The Bible and Man
I. The Bible was written by men. V. 21
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Men wrote the Bible.
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40+ different men.
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From multiple backgrounds, shepherds, kings, farmers, tax collectors, murderers, fishermen ect.
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over 1600 years apart.
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Three different languages
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three separate continents, Asia, Africa, Europe
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one single theme
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Over five thousand Greek manuscripts contain all or part of the New Testament. The earliest copies we currently have can be dated as early as the first half of the second century, earlier than the year A.D. 150.” P. 137 “For example, Julius Caesar’s Gallic Wars stands virtually unchallenged in regard to its authenticity and historicity, in spite of the fact that we have only approximately ten manuscripts of these writings, the earliest of which is dated approximately nine hundred years after Caesar’s death.” Voddie Bauchum The Ever-Loving Truth, 138
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Why should I believe the Bible, it was written by men.?
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Man wrote everything. Why don’t we say that about any other book?
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II. God used men to write the Bible
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God through the Holy Spirit impressed upon the minds of men what He wanted to be said.
III. Man cannot interpret the Bible any way he wants. V. 20
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There are three possible ways to look at this verse.
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Not just any man can interpret the Bible. In other words, as only certain men have the can interpret the Bible properly. This view is held by Roman Catholics, but if this were the right interpretation surely Peter would have made clear to us who did have the right to interpret it.
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No scripture came from the prophets private interpretation. This understanding says that the prophets who wrote the Bible did not interpret the events of their day privately.
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We can not interpret Scripture any way we want to. This understanding says that man is should not interpret the Bible any way he wants. There is only one right interpretation. Even on this passage only one of these three understandings is correct.
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God surely wants us to read and understand what he has given us. And everbody knows that even scolars disagree. So some of them are wrong. So it is not just the educated who have the correct understanding. Therefore this passage must mean that every man can read and understand the Bible, but we do not have the right to interpret it any way that makes us happy.
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