timothy 3:16 which reads, “All scripture is God breathed…[11]” Inspiration is the giving of scripture to the recorders by the power and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. In simple terms the Holy Spirit caused the scriptures to be authored. The Bible testifies to this principle saying “For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit[12].” The Chicago Statement on [Biblical] Inerrancy affirms this view stating “God, who is Himself Truth and speaks truth only, has inspired Holy Scripture[13].”
The final aspect of the essence of Scripture is its Holiness. Scripture is often described as being God’s Holy Word or as the Holy Bible. The holiness of scripture is derived from its inspiration by the Holy Spirit and its use. The term Holy Scripture is in reference to its ability to reveal, sanctify and inspire humanity through the communication of God’s message[14]. Holiness can be understood as being set apart for the service of God, it is within this sense that Scripture is seen as holy. It is set apart to Serve God by revealing His will, His purpose, and the Gospel message to humanity. Scripture receives this holiness because of its essence and use. In its essence the Christian Scriptures are the work of the Holy Spirit and are set aside by God to guide the spiritual growth of Christians. Through holiness scripture is authoritative for Christian worship and growth. Scripture’s Holiness is derived in part from the inspiration by the Holy Spirit and in part from its uses. Scripture is inspired for specific uses and functions within Christianity. To use the language of Holiness theology scripture is set aside by God for spiritual uses.
The essence of scripture sets the foundation for the actions of scripture. The culmination of the recording, inspiration and holiness of scripture allows it to equip the people of God, confer grace and mark the true church.

The internal testimony of scripture witnesses to the use of scripture saying, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work[15].” The Holiness and inspiration of scripture allows it to be used for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training; Scripture works through holiness and inspiration of scripture toward the twofold goal of righteousness and equipping of Christian’s in every manner for good works.

The first way in which the holiness and inspiration of scripture acts is to equip Christians for righteousness. The essence of scripture works toward this first goal through its uses and the power of the Holy Spirit. Scripture’s holiness and inspiration allow it to be set aside and dedicated to the four uses which lead to the goal of righteous living. In one sense the Christian scriptures are holy to make Christian’s holy. To use other language the scripture’s are set apart in order to aid Christians in becoming set apart. God uses the holiness of Scripture to mold the Christian’s life to the righteous life; holiness begets holiness.

The second way in which the holiness and inspiration of scripture work is to equip Christians for every good work. The good works which the holiness of scripture enables are a visible extension of the righteous life, which scripture works toward. Good works act to fulfill the great commandments, to love God and neighbor, which fulfill the great commission[16]. It is through good works and fulfilling of the great commandments that the Gospel message is carried out. In other words, God’s message of salvation is contained within scripture and the power for Christian’s to share His message of salvation arises from scripture. The message contains is the ability to share the Gospel message through righteousness and good works[17].

The third action of scripture is as a means of grace. Scripture’s action as a means of grace means that “God offers and communicates to men the spiritual blessings” through the scriptures[18]. Carl Wisløff writes scripture is a means of grace because “through them God gives us His grace[19].” Grace is communicated by God through the scriptures to the audience[20]. Since Scripture is God’s, set aside, Word it affects those who hear it. The scriptures are God’s message of salvation for humanity. The presentation of scripture allows the audience to receive spiritual blessing equipping and righteousness. Scripture as a means of grace is used to bring people to God and spread his Word to people. It is in the sense that scripture is the message and enabler that it can convey grace through and to humanity. Grace is conveyed to humanity in the sense of God’s blessings of spiritual growth and salvation[21]. Scripture then is an integral part of salvation and spiritual growth. Scripture is a means by which God works in the hearts and souls of people.

The fourth way in which scripture acts is a mark of the true church. The use, teaching, and obedience to the Word of God, that is scripture, is a identifying mark of the true church. A church that is truly part of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church is marked by the use of scripture. Scripture marks the church because scripture is given by the Holy Spirit for use by God’s church. It is because scripture is inspired by God and is set aside for the church that a true church will be identified by the use of the scripture. A church that is following and loving God will find revelation, wisdom, and knowledge in His scripture. Further since scripture is both the message and the enabler the church must be marked by scripture in order to receive the message and grace. It is also by having scripture that a church is enabled to fulfill the great commission and great commandment and receive grace.

Scripture acts in three major ways within the church. It is useful to Christians by growing them spiritually, and enabling them to share the message of Christ. Scripture is a means by which God imparts grace unto those who take in scripture. As a columniation of its other uses scripture acts as a mark of the true Christian church.

The essence of scripture enables it to act within the life of the church and Christians. Scripture is the holy, inspired words of God that were recorded by men. The records allowed humanity of all times to come in contact with scripture and be affected by its actions of spiritual growth, conferring grace and marking the true church.



Bibliography



"Author. Answers.Com." The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Http://www.answers.com/topic/author: Houghton Mifflin Company, October 07, 2005.



A Statement of Scriptural and Confessional Principles. St. Louis, Missouri: The Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod, 2000.



Athanasius. "On the Incarnation of the Word." Chap. in Christology of the Later Fathers. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1954.



Commission on Theology and Church Relations of the. "The Inspiration of Scripture." http://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/CTCR/Inspiration%20Scripture1.pdf: Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod.



Davies, John Jefferson. Foundations of Evangelical Theology. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1984.



Erickson, Millard J.. Christian Theology; Second Edition. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books, 2003.



Luther, Martin. Luther's Small Catechism with Explanation. St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 1986.



Webster, John. Holy Scripture; a Dogmatic Sketch. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2003.



Wisloff, Carl. I Know in Whom I Believe. United States of America: AFLC Seminary Press, 1983.





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[1] The language of recorder is used in Archibald Robertson’s translation of Athanasius’ in On the Incarnation of the Word.
This is not a definition of scripture. It is a description of scripture or the attributes of scripture, the essence of scripture.

[2] The term ‘men’ is not used as a sexist term, standard theological and biblical study points to male writers of the bible. While exact authorship is often disputed I have never heard an argument for female authorship.

[3] Martin Luther, Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation (St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 1986) 48.

[4] Carl Wisloff, I Know in Whom I Believe (United States of America: AFLC Seminary Press, 1983), 9.

[5] NIV, all scripture is taken from the NIV unless otherwise noted

[6] "Author. Answers.Com," The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, http://www.answers.com/topic/author: Houghton Mifflin Company, October 07, 2005

[7] Hebrews 5:9

[8] It would be historically accurate to say the record was put on papyrus, rock or other forms of ancient writing surfaces.

[9] John Jefferson Davies, Foundations of Evangelical Theology (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1984)

[10] Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology; Second Edition (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books, 2003)

[11] Commission on Theology and Church Relations of the, "The Inspiration of Scripture," http://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/CTCR/Inspiration_%20Scripture1.pdf: Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod

[12] 2 Peter 1:21

[13] From the Chicago Statement on Inerrancy cited from an un-credited printout

[14] John Webster, Holy Scripture; a Dogmatic Sketch (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2003)

[15] 2 Timothy 3:16

[16] Mark 22:34-40
[17] The language of good works is not to be construed as works based Christianity. Good works are the works Christians are called to; these works can include acts of service, love or the verbal sharing of the gospel. Good works are essentially any work that fulfills either the great commission of the great commandment.

[18] A Statement of Scriptural and Confessional Principles (St. Louis, Missouri: The Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod, 2000)

[19] Wisloff, I Know in Whom I Believe

[20] Audience is used in the sense that the hearer can receive grace apart from personal effort. Grace through scripture is the blessing that God confers upon the hearer. There is a debate as to whether grace is resistible.

[21] 2 Timothy 3:16
Ephesians 2:8