LESSON II.—SABBATH, JANUARY 7, 1892
HOW WAS GOD’S WORD GIVEN?
I. 2 Tim. 3:16, 17: “Every scripture is inspired of God, and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for discipline which is in righteousness; that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.” 1. How much is included in the term “every scripture?” Note 1 (a). 2. How is the Scripture given? Note 2 (b). 3. How much then of the Scriptures is given in this way? 4. For what is it profitable? 5. What is it intended to do for the man of God? 6. For what will he be prepared? 7. How much more knowledge, then, will he need? Note 1 (c). II. 2 Peter 1:21: “For no prophecy ever came by the will of man; but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Ghost.” 1. How much is included in “the prophecy”? Note 2 (a). 2. Through whom was the speaking done? Note 2 (b). 3. What moved them to speak? 4. Could they thus speak at will? Note 2 (c). III. Heb. 1:1, 2: “God, having of old time spoken unto the fathers in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners, hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the ages.” 1. Who has spoken in time past? 2. Through whom, and how has he spoken? 3. Who speaks in the end of these days? 5. Who, then, is the speaker, both in time past and in these last days? 6. Have we, then, any authority for discriminating between the Old and New Testament, and saying that one is of more importance than the other? 1 (a). Every Scripture.—The scriptures to which the apostle refers were the scriptures then known to the Jews, which Timothy had known from a child (2 Tim. 3:15), and which are summed up by our Saviour in the term “the law of Moses,” “the prophets,” and “the Psalms.” These now form what is commonly called the Old Testament. Paul implies that he wrote the same way (1 Cor. 2:13; 14:37), and Peter classes the writings of Paul with “the other scriptures” (2 Peter 3:16), and the words of the apostles with those of the prophets (2 Peter 3:2). We may take the term “every scripture” as including within its scope the whole Bible. (b) Inspired of God.—Literally, “God breathed.” The words, the original words, are the words of God, the breath of God. “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.” Mark that it is not the man or the writer that is inspired, it is the word. God did not breathe the man, but the word. The Bible never speaks of “inspired men.” It is vain to question the process or theory; God’s word does not deal in theories, but facts. What it does declare is that every writing of these Holy Writings is “God breathed.” Peter’s writings may show his peculiar characteristics; Paul’s may show his; Isaiah’s, his; Joel’s, his; Luke’s, his, and so on; but, nevertheless, while the words are Paul’s and Peter’s and Isaiah’s and Joel’s and Luke’s, and many others, they are all the words of the Spirit of God. The skilled musician plays on the fife, the flute, the cornet, the flageolet, the clarionet, and the notes are those of the fife, the flute, the cornet, etc., having the characteristic of each instrument, but the notes are all inspired by the skillful master; they are also his notes. (c) Furnished Completely.—If a man is completely furnished, he certainly needs no more. Whatever other “helps” he may have, if these “helps” do not lead to greater knowledge in the word of God, to greater attainments in the life given in that word, to greater efficiency in the use of the sword of the Spirit, and more of the power of the Incarnate Word, they are not helps, but hindrances, it matters not by what name they may be called. The word of God furnishes unto every good work. 2 (a). Prophecy.—By the term “prophecy” the apostle covers evidently all that is covered by the term “scriptures” by Paul; for all through whom the scriptures came were prophets. In fact, the entire gospel of Christ is one grand prophecy. (b) Men Spake.—All the best texts, says Vincent, omit “holy.” Inspiration of God is not dependent on the understanding and perfection of the instrument. God generally used holy men, men who were consecrated to him, but sometimes those were used who were not. Balaam, who went to Balak with a covetous intention, was used as an instrument of God (Num. 22:21, 22), and his after course showed his wickedness (Num. 31:16). God even rebuked the madness of the prophet by giving voice to the stupid animal which Balaam rode. The disobedient prophet delivered God’s message. 1 Kings 13. The wicked Saul prophesied. 1 Sam. 19:23. So also did wicked Caiaphas. John 11:49-52. Neither does inspiration depend on enlightenment, for the prophets themselves did not understand all they wrote. 1 Peter 1:11, 12; Dan. 12:8-10. Enlightenment is one thing, and pertains to the man; inspiration is another thing, and pertains to the word. 1. What language does God use in speaking? 2. Is he limited to any one language? 3. Are the writers inspired, or the word? 4. Do the infallibility and perfection pertain to the man, or to the inspired writing? 5. Is it essential that we should be able to determine the names of the writers of the Scripture? [For other notes and suggestions see the Sabbath School Worker and the lesson pamphlet.]