ÿWPC~) ^‹³<ët¡‘Âbµ,QÙš=«õ“<ÙàsY§áD@¿mý)2 _6å3 ¶– Ûi»´žëi¡C­ÈjcÙît-Cº§Ár˜ v7UW%=™‡]#¾X»èƒñY9óö0Š'°\p¹×¥NW Èx–Å]£âÙëÖ`E0ÆlÞçNáˆP¼³ ±9*[ÄÉÜ-¦”¢‘»}i%Ÿ´å‚†¡§Aà ð÷qî;(¢QRG.´:ýØ~êTÆ+lst/óŠ·Ê<.H8ú±tŠ‡g0¦)½Ì¤ƒiÜÖkÒ!ÉôþYݦÍB½øßô!ÇÂ/ìY)$BòåÌT’/aZô“Õ àÙ4—81‘òh™¨3(B¡îËbWF2ËéëSõ.ê*!INäŸÅ “¦4 bªµô2—«Ú_ç[ióL–d¢Îظ¸¥Ñ°JÈf76ÊDI4 …mÅ—y%­(Bq^ù«wŠ2ø±õ¿g¶ƒŸAþÛM‘>5Ï ûqøüÑs™ŸŸ1¤ËmHJe/„Ÿ#,º<2º®+ßr S™òS#`¹:¡9—Ù*Íž¯¬ÞµF¡›½ÝKÿx æ· ¡‘zÌÆïô(>Ïå}Ò]×Ô·Ø2fËÊœÕôãV#É´U6N} %Ë 0:Ñ U&, U':7 ^ q w} 4 • ¤ m¦ p½ Ž- 0D» 0mÿ þl 0 ~jÐèt¸”, 0 DÀU, 0 0VP!¦LDzœÅRaU³½#Å&Å&¥Û&á€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€'€' Ba)˜HP LaserJet IIIØ,,,,,Ø,0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$¡¡ÔUSUS.,Ô,†r‰AZ‹Arial ,†r‰AZ‹"Arial Regular±€$/ 7ªÞ.ê:i¢×+003|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ fÝ ƒÆ($ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€Xh\XXXÔÔ€XJôXXXh\ÔHans€Ô_ÔUrsÔ_Ô€von€Ô_ÔBalthasarÔ_Ô,€ð ðThe€Glory€of€the€Lord,ðð€A€THEOLOGICALÐ ° ÐAESTHETICS€I€(NY:€Crossroad,€1982),€p.€43. „Ý ƒLy%ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÚ  Ú3Ú  Ú.Ý  ÝÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔRutledgeÔ_Ô,€ibid.($Ó$‘‘òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(.3Ly$¥¥Ý ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÚ  Ú0Ú  Ú. ôÝ ƒLy%ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÚ  Ú2Ú  Ú.Ý  ÝÔ_Ô€Wayne€A.€Ô_ÔGrudemÔ_Ô,€ð ðScriptureððs€Self„Attestation€and€the€Problem€of€Formulating€a€Doctrine€ofÐ P  ÐScriptureðð€in€òòScripture€and€Truthóó,€D.A.€Carson€and€John€D.€Ô_ÔWoodbridgeÔ_Ô,€ed.€€(Grand€Rapids:€Ð <Œ ÐBaker€Books,€1992),€p.€31€(emphasis€Ô_ÔGrudemÔ_Ôððs).Ô‡XJôXXXÔ(.(3Æ($¤¤Ý ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  Úóó ÆÝ ƒLy%ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÚ  Ú1Ú  Ú.Ý  ÝÔ_Ô€Fleming€Ô_ÔRutledgeÔ_Ô,òò€Help€My€Unbeliefóó.€€(Grand€Rapids:€Eerdmans,€2000),€p.€25. RutledgeHorebKiOTDt EzkHanamelChaldeans NRSVJohanan UrsBalthasarZechariasAbijahWellhausenGunkelHabakkuktheophanies Nebuchadnezzar ŠÝ ƒÆ($ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€XJôXXXÔGC€88.(%Ã$òòÚ  Ú1Ú  Úóó6ˆ< ‡Z‹Tunga  Ý ƒ½Þ*ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€XJôXXXÔÔ€‚"XXJôÔPaper:€WORD€MADE€FLESH:€Inspiration.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Science€&€Faith€Conference€2003(.3½Þ$ªªÝ ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  Ý Ý ƒÆ($ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€XJôXXXÔCited€by€William€Lane€Craig€in€REASONABLE€FAITH:€CHRISTIAN€TRUTHÐ ° ÐAND€APOLOGETICS.€€(Wheaton,€IL:€Crossway€Books,€1994),€p.€157. BÝ ƒÆ($ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€XJôXXXÔCited€on€òòEvolution,€Neutrality€and€Antecedent€Probabilityóó,€p.€216.€€There€is€anÐ ° Ðabundant€literature€on€this€topic.€€See,€for€example,€Robert€Clifford€S.J.,€ð ðCreation€inÐ œì Ðthe€Hebrew€Bible,ðð€in€PHYSICS,€PHILOSOPHY,€AND€THEOLOGY:€A€COMMONÐ ˆØ ÐQUEST€FOR€UNDERSTANDING,€ed.€R.€J.€Russell,€W.€R.€Ô_ÔStoegerÔ_Ô€and€G.€V.€Ô_ÔCoyneÔ_ÔÐ tÄ ÐS.J.,€Notre€Dame:€University€of€Notre€Dame€Press,€1988,€151„170;€Dianne€Ô_ÔBergantÔ_ÔÐ `° ÐÔ_ÔCSAÔ_Ô€and€Carroll€Ô_ÔStuhlmuellerÔ_Ô,€CP,€ð ðCreation€according€to€the€Ô_ÔOTÔ_Ô,ðð€in€EVOLUTIONÐ L œ ÐAND€CREATION,€ed.€E.€Ô_ÔMcMullinÔ_Ô,€Notre€Dame:€U.€Of€Notre€Dame€Press,€1985,€153„Ð 8 ˆ Ð175;€Bernhard€W.€Anderson,€ð ðThe€Earth€is€the€Lordððsðð€An€Essay€on€the€BiblicalÐ $ t ÐDoctrine€of€Creation,ðð€in€IS€GOD€A€Ô_ÔCREATIONISTÔ_Ô?€Ed.€R.€M.€Frye,€NY:€Ô_ÔScribnerÔ_Ô,Ð  ` Ð1983,€176„196. ¨Ý ƒÆ($ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú8Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€Xh\XXXÔÔ€XJôXXXh\ÔIbid. ’Ý ƒÆ($ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú9Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€XJôXXXÔIbid.,€p.€217. HÝ ƒÆ($ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú10Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€XJôXXXÔPP€111,€113.€€Also:€ð ðI€was€then€carried€back€to€the€creation€and€was€shown€thatÐ ° Ðthe€first€week,€in€which€GOD€performed€the€work€of€creation€is€six€days€and€rested€onÐ œì Ðthe€seventh€day,€was€just€like€every€other€week.€€The€great€GOD€in€His€days€of€creationÐ ˆØ Ðand€day€of€rest,€measured€off€the€first€cycle€as€a€sample€for€successive€weeks€till€theÐ tÄ Ðclose€of€time....€€The€weekly€cycle€of€seven€literal€days,€six€for€labor,€and€the€seventhÐ `° Ðfor€rest,€which€has€been€preserved€and€brought€down€through€Bible€history,€originatedÐ L œ Ðin€the€great€facts€of€the€first€seven€days.ðð€SG,€vol.€3,€p.€90. KÝ ƒÆ($ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€XJôXXXÔð ðI€am€amazed€that€you€are€so€quickly€deserting€Him€who€called€you€by€the€graceÐ ° Ðof€Christ,€for€a€different€gospel;€which€is€really€not€Ô_ÔanotyerÔ_Ô;€only€there€are€some€who€areÐ œì Ðdisturbing€you€and€want€to€distort€the€gospel€of€Christ.€€But€even€if€we,€or€an€angel€fromÐ ˆØ Ðheaven,€should€preach€to€you€a€gospel€contrary€to€what€we€have€preached€to€you,€he€isÐ tÄ Ðto€be€accursed€[anathema]!€€As€we€have€said€before,€so€I€say€again€now,€if€any€man€isÐ `° Ðpreaching€to€you€a€gospel€contrary€[other€than,€more€than]€to€what€you€have€received,Ð L œ Ðhe€is€to€be€accursed€[anathema]!ðð ³Ý ƒÆ($ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€XJôXXXÔð ðIn€our€day,€as€of€old,€the€vital€truths€of€Godððs€word€are€set€aside€for€humanÐ ° Ðtheories€and€speculations....€€One€wise€man€rejects€one€portion;€another€questionsÐ œì Ðanother€part.€€They€set€up€their€judgment€as€superior€to€the€Word;€and€the€ScriptureÐ ˆØ Ðwhich€they€do€teach€rests€upon€their€own€authority.€€Its€divine€authenticity€is€destroyed.€Ð tÄ ÐThus€the€seeds€of€infidelity€are€sown€broadcast€...€€Christ€rebuked€these€practices€inÐ `° ÐHis€day....€€He€pointed€to€the€Scriptures€as€of€unquestionable€authority,€and€we€shouldÐ L œ Ðdo€the€same.€€The€Bible€is€to€be€presented€as€the€word€fo€the€infinite€God,€as€the€end€ofÐ 8 ˆ Ðall€controversy€and€the€foundation€of€all€faith.ðð€€COL€39,€40. Ñ ° Ñ ›Ý ƒÆ($ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú11Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€XJôXXXÔ7BC€920€(Ms€13,€1888). ×Ý ƒÆ($ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€XJôXXXÔð ðThe€lives€recorded€in€the€Bible€are€authentic€histories€of€actual€individuals.€Ð ° ÐFrom€Adam€down€through€successive€generations€to€the€times€of€the€apostles€we€haveÐ œì Ða€plain,€unvarnished€account€of€what€actually€occurred€and€the€genuine€experience€ofÐ ˆØ Ðreal€characters.ðð€4T,€9. dÝ ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ8€ðïXdìdÈ8ÑÖ€ÿÿÖÔ‡XJôXXXÔÑ€!OY Ñà@h h ìàò òWORD€MADE€FLESH:€THE€INSPIRATION€OF€SCRIPTUREó óˆÐ ° Ðà@\ \ ìàby€Jo€Ann€Davidson,€Andrews€University€Theology€Ô_ÔSeminaryÔ_ԈР¤ô Ðà@  ìàFaith€and€Science€ConferenceˆÐ à Ðà@ääìàGlacier€View,€ColoradoˆÐ |Ì Ðà@œœ$ìàAugust,€2003ˆÐ h¸ ÐÌÓÓÌà  àThe€primary€ð ðtextbookðð€of€the€Christian€faith,€the€biblical€canon,€is€at€the€crux€ofÐ  h Ðthe€Science€and€Faith€discussion.€€Considerations€of€scriptural€authority€and€veracityÐ ð @  Ðever€continue€to€engage€both€scientists€and€theologians.Ð È  Ðà  àOf€course,€the€Bible€isnððt€a€ð ðtextbookðð€in€the€modern€definition€of€the€word.€€But€itÐ  ð  Ðis€a€book,€nevertheless.€€And€its€materials€need€to€be€studied€fairly€and€attentively,Ð xÈ Ðmaking€sure€one€is€heedful€of€the€wide€variety€of€ways€in€which€different€parts€ofÐ P  ÐScripture€relate€and€interact€with€each€other.€€In€such€a€study,€its€sweeping€claims€ofÐ (x Ðdivine€inspiration€will€be€detected.€€These€cannot€be€easily€dismissed.€€One€mustÐ P Ðhonestly€deal€with€the€fundamental€assumptions€and€parameters€within€which€the€manyÐ Ø( ÐBible€writers€consistently€work.€€Thankfully,€these€are€fairly€obvious.Ð ° Ðà  àFor€example,€none€of€the€Bible€writers€ever€attempts€to€prove€the€existence€ofÐ ˆØ ÐGod.€€Without€exception,€they€all€assume€He€exists.€€Ô#†XðïXXXJôŠ#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔBiblical€writers€claim€to€have€realÐ ` ° Ðknowledge€of€an€infinite€God,€a€knowledge€God€disclosed.€€It€was€not€a€spiritual€insightÐ 8"ˆ  Ðthey€devised.€€They€were€absolutely€certain€God€was€speaking€through€them€when€theyÐ $`" Ðthundered€"thus€says€the€Lord!"€Ô#†XðïXXXJô@#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔ€€Fleming€Rutledge€is€correct:Ð è%8!$ Ðà0  àð ðThe€witness€of€the€Bible€is€that€every€other€god€under€the€sun€is€a€product€ofÐ À'#& Ðhuman€consciousness€except€only€the€God€of€the€Old€and€New€Testaments.€Ð ˜)è$( ÐWhether€we€believe€this€or€not,€we€must€admit€that€it€is€an€awesome€claim.€€I€amÐ p+À&* Ðmore€convinced€than€ever€that€the€Scriptures€set€before€us€something,€or€ratherÐ ° Ðsome€One,€who€is€far€beyond€anything€the€unassisted€human€imagination€couldÐ ˆØ Ðdream€up.ðð× ƒ ×Ý ƒ$ÓÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð`°(#(# Ðà  àMoreover,€all€the€Bible€writers€affirm€that€God€can€do€what€He€declares€HimselfÐ 8 ˆ Ðcapable€of€doing.€€For€example,€God€insists€that€He€can€foretell€the€future,€and€thatÐ  ` Ðdoing€so€is€a€mark€of€His€divinity:Ð è 8  Ðà0  àð ðððPresent€your€case,ðð€says€the€LORD.€€ððBring€forth€your€strong€reasons,ðð€says€theÐ À  ÐKing€of€Jacob.€€ððLet€them€bring€forth€and€show€us€what€will€happen;€let€themÐ ˜è  Ðshow€the€former€things,€what€they€were,€that€we€may€consider€them,€and€knowÐ pÀ Ðthe€latter€end€of€them;€or€declare€to€us€things€to€come.€€Show€the€things€that€areÐ H˜ Ðto€come€hereafter,€that€we€may€know€that€you€are€gods€...€€I€am€the€LORD,€thatÐ  p Ðis€My€name€€....€€Behold€the€former€things€have€come€to€pass,€and€new€things€IÐ øH Ðdeclare;€before€they€spring€forth€I€tell€you€of€them....€Indeed€before€the€day€was,€IÐ Ð  Ðam€He;€and€there€is€no€one€who€can€deliver€out€of€My€hand;€I€work,€and€who€willÐ ¨ø Ðreverse€it?ðð€(Is€41:21„23;€42:8„9;€43:12b„13)ЀÐ(#(# Ðà  àAt€various€times€in€the€ancient€past€God€announced€prophecies€concerning€theÐ X ¨ Ðhistory€and€even€rulers€of€nations€and€also€the€coming€of€the€Messiah.€€Some€modernÐ 0"€  Ðminds€assume€God€could€not€be€so€precise,€and€thus€predetermine€that€the€propheciesÐ $X" Ðwere€written€as€after„the„fact€ð ðpredictions.ðð€€However,€this€contemporary€attitude€ofÐ à%0!$ Ðdenying€Godððs€ability€to€know€and€predict€the€future€is€never€found€in€any€of€the€BibleÐ ¸'#& Ðwriters.Ð )à$( Ðà  àFurthermore,€they€all€are€absolutely€certain€that,€though€infinite,€God€can€andÐ h+¸&* Ðdoes€communicate€with€human€beings.€€Biblical€writers€never€concede€that€humanÐ ° Ðlanguage€is€any€kind€of€a€barrier€to€direct€communication€from€God.€€Ô#†XðïXXXJô¯#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔThey€wouldÐ ˆØ Ðdisagree€with€modernist€contentions€denying€any€correlation€between€language€andÐ `° Ðreality.€€In€fact€Bible€writers€record€numerous€incidents€of€God€speaking€directly€toÐ 8 ˆ Ðhuman€beings€in€the€Old€Testament.€€These€include€conversations€with€Adam€and€EveÐ  ` Ðafter€the€Fall€(Gn€1:28„30;€3:9„19),€and€with€Job€(Job€38„41).€€There€is€the€divine€call€ofÐ è 8  ÐAbram€(Gn€12:1„3),€which€was€the€first€of€several€conversations€with€him€(including€theÐ À  Ðlengthy€dialogue€in€Gn€18:1„23).€€The€burning€bush€conversation€between€God€andÐ ˜è  ÐMoses€is€followed€by€other€direct€exchanges€between€them.€€The€civil€code€in€theÐ pÀ ÐPentateuch€is€recorded€as€words€spoken€directly€by€God€to€Moses.€€Godððs€interchangeÐ H˜ Ðwith€Elijah€at€Mount€Horeb€(1€Ki€19:9„18)€is€but€one€of€many€other€direct€divineÐ  p Ðdialogues€with€the€prophets.Ð øH Ðà  àNT€writers€also€knew€it€was€possible€for€God€to€speak€directly€to€people€inÐ Ð  Ðhuman€language:€at€the€baptism€of€Jesus€(Mt€3:17;€Mk€1:11;€Lk€3:22);€theÐ ¨ø ÐTransfiguration€(Mt€17:5;€Mk€9:7;€Lk€9:35;€2Pt€1:17„18);€the€conversion€of€Saul€on€theÐ €Ð Ðroad€to€Damascus€(Acts€9:4);€instructions€including€street€address€to€Ananias€(ActsÐ X ¨ Ð9:11„16);€Peterððs€vision€(Acts€10:13);€Paul€on€his€missionary€journeys€(Acts€18:9„10;Ð 0"€  Ð23:11);€and€the€NT€apocalypse€(Rv€1:11„3:22)€are€a€few€examples.€€Jesus€HimselfÐ $X" Ðinsists€numerous€times€that€He€speaks€the€words€of€God.€€For€example:€ð ðthe€FatherÐ à%0!$ Ðwho€sent€Me€has€Himself€given€Me€commandment€what€to€say€and€what€to€speak.ðð€(JnÐ ¸'#& Ð14:10)€€€Paul€claims€to€have€received€revelation€from€God:€ð ðIf€anyone€thinks€that€he€is€aÐ )à$( Ðprophet,€or€spiritual,€he€should€acknowledge€that€what€I€am€writing€to€you€is€a€commandÐ h+¸&* Ðof€the€Lord€(1€Cor€14:37„38).Ð ° ÐÔ#†XðïXXXJôˆ#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔà  àWÔ#†XðïXXXJô#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔith€great€frequency€God€is€referred€to€as€speaking€through€the€prophets.€€ForÐ ˆØ Ðexample,€Elijahððs€words€in€1€Ki€21:19€are€referred€to€in€2€Ki€9:25„26€as€the€oracle€thatÐ `° Ðð ðthe€LORD€uttered€...€against€him,ðð€and€Elijah€is€not€even€mentioned.€€The€message€ofÐ 8 ˆ Ða€prophet€was€always€considered€equivalent€to€direct€speech€from€God.€€ThisÐ  ` Ðidentification€of€a€prophetððs€words€with€Godððs€words€is€so€pronounced€in€the€OT€that€toÐ è 8  Ðdisobey€a€prophetððs€words€was€to€disobey€God.€€In€Dt€18:19,€the€LORD€speaks€of€theÐ À  Ðcoming€prophet,€through€Moses:€ð ðWhoever€will€not€give€heed€to€My€words€which€heÐ ˜è  Ðshall€speak€in€My€name,€I€Myself€will€require€it€of€him.ðð€And€when€Saul€disobeyedÐ pÀ ÐSamuelððs€command€at€Gilgal,€Samuel€rebuked€him:€ð ðYou€have€done€foolishly;€you€haveÐ H˜ Ðnot€kept€the€commandment€of€the€LORD€your€God,€which€He€Commanded€you€...€nowÐ  p Ðyour€kingdom€shall€not€continue€...€because€you€have€not€kept€what€the€LORDÐ øH Ðcommanded€youðð€(1€Sm€13:13„14).Ð Ð  ÐÔ#†XðïXXXJô`#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔà  àWe€are€not€taught€in€Scripture€that€a€prophet€speaks€about€God.€€Rather,€GodÐ ¨ø Ðspeaks€for€Himself€through€His€prophets.Ô#†XðïXXXJôV!#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔ€Ô#†XðïXXXJô-"#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔ€And€human€language€is€assumed€to€beÐ €Ð Ðcapable€of€conveying€divine€communication.€Ô#†XðïXXXJôp"#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔIn€the€OT,€the€formula€ð ðThus€says€theÐ X ¨ ÐLordðð€or€its€equivalent€is€used€thousands€of€times.€€It€proclaims€the€source€and€authorityÐ 0"€  Ðof€the€prophetic€messages.€€With€it,€the€Bible€writers€insist€that€what€they€said€was€toÐ $X" Ðbe€received€not€as€their€pious€pronouncements€but€as€the€very€words€of€God.Ô#†XðïXXXJô##ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔÐ à%0!$ Ðà  àThe€NT€apostles€write€with€the€same€absolute€authority€as€the€OT€prophets,Ð ¸'#& Ðinsisting€that€they€speak€by€the€Holy€Spirit€(1€Pt€1:10„12),€to€whom€they€credit€theÐ )à$( Ðcontent€of€their€teaching€(1€Cor€2:12„13).€€Notably,€the€same€Paul€who€urges€thatÐ h+¸&* Ðbelievers€seek€to€work€together€peacefully,€often€employs€harsh€language€to€defend€theÐ ° Ðabsolute€truths€he€has€preached€(Gal€1:6„9).׃×Ý ƒ%ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€In€fact,€apostolic€teaching€is€veryÐ ˆØ Ðð ðdirective,ðð€issuing€commands€with€the€strongest€authority€(1€Ths€4:1„2;€2€Ths€3:6,€12„„„Ð `° Ð"we€command€you").€€The€writer€to€the€Hebrews€expressed€his€sense€of€the€absoluteÐ 8 ˆ Ðauthority€of€the€words€of€Ps€95:7„11€and€Jer€31:33f€by€using€the€present€tense€whenÐ  ` Ðspeaking€of€their€divine€origin,€writing:€ð ðThe€Holy€Ghost€saysðð€(not€ð ðsaid,ðð€in€the€pastÐ è 8  Ðtense),€and€ð ðthe€Holy€Ghost€bearsðð€(not€ð ðbore,ðð€in€the€past€tense)€witness€to€us.ðð€€AndÐ À  ÐHeb€12:25€insists,€ð ðSee€you€refuse€not€Him€that€speaks.ððÔ#†XðïXXXJô¿$#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔÐ ˜è  Ðà  àBiblical€writers€are€invariably€seen€as€messengers€sent€by€God€to€speak€HisÐ pÀ Ðwords.€€The€extravagantly€repeated€formula€ð ðthus€says€the€LORDððð!ðor€its€equivalentÔ#†XðïXXXJôè)#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔ,Ð H˜ ÐÔ#†XðïXXXJô+#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔclenches€the€full€authority€of€the€prophetic€words.€€In€fact,€a€distinguishing€characteristicÐ  p Ðof€true€prophets€is€that€they€do€not€speak€their€own€words.€€Throughout€the€OT,€theÐ øH Ðpoint€is€repeatedly€underscored€that€prophetic€speech€come€from€God.€€God€said€toÐ Ð  ÐMoses:€ð ðI€will€be€with€your€mouth€and€teach€you€what€you€shall€speak.ðð€(Ex€4:12;€cf.Ð ¨ø Ð24:3);€to€Jeremiah€and€Ezekiel„„ð ðI€have€put€My€words€in€your€mouthðð€(Jr€1:9);€ð ðYou€shallÐ €Ð Ðspeak€My€words€to€themðð€(Ezk.€2:7;€cf.€3:27).€€And€people€who€refused€to€listen€to€aÐ X ¨ Ðprophet€were€held€accountable€for€refusing€to€listen€to€ð ðthe€words€of€the€LORD€whichÐ 0"€  ÐHe€spoke€through€Jeremiah€the€prophetðð€(Jer€37:2).€€Beginning€in€the€opening€chaptersÐ $X" Ðof€the€Bible€one€is€confronted€with€a€God€who€communicates€to€human€beings,€andÐ ° Ðthen€continues€to€speak€throughout€the€entire€canon.Ð ˆØ Ðà  àThe€Bible€never€allows€the€impression€that€divine€inspiration€is€a€residue€of€whatÐ `° Ðspiritual€people€have€reasoned€out€themselves.€€Nor€is€special€revelation€everÐ 8 ˆ Ðspeculative.€€Bible€writers€include€matters€of€cosmology€when€God€acts€in€humanÐ  ` Ðhistory.€Ô#†XðïXXXJô]+#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔÐ è 8  Ðà  àExtensive€scriptural€evidence€strongly€suggests€that€biblical€prophetsÐ À  Ðexperienced€something€far€more€than€a€ð ðdivine€encounterðð€which€merely€implantedÐ ˜è  Ðmystical€conviction€and/or€admiration€for€God€in€their€hearts.Ô#†XðïXXXJôù0#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔ€€For€example,€JeremiahÐ pÀ Ðwas€instructed€by€God€to€buy€the€field€of€Hanamel.€€Jeremiah€indicates€that€this€madeÐ H˜ Ðno€sense€to€him.€€He€had€been€prophesying€that€the€Babylonians€would€successfullyÐ  p Ðattack€Jerusalem.€€When€this€prophecy€was€fulfilled€Israelite€rights€to€the€land€would€noÐ øH Ðlonger€matter.€€Owning€property€back€in€Judea€would€be€of€no€value€to€a€person€in€exileÐ Ð  Ðin€Babylon.€€But€the€command€to€buy€the€field€came€from€God€(Jer€32:6„8).€€So,€thoughÐ ¨ø Ðit€made€no€sense€to€him,€Jeremiah€bought€the€field.€€He€paid€the€full€price€and€had€theÐ €Ð Ðdeed€properly€signed,€sealeÔ#†XðïXXXJô_2#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔd,€witnessed€and€deposited.€€He€complied€faithfully€with€allÐ X ¨ Ðthe€legal€requirements€as€God€had€directed€him.Ð 0"€  Ðà  àJeremiah€wasnððt€acting€under€some€inner€compulsion€which€he€described€as€aÐ $X" Ðcommand€of€God.€€He€even€admits€to€being€perplexed.€€His€prayer€is€instructive.€€HeÐ à%0!$ Ðacknowledges€not€understanding€what€God€is€telling€him€to€do.€€God€seems€to€beÐ ¸'#& Ðcontradicting€himself€and€Jeremiah€boldly€points€this€out€to€God.€€He€begins€byÐ )à$( Ðreminding€God€of€His€constant€love€to€his€people,€and€of€the€way€He€has€worked€in€theÐ h+¸&* Ðhistory€of€the€nation.€€But€Israel€had€proved€faithless.€€Jeremiah€then€says€to€God„„Ð ° Ðà0  àð ðBut€they€did€not€obey€your€voice€or€follow€your€law;€of€all€you€commanded€themÐ ˆØ Ðto€do,€they€did€nothing.€€Therefore€you€have€made€all€these€disasters€come€uponÐ `° Ðthem.€€See,€the€siege€ramps€have€been€cast€up€against€the€city€to€take€it,€andÐ 8 ˆ Ðthe€city,€faced€with€sword,€famine,€and€pestilence,€has€been€given€into€the€handsÐ  ` Ðof€the€Chaldeans€who€are€fighting€against€it.€€What€You€spoke€has€happened,€asÐ è 8  ÐYou€Yourself€can€see.€€Yet€you,€O€Lord€God,€have€said€to€me,€ððBuy€the€field€forÐ À  Ðmoney€and€get€witnessesððð"ðthough€the€city€has€been€given€into€the€hands€of€theÐ ˜è  ÐChaldeans.€(Jer€32:23„25,€NRSV)ÐpÀ(#(# ÐClearly€this€ð ðword€of€the€Lordðð€was€not€something€that€Jeremiah€himself€had€calculatedÐ H˜ Ðfrom€his€own€best€insights.€€He€obeyed,€but€he€did€not€pretend€to€understand€GodððsÐ  p Ðreasoning.€€After€God€had€told€Jeremiah€that€the€people€would€be€given€into€the€handsÐ øH Ðof€the€Babylonians€he€could€not€see€why€God€told€him€to€buy€land.€€That€made€noÐ Ð  Ðsense€to€him.€€It€was€not€as€though€the€Babylonian€threat€was€remote€and€mightÐ ¨ø Ðpossibly€be€averted.€€Hostile€armies€were€at€that€very€moment€attacking€the€city.€€ð ðYouÐ €Ð Ðcan€see€it€yourself,€Godðð€is€a€poignant€part€of€the€prophetððs€prayer.Ð X ¨ Ðà  àJeremiah€does€not€tell€us€how€he€recognized€the€ð ðword€of€Godðð€when€it€came€toÐ 0"€  Ðhim,€but€clearly€it€was€something€plainly€obvious€and€unequivocal€to€him.€€He€wasÐ $X" Ðcertain€that€God€had€spoken.€€It€does€not€seem€to€have€occurred€to€him€that€he€had€anyÐ à%0!$ Ðright€to€deny€the€veracity€of€the€word€of€God€even€though€he€objected€to€it.Ô#†XðïXXXJôh5#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔÐ ¸'#& Ðà  àAnother€instructive€incident€in€the€life€of€this€same€prophet€is€the€occasion€whenÐ )à$( ÐJohananÔ#†XðïXXXJô,@#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔ€with€the€army€leaders€asked€Jeremiah€to€intercede€with€the€Lord.€€The€leadersÐ h+¸&* Ðfelt€the€need€of€divine€guidance€and€came€to€Jeremiah.€€The€prophet€listened,€agreedÐ ° Ðto€pray€for€them€and€then€promised,€ð ðwhatever€the€LORD€answers€you€I€will€tell€you;€IÐ ˆØ Ðwill€keep€nothing€back€from€you.ðð€(Jer€42:4,€NRSV).€€But€it€was€not€until€ten€days€laterÐ `° Ðthat€Jeremiah€got€the€divine€answer.€€He€was€not€able€to€command€the€reply€from€God.€Ð 8 ˆ ÐHe€had€to€wait€for€it.€€Again€this€was€not€a€case€of€a€prophet€devising€a€responseÐ  ` Ðthrough€spiritual€reflection.€€The€text€is€clearð"ðð ðAt€the€end€of€ten€days€the€word€of€theÐ è 8  ÐLORD€came€to€Jeremiah.ðð€(Jer€42:7).òòòòóóóó€€These€are€but€two€instructive€examples€withinÐ À  Ðthe€extensive€canonical€records€that€God€does€not€just€encounter€human€beings€withÐ ˜è  Ðglorious€feelings,€but€with€actual€information€(Dt.€29:29).Ô#†XðïXXXJôý@#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔÐ pÀ Ðà  àClosely€connected€with€Godððs€direct€speech,€one€finds€numerous€accounts€of€aÐ H˜ Ðprophet€writing€down€the€words€of€God€which€are€then€taken€as€fully€authoritative.€€AÐ  p Ðfew€examples€can€sensitize€us€to€this€crucial€point:€€ð ðThe€Lord€said€to€Moses,€ððWrite€thisÐ øH Ðas€a€memorial€in€a€book.ðððð€Subsequently€the€text€records„„„ð ðAnd€Moses€wrote€all€theÐ Ð  Ðwords€of€the€Lord.ðð€(Ex€17:14;€24:4);€€ð ðWhen€Moses€had€finished€writing€the€words€ofÐ ¨ø Ðthis€law€in€a€book,€to€the€very€end€...ðð€(Dt€31:24);€€ð ðJoshua€wrote€these€words€[statues,Ð €Ð Ðordinances,€and€the€words€of€the€covenant€renewal,€v.€25]€in€the€book€of€the€law€ofÐ X ¨ ÐGod.ðð€(Josh€24:26;€on€Joshua€as€a€prophet,€cf.€1€Ki€16:34;€Josh.€1;5;€16„18);€ð ðSamuelÐ 0"€  Ðtold€the€people€the€rights€and€duties€of€the€kingship,€and€he€wrote€them€in€a€book€andÐ $X" Ðlaid€it€up€before€the€Lord.ðð€(1€Sm€10:25)€€EvenÔ#†XðïXXXJôDE#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔ€the€recording€process€is€divinelyÐ à%0!$ Ðcontrolled€with€the€penman€being€"movedðð€or€ððimpelledðð€(2€Pt€1:21).€Ô#†XðïXXXJô³I#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔ€The€writer€is€notÐ ¸'#& Ðmerely€deciding€to€create€literary€masterpieces,€but€writing€under€Godððs€directive.€€ThisÐ )à$( Ðwritten€communication€thereby€has€divine€authority,€as€Moses€testified:Ð h+¸&* Ðà0  àð ðYou€must€neither€add€anything€to€what€I€command€you€nor€take€away€anythingÐ ° Ðfrom€it,€but€keep€the€commandments€of€the€LORD€your€God€with€which€I€amÐ ˆØ Ðcharging€you.ðð€(Dt.€4:2,€NRSV)Ð`°(#(# ÐThe€final€chapter€of€the€NT€speaks€similarlyð"ðÐ 8 ˆ Ðà0  àI€warn€everyone€who€hears€the€words€of€the€prophecy€of€this€book:€if€anyoneÐ  ` Ðadds€to€them,€God€will€add€to€that€person€the€plagues€described€in€this€book;€ifÐ è 8  Ðanyone€takes€away€from€the€words€of€the€book€of€this€prophecy,€God€will€takeÐ À  Ðaway€that€personððs€share€in€the€tree€of€life€and€in€the€holy€city,€which€areÐ ˜è  Ðdescribed€in€this€book.ðð€(Rv€22:18„19,€NRSV)ÐpÀ(#(# ÐÔ#†XðïXXXJôyJ#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔà  àDivine€inspiration€is€never€controlled€by€human€beingsÔ#†XðïXXXJôãN#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔ.€€It€is€not€a€humanÐ H˜ Ðachievement,€but€paramountly€Ô#†XðïXXXJôgO#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔa€divine€activity.€€Scripture€claims€that€God€testifiesÐ  p Ðthrough€His€prophets€(2€Ki€17:13,€14).€€God€also€insists€that€He€revealed€Himself€andÐ øH Ðmade€His€acts€known€(Ps€103:7).€€And€that€He€has€spoken€through€Jesus€(Mt€11:27;Ð Ð  Ð16:17;€Hb€1:1„2).€€And€He€has€commanded€that€His€words€be€recorded€and€heeded.€Ð ¨ø ÐWhat€we€find€in€Scripture€is€not€a€collection€of€penetrating€intuitions€of€divinityÔ#†XðïXXXJôïO#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔ€nor€aÐ €Ð ÐdiscoveryÔ#†XðïXXXJôR#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔ€of€profound€human€insightsÔ#†XðïXXXJôiR#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔ.Ô#†XðïXXXJôÆR#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔ€Ô#†XðïXXXJô S#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔ€Ô#†XðïXXXJôLS#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔBoth€Testaments€consistently€bear€witness€thatÐ X ¨ Ðthe€truth€of€God€is€not€the€end„product€of€diligent€human€searching€for€the€divine€norÐ 0"€  Ðsomebodyððs€best€thoughts€about€lofty€matters.€€Ô#†XðïXXXJôS#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔIÔ#†XðïXXXJô±T#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔt€comes€exclusively€through€God'sÐ $X" Ðinitiative€in€disclosing€Himself€to€humanity.Ô#†XðïXXXJôôT#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔ€Ô#†XðïXXXJô™U#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔÐ à%0!$ ÐÔ#†XðïXXXJôÜU#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔà  àAgain,€the€prophets€and€apostles€do€not€describe€how€they€recognized€the€"wordÐ ¸'#& Ðof€God"€when€it€came,€but€it€is€clear€they€were€certain€that€God€had€spoken.€Ð )à$( ÐSometimes€He€spoke€in€ways€that€they€not€did€not€always€understand€and€on€occasionÐ h+¸&* Ðeven€objected€to€as€we€saw€with€Jeremiah,€yet€they€never€questioned€the€divine€originÐ ° Ðof€the€words.€€However,€the€Bible€was€not€verbally€dictated€by€God.€€When€the€humanÐ ˆØ Ðmessengers€were€instructed€to€record€the€words€of€God,€they€were€divinely€guided€inÐ `° Ðthe€selection€of€apt€words€to€express€the€revelation€and€thus€the€prophetic€words€areÐ 8 ˆ Ðcalled€the€Word€of€God.Ô#†XðïXXXJô3V#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔ€The€individuality€of€each€writer€is€evident,€yet€the€human€andÐ  ` Ðdivine€elements€are€virtually€inseparableÔ#†XðïXXXJôhY#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔ.Ô#†XðïXXXJô'Z#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔ€€Ellen€White€makes€a€striking€comparison:Ð è 8  Ðà0  àð ðThe€Bible,€with€its€God„given€truths€expressed€in€the€language€of€men,€presentsÐ À  Ða€union€of€the€divine€and€the€human.€€Such€a€union€existed€in€the€nature€ofÐ ˜è  ÐChrist,€who€was€the€Son€of€God€and€the€Son€of€man.€€Thus€it€is€true€of€the€Bible,Ð pÀ Ðas€it€was€of€Christ,€that€ððthe€Word€was€made€flesh,€and€dwelt€among€us.ðððð€JohnÐ H˜ Ð1:14.Ô#†XðïXXXJôjZ#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔ׃×Ý ƒ%ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð p(#(# ÐGod€declares€that€He€has€manifested€Himself€through€human€language€and€ultimatelyÐ øH Ðin€the€incarnation€of€Jesus€Christ€Himself.Ô#†XðïXXXJô–\#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔ€€Indeed,€it€is€striking€that€one€Person€of€theÐ Ð  Ðtriune€God€is€known€as€the€WORD.€€Ô#†XðïXXXJôÛ]#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔThe€inspiration€of€Scripture€is€the€genuine€work€ofÐ ¨ø Ðthe€sovereign€God,€whose€operation€cannot€be€subjected€to€human€controlÔ#†XðïXXXJôƒ^#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔ€orÐ €Ð Ðrepudiation.Ð X ¨ Ðà  àÔ#†XðïXXXJôT_#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔA€close€reading€of€the€biblical€texts€also€reveals€a€basic€continuity€and€unity€ofÐ 0"€  Ðboth€Testaments,€as€might€be€expected.€€The€extensive€citations€of€the€OT€in€the€NTÐ $X" Ðindicate€that€the€OT€writings€were€considered€divinely€inspired.€€A€few€of€the€manyÐ à%0!$ Ðhundreds€of€examples€include:€€Isaiahððs€words€in€Is€7:14€are€cited€as€ð ðwhat€the€LordÐ ¸'#& Ðhad€spoken€by€the€prophet.ðð€(Mt€1:22).€€Jesus€quotes€Gen€2:24€as€words€that€God€said.Ð )à$( ÐÑ!OY Ñâ !âÑ°°Ñâ !âÑ  Ñ(Mt€19:5).€€He€also€speaks€of€ð ðevery€word€that€proceeds€from€the€mouth€of€Godðð€(Mt.Ð ° Ð4:4).€€Words€of€Scripture€are€said€to€be€spoken€by€the€Holy€Spirit:€€in€quoting€ð ðwhat€wasÐ ˆØ Ðspoken€by€the€prophet€Joelðð€(Joel€2:28„32),€Peter€inserts€ð ðsays€God,ðð€attributing€to€GodÐ `° Ðthe€words€of€Joel€(Acts€2:16„17).€€Isa.€49:6€is€quoted€by€Paul€and€Barnabas€asÐ 8 ˆ Ðsomething€that€ð ðthe€Lord€commanded€us,ðð€contending€that€an€OT€prophecy€placedÐ  ` Ðmoral€obligation€on€them€also,€writing€that€the€Holy€Spirit€spoke€through€the€prophetÐ è 8  ÐIsaiah€(Acts€28:25).€€He€also€quotes€Godððs€speech€in€Ex€9:16€as€what€ð ðScripture€says€toÐ À  ÐPharaoh,ðð€indicating€an€equivalence€between€what€OT€Scripture€says€and€what€GodÐ ˜è  Ðsays.Ð pÀ Ðà  àThe€minds€of€the€NT€writers€are€saturated€with€the€Old€Testament.€€They€refer€toÐ H˜ Ðit€regularly,€and€quote€it€extensively€to€undergird€their€theological€discussion.€€The€fourÐ  p ÐGospels€also€make€it€strikingly€obviousÔ#†XðïXXXJôÛ_#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔ€that€Jesus€considered€Himself€under€theÐ øH Ðauthority€of€the€OT.€€Ô#†XðïXXXJôúf#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔOT€prophecy€was€the€pattern€for€His€life,€as€He€declared€often:€€"itÐ Ð  Ðmust€be€fulfilled"/"as€it€is€written.ðð€€He€rebuked€the€Jewish€theologians€of€His€time€notÐ ¨ø Ðfor€studying€the€OT,€but€for€devising€incorrect€interpretations€to€cloud€and€even€falsifyÐ €Ð ÐGod's€written€word€(Mk€7:1„13).€€As€one€reads€the€four€Gospels,€it€cannot€be€deniedÐ X ¨ Ðthat€Jesus€Christ€claimed€divine€authority€for€what€He€did€and€taught.€€€Ô#†XðïXXXJôg#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔð ðThese€things€IÐ 0"€  Ðhave€spoken€to€you,ðð€repeated€numerous€times€by€Christ,€was€His€emphatic€way€ofÐ $X" Ðdrawing€attention€to€the€actual€words€He€gave€to€His€disciples.€€And€Jesus€urges,Ð à%0!$ Ðregarding€the€OT,€ð ðwhosoever€reads,€let€him€understand.ðð€(Mt€24:15).€€The€fact€cannotÐ ¸'#& Ðbe€evaded€that€Christ€Ô#†XðïXXXJôºi#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔconfirmed€the€absolute€authority€of€the€Old€Testament.€Ô#†XðïXXXJôvk#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔ€If€oneÐ )à$( Ðaccepts€the€NT€portrait€of€who€Jesus€is,€one€cannot€cavalierly€dismiss€His€high€view€ofÐ h+¸&* ÐScriptureÔ#†XðïXXXJôïk#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔ.׃ ×Ý ƒ%ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð ° Ðà  àÔ#†XðïXXXJôÂl#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔAnd€He€expected€others€to€have€the€same.€€Often€He€would€inquire:€Ô#†XðïXXXJôym#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXðïÔð ðHave€youÐ ˆØ Ðnot€read€what€David€did€...€Or€have€you€not€read€in€the€law€...ðð€(Mt€12:3„5).€€WhenÐ `° Ðquestioned€on€the€issue€of€divorce,€He€answered€ð ðHave€you€not€read€...ðð€(Mt€19:4).€€HisÐ 8 ˆ Ðresponse€to€those€upset€by€children€praising€loudly€in€the€temple€was€ð ðhave€you€neverÐ  ` Ðread€...ðð€(Mt€21:16).€€Once€when€He€was€being€questioned€Jesus€told€a€parable€andÐ è 8  Ðconcluded€with€these€words:€ð ðAnd€have€you€not€read€this€scripture€...ðð€(Mk€12:10).€€InÐ À  Ðresponse€to€a€lawyerððs€question€about€salvation,€Jesus€asked:€ð ðWhat€is€written€in€theÐ ˜è  Ðlaw?€€What€is€your€reading?ðð€(Lk€10:26).€€The€lawyer€answered€with€a€direct€quote€fromÐ pÀ Ðthe€Ten€Commandments,€and€Jesus€declared:€ð ðYou€have€answered€right€...ðð€Ð H˜ ÐResponding€to€the€Sadduceesðð€inquiry€about€marriage€in€heaven,€He€said:€ððYou€areÐ  p Ðmistaken,€not€knowing€the€scriptures€...€have€you€not€read€that€which€was€spoken€untoÐ øH Ðyou€by€God€saying€...ðð€(Mt€22:29„31).€€The€prominent€Pharisee€Nicodemus€soughtÐ Ð  ÐJesus€out€one€night.€€After€discussing€His€mission,€Jesus€questioned€Nicodemus,€ð ðareÐ ¨ø Ðyou€theÔ#†XðïXXXJôým#Ô€Ô€XJôXXXðïÔ€teacher€of€Israel€and€do€not€know€these€things?ðð€€When€asked€about€last„dayÐ €Ð Ðevents€on€the€Mt€of€Olives€Jesus€urged€His€questioners€to€read€Daniel€in€order€toÐ ` ° Ðunderstand€(Mt€24:15).€€Jesus€expected€that€the€OT€prophecies€of€Scripture€would€beÐ 8"ˆ  Ðfulfilled.€€He€declared€that€Elijah€had€come,€pointing€to€John€the€Baptist,€and€that€heÐ ° Ðhad€been€treated€ð ðjust€as€it€has€been€written€of€himðð€(Mk€9:13).€€When€captured€inÐ ˆØ ÐGethsemane,€Jesus€didnððt€flee€the€violence,€but€said,€ð ðI€was€daily€with€you€in€theÐ `° ÐTemple€teaching,€and€you€did€not€take€Me.€€But€the€Scriptures€must€be€fulfilledðð€(MkÐ 8 ˆ Ð14:49).€€After€His€resurrection,€Jesus€gave€what€is€now€called€the€ð ðGreat€Commission:Ð  ` Ðà0  àð ðAll€authority€in€heaven€and€on€earth€has€been€given€to€me.€€Go€therefore€andÐ è 8  Ðmake€disciples€of€all€nations,€baptizing€them€in€the€name€of€the€Father€and€of€theÐ À  ÐSon€and€of€the€Holy€Spirit,€and€teaching€them€to€obey€everything€that€I€haveÐ ˜è  Ðcommanded€you.ðð€(Mt€28:18„20)ÐpÀ(#(# ÐThis€divine€imperative€requires€the€proclamation€of€all€that€Jesus€had€taught€to€theÐ H˜ Ðwhole€world,€specifically€implying€a€cross„cultural€communication€of€the€words€of€God.€Ð  p ÐNor€is€this€a€command€that€merely€secures€nominal€adherence€to€a€group.€€Baptist€wasÐ øH Ðnot€the€end„all.€€The€new€disciple€is€also€to€be€taught€all€things€Christ€commanded.€Ð Ð  ÐThe€Churchððs€teaching€function€is€thus€of€critical€importance.€Ð ¨ø Ðà  àThe€apostle€Paulððs€ministry€exhibits€just€such€a€cross„cultural€preaching€of€theÐ €Ð Ðwords€of€God.€€He€also€intensifies€the€consistent€biblical€procedure€of€later€canonicalÐ X ¨ Ðwriters€referring€to€earlier€materials€in€the€Old€Testament,€thus€insisting€on€its€authority.€Ð 0"€  ÐÔ‡XJôXXXJôÔFor€example,€in€the€book€of€Romans€Paul€builds€a€powerful€argument€of€the€gospelÐ $X" Ðbuilt€upon€the€OT,€and€in€the€process€demonstratesÔ#†XJôXXXJô®{#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXJôÔ€the€paramount€principle€of€listeningÐ à%0!$ Ðto€what€Scripture€says€about€itself.Ô#†XJôXXXJô‡|#ÔÐ ¸'#& Ðà  àWhile€it€is€sometimes€argued€today€that€the€truthfulness€of€the€Bible€does€notÐ )à$( Ðnecessarily€include€the€historical€details,€we€find€Jesus€and€the€NT€authors€acceptingÐ h+¸&* Ðthe€historicity€of€the€Old€Testament.€€In€fact,€all€biblical€writers€rely€on€the€very€certaintyÐ ° Ðof€OT€historical€events€(such€as€Creation,€Noahððs€Flood€and€Exodusð!ðthree€eventsÐ ˆØ Ðregularly€referred€to€and€always€presented€as€actual€history)€to€validate€the€certainty€ofÐ `° Ðfuture€actions€of€God.Ð 8 ˆ Ðà  à€Grudem€is€insightful€when€he€declares:Ð  ` Ðà0  àð ðPerhaps€it€has€not€been€stated€emphatically€enough€that€òònowhereóó€in€the€OldÐ è 8  ÐTestament€or€in€the€New€Testament€does€any€writer€give€òòanyóó€hint€of€a€tendencyÐ À  Ðto€distrust€or€consider€slightly€unreliable€any€other€part€of€Scripture.ðð× ƒ ×Ý ƒ$ÓÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Иè (#(# Ðà  àThe€aesthetic€quality€inherent€in€the€inspiration€of€Scripture€should€not€goÐ pÀ Ðunnoticed.€€The€exquisite€nature€of€the€ancient€Hebrew€poetry€has€long€been€extolled.€Ð H˜ ÐHans€Urs€von€Balthasar,€Roman€Catholic€scholar,€has€written€of€this€striking,€evocativeÐ  p Ðspeech:Ð øH Ðà0  àð ðGod€needs€prophets€in€order€to€make€Himself€known,€and€all€the€prophets€areÐ Ð  Ðnecessarily€artistic.€€What€a€prophet€has€to€say€can€never€be€said€in€prose.ðð׃ ×Ý ƒ%ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Шø(#(# ÐIndeed,€the€prophetic€messages€are€regularly€couched€in€poetry.€€Up€to€40%€of€the€OldÐ €Ð ÐTestament€materials€are€poetic.Ð X ¨ Ðà  àIn€the€last€quarter„century,€the€literary€quality€of€the€biblical€narratives€has€finallyÐ 0"€  Ðbeen€recognized.€€It€is€now€acknowledged€that€these€stories€were€not€written€primarilyÐ $X" Ðfor€children,€but€are€sophisticated€writing€voiced€within€a€distinctive€literary€expression.€Ð à%0!$ ÐGod€utilizes€aesthetic€values€to€intensify€His€revelation.€€Under€inspiration,€Bible€writersÐ ¸'#& Ðmasterfully€record€Godððs€orderly€action€in€human€history.׃$×Ý ƒ%ÃÝòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€In€spite€of€the€fact€that€ð ðtoÐ ° Ðnarrate€is€already€to€explain,ðð€it€is€significant€that€the€biblical€narratives€often€includeÐ ˆØ Ðspecific€external€referents€which€could€be€checked.€€It€is€as€if€the€writers€were€urgingÐ `° Ðthe€reader€to€verify€the€facts€for€themselves.€€For€example,€Luke€couches€Christððs€birthÐ 8 ˆ Ðnarrative€in€public€historical€details:Ð  ` Ðà0  àIn€the€days€of€Herod,€king€of€Judea,€there€was€a€priest€named€Zecharias,€of€theÐ è 8  Ðdivision€of€Abijah;€and€he€had€a€wife€from€the€daughters€of€Aaron€...€now€itÐ À  Ðhappened€that€while€he€was€performing€his€priestly€service€before€God€in€theÐ ˜è  Ðappointed€order€of€his€division€...€(Lk€1:5,€8).ÐpÀ(#(# ÐLuke€had€already€argued€for€the€veracity€of€his€historical€narrativesð"ðÐ H˜ Ðà0  àInasmuch€as€many€have€undertaken€to€compile€an€account€of€the€thingsÐ  p Ðaccomplished€among€us,€just€as€they€were€handed€down€to€us€by€those€whoÐ øH Ðfrom€the€beginning€were€eyewitnesses€and€servants€of€the€word,€it€seemed€fittingÐ Ð  Ðfor€me€as€well,€having€investigated€everything€carefully€from€the€beginning,€toÐ ¨ø Ðwrite€it€out€for€you€in€consecutive€order,€most€excellent€Theophilus;€so€that€youÐ €Ð Ðmay€know€the€exact€truth€about€the€things€you€have€been€taught.€(Lk€1:1„3)ÐX ¨(#(# ÐIt€is€a€false€dichotomy€to€reason€that€literary€writing€precludes€historical€accuracy.€€AsÐ 0"€  Ðâ âGeorge€Ladd€cogently€notes,€ð ðThe€uniqueness€and€the€scandal€of€the€Christian€religionÐ $X" Ðrests€in€the€mediation€of€revelation€through€historical€events.ðð׃×Ý ƒ%ÃÝòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€There€is€no€bifurcationÐ ° Ðâ âof€history€and€theology.€€The€Word€has€become€flesh.€€The€Scripture€record€is€rooted€inÐ ˆØ Ðreal€events€of€history.€€It€is€striking€to€note€how€persons€such€as€Julius€Wellhausen,Ð `° ÐHerman€Gunkel,€and€James€Barr€acknowledge€the€historical€content€of€the€OTÐ 8 ˆ Ðnarratives.€€This€should€remind€us€that€what€one€might€surmise€is€the€ò òòòcorrectó óóó€view€ofÐ  ` Ðthe€text€should€not€to€override€what€the€original€authors€had€in€mind.Ð è 8  Ðà  àWellhausen,€foremost€champion€of€the€ð ðdocumentary€hypothesis,ðð€whenÐ À  Ðspeaking€of€the€author€of€Genesis,€writes:Ð ˜è  Ðà0  àð ðHe€undoubtedly€wants€to€depict€faithfully€the€factual€course€of€events€in€theÐ pÀ Ðcoming„to„be€of€the€world,€he€wants€to€give€a€cosmogonic€theory.€€Anyone€whoÐ H˜ Ðdenies€that€is€confusing€the€value€of€the€story€for€us€with€the€intention€of€theÐ  p Ðauthor.׃h×Ý ƒ%ÃÝòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×ÐøH(#(# ÐHerman€Gunkel,€father€of€OT€form€criticism,€concurs:Ð Ð  Ðâ âà0  àð ðPeople€should€never€have€denied€that€òòGenesisóó€1€wants€to€recount€how€theÐ ¨ø Ðcoming„to„be€of€the€world€actually€happened.ðð׃×Ý ƒ%ÃÝòòÚ  Ú8Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×а(#(# Ðâ âPremier€British€philologist€of€the€OT€James€Barr€asserts:Ð ˆØ Ðà0  àð ðmost€conservative€evangelical€opinion€today€does€not€pursue€a€literalÐ `° Ðinterpretation€of€the€creation€story€in€òòGenesisóó.€€A€literal€interpretation€would€holdÐ 8 ˆ Ðthat€the€world€was€created€in€six€days,€these€days€being€the€first€of€the€seriesÐ  ` Ðwhich€we€still€experience€as€days€and€nights.ððÐè 8 (#(# ÐAfter€underscoring€this€claim€that€most€evangelicals€(which€he€also€callsÐ À  Ðð ðfundamentalistsðð)€indeed€do€not€pursue€a€literal€interpretation,€he€continues:Ð ˜è  Ðà0  àð ðIn€fact€the€only€natural€exegesis€is€a€literal€one,€in€the€sense€that€this€is€what€theÐ pÀ Ðauthor€meant.ððÐH˜(#(# ÐElsewhere€he€goes€even€further:Ð  p Ðà0  àð ðso€far€as€I€know€there€is€no€professor€of€Hebrew€or€OT€in€any€world„classÐ øH Ðuniversity€who€does€not€believe€that€the€writer(s)€of€òòGenesisóó€1„11€intended€toÐ Ð  Ðconvey€to€their€readers€the€ideas€that:€(a)€creation€took€place€in€a€series€of€sixÐ ¨ø Ðdays€which€were€the€same€as€the€days€of€24€hours€we€now€experience;€(b)€theÐ €Ð Ðfigures€contained€in€the€òògenesisóó€genealogies€provide€by€simple€addition€aÐ X ¨ Ðchronology€from€the€beginning€of€the€world€up€to€the€later€stages€of€the€BiblicalÐ 0"€  Ðstory,€and€ðð)€Noahððs€flood€was€understood€to€be€worldwide,€and€to€haveÐ $X" Ðextinguished€all€human€and€land€animal€life€except€for€those€in€the€ark.ðð׃|×Ý ƒ%ÃÝòòÚ  Ú9Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ðà%0!$(#(# ÐBut€no€one€speaks€to€this€issue€stronger€than€Ellen€White:Ð ¸'#& Ðà0  àð ðthe€assumption€that€the€events€of€the€first€week€required€thousands€uponÐ ° Ðthousands€of€years,€strikes€directly€at€the€foundation€of€the€fourthÐ ˆØ Ðcommandment.€€It€represents€the€Creator€as€commanding€men€to€observe€theÐ `° Ðweek€of€literal€days€in€commemoration€of€vast,€indefinite€periods.€€This€is€unlikeÐ 8 ˆ ÐHis€method€of€dealing€with€His€creatures.€€It€makes€indefinite€and€obscure€thatÐ  ` Ðwhich€He€has€made€very€plain.€€It€is€infidelity€in€its€most€insidious€and€henceÐ è 8  Ðmore€dangerous€form;€its€real€character€is€so€disguised€that€it€is€held€and€taughtÐ À  Ðby€many€who€profess€to€believe€the€Bible€...€There€is€a€constant€effort€made€toÐ ˜è  Ðexplain€the€work€of€creation€as€the€result€of€natural€causes;€and€humanÐ pÀ Ðreasoning€is€accepted€even€by€professed€Christian,€in€opposition€to€plainÐ H˜ ÐScripture€facts.ðð׃×Ý ƒ%ÃÝòòÚ  Ú10Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð p(#(# Ðà  àThe€ð ðtextbookðð€Christians€hold€with€the€highest€authority€is€self„authenticated€inÐ øH Ðan€impressively€extensive€manner.€€The€Christian€canon€testifies€that€God€does€notÐ Ð  Ðexist€in€unbroken€silence.€€He€has€communicated.€€He€has€expressed€Himself.€€As€theÐ ¨ø Ðmany€biblical€writers,€along€with€Martin€Luther€and€the€various€reformers€insist,€theÐ €Ð ÐChristian€experience€of€God€is€òòò òacousticaló óóó.€€God€has€spoken.€€Indeed,€in€all€the€BibleÐ X ¨ Ðthere€is€not€a€single€example€of€God€appearing€without€saying€something.€€If€there€is€aÐ 0"€  Ðvision€without€audition,€it€is€not€from€God.€€Moreover,€God€orders€the€written€transcriptÐ $X" Ðof€His€words.€€As€the€prophet€Habakkuk€recounts,Ð ° Ðà0  àð ðThen€the€LORD€answered€me€and€said:€Write€the€vision;€make€it€plain€onÐ ˆØ Ðtablets,€so€that€a€runner€may€read€it.ððò òòòó óóó€(Hab€2:2).Ð`°(#(# ÐThis€again€reminds€us€that€God€has€spoken€and€that€we€are€expected€to€heed€HisÐ 8 ˆ Ðwords.Ð  ` Ðà  àAnd€yet,€to€some€readers,€the€Bible€appears€as€an€enigmatic€collection€ofÐ è 8  Ðseemingly€unrelated€materials:€narratives,€poetry,€legal€codes,€sermons,€letters,Ð À  Ðprophecies,€parables,€royal€annals€and€geneaologies.€€The€nature€of€Godððs€revelationÐ ˜è  Ðis€diverse.€€In€addition€to€speaking€directly€with€human€beings€and€commanding€thoseÐ pÀ Ðwords€to€be€recorded,€God€employed€other€supernatural€methods€of€communication:Ô‡XJôXXXJôԀРH˜ Ðsuch€as€with€angels€(Daniel);€theophanies€(Isaiah,€Daniel,€Ezekiel,€Moses,€Paul,€John);Ð  p Ðdreams€(Joseph,€Pharaoh,€Nebuchadnezzar);€supernatural€writing€of€the€Decalogue€onÐ øH Ðstone€two€times(Ex€31:18;€Dan€5:5);€voice€from€heaven€(Ex€19:9;€Mt€3:17;€2€Pt€1:17).Ô#†XJôXXXJô°¦#ÔÔ‡XJôXXXJôԀРР ÐÔ#†XJôXXXJô/¨#ÔThese€divine€manifestations€were€then€recorded€and€brought€together€under€one€cover.€Ð ¨ø ÐBut€how€does€one€make€sense€of€it€all?€€The€issue€of€interpretation€(hermeneutics)€is€aÐ €Ð Ðcontinuing€topic€in€theological€studies.€€Canonic€writers€are€helpful€in€this€regard€asÐ X ¨ Ðthey€exegete€earlier€biblical€materials.€€They€also€regularly€warn€that€it€is€possible€toÐ 0"€  Ðmisread€and€misinterpret€Scripture.€€Even€Christ€Himself,€warns€against€false€teachersÐ $X" Ðand€false€teaching.€€The€use€of€earlier€OT€materials€by€later€OT€writers€and€thenÐ à%0!$ Ðsubsequently€by€the€NT€writers€presents€a€working€hermeneutic,€undergirded€with€theÐ ¸'#& Ðpresupposition€of€the€complete€veracity€of€the€words€of€God.Ð )à$( Ðà  àÔ‡XJôXXXJôÔToday€some€suggest€that€different€portions€of€Scripture€are€of€Ô_ÔunequalÔ_Ô€value.€Ð h+¸&* ÐNo€modern€writer€addresses€this€issue€more€forth„rightly€than€Ellen€White.€€She€statesÐ ° Ðemphatically:Ô#†XJôXXXJôÍ«#ÔÐ ˆØ Ðà0  à€ð ð€...€what€man€is€there€that€dares€to€take€that€Bible€and€say€this€part€is€inspiredÐ `° Ðand€that€part€is€not€inspired?€I€would€have€both€my€arms€taken€off€at€myÐ 8 ˆ Ðshoulders€before€I€would€ever€make€the€statement€or€set€my€judgment€upon€theÐ  ` ÐWord€of€God€as€to€what€is€inspired€and€what€is€not€inspired....€€Never€let€mortalÐ è 8  Ðman€sit€in€judgment€upon€the€Word€of€God€or€pass€sentence€as€to€how€much€ofÐ À  Ðthis€is€inspired€and€how€much€is€not€inspired,€and€that€this€is€more€inspired€thanÐ ˜è  Ðsome€other€portions.€God€warns€him€off€that€ground.€God€has€not€given€him€anyÐ pÀ Ðsuch€work€to€do....€€We€call€on€you€to€take€your€Bible,€but€do€not€put€aÐ H˜ Ðsacrilegious€hand€upon€it,€and€say,€"That€is€not€inspired,"€simply€becauseÐ  p Ðsomebody€else€has€said€so.€€Not€a€jot€or€tittle€is€ever€to€be€taken€from€that€Word.Ð øH ÐHands€off,€brethren!€Do€not€touch€the€ark....€when€men€begin€to€meddle€withÐ Ð  ÐGodððs€Word,€I€want€to€tell€them€to€take€their€hands€off,€for€they€do€not€know€whatÐ ¨ø Ðthey€are€doing.ðð׃#×Ý ƒ%ÃÝòòÚ  Ú11Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×ЀÐ(#(# ÐGod€Himself€expresses€the€same€sentiment:Ð X ¨ Ðà0  àð ðThus€says€the€LORD:€ððHeaven€is€My€throne,€and€earth€is€My€footstool.€Where€isÐ 0"€  Ðthe€house€that€you€will€build€Me?€€And€where€is€the€place€of€My€rest?€€For€allÐ $X" Ðthose€things€My€hand€has€made,€and€all€those€things€exist,ðð€says€the€LORD.€€ððButÐ à%0!$ Ðon€this€one€will€I€look:€€On€him€who€is€poor€and€of€a€contrite€spirit,€and€whoÐ ¸'#& Ðò òòòtrembles€at€My€wordó óóó.ðð€(Is.€66:1„2)Ð)à$((#(# Ðà  àThe€God€of€Heaven€has€ordained€that€His€Word€be€contained€in€a€Book.€€ButÐ ° Ðtruly,€it€is€more€than€a€Book.€€Through€its€many€writers€we€are€confronted€with€aÐ ˆØ Ðomnipotent€God€who€is€in€earnest€to€communicate€His€will€and€His€ways€in€humanÐ `° Ðhistory,€and€who€loves€human€beings€more€than€He€loved€His€own€life.€€FlemingÐ 8 ˆ ÐRutledge€expresses€my€sentiments€eloquently:Ð  ` Ðà0  àð ðEvery€time€I€think€I€am€losing€my€faith,€the€Biblical€story€seizes€me€yet€againÐ è 8  Ðwith€a€life€all€its€own.€€No€other€religious€document€has€this€power.€€I€remainÐ À  Ðconvinced€in€spite€of€all€the€arguments€that€God€really€does€inhabit€this€text.€Ð ˜è  ÐWith€Job,€I€say€yet€again,€ð ðI€had€heard€of€thee€with€the€hearing€of€the€ear,€butÐ pÀ Ðnow€my€eye€sees€thee;€therefore€I€despise€my€words,€I€melt€away€in€dust€andÐ H˜ Ðashesðð€(42:5„6).× ƒ ×Ý ƒ$ÓÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð p(#(# Ðà  àThe€assumptions€of€the€biblical€writers€about€God€and€the€historical€grounding€ofÐ øH Ðdivine€revelation€are€clear.€€Ô_ÔSDAsÔ_Ô€even€affirm€two€critical€acts€of€God€in€historyð"ðoneÐ Ð  Ðpast€and€one€futureð"ðin€our€very€name€SEVENTH„DAY/Ô_ÔADVENTISTSÔ_Ô.€€Ellen€WhiteÐ ¨ø Ðurges€thatð!ðÐ €Ð Ðð ðGod€will€have€a€people€upon€earth€to€maintain€the€Bible,€and€the€Bible€only,€as€theÐ X ¨ Ðstandard€of€all€doctrines€and€the€basis€of€all€reforms.Ð 0"€  Ðà  à„„„The€opinions€of€learned€men,€Ð $X" Ðà  à„„„the€deductions€of€science,Ð à%0!$ Ðà  à„„„the€creeds€or€decisions€of€ecclesiastical€councils,€as€numerous€and€discordantÐ ¸'#& Ðas€are€the€churches€which€they€represent,Ð )à$( Ðà  à„„„the€voice€of€the€majorityÐ h+¸&* Ðð"ðnot€one€or€nor€all€of€these€should€be€regarded€as€evidence€for€or€against€any€point€ofÐ ° Ðreligious€faith.ðð€(GC€595)Ð ˆØ Ðà  àYes,€God€will€have€such€a€people€...€will€Ô_ÔSDAsÔ_Ô€be€among€that€people?Ð  `° Ðà@¬¬&ìàòòò òAddendumsó óóóˆÐ ° ÐÓÓà  àð ðIt€is€not€the€words€of€the€Bible€that€are€inspired,€but€the€men€that€were€inspired.€Ð ˜è ÐInspiration€acts€not€on€the€manððs€words€or€his€expressions€but€on€the€man€himself,€who,Ð „Ô Ðunder€the€influence€of€the€Holy€Ghost,€is€imbued€with€thoughts.€€But€the€words€receiveÐ pÀ Ðthe€impress€of€the€individual€mind.€€The€divine€mind€is€diffused.€€The€divine€mind€andÐ \ ¬ Ðwill€is€combined€with€the€human€mind€and€will;€thus€the€utterances€of€man€are€the€wordÐ H ˜ Ðof€God....Ð 4 „ Ðà  àð ðThe€Creator€of€all€ideas€may€impress€different€minds€with€the€same€thought,€butÐ  p Ðeach€may€express€it€in€a€different€way,€yet€without€contradiction....ðð€€1SM€21„22.Ð  \  ÐÌà  àð ðThe€Lord€speaks€to€human€beings€in€imperfect€speech,€in€order€that€theÐ ä4  Ðdegenerate€senses,€the€dull,€earthly€perception,€of€earthly€being€may€comprehend€HisÐ Ð  Ðwords.€€Thus€is€shown€Godððs€condescension.€€He€meets€fallen€human€beings€whereÐ ¼  Ðthey€are.€€The€bible,€perfect€as€it€is€in€its€simplicity,€does€not€answer€to€the€great€ideasÐ ¨ø  Ðof€God;€for€infinite€ideas€cannot€be€perfectly€embodied€in€finite€vehicles€of€thought.€Ð ”ä  ÐInstead€of€the€expressions€of€the€bible€being€exaggerated,€as€many€people€suppose,Ð €Ð Ðthe€strong€expressions€break€down€before€the€magnificence€of€the€thought,€though€theÐ l¼ Ðpenman€selected€the€most€expressive€language€through€which€to€convey€the€truths€ofÐ X¨ Ðhigher€education.€€Sinful€beings€can€only€bear€to€look€upon€a€shadow€of€the€brightnessÐ D” Ðof€heavenððs€glory.ðð€1€SM€22.Ð 0€ ÐÌà  àð ðThe€inspired€writers€did€not€testify€to€falsehoods,€to€prevent€the€pages€of€sacredÐ X Ðhistory€being€clouded€by€the€record€of€human€frailties€and€faults.€€The€scribes€of€GodÐ ôD Ðwrote€as€they€were€dictated€by€the€Holy€Spirit,€having€no€control€of€the€workÐ à0 Ðthemselves.€€They€penned€the€literal€truth,€the€stern,€forbidding€facts€are€revealed€forÐ Ì Ðreasons€that€our€finite€minds€cannot€fully€comprehend....€€The€human€mind€is€so€subjectÐ ¸ Ðto€prejudice€that€it€is€almost€impossible€for€it€to€treat€the€subject€[a€biography€of€anÐ ¤ô Ðindividual]€impartiality....€€But€divine€unction,€lifted€above€the€weaknesses€of€humanity,Ð à Ðtells€the€simple,€naked€truth.ðð€4T€9„10.Ð |Ì ÐÌà  àð ðThe€Bible€is€Godððs€voice€speaking€to€us,€just€as€surely€as€though€we€could€hearÐ T!¤ Ðit€with€our€own€ears.€€If€we€realized€this,€with€what€awe€would€we€open€Godððs€word,€andÐ @"  Ðwith€what€earnestness€would€we€search€its€precepts!€€The€reading€and€contemplation€ofÐ ,#|! Ðthe€Scriptures€would€be€regarded€as€an€audience€with€the€Infinite€One.ðð€6T€393.Ð $h" Ðà  àð ðThe€minister€of€the€gospel€should€gain€a€thorough€knowledge€of€both€the€OldÐ %T # Ðand€New€Testament,€that€he€may€present€them€in€their€true€light€to€the€people€as€anÐ ð%@!$ Ðinseparable€wholeð"ðthe€one€depending€upon€and€illuminating€the€other.Ð Ü&,"% Ðà  àNothing€is€gained€by€endeavoring€to€prove€by€argument€the€divine€origin€of€theÐ È'#& ÐBible;€it€is€its€own€expositor.€€It€carries€its€own€keys;€Scripture€unlocks€Scripture.ðð€€MsÐ ´($' Ð40,€1895.Ð  )ð$( ÐÌà  àð ðThe€Lord€gave€His€word€in€just€the€way€He€wanted€it€to€come.€€He€gave€itÐ x+È&* Ðthrough€different€writers,€each€having€his€own€individuality,€though€going€over€the€sameÐ ° Ðhistory.€€Their€testimonies€are€brought€together€in€one€Book,€and€are€like€testimonies€inÐ œì Ða€social€meeting.€€They€do€not€represent€things€in€just€the€same€style.€€Each€has€anÐ ˆØ Ðexperience€of€his€own,€and€this€diversity€broadens€and€deepens€the€knowledge€that€isÐ tÄ Ðbrought€out€to€meet€the€necessities€of€varied€minds.€€The€thoughts€expressed€have€notÐ `° Ða€set€uniformity,€as€if€cast€in€an€iron€mold,€making€the€very€hearing€monotonous.€€InÐ L œ Ðsuch€uniformity€there€would€be€a€loss€of€grace€and€distinctive€beauty.ðð€1€SM€22„23.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌÔ_ÔLesslieÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔNewbiginÔ_Ô,€SIGNS€AMID€THE€RUBBLE:€THE€PURPOSES€OF€GOD€IN€HUMANÐ  ` ÐHISTORY,€Geoffrey€Wainwright,€ed.€€(Ô_ÔEerdmansÔ_Ô,€2003).Ð ü L  Ðà  à[p.€108]€€€The€gospel€tells€the€story€of€what€happened€when€the€true€light€cameÐ è 8  Ðinto€the€world,€the€only€light,€the€light€that€shines€on€every€human€being,€the€light€inÐ Ô$  Ðwhich€things€are€seen€as€they€are€and€reality€is€distinguished€from€illusion.€€Those€whoÐ À  Ðwere€confident€that€they€could€see€turn€out€to€be€the€blind,€and€those€who€knew€thatÐ ¬ü  Ðthey€were€blind€receive€their€sight.€€The€light€shows€up€the€illusions€of€human€wisdomÐ ˜è  Ðand€godliness€and€political€shrewdness.€€It€overturns€human€confidence€that€we€canÐ „Ô  Ðknow€how€and€where€God€is€at€work€in€the€world.€€It€invites€us€to€believe€that€the€victoryÐ pÀ Ðof€God€is€achieved€in€the€rejection€and€shame€and€suffering€of€the€cross....Ð \¬ Ðà  à...€when€He€commissioned€His€disciples€to€go€out€and€to€preach€the€Kingdom,Ð H˜ ÐHe€first€authorized€them€to€exercise€a€ministry€of€deliverance,€and€He€made€it€clear€thatÐ 4„ Ðthe€preaching€was€the€interpretation€of€what€was€happening€through€that€ministry.€Ð  p ÐMoreover,€He€warned€them€that€they,€the€bearers€of€the€powers€of€the€Kingdom,€mustÐ  \ Ðexpect€rejection,€suffering,€and€death.€€So€the€word€of€the€preacher€is€spoken€out€of€aÐ øH Ðdeep€and€costly€involvement€in€the€human€struggle€against€the€forces€that€dehumanizeÐ ä4 Ðand€destroy.Ð Ð  Ðà  àAnd€yet,€the€Word€remains€sovereign.€€In€His€lowly€subjection€to€the€powers,Ð ¼  ÐChrist€is€lord€over€them.€€The€word€of€the€gospel€retains€it€sovereign€freedom.€€TheÐ ¨ø Ðworld€sets€the€agenda€in€the€sense€that€Christððs€ministry€is€exercised€in€response€to€feltÐ ”ä Ðhuman€needsð"ðhunger,€sickness,€blindness.€€Yet€the€action€of€Jesus€always€sets€theÐ €Ð Ðhuman€situation€in€a€new€perspective.€€The€deepest€need€of€the€Galilean€crowd€is€not,Ð l¼ Ðas€they€think,€the€bread€the€fills€the€stomach€for€a€day,€but€the€bread€that€gives€eternalÐ X ¨ Ðlife.€€The€deepest€need€of€the€paralyzed€boy€is€not€that€he€be€liberated€to€take€up€hisÐ D!” Ðbed€and€walk,€but€that€he€be€set€free€from€[[[the€paralysis€of]]]€sin.€€In€the€end€it€is€He,Ð 0"€  ÐJesus€who€unveils€the€real€agenda.€€It€is€only€in€the€true€light€that€the€human€situation€isÐ #l! Ðtruly€understood.Ð  $X" Ðà@ÂÂ&ìàENDNOTESˆÐ ° Ð