PART I

SECTION 1 - The Doctrine of God–Who am

I? I am a finite creature who is responsible
to the infinite Creator.
Lesson 1: The Person We Call God |
Biblical Foundations for Living
Who am I? I am a finite creature who is responsible to the infinite Creator.

Introduction to the Doctrine of God

The word “theology” means “the study of God.” It is used in both a general sense and a
specific sense. The word is applied generally to any study of biblical truth. A study
specifically concerned with the person of God is known as Theology Proper. This is the
subject of the five lessons in this section.

It might seem unusual to begin the answer to the question, “Who am I?,” with a study
of the person of God. Some, no doubt, would begin to answer the question with a
challenge to look inside and know oneself. Others would begin with a discourse on self-
esteem. But, just as the logical starting place in any book is the beginning, so our study
must start “in the beginning” (Genesis 1:1). Your life is a small part of a greater history.
You are part of the human race. To know yourself, you must see the “big picture.”
Specifically, you must understand how and why humanity came into being. This
requires an understanding of the One who created you.

Without a clear and accurate knowledge of the character of the true God, the Christian
faith is unintelligible and principles of Christian living are meaningless. Therefore, this
study of the doctrine of God will provide the foundation for every other lesson in
Biblical Foundations for Living.

If you are a believer, you know God. Think about it! You know Him and can come to
understand Him better (Jeremiah 9:24). [But let him who boasts boast about this: that
he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice
and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD.] Getting to
know God better is a goal the Christian will spend his entire life pursuing. It is a pursuit
that is never boring or impractical. To know God is the most relevant activity one can
undertake. It is life-changing.

Lesson 1: The Person We Call God

This lesson is designed to introduce you to three basic truths about God. It is simply an
introduction because there will always be more to learn about Him. These three truths
will form the foundation for your life-long task of developing your understanding of
God. These three truths are:

1. God exists .

2. God is a person .

3. God is a triunity .

I. God Exists.
This truth might sound obvious, but it is the place where a discussion of God must
begin, seeing His existence is doubted or denied by many.

[The word for “God” in Greek is theos. A theist says God (or a god) does exist. An
atheist is one who says God does not exist. An agnostic says one cannot know if God
exists or not. ]

Note the following facts about His existence:

A. The existence of God is stated as fact in Scripture.

From the opening words of the Bible, the reader is brought face to face with his Creator.
No attempt is made to prove His existence.

Genesis 1:1 begins with a clear statement of fact: “In the beginning God . . . .”

God is under no obligation to prove to man that He exists. Any such obligation would
make God answerable to man rather than vice versa. Nevertheless, God has chosen to
reveal Himself through His Word. Anyone who genuinely desires to know God can
gain an understanding of Him from the Bible.
B. The existence of God is a matter of faith .

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe
that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.      Hebrews 11:6

Throughout history, Christians have tried to convince non Christians that God exists by
using weighty, logical arguments. The best these arguments can accomplish is to
demonstrate the probability , but never the certainty , of God’s existence. All men know
that there is a god of some sort. The true God, however, can only be known through
faith in the Scriptures.

[The fact that all people know something about God is true because of general
revelation (c.f., Rom 1:18-20). Special revelation (the Bible) is necessary for us to
know more about God. ]

Is it possible to prove God’s existence? No. Is it necessary? No. Rom 10:17–faith

comes thru hearing the word of God, not by being convinced that God exists, etc.
Further, one exercises faith because God gives him the gift of faith (Eph 2:8), not
because he is convinced intellectually of the Bible’s truth.]

II. God is a Person.

Most people are somewhat religious. The existence of a supreme power makes sense to
them, but they refuse to admit that this power is the God of the Bible. Many (such as
those under the influence of Far Eastern mystical religions) have come to think of God
as a force or controlling energy . The Bible is very clear, however, that He is a person.

A. The components of God’s personality

[By “personality” I don’t mean happy or outgoing or shy. I mean personhood. God is
a person. He has the components of personality. ]

The Bible presents a complex view of personality, whether human or divine.

Theologians sometimes differ as to what constitutes personality but usually agree that it
involves three things, all three of which God does.

1. God thinks .
This is the function of the mind . As a thinking being, God
possesses wisdom , understanding , and knowledge .

By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place;
by his knowledge the deeps were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.      Proverbs 3:19  20

2. God acts .

This is the function of the will . God does not act on impulse or in submission to the
laws of nature. His actions are free and in keeping with His purposes .

From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I
have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.      Isaiah 46:11

[When we say that God is free, we mean that He is the only one who is truly
unlimited in action. All other beings have limitations; God doesn’t. Although He is
free to do anything He wills, He will only do those things that are in keeping with
His purposes and character. There are things he can’t do: immoral things and
impossible things (e.g., make a square circle).]

3. God feels .

This is the function of the emotions . The Bible is clear that our God feels a full range of
emotions  from joy (Isaiah 62:5) to sorrow (Gen. 6:6) and from compassion (Psalm 145:8)
to hate (Psalm 5:5).

B. The significance of God’s personality

The statement, “God is a person,” has critical implications for the Christian life.
Consider the following:

1. The personality of God gives meaning to prayer .

The Christian actually communicates with God when he prays. Prayer is not a
mechanical activity designed simply to obtain God’s favor, nor is it a mystical
experience designed to make one feel good. Genuine prayer is heard and answered by a
personal God.
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard
because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before
you ask him.      Matthew 6:7  8

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.   1 Peter
5:7
2. The personality of God gives meaning to worship .

Whereas idols are inanimate and unresponsive, the God we worship is a person who is
pleased with our praise and interacts with us.

To whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be
compared? Some pour out gold from their bags and weigh out silver on the scales; they hire a
goldsmith to make it into a god, and they bow down and worship it. They lift it to their shoulders
and carry it; they set it up in its place, and there it stands. From that spot it cannot move.
Though one cries out to it, it does not answer; it cannot save him from his troubles.      Isaiah
46:5  7

3. The personality of God gives meaning to service .

Duty imposed apart from personal involvement is empty and unfulfilling and soon
becomes drudgery. The God we serve places duties upon us, yet is personally involved
in our labors.

To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in
me.      Colossians 1:29

III. God is a Triunity.

Christianity has traditionally taught the doctrine of the Trinity . The word “Triunity,”
however, is a better expression. Triunity means that there is one God who eternally
exists as three persons : the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This suggests:

A. The unity of the Godhead

Unlike the ancient pagans, who believed in many gods ( polytheism ), the Bible clearly
teaches that there is only one God ( monotheism ).
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.      Deuteronomy 6:4

B. The diversity of the Godhead

Without ceasing to be a unity, God exists as three persons. Each of these persons
is fully and equally God.

[“Diversity” means difference or distinction. That is, there is a distinction between

the members of the trinity. God the Father is not the same person as God the Son.
The members of the Trinity are distinct, co-equal individuals, co-equal in essence but
differing in function.]

The doctrine of the Triunity illustrates the incomprehensibility of God: He exists and

may be truly known, but He can never be fully known.

[“Incomprehensible” means “not able to be fully understood.” Agnostics say that one
can’t know anything about God. We don’t know everything about God, but we do
know many things, and what we know is true.]

Learning to Live It
1. As you talk about your relationship with God to a family member, he smiles and
says, “Though we might call it by different names  like ‘God,’ we are all part of the
universal cosmic energy.” How would you show him that God is not just an energy?

by directing him to passages which show God to be a person

God has all the characteristics of a person. An energy or force cannot do the things God does.

2. You walk into a room in which there is an individual and some furniture. Are you
more inclined to speak to the individual or to the furniture? Why?

the individual; because he or she is a person like you.

What implications does this have for prayer?

Since God is a person, we can and ought to talk to Him. We should talk to God because, as a
person, He can respond. Prayer would be meaningless/impossible if God were just a power.
3. A co worker brings you a pamphlet one day and asks you to discuss its contents. It
offers the following explanation of the doctrine of the Triunity:

The Bible calls God by the names Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. That does not mean that
He is three persons. Actually, these are the titles of three roles that He has filled. This
can be understood in the same way that a man can say, “I am a father, son, and
husband.” A man can truly be all three, but he is still a single person. So it is with God.

What would you say to your co worker?

Show him a passage (such as  Matthew 3:16-17) in which all three persons of the Godhead are
mentioned independently of one another. The above idea is called modalism–one God functions
as different modes at different times. Refutation: All three members of the Godhead show up
simultaneously, which would be impossible if the trinity was not true. We may not ever fully
understand the doctrine of the Trinity. Yet the Bible clearly teaches the that the Trinity is a fact.
We have to submit our own logic to the teaching of Scripture.

Lesson 2: The Greatness of God

Learning Together
God’s character qualities are commonly called His attributes . [An attribute is a basic
quality or description. ] They are the properties that make God who He is. Some
theologians logically divide the attributes of God into two categories: the attributes of
His greatness and the attributes of His goodness .

This lesson deals with God’s attributes of greatness. These are character qualities that
belong to God alone; they cannot be shared with mankind.

God’s primary attribute of greatness is His infinity . This word is hard for us to grasp
because we are human and, thus, limited. When we say that God is infinite, we mean
that He has no external limitations. In other words, there is nothing outside of Himself
that determines who He is and what He does . Only created objects and beings have
external limitations. God’s attributes of greatness are simply expressions of His infinity.
Three of these attributes that are absolutely necessary to further studies in BFL are
discussed below. In this lesson, we will learn:
1. God is infinite in power .

2. God is infinite in knowledge .

3. God is infinite in authority .

I. God is Infinite in Power.

The fact that God is unlimited in power is the attribute called omnipotence (from omni,
meaning “ all ,” and potent,

meaning “ powerful “). God’s omnipotence is displayed in several ways:

A. Creation most clearly displays God’s omnipotence.

By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses. Let all the earth fear
the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him. For he spoke, and it came to be; he
commanded, and it stood firm.      Psalm 33:6  9

[C.f. also Jer 32:17]

Note: God created the universe out of nothing ( ex nihilo ), not from preexisting
materials.

[How is this different from when we create something? We use existing materials.
God didn’t. Einstein proved the interchangablility of energy and matter (E=MC2). If
the whole universe was created by God, what does this say about God’s
power/energy? It’s immense. See also Col 1:16-17: God’s power keeps things together.
]

B. God’s control of history displays His omnipotence.

[History is going somewhere. That is, what happens is not random, chance
occurrence. God rules in world events. Things happen because God has decreed that
they will happen.]

One way God controls history is by governing the decisions of world leaders.
The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; He directs it like a watercourse wherever He
pleases. –  Proverbs 21:1

For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to give the beast their
power to rule, until God’s words are fulfilled.      Revelation 17:17

[Note that these verses show that God can and does control the thoughts of people. ]

C. The outworking of God’s plan for individuals displays His omnipotence.

Job questioned the justice of God because of the difficulties he had endured. In
response, God revealed His greatness to Job (Job 38 41). Notice Job’s response:

I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. – Job 42:2
It is often said, “God can do anything.” This is not technically correct. For example, God
cannot lie (Titus 1:2). Rather, omnipotence means that God can do anything consistent
with His character .

[One’s activities are generally dictated by one’s nature. E.g., you don’t expect a dog to
act like a cat. E.g., there are some things that girls like (such as pretty dresses) that do
not interest boys. You would not expect a boy to be interested in or drawn toward
certain things, and same with girls. In a similar way, God is “limited” by the kind of
person He is. His nature determines what He will do.]

II. God is Infinite in Knowledge.

The fact that God is without limits in knowledge is referred to as
His omniscience (from omni, meaning “ all ,” and science, meaning “ knowledge “).

For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.   1 John 3:20
[C.f. also John 21:17]

What does this imply?

A. God possesses complete knowledge of the universe .

He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.   Psalm
147:4
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before
the eyes of him to whom we must give account.      Hebrews 4:13

[There is nothing that happens in the universe that is outside the knowledge and
control of God.]

B. God possesses knowledge of the smallest details of life.

And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.   Matthew 10:30
[C.f. also Psm 139:1-4]

C. God possesses knowledge of possible events . He knows everything that might have

been.

Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had
been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and
ashes.      Matthew 11:21

[C.f. also 1 Sam 23:10-13]

These three points show that God has always known all things, past , present,
and future , at the same time. God has never learned anything.

[Just think: God knew and planned from eternity past that we would all be here
doing this right now. God is never surprised. He never wonders why things happen.
Contra the “openness of God” idea which asserts that God really doesn’t know
what’s going to happen because men have a totally free will. ]

D. God’s knowledge is active , not passive . This means that God’s knowledge of an

event is not gained through observation , but through involvement. He knows an event
because He planned it and participates in it.

The biblical word for this active aspect of God’s knowledge is “ foreknowledge.”
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from
the will of your Father.      Matthew 10:29

Notice this prayer of Peter and John:

Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this
city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power
and will had decided beforehand should happen.      Acts 4:27  28

[“Foreknowledge” is not simply “knowledge ahead of time.” Notice the above verse.

What happened happened because God chose that it should be that way. God does
not look into the future, see what will happen, and then react based on what He sees.
God’s foreknowledge is His active choice of a particular course of action. See Rom
11:2. “Foreknew” means “chose.”]

III. God is Infinite in Authority.

The fact that God’s authority over all creation is without limits is referred to as
His sovereignty .

[“Sovereignty” basically means “control.” “Sove” = all, “reign” = to rule. A king is

called a sovereign, so when you think of sovereignty, think of a king being in charge
or in control.]

What does the sovereignty of God imply?

A. God is in control of all things .

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been
called according to his purpose.      Romans 8:28

[C.f. also 1 Chron 29:11-12; Ps 22:28, 103:19]

B. God is never dependent on man.

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his
judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who
has been his counselor?” “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?” For from
him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.      Romans
11:33  36

God’s sovereignty means that He is totally independent in all His decisions. He is

never influenced or manipulated by His creation. He never depends on
the actions of men to determine His actions.

[What implications does this have for prayer? It means that we don’t change God’s
mind when we pray. God does what He planned on doing. He often accomplishes
that plan in conjunction with our prayers. So what’s wrong with the statement
“Prayer moves the hand that moves the universe”? It conveys the idea that God’s
actions are determined by people. God may fulfill His purposes in conjunction with
our prayers, but He does not depend on them to act.]

C. God does whatever pleases Him.

I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from
the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will
do all that I please.      Isaiah 46:9  10

[C.f. also Ps 115:3; Dan 4:35]

D. Whatever God does is always right .

But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to him who formed it,
`Why did you make me like this?'” Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same
lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?      Romans 9:20  21

God’s sovereignty means that all that He does is right . His actions are not right because
they conform to a standard of right and wrong . He is the standard of right and wrong.

[If the above is true, and if God is in charge of all that is done in the universe, why
does it seem that so much evil abounds? 2 reasons (there are others):

1. The world is a fallen, sin-cursed place (cf. Gen 3). Sin/the curse ruins
things and brings about much of the wrong in the world.
2. Men often suffer the consequences of their own evil or stupid decisions/actions.
E.g., robing a bank leads to jail time. Gal 6:7-8.

The Bible teaches the seemingly contradictory truth that God is sovereign, yet man is
responsible. It would seem that if God is in control of all events, man could not be
held responsible for his actions, for he is only doing what God makes him do. Yet the
Bible clearly teaches that man is responsible for his actions and that God is not the
author of sin.

C.H. Spurgeon writes: “Shall we never be able to drive into men’s minds

the truth that predestination and free agency are both facts? Men sin as

freely as birds fly in the air, and they are altogether responsible for

their sin; and yet everything is ordained and foreseen of God. The

fore-ordination of God in no degree interferes with the responsibility of

man. I have often been asked by persons to reconcile the two truths. My

only reply is – They need no reconciliation, for they never fell out.

why should I try to reconcile two friends?” (C.H. Spurgeon, Metropolitan

Tabernacle Pulpit, Vol.33, Banner of Truth Trust, 1969 reprint, pp

198-199.)]

Recap & Review

In this lesson, we have learned:

1. God is omnipotent, or all-powerful. His power is unlimited.

2. God is omniscient, or all-knowing. His knowledge is unlimited.

3. God is sovereign. His authority is unlimited.

Learning to Live It
1. In Lesson One, we learned that God is a person; therefore, we can and should pray.
Suppose you have an unsaved friend who asks you to go fishing next Thursday. It is
just the opportunity you have been looking for  a full day alone to discuss his
relationship with God. So, you pray that the Lord will grant good weather next
Thursday so you can have this opportunity. What does God have to do to answer your
prayer?

arrange the world’s weather, arrange the friend’s schedule, allow you to make it safely to the
lake, make an opportunity to naturally present the gospel, etc.

Therefore, prayer presupposes which attribute of God discussed in this lesson?

His omnipotence (and sovereignty)

Suppose Thursday comes and it rains all day. What might you conclude about your
prayer?

that it was not in accordance with God’s sovereign will. You could conclude that God did not
answer, or that He doesn’t care, etc. You should conclude that God is still in control of the
situation. Your plan did not fit the divine plan.

2. Suppose some tragedy strikes your family. Is God in control of the situation? yes

Is it possible you may not understand why God allowed this to occur?

Yes, in fact it is very likely you won’t totally understand why many things happen.

What should be your response if you don’t understand why?

Trust Him. Remember, He is too loving to be unkind and too wise to make mistakes. Also,
remember that God is able to do anything, and that He is in control of the situation. Trust that
God is good, wise, and loving, and that there is a reason/purpose for the situation.
Lesson 3: The Greatness of God and the
Christian Life | Biblical Foundations for
Living
Lesson 3: The Greatness of God and the
Christian Life
Lesson Two described three of the attributes, or character qualities, of God’s greatness.
God is great because He is infinite , or without external limitations. Mankind, however,
is completely limited and, thus, finite . Theologians call this fundamental difference
between God and man the Creator / creature distinction.

[God’s only limitations are his own character and will. He won’t do anything
inconsistent with Himself.]

God’s character determines the relationship between Himself and man. This lesson
describes that relationship from the perspective of the three attributes of God’s
greatness discussed in Lesson Two (omnipotence, omniscience, and
sovereignty). [Review these terms.]

[So this lesson looks at how these facts matter to us practically speaking. ]

I. God’s Omnipotence and the Christian

Life
A. The significance of God’s omnipotence to mankind in general

The omnipotence of God renders mankind totally dependent on Him.

God is the ultimate source of everything needed by both believer and unbeliever. He
has structured the specific details of our lives so that we must rely on Him for all things.
This is true whether one admits it or not.

1. Mankind is dependent on God’s power for the preservation of the physical universe .

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all
things by his powerful word.      Hebrews 1:3

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. –  Colossians 1:17

[The universe exists and is kept working by God’s power. If God withdrew His
power, all things would immediately fly apart. C.f. Col 1.17.]

2. Mankind is dependent on God’s power for the preservation of his life .

If it were his intention and he withdrew his Spirit and breath, all mankind would perish together
and man would return to the dust.      Job 34:14  15

3. Mankind is dependent on God’s power for provision of daily needs.

He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the
unrighteous.      Matthew 5:45

Give us today our daily bread. –  Matthew 6:11

B. The significance of God’s omnipotence to the Christian in particular

1. The Christian is dependent on God’s power for the preservation of his

salvation .

The security of the believer depends upon God’s power, not his own. This is why it is
impossible for one to lose his salvation.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new
birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an
inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade  kept in heaven for you, who through faith are
shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last
time.      1 Peter 1:3  5

[God is the one who keeps the Christian saved. C.f. John 10:28-29. Good works do not
keep you saved.]
2. The Christian is dependent on God’s power for the strength to face
the circumstances of life.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and
weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their
strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk
and not be faint.      Isaiah 40:29  31

[“Those who hope in the LORD” are believers. C.f. also 1 Cor 10:13]

3. The Christian is dependent on God’s power for the ability to do right .

Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to
will and to act according to his good purpose.      Philippians 2:12  13

[Both salvation and sanctification are by grace. Both are gifts from God.]

II. God’s Omniscience and the Christian

Life
A. The significance of God’s omniscience to mankind in general

The omniscience of God renders mankind totally accountable to Him.

Accountability means giving an answer for one’s actions. The Bible teaches that all men
will one day give an account to God.

1. Believers will give an account of their actions at the Judgment Seat of Christ .

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due
him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.      2 Corinthians 5:10

2. Unbelievers will give an account of their actions at

the Great White Throne Judgment .

And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened . . . . The
dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.      Revelation 20:12
The fact of our accountability to God assumes He has complete knowledge of all of our
actions.

But they do not realize that I remember all their evil deeds. Their sins engulf them; they are
always before me.      Hosea 7:2

O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you
perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar
with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.      Psalm
139:1  4

[C.f. also Heb 4:13 — all things are “naked and open” to God.]

B. The significance of God’s omniscience to the Christian in particular

The Christian’s understanding of his accountability to the omniscient God serves as a

motivation to forsake sinful living and to pursue righteous living .

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is
any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.      Psalm 139:23  24

III. God’s Sovereignty and the Christian Life

A. The significance of God’s sovereignty to mankind in general

The sovereignty of God renders mankind totally responsible to Him.

Lesson Two established the fact that God has absolute authority over all things. God’s
exercise of this authority is called His sovereignty. Many resist this doctrine because it
makes mankind’s responsibility to God unquestionable.

Mankind’s responsibility to God means that he is obligated to think and act in a certain

way. This obligation cannot be separated from his accountability discussed above. It is
precisely because a person is required to live a certain way that he will be called upon
to account for his actions.

[So man is accountable because he is responsible. God has told us to do certain things in
a certain way. Therefore, we are accountable to do so. E.g., you are given the
responsibility to take out the trash and are held accountable for if you do it, how well
you do it, etc.]

1. Mankind is responsible to God because God has established

standards of behavior .

When God gave the Ten Commandments, He began by identifying Himself as “the
LORD your God” (Exodus 20:2). He did this to emphasize the fact that He is the source
of all standards of right and wrong.

[Today, most people accept the philosophy called relativism: there are no absolutes,
no true right or wrong. Right and wrong depends on the individual and the
circumstance, not on a standard or a law. What consequence does this have?
Changing standards of right and wrong, total independence of “ethical” behavior.
Further, if there is no God, there can be no true standard/law of right or wrong.]

2. Mankind is responsible to God because God has sovereignly planned all of

man’s free choices .

The LORD said to Moses, “When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all
the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let
the people go.”      Exodus 4:21

But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses
and Aaron, just as the LORD had said.      Exodus 8:15

For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display
my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”      Romans 9:17

[Note that in the first verse, God hardens Pharaoh’s heart. In the next verse, Pharaoh
hardens his own heart, and the last verse shows that God is in control of Pharaoh’s
actions. Pharaoh did what he wanted to do, and what he wanted was God’s plan. To
Pharaoh, it seemed as if he was acting freely, but in reality, he was doing what God
planned for him to do. It’s similar for us. From our perspective, our choices are free,
but in reality, God has planned our activities and is in control of what we do.]
Although God never forces us to choose contrary to our will, He has planned the
circumstances in which we exercise our will. Therefore, God has determined that
individuals will exercise their wills at a particular place and at a particular time for a
particular purpose. See also Genesis 50:20.

[God renders it certain that we will always “freely” choose that which he has
previously ordained. This is part of the mystery/paradox between divine sovereignty
and human freedom.]

B. The significance of God’s sovereignty to the Christian in particular

1. The Christian’s understanding that he is responsible to the sovereign God gives him
a God centered purpose in life.

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.      1 Corinthians
10:31

This means that in every situation in life, whether large or small, the believer will ask,
“What would God want me to do?”

2. The Christian’s understanding that God is sovereign gives him peace and confidence .

a. The believer can serve God without worry , knowing that everything is under God’s
control.

b. The believer can be confident, knowing that God has planned every situation he faces
for his good .

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been
called according to his purpose.      Romans 8:28

Recap & Review

In this lesson, we have learned:

1. Because God is omnipotent, we are dependent on Him for

everything.
 2. Because God is omniscient, we are accountable to Him for our actions.

3. Because God is sovereign, we are responsible to Him for our actions.

Learning to Live It
Read the following excerpt from a sermon by Charles H. Spurgeon:

“There is no attribute more comforting to His children than that of God’s Sovereignty.
Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe trials, they believe that
Sovereignty has ordained their afflictions, that Sovereignty overrules them, and that
Sovereignty will sanctify them all. There is nothing for which the children ought more
earnestly to contend than the doctrine of their Master over all creation  the Kingship of
God over all the works of His own hands  the Throne of God and His right to sit upon
that Throne. On the other hand, there is no doctrine more hated by worldlings . . . [than]
the Sovereignty of the infinite Jehovah. Men will allow God to be everywhere except on
His throne. They will allow Him to be in His workshop to fashion worlds and make
stars. They will allow Him to be in His [money house] to dispense His alms and bestow
His bounties. They will allow Him to sustain the earth and bear up the pillars thereof,
or light the lamps of heaven, or rule the waves of the ever moving ocean; but when God
ascends His throne, His creatures then gnash their teeth. And we proclaim an
enthroned God, and His right to do as He wills with His own, to dispose of His
creatures as He thinks well, without consulting them in the matter; then it is that . . .
men turn a deaf ear to us, for God on His throne is not the God they love.”

Why do you think the doctrine of God’s sovereignty is so comforting to believers?

because they know that nothing ever has or ever will happen which is outside of God’s control. It
means that there is a meaning/purpose to life, and that God is in control.

Why should believers uphold this doctrine?

because God would cease to be God without it; because the Bible teaches it

Why do you think people so hate this doctrine?

because it puts God on the throne, not man. Even some believers hate the logical conclusion of
God’s Sovereignty. Some people (Arminians) think that man has a totally (or at least mostly)
free will, and can either choose God or not. We would disagree with them. People also hate it
because it seems to limit or take away man’s freedom or choice. Further, at times it doesn’t seem
to be true experientially. That is, it often seems that occurrences (like storms and disasters) are
random and pointless, that our choices are indeed free, etc. It’s also hard to understand how God
can be sovereign and still hold man accountable.

Lesson 4: The Goodness of God | Biblical

Foundations for Living
Lesson 4: The Goodness of God
In Lesson Two, we learned that God’s attributes can be logically divided into two
categories: His attributes of greatness and His attributes of goodness . The key to
remembering the difference between the two is the word “ share .” God’s qualities of
greatness  His omnipotence, sovereignty, etc.  cannot be shared with created beings;
they are exclusively His. God’s attributes of goodness, on the other hand, can be shared
with created beings. While these characteristics will always shine brightest as qualities
of God, mankind can reflect them to a certain degree.

[So we’re talking about qualities that God shares with mankind.]

Just as God’s greatness is governed by the fact that He is infinite, so His goodness is
governed by the fact that He is holy .

[In other words, these aspects of God’s goodness are limited or governed by God’s
holiness. That is, each of these characteristics that we’ll talk about today are holy.
What do I mean by “holy”? Read next part.]

God’s holiness has two aspects:

1. God is separate from His creation.

The word “holy” literally describes something that has been “ set apart .” To say that
God is holy means that He is not part of the universe, nor is the universe part of Him.
He is unique .
[This explains how objects (e.g., furniture in the tabernacle and temple, holy ground)
can be considered holy.

Also, God created the universe, and He is in the universe, but he is separate from the
universe. ]

2. God is morally pure.

God’s uniqueness is seen not only in His nature (what He is like), but also in His
activities (what He does). He does not act like mankind. For example, we sin  He does
not. Therefore, the word “holy” came to be applied to the apartness or difference
between the moral character of God and the moral character of man. Unlike us, God
never does anything that is wrong; He always does what is right.

[So when you see the word “holy,” think of two things: separate/different, and
morally pure. This holiness characterizes or governs the other attributes we’ll talk
about today.]

In this lesson, we will learn:

1. God is holy in love .

2. God is holy in righteousness .

3. God is holy in grace .

I. God is Holy in Love.

[I.e., God’s love can be described as “holy” — set apart, morally pure.]

A. Characteristics of God’s love

1. God’s love is an act of the will , not an emotion .

Feelings are fickle — they change from day to day. When love is based on feelings, it
too is changeable. Love does affect the emotions, but one should not equate the two.
Biblical love is not a feeling but a choice . Thus, God could promise to love His people
and command them to love as well.
I will heal their waywardness and love them freely.      Hosea 14:4

[The love we’re talking about is not romantic or erotic love. It’s different that the
world’s definition of love. Rather than a feeling, godly love is a concern for the well-
being of the one loved. Matt 5:44 “Love your enemies.”]

2. God’s love is governed by His other attributes .

People often think that in order to be loving, one must ignore sin and overlook error.
However, true biblical love cannot contradict the other attributes of God. It always
functions within the confines of truth and justice .

The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.      Psalm 33:5

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that
is, Christ. –  Ephesians 4:15

[God’s love does not override his holiness. God won’t accept in his love what his
holiness rejects. Christianity is big on “acceptance” these days–you need to accept
people as they are, not offend them, etc. But love is not synonymous with acceptance.
You can love a person and still reject their behavior–in fact, that’s what we are
commanded to do.]

3. God’s love is sacrificial .

Mankind’s version of love tends to be selfish. It is preoccupied with getting rather

than giving . However, true love requires giving  sacrificing one’s self for the benefit of
another. The supreme example of the self sacrificial nature of genuine love is God’s gift
of His Son for our salvation.

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we
might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his
Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.      1 John 4:9  10 (See also 1 John 3:16.)

[C.f. also John 15:13 “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life
for his friends.”]

4. God’s love is unconditional .

It is common to find people using so called love as a bargaining tool. They say, “I will
love you if . . . .” However, God loves mankind with no “if’s” attached. He does not ask
what we can give Him in return. He loves us in spite of our sinfulness.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for
us.      Romans 5:8

To put it another way, we tend to say, “I love you because you are lovely .” But God
says, “I love you because I am love  in spite of the fact that you are unlovely .”

5. God’s love is unending .

People often speak of falling in and out of love. However, genuine love does not just
happen  it is a choice. God never “falls out of love.” Love is part of His very nature.
Therefore, God has said:

I have loved you with an everlasting love.   Jeremiah 31:3

B. A definition of God’s love

God’s love is the attribute which causes Him to sacrificially and

unconditionally choose to do what is best for us.

II. God is Holy in Righteousness.

The words “holy” and “righteous” are often used interchangeably, but they are
different concepts. As noted above, holiness emphasizes God’s separation from His
creation. His righteousness is holy because it is unlike any standards of right and wrong
that mankind would establish.

[“Righteous” and “just” mean “right” or “fair.” “Righteousness” is “right-ness,” the

quality of being right. Justice is a result or out-working of righteousness.]

A. Characteristics of God’s righteousness

1. Righteousness is conformity to a standard.

This point is clearly illustrated in the Old Testament laws pertaining to weights and
measures.

Do not use dishonest (lit. “unrighteous”) standards when measuring length, weight or

quantity. Use honest (lit. “righteous”) scales and honest weights.      Leviticus 19:35  36

Scales are called righteous (honest) when they conform to an established standard.

2. God Himself is the standard of right.

There is no standard of right and wrong one may impose on God. He is the standard.
He is righteous because all that He does is completely consistent with His character.

I will proclaim the name of the LORD. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! He is the Rock, his
works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just
is he.      Deuteronomy 32:3  4

[If there is no God, can there be a true standard of right and wrong? No. You can see
then how atheism has brought about the idea of relativism.]

3. Righteousness requires the punishing of disobedience (failure to conform to the

standard).

The LORD did not hesitate to bring the disaster upon us, for the LORD our God is righteous in
everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him.      Daniel 9:14

[God would not be just if he ignored the breaking of the law. God punishes sin
because crime (sin) is worthy of punishment. A punishment equal the crime must be
made. Think of a judge who ignores criminals–he is unjust. So God has to respond
when someone sins, because if he didn’t, he wouldn’t be just/righteous. It’s God’s
nature to react against sin.]

4. Righteousness requires the rewarding of obedience (conformity to the standard).

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have
helped his people and continue to help them.      Hebrews 6:10
Both 3 and 4 are expressions of God’s justice . Because God is righteous, He will always
do what is just in light of our actions, handing out punishment or reward.

[Why is it that sin often seems to go unpunished? Because God is gracious, and
because God often reserves punishment and reward for later (hell and heaven).]

B. A definition of God’s righteousness

God’s righteousness is the attribute which ensures that all that He does conforms to His
character. It also demands that all others conform to His perfect standard. God’s justice
is the aspect of His righteousness in which He rewards obedience and punishes
disobedience.

III. God is Holy in Grace.

“Grace” is one of the most misused and abused words in theology, yet it is a very
simple concept. A biblical word translated into English by the word “grace” means “to

stoop ; to bend down.” It communicates the idea of reaching down with condescending

favor or kindness.

A. Characteristics of God’s grace

[Remember that even God’s grace is governed by his holiness. God will not overlook
sin just because He is gracious.]

1. God’s grace is undeserved .

God extends His grace to sinners though they do not deserve it.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through
the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.      Romans 3:23  24

[Grace is receiving something we do not deserve–favor. Mercy is not receiving

something we do deserve–punishment, condemnation.
Even unsaved people benefit from God’s “common” grace. Common grace restrains
sin generally and allows people to do good generally. Without it there would be no
limit to the sinfulness of man.]

2. God’s grace is unearned .

Most people feel that they can do something to earn God’s favor. However, God cannot
be manipulated. Nothing can obligate Him to mankind. God’s grace is a free gift. If you
have to do something to earn grace, it can no longer be grace.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith  and this not from yourselves, it is the gift
of God  not by works, so that no one can boast.      Ephesians 2:8  9

[Earning God’s favor is the basis of every other religion in the world. Works is the
basis of favor for most other people. But there is nothing a sinful person can do to
earn God’s favor. C.f. also Rom 11:6.]

3. God’s grace is unwanted .

Contrary to popular belief, mankind does not want anything to do with God. When an
unsaved person speaks of a desire for God, he is really referring to a desire for
the benefits that only God can give. The two are not the same!

There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.   Romans 3:11

[Before a person is saved, he is dead in trespasses and sin. He is unresponsive to
God. He hates God. So he is unconcerned about receiving any favor from God.]

B. A definition of God’s grace

God’s grace is His undeserved, unearned, and unwanted favor given to condemned

sinners.

Recap & Review

In this lesson, we have learned that God is holy. That is, He is separate from His
creation and morally pure. This attribute governs all the attributes of His goodness. We
have learned three of these attributes of goodness:
1. God is holy in love. He always does what is best for us.

2. God is holy in righteousness. Everything He does is right.

3. God is holy in grace. He extends His favor to us, although we do not deserve, earn,
or want it.

Learning to Live It
During a lengthy discussion of the gospel with an unsaved friend, the subject of hell is
mentioned. He responds by saying, “I don’t believe in hell. After all, God is love. How
could a loving God ever send anyone to hell?” How would you answer this question?

God is love, but He is also just and holy and righteous. His justice demands eternal punishment
because man’s sin is against an infinite God. If one will not obey God (be saved), then he will
suffer the punishment for his sin. God in his love has provided a way of salvation. It’s not God’s
fault if someone ignores that way. The degree of punishment is based on who the crime is
against, e.g., killing an ant vs. murder. Sin is against an infinite, holy God; thus the punishment
fits the crime.

Later in the same conversation, your friend says, “I’m not worried about my soul  I’m as
good as anyone else!” Based upon your understanding of righteousness, how would
you respond to this statement?

Man is not the standard, God is. The standard is perfection. The state and destination of your
soul does not depend upon how good you are compared to someone else. It depends upon how
good you are in God’s eyes. The only way you can be good with God is to be saved (2 Cor 5:21).

Finally, your friend says, “Well, I may not be perfect, but I’ve

taken care of that by attending church, taking communion, and being baptized.” What
misunderstandings does he have about grace?

salvation is by grace–It cannot be earned through good works (Eph 2:8-9)

Lesson 5: The Goodness of God and the
Christian Life | Biblical Foundations for
Living
Lesson 5: The Goodness of God and the
Christian Life
Lessons Two and Three focused on the attributes of God’s greatness . We learned that
He is infinite, while mankind is finite. This difference is known as the Creator/creature
distinction. In Lesson Four, we looked at the attributes of God’s goodness . God’s
goodness is all of His character qualities that can be described as holy . Although
mankind can never be infinite, he can share God’s holiness. This lesson will show how
the attributes of God’s goodness apply to mankind in general and to the Christian in
particular.

Every moral change that God produces in the life of the Christian is an expression of
holiness. It is an act of “ setting apart ” the believer. He is set apart from sin to God. The
character qualities of God’s goodness, such as love, righteousness, and grace, become
the marks of holiness in the life of the believer.

I. God’s Love and the Christian Life

A. The significance of God’s love to mankind in general

1. Mankind is the object of God’s love.

Future lessons will show that mankind bears the image of God. It is this image that
distinguishes man from the rest of creation. God’s love is limited to that which reflects
His own image, namely, mankind.

[God does not love animals or plants in the same way he loves people. People are the
only creatures who bear the image of God.]

2. The supreme expression of God’s love for man is the gift of His Son .

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall
not perish but have eternal life.      John 3:16

[C.f. also 1 John 4:9-10.]

B. The significance of God’s love to the Christian in particular

1. Believers share the character quality of God’s holy love.

Parents pass on many of their human characteristics to their children. In a similar way,
our heavenly Father passes on His attributes of goodness to His children. Love is one
such attribute.

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born
of God and knows God.      1 John 4:7

[Remember that true, godly love is a choice to do what is best for the one loved, not a
romantic or erotic feeling/emotion. We can and should share this type of love. Lack of
love shows a lack of salvation. C.f. 1 John 3:14.]

2. The presence of genuine love in one’s life is evidence of a relationship with God.

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.      1 John 4:8

3. The believer demonstrates genuine love for God through obedience .

If you love me, you will obey what I command.      John 14:15

4. God’s love for the believer results in discipline for disobedience .

True love will not tolerate disobedience. It is in our best interest for God to require our
obedience. Therefore, punishment of disobedience is really an expression of true love.

My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a
son.      Hebrews 12:5  6
[Apathy (an “I don’t care” attitude) is an evidence of lack of love. So what does that
say about discipline received from parents, teachers, etc? If they didn’t care about
you, they’d let you do exactly as you choose. Discipline and limits show they care.
Lack of it shows they don’t. So be thankful that your parents, teachers, etc discipline
you.]

II. God’s Righteousness and the Christian

Life
A. The significance of God’s righteousness to mankind in general

1. Every person is required to live according to the perfect standard demanded by God.

The ultimate test of anyone’s actions or motives is not, “Am I better than someone
else?” The ultimate test is, “Am I like God?”

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. –  Matthew 5:48

[Contra relativism, which says there is no real, objective standard of right and wrong.
Our standard comes from God, not from how I feel or the situation.]

2. Because God is righteous, all wrongs will eventually be righted .

The Bible teaches that all people ought to do right; however, wickedness is rampant and
getting worse. Sometimes it seems as though the wicked get away with sin, i.e., that
crime pays. The Bible does not guarantee that we will always see justice done
in this life . There will come a time, however, when every thought , word , action ,
and motive will be judged by a righteous God.

For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He
has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.      Acts 17:31

B. The significance of God’s righteousness to the Christian in particular

1. Believers share the character quality of God’s holy righteousness.

Believers are in a process of change. Every day they are increasingly being conformed to
the image of Christ. This means that those who once could never do anything godly are
now

enabled by God to meet His standard of right and wrong.

Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as
he is righteous. –  1 John 3:7

[This texts is speaking of righteousness as a pattern of life, not absolutely sinless

behavior. ]

2. The presence of righteousness in one’s life is evidence of a relationship with God.

If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of
him.      1 John 2:29

This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone
who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his
brother.      1 John 3:10

3. God’s righteousness guarantees restoration when the sinning believer confesses his or

her sin.

Christians are able to be righteous in their thoughts, words, actions, and motives.
However, this does not mean that they will be perfect. 1 John 1:8 indicates
that Christians sin. Sin in the life of a believer affects his fellowship with God. But God
is always willing to forgive and restore the repentant believer.

[Sin negatively impacts our relationship with God, but it does not sever it. One of the
reasons daily devotions are so important is to keep “short accounts” with God, that
is, confess and repent of our sin and ask for help.]

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our
sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all
unrighteousness.      1 John 1:8  9
4. God’s justice guarantees that any good deeds that believers do for Him will not
be forgotten .

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have
helped his people and continue to help them.      Hebrews 6:10

III. God’s Grace and the Christian Life

Theologians classify the grace of God into two categories: common grace
and special grace. Common grace is a description of His kindness given to all mankind,
whether saved or unsaved. Special grace is the kindness which God gives only to
believers.

A. The significance of God’s grace to mankind in general

1. Because of common grace, all people understand that God exists . There is no such
thing as a true atheist.

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities  his eternal power and divine nature 
have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without
excuse.      Romans 1:20

[There are no true philosophical atheists. People deny the existence of God and
suppress their knowledge of him, but they are deceiving themselves. Why do people
want there to be no God? Then they’ll not be responsible for their actions. There will
be no final judgment, no punishment for sins.]

2. Because of common grace, evil is restrained in the world.

The fact that all people are not as bad as they could be is due to the work of common
grace. The Holy Spirit limits the wickedness of societies and individuals.

Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs
and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. And now you know what
is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of
lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is
taken out of the way.      2 Thessalonians 2:3,  6  7
[During the Trib., the H. Sp. will not suppress or limit sin as he is doing now.]

3. Because of common grace, God is patient with mankind.

God could condemn the entire human race at any time. The condemnation of the race
would be pure justice . It is the grace of God which prevents this from happening.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with
you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.      2 Peter 3:9

4. Because of common grace, unsaved men are able to do cultural or civic good.

Christ acknowledged that the Pharisees, though unsaved, were capable of doing
“good” (Matthew 23:23). However, such “good works” are viewed as sinful by God due
to the motives behind them (Isaiah 64:6).

[Such “good works” by the unsaved are non-meritorious. That is, they have no
eternal value. There is nothing an unsaved person can do to please God.]

B. The significance of God’s grace to the Christian in particular

1. The special grace of God results in the salvation of those who believe.

Christians are saved only because of the undeserved, unearned, and unwanted favor of
God.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the
riches of God’s grace.      Ephesians 1:7

2. The special grace of God results in the spiritual growth of those who are saved.

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to
ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self controlled, upright and godly lives in this
present age.      Titus 2:11  12

3. Believers share the character quality of God’s holy graciousness.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave
you.      Ephesians 4:32

[Part of that graciousness is patience with the shortcomings and failures of others.
God has been and is very patient with us as sinners, and we should display the same
kind of grace toward others.]

4. The presence of grace in one’s life is evidence of a

relationship with God.

[Since] you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, [since] any comfort from
his love, [since] any fellowship with the Spirit, [since] any tenderness and compassion, then
make my joy complete by being like minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and
purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others
better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the
interests of others.      Philippians 2:1  4

Recap & Review

In this lesson, we have learned:

1. Because God is love, the believer is able to love God and his fellow man.

2. Because God is righteous, the believer is able to do right.

3. Because God is gracious, the believer is able to be gracious to others.

Learning to Live It
1. An organization is being established in your neighborhood called The United Church
League (UCL). A representative of the UCL contacts your pastor and asks him to
encourage your church to join. The representative says, “Doctrine is not an issue in the
UCL. We have Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals, Presbyterians, and Catholics. We
believe that the UCL is the answer to Jesus’ prayer in John 17:21 that we might all be
one. Won’t you demonstrate your love for God and join this worthy organization?”
Your pastor asks for your advice. Based on your understanding of biblical love, how
would you respond?
Love does not overlook error or sin. Love and truth are inseparable. I demonstrate my love for
God by not joining up with such organizations. In order for such groups to participate,
participants would have to sacrifice or compromise their doctrinal positions. Remember that love
is not just acceptance. Love is conditioned/governed by holiness. God will not accept in his love
what his holiness condemns.

2. Bill, a classmate at school, has just lost his girlfriend in a car accident caused by a
drunk driver. The charges against the drunk driver are dismissed because of a
technicality. Bill meets you for lunch one day and says, “It’s just not fair! How could
God let this happen?” What would you tell Bill about the righteousness of God?

Because God is just, justice will one day be served, though it may not be in this life.  God will
eventually make all things right. All will be justly rewarded and/or punished. It may not seem
like that is the case now, but we don’t always have all the facts. God does not just “let” things
happen. Things happen because God planned them to. Further, in such situations, it’s best to
trust God to repay and exact vengeance.

3. The city of Detroit has a terrible tradition called “Devil’s Night.” The night before
Halloween, teens burn buildings and destroy property all over the

city. However, in your community the Halloween pranks amount only to some egged
cars and smashed pumpkins. How could you explain the difference between the
activities in these two communities?

It could be a combination of many factors, such as population density, police enforcement,

morale, community morals, etc. A factor not to be overlooked is God’s common grace. God
restrains sin to some degree. The only reason every night is not “Devil’s Night” is that God
restrains sin.

4. Some people grow up in Christian homes, while others have never heard of the Bible.
How is God fair to those who have never heard?

Very tough question. A few thoughts: 1. Remember that salvation is God’s business. He’s in
charge of who has access to His word. 2. Our conception of fair and unfair may not reflect all the
issues involved. God would be totally just to condemn all people. That he saves some is pure
grace. 3. God has said that all men have some access to knowledge about God, thru creation and
conscience. No one can legitimately say that he knew nothing of God
 1. Does this mean that all Christians are perfect? No, but there should be some
evidence of a desire to do right, and some progress in turning from sinful
behavior.
2. If a person claims to be saved, righteous deeds of some sort should
follow. If they do not, there is no evidence and no assurance of

salvation. 

Section Two: The Doctrine of the Bible–

Who am I? I am a recipient of the Bible,
God’s communication to man.
Lesson 6: God Has Revealed Himself to
Man | Biblical Foundations for Living

Lesson 6: God Has Revealed Himself to

Man
To study God as we have done in Lessons 1-5 is an awesome task. It is impossible for
finite sinners to fully grasp the greatness and goodness of their Creator. [Part of what is
called the incomprehensibility of God–God can be truly  known but
not fully  known.] What is perhaps even more awesome is the fact that this infinite God
has chosen to communicate to finite men. Yet this is exactly what God has done. In this
lesson, we will learn that God has chosen to reveal truth about Himself to mankind both
generally and specifically.

I. God Has Revealed Truth About Himself

Generally.
God has revealed general information about Himself to every man. Theologians call this
revelation “ general ” because it is general in content and is available to all men in
general. This means that everyone has access to some knowledge of God.
A. The means of general revelation

1. God has revealed Himself through creation .

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day
they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of
the world.      Psalm 19:1  4

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of
men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to
them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible
qualities  his eternal power and divine nature  have been clearly seen, being understood from
what has been made, so that men are without excuse.      Romans 1:18  20

2. God has revealed Himself through man’s conscience .

Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they
are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the
requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and
their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.      Romans 2:14  15

[Conscience is that internal sense of right and wrong that everyone has to one degree
or another. The ability to understand right and wrong is part of the image of God in
man. Conscience can be callused or seared, making it less sensitive.]

B. The purposes of general revelation

1. General revelation reveals general truth about God .

According to Romans 1:18 20 and 2:14-15, general revelation communicates a

limited message to man. Through it man understands that:

a. God exists .

b. God is the Creator .
c. God has established standards of right and wrong which must be obeyed .

Note: While men do have some knowledge of right and wrong, it is only through God’s
Word that they can learn all of God’s standards of right and wrong.

[What do you think of the statement “Let your conscience be your guide”? Not
exactly right. Conscience decides on the basis of the standard given it. If the standard
is wrong, the behavior will be wrong. Conscience is not infallible. People often feel
no guilt whatever about their sins/crimes, so conscience is not a reliable guide.

General rev. shows man that there is a God, that God created him, and that he is thus
responsible to God for how he lives. ]

2. General revelation renders men inexcusable before God.

a. General revelation will always be rejected by men.

An unsaved man will never accept the implications of the truths of general revelation.
Therefore, he is “without excuse” before God. We will examine the reason for this in
Lesson Twelve.

[Rom 1 says that men suppress or hold down what truth they get from general
revelation. ]

b. General revelation cannot save .

General revelation communicates enough truth about God to make a

man responsible to seek God for salvation. However, it does not communicate
the content of the gospel. It communicates only enough truth to condemn men.

[In order to be saved, a person must understand the content of the gospel. One cannot
be saved by observing the natural world. General revelation is condemnatory—it
takes away man’s excuse, but it does not provide enough info to save anyone. No one
responds to general rev. by being saved. There’s not enough content. That’s why we
need special rev.

The following scenario is often brought up: What about the native in some remote
corner of the world who has never heard the gospel? If he follows the light that he
has, acknowledges the God revealed in nature, and sincerely seeks to do what is
right, won’t he be saved? Answer: John 14:6; Acts 4:12. ]

II. God Has Revealed Truth About Himself

Specifically.
God has revealed specific information about Himself. Theologians call this revelation

“ special ” because it is specific in content and is revealed only to specific individuals.

[Special rev. is special because of it’s content (direct rev.) and it’s recipients (a select
person or group). ]

A. The means of special revelation

1. In the past, God revealed specific information about Himself in different ways .

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various
ways.      Hebrews 1:1

a. God revealed Himself through dreams (Genesis 20:3, 6 and 31:10 13).

b. God revealed Himself through visions (Isaiah 1:1 and 6:1).

c. God revealed Himself through angels (Luke 2:8 14).

d. God revealed Himself through direct address (Exodus 3:4ff).

e. God has revealed Himself through the prophets (Habakkuk 2:2 3).

2. God’s special revelation culminated with Christ.

[Culminate = brought to it’s highest point or perfected with Christ.]

a. Christ is God’s final revelation to man.

1) The Old Testament pointed to Christ.

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets (i.e., the whole Old Testament), he
explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.      Luke 24:27

2) Christ is superior to all other means of special revelation.

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various
ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things,
and through whom he made the universe.      Hebrews 1:1-2

b. Christ spoke through the apostles .

The apostles were a select group of men chosen by God to perform some unique tasks
essential to the founding of the New Testament church. They were chosen by Christ
(Acts 1:1-2), witnesses of His resurrection (Acts 1:21-22), and commissioned to record
Scripture (John 14-16) and authenticate its message through miracles (2 Corinthians
12:12, Hebrews 2:3-4). There are no apostles today because there is no longer anyone
who meets these qualifications.

[The purpose of the miracles the apostles did was to authenticate their message. The
“Jews require a sign” (1 Cor 1:22). Miracles proved that they were sent by God.

It’s interesting to note that miracles did not always change people’s mind regarding
the gospel. That is, many people saw the miracles and still rejected Jesus, his
message, and the apostles. E.g., the Pharisees at the resurrection of Lazarus admitted
that a great miracle had been done, but still sought to kill Jesus. ]

B. The purpose of special revelation

1. The explanation of the purpose

The purpose of special revelation is to enable us to know God’s will and to do it.

The Bible is the only vehicle of special revelation through which God communicates His
will today.
[Why is it dangerous to separate knowing God’s will from what God has revealed in
the Bible? Because finding God’s will usually ends up being subjective/feeling-based
or situation-based.]

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you
know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy
Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 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.      2
Timothy 3:14  17

2. The accomplishment of the purpose

Since the purpose of the Bible is to enable one to know God’s will and to do it, one must
understand how this is accomplished.

a. Illumination enables us to know God’s will.

Illumination is that act of the Holy Spirit whereby He enables believers to understand
the significance of God’s Word. We are illumined only after determining the meaning of
Scripture by properly interpreting it.

The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they
are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually
discerned.      1 Corinthians 2:14

[Can an unsaved man understand the meaning of the Bible? Yes–an unsaved man can
understand words/language just as well as we can. Can an unsaved man understand
the significance of the Bible? No. One can understand the text and yet reject it’s
significance. You act on what you believe.

We’ve got to be very careful about interpreting the Bible correctly. It’s easy to come
up with “horseback interpretations” if you ignore the rules of hermeneutics (biblical
interpretation–we’ll study that later).]

b. A biblical mindset enables us to do God’s will.

God wants us to approach life with a “ Bible soaked ” logic. As we learn of God and His
will through His Word and begin to view life as He does, we will be able to make
decisions that honor Him. The key to making proper, God honoring decisions is
knowing God’s Word and, thereby, learning to think as God thinks.

[A “Bible-soaked logic” is the state of mind in which biblical principles are so well
understood and accepted that one naturally applies them to any circumstance. You
determine the will of God when it’s not directly revealed in the Bible (e.g., who to
marry, where to go to college, what career to pursue, etc.) by applying biblical
wisdom to the situation. How do you get a “Bible-soaked logic”? By repeated
exposure to the Bible and a commitment to obey it in all areas of life. You eventually
come to see and appreciate general biblical principles that apply to many situations.]

Recap & Review

In this lesson, we have learned:

1. God has revealed truth about Himself generally. We call this general
revelation. Creation and conscience are the two means of general revelation.

2. God has revealed truth about Himself specifically. We call this special
revelation. The Bible is the only means of special revelation today.

Learning to Live It
Your cousin calls you one evening and excitedly relates her experience at a recent
charismatic church service. She states, “God revealed to the pastor that he is supposed
to build a youth complex and that all those who do not sacrificially give toward it are
disobeying God.” What kind of revelation is the pastor claiming to have received?

special or direct revelation

What is the only means of special revelation available today?

the Bible

Therefore, what kind of authority is the pastor assigning to his words?

He is saying that his words carry the same weight as Scripture.

Whom did God commission to produce Scripture?

the apostles and those in close relation with the apostles, like Luke

Is your cousin’s pastor an apostle? Why not?

no; He doesn’t meet the qualifications.

Therefore, is the pastor’s claim valid? Why not?

no; because God is no longer giving special revelation, and since he’s not an apostle, he has no
commission to produce Scripture. Other dangers: no check on the system of receiving revelation.
That is, anyone could claim to be receiving revelation.

How would you advise your cousin?

1. Show her that the pastor has no right to claim that he has received revelation directly from
God because he is not an apostle. 2. Tell her to be careful about any claims from such a person. 3.
Tell her to find a church where they preach the Bible rather than what someone claims is the
word of God.

Lesson 7: The Bible: Human & Divine |

Biblical Foundations for Living
Lesson 7: The Bible: Human and Divine
In the previous lesson, we learned that God’s only means of special revelation today is
the Bible.

[Review difference between special and general revelation.] The Bible is unique in

that it was written over a long period of time by many people. Therefore, God has taken
special care to guide man in the production, compilation, and maintenance of the
Scriptures.
[Production: it’s inspiration/writing; compilation: it’s assembly/canonization;
maintenance: it’s endurance/preservation ]

In this lesson, we will learn that:

1. The Bible is inspired .

2. The Bible is complete .

3. The Bible is preserved .

I. The Bible is Inspired.

The word “inspiration” is used to describe the process by which God gave the Bible to
man. “God superintended the human authors of the Bible so that they composed and
recorded without error His message to mankind in the words of their original writings”
(Charles Ryrie, Basic Theology, p. 71). This definition includes both
the divine and human activity involved in the production of Scripture.

A. The divine aspect of inspiration

1. God is the source of all Scripture.

All Scripture is God breathed.   2 Timothy 3:16

The word “God-breathed” is a descriptive way of saying that God is the source of the
Bible. Even though God Himself did not do the actual writing, the words, sentences,
and thoughts of the Bible are those which God wanted written .

Theologians use the word “ plenary ” (meaning “full”) to indicate that the Bible as a
whole is the Word of God. The Bible does not merely contain God’s Word; rather, the
Bible is God’s Word.

[What’s the difference? If the Bible only contained God’s Word, it could possibly
contain factual errors and parts that are not really God’s Word. Saying the
Bible is God’s Word means that every part of it is exactly what God intended.]

2. The significance of the Bible’s divine authorship

a. The Bible is without error (inerrant).

God, who does not lie . . . .      Titus 1:2

Your word is truth.      John 17:17

[What about matters of history and science? It’s still true, although the Bible is not a
science textbook.

Does inerrancy pass over to a specific version? No. Inerrancy properly pertains to the
original autographs, the manuscripts that the biblical authors penned. No version or
copy is truly inerrant, because there are very likely minor scribal errors,
mistranslations, and the like. Does lack of inerrancy make our versions useless or
corrupt? No. Several versions have a high degree of accuracy and are thus very
reliable. But they are inerrant in a derivative sense–to the degree that they reflect the
inerrant original, they are inerrant.]

Since God Himself is the source of the Scriptures, they are without error. Furthermore,
since the entire Bible is inspired, the entire Bible is inerrant.

b. The Bible is authoritative (infallible).

The Scripture cannot be broken.      John 10:35

Although closely related, inerrancy and infallibility are not synonymous. Inerrancy
emphasizes the Bible’s truthfulness , while infallibility emphasizes its

authority . Infallibility means that because the Bible is the Word of God, it is
the final authority on all matters.

[Inerrancy and infallibility are pretty much synonymous. Infallibility stresses the
idea that the Bible makes no false or misleading statements and is incapable of
leading one astray. ]

c. The Bible is relevant .

[Relevant means meaningful, useful, practical. It speaks to us today. ]

All Scripture . . . is useful.      2 Timothy 3:16

Although God has revealed truth about Himself to specific people in specific places at
specific times, the value of the Bible’s message is not restricted to any particular time or
place.

d. The Bible is unified .

Because God Himself is the author of the Bible, it never contradicts itself. Passages that
are difficult to grasp may be understood by comparing them with the clear teachings of
other biblical texts. As a result, the Bible often interprets itself .

[You may hear the phrase “Scripture interprets Scripture.” This means that one part
of the Bible explains another part. “The analogy of Scripture” is the same idea. Rule:
always let the clear passage interpret or explain the unclear passage. Also, never base
a doctrine on an unclear passage.

What about apparent contradictions? There are several places in which the Bible does
apparently contradict itself. E.g., 1 Sam 17:51 vs. 2 Sam 21:19. Often times with study,
the contradiction disappears. Or a scribal slip (especially with numbers) could be the
reason. There are no real/valid contradictions, only apparent ones.]

B. The human aspect of inspiration

1. The Bible was written in human language .

The Bible was written in the languages commonly spoken by its writers and readers
(the Old Testament primarily in Hebrew and the New Testament in Greek). Therefore,
one should interpret the Bible as he would interpret normal written communication.

[For some time scholars thought that the Greek of the NT was some special, heavenly
Greek. But researchers found that the Greek of the NT is actually “koine” or common
Greek. It was the language of the market, of the common person, not a special language
at all.

Why do pastors, teachers, theologians, etc. want to study Greek and Hebrew? To
achieve greater accuracy in understanding the text. We pay great attention to the
language (grammar and syntax) of the Bible because through them we are able to better
understand and interpret God’s Word.]

2. The Bible was influenced by the human authors’ backgrounds and personalities .

The Bible was composed over more than 1,600 years by over 40 different authors. Each
author wrote from the context of his own vocation, circumstances, intellect, etc. Each of
these elements influenced the final product.

God did not mechanically dictate the Scriptures to the human authors. Rather, He

superintended or “carried along” the writers (2 Peter 1:21) without destroying their
individual vocabularies, writing styles, etc. in such a way that the final product was
exactly what He wanted.

God’s guidance of the human authors extended to the very words they wrote (1

Corinthians 2:13), not merely to their thoughts or ideas. Theologians refer to this
as verbal inspiration.

[You may hear the expression “verbal, plenary inspiration.” This simply means that
each and every word is fully inspired. Matt 5:18 indicates that the smallest details of
the words of the text are preserved. ]

3. The Bible contains various writing styles .

Because the Bible ultimately has but one author, one might expect a consistent style of
writing throughout. However, one finds many writing styles in Scripture. This is a
further indicator of the human aspect of inspiration.

[The language and style of writing between authors sometimes differs widely. E.g.,
the styles/vocabularies of John and Paul differ widely.]

II. The Bible is Complete.

The word “ canonization ” refers to the process by which the individual books of the
Bible came to be recognized as Scripture. The word “canon” literally means a “rule” or
“standard.” In time, the word was commonly used to refer to the collection of inspired
writings. The 66 books found in our Bibles were included in the canon because they met
various rules or standards of canonicity set forth by the early church.
A. The Old Testament canon is complete.

1. God’s people collected the Old Testament books.

[Joshua] drew up for them decrees and laws. And Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the
Law of God.      Joshua 24:25  26

2. Christ confirmed the Old Testament books.

Jesus replied, “. . . this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that
has been shed since the beginning of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of
Zechariah.”      Luke 11:46  51

The arrangement of the 39 books of the Old Testament in Jesus’s day began with
Genesis and ended with 2 Chronicles. The deaths of Abel and Zechariah are recorded in
Genesis and 2 Chronicles respectively. So, this was Jesus’s way of saying, “From
the beginning to the end .” In this way, Jesus was confirming the boundaries of the Old
Testament canon.

Christians have little difficulty recognizing which Old Testament books meet the
standard for inclusion in the canon, seeing they have the words of Christ
Himself   the standard.

B. The New Testament canon is complete.

1. Christ pre authenticated the New Testament books.

In Lesson Six, we learned that the apostles were uniquely chosen and commissioned by
Christ to write the New Testament. As a result, their writings carried divine authority
and, thus, were to be included in the canon.

2. God’s people recognized the New Testament books.

a. The apostles recognized their own writings as Scripture.

Paul recognized that his letters were inspired and expected his readers to recognize this
as well.
If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am
writing to you is the Lord’s command.      1 Corinthians 14:37

“Scripture” is a technical term for those writings which believers recognized to be God’s
Word. In the New Testament, it usually refers to the Old Testament (Luke 24:27 and 2
Timothy 3:15 16). However, Peter applies the term to Paul’s letters, showing that God’s
people began to recognize the New Testament books as canonical shortly after their
composition.

[Paul] writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters
contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as
they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.      2 Peter 3:16

2. The church recognized the apostles’ writings as Scripture.

The early church applied several “ tests ” to determine which books were Scripture.
These tests did not determine a book’s authority; rather, they simply helped the church
to recognize such.

1) The church recognized books which had apostolic authority.

To be considered Scripture, a book must have been composed by an apostle or under

the direction of an apostle (For example, Luke wrote under the direction of Paul.).

2) The church recognized books which were commonly accepted as authentic.

Since apostolic authority was the primary criterion for authenticity, it was only natural
that the very churches the apostles established would readily accept the authenticity of
their writings.

3) The church recognized books which were orthodox .

A book had to teach doctrine which was consistent with that of the other books of the
Bible in order to be considered canonical.

[“Orthodox” literally means “straight,” and it refers to doctrine that is accepted or

approved or correct. Something unorthodox is unapproved, different, odd, and/or
incorrect.
Note: the Scriptures were authoritative the moment they were written. They were not
recognized right away, tho.

The Apocrypha is not part of the canon because it does not meet the criteria. By the
way, the 1611 KJV included the Apocrypha.]

Note: The canon of Scripture has been closed for nearly 1,900 years. John, the last of the
apostles, died at the end of the first century A. D. shortly after writing the book of
Revelation, which closed the canon.

III. The Bible is Preserved.

Not only has God used men to produce and compile His Word, He has also used them
to maintain it. Theologians call this process preservation . God has preserved His
Word providentially , not miraculously .

[Why do we draw a distinction between miraculous and providential preservation?

Because miraculous describes a special, supernatural intervention by God beyond
the normal state of affairs. If miraculous preservation were the case, we would expect
to find no problems or errors with any Bible copies or versions. Unfortunately, that is
not the case. No version of the Scripture is miraculously free from error. The miracle
was in the inspiration, not in the preservation. Providential preservation stresses the
fact that God maintained His Word through normal, every-day processes. Such
processes may have introduced a certain number of mistakes or differences into
various copies, which is what we find. Had God preserved the originals, perhaps that
could have been called miraculous.]

A. The Old Testament is preserved.

1. Christ confirmed the preservation of the Old Testament.

I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke
of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished      Matthew
5:18

One should note that Jesus’s comments regarding the extraordinary preservation of the
Old Testament Scriptures were made at a time when no original manuscripts of the Old
Testament existed! Jesus’s confidence in God’s preservation of the Bible extended to
the copies that had been passed on for centuries.

[It’s interesting to note that Jesus and the apostles most likely used the Septuagint
(LXX), which is quite corrupt in several places. Yet they had confidence in it as the
Word of God. Thus, even if a version is not totally accurate, it can be considered
Scripture.]

2. The apostles confirmed the preservation of the Old Testament.

The New Testament writers frequently quoted from the Old Testament, thereby

showing their confidence in its accurate preservation. For example, in one New
Testament passage, Paul quotes from no less than eight Old Testament passages:

As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no
one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one
who does good, not even one” (Psalm 14:1  3;  53:1  3;  Ecclesiastes 7:20). “Their throats are open
graves; their tongues practice deceit” (Psalm 5:9). “The poison of vipers is on their lips” (Psalm
140:3). “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness” (Psalm 10:7). “Their feet are swift to
shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know” (Isaiah
59:7  8). “There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Psalm 36:1).      Romans 3:10  18

B. The New Testament is preserved.

There are approximately 5,000 extant (known to exist) Greek manuscripts of the New

Testament. Comparison of these manuscripts confirms the amazing degree to which
God has providentially preserved His Word.

Note: It is important to distinguish between “inspiration” and “preservation.”

Inspiration deals with the original writings of the Old and New Testaments.
Preservation deals with copies . Technically, the copies are not inspired. Rather,
they derive inspiration as they accurately reflect the content of the originals. Therefore,
it is incorrect to equate inspiration with a particular version of the Bible.

[There is a whole debate concerning which Greek manuscripts (of the New
Testament) ought to be used or which are the best. Our English versions are based on
different Greek manuscripts. This is why we see differences in translations. The
differences between the Greek manuscripts are many, but they are relatively minor.
Most of the differences are in spelling, word choice, and word order. Only about 40
of the differences are of any major significance, and none of these change the overall
teaching of the Bible. As far as versions go, we recommend or use only a few, such as
the KJV, NKJV, NIV, or NASB. Later lessons will deal with this issue more fully.]

Learning to Live It
1. As you are scanning the dial on your radio, you come across a sermon. The preacher’s
topic is the inspiration of the Bible. During the sermon, the preacher describes God’s
activity upon the human writer by saying, “God said to Paul, ‘Take a letter.'” Does this
preacher’s illustration accurately reflect how inspiration took place? Why or why not?

no; God did not dictate the words to the human authors.

Later in the sermon, the preacher makes it clear that he believes that the particular
version from which he is preaching is the only “inspired” version. What is wrong with
the preacher’s assertion?

Versions are not inspired; only the originals are. Versions are valid/good to the degree that they
conform to the originals.

2. A friend of yours is not a believer but has shown interest in religious issues and likes
to talk with you about them. After coming across a book that says there are several lost
writings of the New Testament, he comes to you for answers. What would you tell him?

Since God has not seen fit to providentially preserve them, we can safely conclude that these
writings are not canonical. Any “lost” writings are not part of the canon.

3. The same friend says the same book claims that the writings we do have are not
accurate because our translations are so far removed from the original writings. What
do you tell him now?

How does the author know this–Has he seen the originals? Our copies are not distant from the
originals, especially in the NT. Only a few years passed between the making of the originals and
the oldest extant copies. Furthermore, textual criticism has shown that our translations are
reliable and accurately reflect the originals to a remarkable degree. The quality and care of the
copying process, plus the number of available manuscripts, yields a product that very closely
reflects the originals, even if many years have passed between the original composition and the
oldest extant copies. E.g., little difference exists between a copy of Isaiah from 9th century AD
and one from 1st century BC found in Dead Sea caves.

Lesson 8: The Principles of Biblical

Interpretation | Biblical Foundations for
Living

Lesson 8: The Principles of Biblical

Interpretation
In Lesson Seven, we learned that the Bible has both divine and human authorship.
Although God is the source of Scripture, he used men to write it. In order to
communicate His message to mankind, God has providentially overseen the
production, compilation, and preservation of the Bible. The successful communication
of any message, whether from God or man, requires correct interpretation .
Interpretation is the process which allows one to understand the
author’s intended meaning .

[The intended meaning is also known as “authorial intent,” that is, the message the
original author intended his audience to receive. The primary task of the interpreter
is to get back to this intended meaning and build his interpretation from there.
Doing this is important because a text cannot mean what it never meant. That is, one
should not try to get from a text something that the author never intended to be
there.]

We usually do not think about the principles of interpretation because we use them
naturally. We automatically understand the author’s intended meaning because we are
familiar with the author’s language, customs, and circumstances. The Bible, however,
was written thousands of years ago by men living in cultures much different from ours.
Therefore, we must strive to consciously apply the various principles of interpretation
that we unconsciously use every day.

[The rules or principles of interpretation is called hermeneutics. ]

The proper method of interpretation is called literal or normal interpretation. The
consistent application of the principles of normal interpretation will yield consistent
interpretations. [The normal/literal/literary approach can successfully handle every
type of biblical literature. We need not switch interpretive methods when we switch
to a different literary form.] Varying interpretations of the Bible’s message exist
because not all interpreters “play by the same rules .” This lesson will explain the
biblical principles of interpretation based on the following facts:

1. All communication has a historical context.

2. All communication has a literary context.

3. All communication has a grammatical context.

I. All Communication Has a Historical

Context.
Each book of the Bible was written at a particular time in a particular place for a
particular purpose. These and similar factors make up a book’s historical context.

A. Interpret every biblical text in light of its purpose .

Every author has a purpose for writing that which he writes. His audience, his theme,
and his tone are some of the factors which reflect his purpose. Therefore, in order to
understand a text’s meaning, one should determine the author’s purpose.

[Audience = who written to; theme = what it’s about; tone = the character of the text.
Differences in authorial intent would explain some of the difference found in the
Gospel accounts, for example.]

1. The purpose for a book may be stated .

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that
you have eternal life.      1 John 5:13 [See also John 20:31]

2. The purpose for a book may be implied . [I.e., there are hints. ]

a. The purpose may be implied by statements within the book.

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ
and are turning to a different gospel.      Galatians 1:6 (See also 3:1 and 6:12.)

It is apparent from these and other statements within the book that Galatians was
written to attack false teaching that threatened to win over the Galatian believers.

b. The purpose may be implied by what one knows about the author and recipient(s) of

the book.

For example, Paul wrote two letters to Timothy. In the first, he explicitly stated his
purpose:

I am writing you these instructions so that . . . you will know how people ought to conduct
themselves in God’s household.      1 Timothy 3:14

Although Paul did not state his purpose in the second letter, one can easily recognize
such by noting the relationship between Paul and Timothy seen in 1 Timothy (See
also Acts 16:1 5.). In light of Paul’s “mentor” relationship with Timothy, the purpose for
his second letter becomes clear: to prepare Timothy to assume greater leadership
responsibilities as Paul’s ministry comes to an end (2 Timothy 2:1 7 and 4:1 8).

Note: This point assumes that one can determine the author and/or recipients. Often,
these are stated in the text. In cases where they are not, a good study Bible and/or
commentary will be helpful. Recommendations for these and other resources will be
included in Lesson Nine.

B. Interpret every biblical text in light of its chronology . [I.e., time frame ]

As stated in Lesson Seven, God did not produce the Bible all at once . Rather, the Bible
was composed over a period of 1,600 years. Furthermore, the last book of the Bible was
written almost 1,900 years ago! Therefore, in order to recognize the author’s intended
meaning, one must place a given book within the time period in which it was written.
One can often determine this by statements made within the book regarding events
and/or people about which dates are known. Again, a good study Bible or commentary
is helpful.
[For example, when Luke tells the story about Jesus’ birth, he gives the date by
saying who was governor, who was Caesar, etc. By finding the dates of these well-
known people or events, we can accurately date the account. This is especially
important for dating OT events.]

C. Interpret every biblical text in light of its geography .

Most of us live thousands of miles from the locations where Bible events took place.
Therefore, we should become familiar with the Bible’s geography. It is also valuable to
learn about the terrain of Bible lands. Bible atlases are valuable resources for this type of
information.

D. Interpret every biblical text in light of its culture .

Modern thought and behavior are different from that of Bible times. Furthermore, there
are cultural differences between groups of people mentioned in Scripture. For example,
the Roman culture of Paul’s day was totally different from the Hebrew culture of
Moses’s day. Thus, it is important to understand the culture behind a text.

[For example, several NT passages deal with whether or not it’s OK to eat meat
offered to idols. This practice was a cultural issue that the early Christians had to deal
with. We don’t. So we’ve got to determine whether or not something is specifically
addressed to the cultural setting of the first century, or if the principle is timeless.
This is often clear, but sometimes quite difficult. A book on manners and customs of
Bible times and lands is helpful in this regard. ]

II. All Communication Has a Literary

Context.
In addition to the historical setting, interpretation is influenced by literary factors. The
Bible uses various literary forms and figures of speech which the interpreter must take
into account in order to correctly interpret a text.

A. Interpret every biblical text in light of its literary form .

The Bible contains various forms of literature, such

as poetry , narratives , proverbs , parables , and letters . Each of these must be
interpreted accordingly. For example, narrative passages describe the actions of others,
while the epistles often prescribe actions for others. Thus, Acts 1:12 14 (narrative)
describes the fact that the disciples went to Jerusalem. However, it does not tell others
to do so. On the other hand, Paul’s letter to the Romans (epistolary) [an epistle is a
letter] prescribes actions for us:

[O]ffer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.      Romans 12:1

[Understanding the literary form of a text is very important because you interpret
different forms in different ways. You can’t handle every part of the Bible the same
way. I.e., you don’t interpret a poem (like the Psalms) in the same way as you do
historical narrative (like Acts).]

B. Interpret every biblical text in light of its figures of speech .

Normal human communication often employs figures of speech such as metaphors . For
example, one might say, “My mouth is on fire,” if he has just tasted something very hot.
In John 10:7, Jesus said, “I am the gate.” Obviously, Jesus was using a metaphor to make
a point. Just as one’s mouth is not actually in flames, Jesus is not actually a gate. Literal
(or normal) interpretation takes into account those places where the Bible employs
figures of speech.

[Jesus used figures of speech all the time. He said, “I am the door,” and “I am the
good shepherd,” but he wasn’t really/literally a door or a shepherd. He was
describing one thing in terms of something else. The literal/normal method of
interpretation makes room for such figures of speech.]

III. All Communication Has a Grammatical Context.

The difference between the original language of a biblical book and the language of
modern readers creates a further obstacle to interpretation. However, one can overcome
this by applying the following rules of interpretation:

A. Interpret every biblical text in light of its original language .

As mentioned in Lesson Seven, the Bible was written in Hebrew and Greek (and a small
portion in Aramaic). Since most individuals do not know these languages, one should
consult a good translation which converts the original languages into one’s own
language.
[To some extent, if you don’t know Hebrew and Greek, you are at the mercy of the
translation you use. That’s why it’s so important to get a translation that is accurate
and understandable. It may also be beneficial to compare how two or three versions
translate a troublesome text. Pastors and teachers spend a great deal of effort to learn
Hebrew and Greek so that they can more accurately handle God’s Word.]

An important principle to keep in mind when interpreting the language of Scripture is

that a word can only mean one thing in a given context. If this were not the case,
communication would be impossible because any word could mean anything.

[For example, you take it for granted that when I say “dog” I mean the four-footed
hairy animal that barks. If, when I say “dog” I really mean “fruit loops,” then we
have a problem. Effective communication can happen only when the speakers/writers
and listeners/readers agree on the general meaning of words. Words like “run” can
have many meanings, but the context generally tells you what such words mean.
That’s why understanding the context is so important.]

B. Interpret every biblical text in light of its larger grammatical units .

All communication is made up of sentences . Sentences, however, are only one part of a
larger grammatical chain: words, phrases, sentences, paragraphs, chapters, and books.
Thus, the interpretation of a given word, phrase, sentence, or paragraph is dependent
on the other larger units of which it is a part.

[So it may be necessary to understand a previous verse or paragraph before you can
reach the correct interpretation of the verse you are trying to figure out.]

C. Interpret each biblical book in the light of its overall biblical context.

Since the Bible as a whole has but one author, the largest logical unit for a biblical text is
the entire Bible. Overall biblical context refers to both content and time . That is, an
individual book of the Bible fits into the overall message of the Bible and was written at
a specific time within God’s progressive unfolding of biblical revelation.

Recap & Review

In this lesson, we have learned:

1. All communication has a historical context. Interpret a biblical text according to its
purpose, time, place, and culture.

2. All communication has a literary context. Interpret a biblical text according to its

literary form and figures of speech.

3. All communication has a grammatical context. Interpret a biblical text according to

its original language and larger grammatical units.

Learning to Live It
You and your family have just moved to a new community and have begun the search
for a new church. You are determined to find a Bible preaching church. One Sunday
morning you visit a church whose pastor is an interesting and dynamic speaker. On this
particular morning he is speaking from Judges 16, the story of Samson. In his sermon,
he states that Samson’s compromise and loss of spiritual power represents the sin that
God’s people fall into today. Each lock of Samson’s hair that Delilah cut off represented
a step of compromise. The first lock of hair was his sanctification, the second was his
separation, and so on. By the time the sermon is finished, each of Samson’s seven locks
is made a symbol for lost spiritual strength.

[This is what we call an allegorical interpretation. Details of the text have been assigned
meanings that the text does not justify. ]

Evaluate this sermon by answering the following questions:

1. Is there any indication the author of Judges meant the locks to represent these steps
when the text was written? no

2. What type of literature is this text? narrative

3. Therefore, was this passage written to prescribe action for us? no

4. Whose message did this sermon communicate? the pastor’s

5. Since the pastor is preaching his own message rather than God’s Word, what should
you conclude about your search for a Bible preaching church? Your search is not over.
Lesson 9: The Practice of Biblical
Interpretation | Biblical Foundations for
Living

Lesson 9: The Practice of Biblical

Interpretation
Lesson Eight showed that one must consider historical, literary, and grammatical
factors in order to properly interpret any communication. Since the last book of the
Bible was written 1,900 years ago, one must attempt to place a passage of Scripture in its
historical, literary, and grammatical context in order to determine the author’s intended
meaning.

[Historical = why, when, where; literary = forms, figures of speech; grammatical =

languages, grammatical units.

Remember that “context is king.” Context is the main thing that tells us what a
certain word or idea or sentence means. Words do not have meaning “in themselves.”
It is only in the context of other words that a word takes on a specific meaning.]

It is not enough for one simply to know the principles of interpretation. One must put
them into practice . Lesson Six taught that God has revealed truth about Himself so that
men might know His will and do it. To that end, this lesson is devoted to the practice of
biblical interpretation. We will apply the principles learned in Lesson Eight to a chosen
passage of Scripture in order to demonstrate how one should interpret the Bible. The
passage we will study is 1 Corinthians 14:18 19:

I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak
five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

This lesson will show that in order to determine the author’s intended meaning of a
passage, one must:

1. Study the words of the passage.

2. Study the sentences of the passage.

3. Study the paragraphs of the passage.

4. Study the book containing the passage.

5. Correlate the passage with other Scripture .

[As you can see, Bible interpretation takes time and effort. Finding the meaning of a
passage is often no easy task. This explains why so many false/incorrect views and
interpretations abound–the interpreter is not doing the work necessary to come to the
proper conclusions. We must not be guilty of laziness when it comes to interpreting
Scripture.]

I. Study the Words of the Passage.

A. Choose words to study.

1. Choose the key words in the passage.

Key words are those that indicate the topic of a passage. The passage at hand has to do
with “ tongues .” Therefore, it would be helpful to know something about this word.

2. Choose unfamiliar words in the passage.

The occurrence of unfamiliar words should be rare in a modern translation. In our

passage, the author prefers that his readers speak words that are

“ intelligible .” If this word is unfamiliar, one should look up its meaning.

B. Define words in the passage.

1. Consult an English dictionary.

When we want to know the definition of a word, we usually look it up in a dictionary.

However, a dictionary offers several possible meanings for a word based on the word’s
usage in contemporary communication. Therefore, one must determine which, if any,
definition is appropriate for the word being studied.

2. Consult a Bible dictionary.

[Vine’s Expository Dictionary of NT Words is a good one. There may be several

potential meanings listed, that is, several that fit the context. But the author meant
only one thing. The job of the interpreter is to get to that meaning.]

A Bible dictionary defines words as they are used in the Bible. A particular word may
have several different usages throughout the Bible; however, as we learned in Lesson
Eight, a word has only one meaning in a given context. Therefore, one must choose the
definition most appropriate to the passage at hand. For example, we have chosen to
define the word “tongue.” A Bible dictionary lists two primary uses of this word in
Scripture: 1) the word is used literally of the physical organ of the mouth and 2) it is
used of spoken languages . Which definition fits the passage at hand? Note that the
author writes about “speaking in tongues” (indicating a language) rather than
“speaking with tongues” (which would indicate the physical organ).

Most Bible dictionaries, however, do not define every word used in Scripture. Because
“intelligible” is a rare word, it is not found in most Bible dictionaries.

3. Consult a Bible concordance .

A concordance lists the verses in which a given word is found. Once the student locates
the desired word in the concordance, he can look up the verses in order to find the
word’s usage elsewhere in the Bible. The concordance indicates that “intelligible” is
used again in the same chapter we are studying:

Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are
saying?      1 Corinthians 14:9

Thus, “intelligible” refers to words that allow the listener to “know what you are
saying.” Intelligible words are words that one can understand .

Note: Be sure to consult an exhaustive concordance, one which lists every word in the
Bible and every verse in which a particular word occurs.
[Young’s or Strong’s are the most popular. They are referenced to the KJV. You can
do the same thing with computer programs which are faster and easier.]

II. Study the Sentences of the Passage.

A. Study the structure of each sentence.

All sentences are made up of parts of speech that give each word a function in the
sentence. Nouns describe persons, places, or things, while verbs describe action or
being, etc. Even seemingly insignificant words such as “to” perform a function. For
example, the author of our passage states:

I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others.

In this verse, the word “to” indicates the author’s reason for preferring words that are
understandable: so that others may be instructed.

B. Study the relationship of the sentences to one another.

The relationship of sentences to one another is indicated by the use of words which
communicate such a relationship. For example, in our passage the author begins the
second sentence with the word “but” to indicate a contrast with the first sentence:

I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church . . . .

Although the author has the ability to speak in languages that some might not
understand, the purpose of speech in the church is to instruct others by speaking
understandable words.

[Is this the way charismatic services are usually conducted? No. Usually many people
are speaking in tongues all at once with no interpreter. This is not the biblical
pattern.]

The following is a list of words used to connect sentences, along with their intended
significations:

Word Signification
but contrast

just as comparison

because, for reason

therefore, then result

that, so that, in order that purpose

then, so conclusion

III. Study the Paragraphs of the Passage.

A. Determine the boundaries of each paragraph.

Just as words are logically arranged to form sentences, sentences are logically arranged
to form paragraphs. A paragraph begins a new thought that contributes to the overall
theme of the passage in which it is contained. Since the boundaries of a paragraph can
be difficult to determine, one should keep the following facts in mind:

1. A new verse is not necessarily a new paragraph.

The original manuscripts of the Bible did not contain verse markings. These were added
later to help locate passages of Scripture. Therefore, verses may or may not begin a new
paragraph. Most modern translations either indent the text at the beginning of a new
paragraph or place the number of the verse that begins a new paragraph in bold type.

2. Literary form affects paragraph structure.

As seen in Lesson Eight, the Bible contains various forms of literature: letters, poetry,
narratives, etc. These literary forms may group sentences differently. For example, the
book of Psalms is poetic . Therefore, the sentences therein are grouped according to the
structure of Hebrew poetry. Most modern translations arrange the text to reflect such
structure.

B. Determine the message of each paragraph.

Remember, the message of a given paragraph will support the overall theme of the
passage in which it is found. For example, 1 Corinthians 14:18 19 forms a new thought
supporting the author’s argument that only understandable words are to be spoken in
the church. The preceding paragraph (verses 13 17) contains illustrations which show
the folly of speaking in unintelligible languages. The following paragraph (verses 20 21)
challenges the readers to think maturely on this matter.

IV. Study the Book Containing the Passage.

A. Read the entire book.

One should read the entire book through in one sitting. This enables one to follow the
author’s flow of thought and to notice other factors which will aid interpretation. For
example, a reading of 1 Corinthians reveals that the Corinthian Church had a number of
problems, of which the tongues issue was only one. The book indicates that the root of
these problems was pride , which resulted in a lack of love for others (chapters 8 13).
This knowledge will help one better understand the situation in Corinth with regard to
tongues.

B. Determine the author of the book.

In most cases, the author is identified in the book itself.

Paul, called to be an apostle . . . .   1 Corinthians 1:1

C. Determine the recipient(s) of the book.

Again, this is usually stated in the book.

. . . to the church of God in Corinth.      1 Corinthians 1:2

D. Determine the purpose of the book.

This is either stated in the book or implied by other factors. Paul implies the purpose for
the book of 1 Corinthians in two places:

[S]ome from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.      1
Corinthians 1:11
Now for the matters you wrote about . . . .      1 Corinthians 7:1

Paul had been informed about issues in the Corinthian church to which he responded

with the letter of 1 Corinthians. Tongues was one such issue.

As always, in those cases where the author, recipients, or purpose of a book is unclear,
consult a commentary and/or study Bible.

V. Correlate the Passage with Other

Scripture.
Because God is its ultimate author, the Bible does not contradict itself. Its teachings
are consistent throughout. This means that one can compare Scripture with Scripture to
determine the meaning of a passage. Other portions of Scripture may contain helpful
background material or shed further light upon the passage being studied.

[In other words, one part of the Bible often explains another part or parts. This
concept is called “the analogy of Scripture.” Remember also that clear teaching
should inform unclear teaching.]

A. Study related passages .

In Lesson Eight, we learned that the overall context of the Bible covers
both content and time . That is, one must correlate both the message and the chronology
of Bible passages.

1. Compare the content of related passages.

Survey the verses listed in a Bible dictionary, study Bible, concordance, or commentary
to find any passages that contain information related to your passage. For example, in
looking up references to the word “tongue,” an interesting passage in the book of Acts
comes to light:

When the day of Pentecost came, they . . . began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled
them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.
When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard
them speaking in his own language.      Acts 2:1  6
From this passage we learn that “speaking in tongues” refers to languages that
were understandable to the hearers.

2. Compare the time of related passages.

Consult a study Bible or a commentary and you will see that the events of the book of
Acts happened before the writing of 1 Corinthians. In the case at hand, the speaking in
tongues on the Day of Pentecost preceded 1 Corinthians by approximately 25 years.
Thus, since Acts 2 occurred first, it defines the purpose for speaking in tongues rather
than 1 Corinthians.

[In other words, we learn what speaking in tongues is all about in Acts.

Regarding the time context of a passage, note that there is a large difference between
the OT and the NT, especially regarding religious practice. OT passages are often not
directly applicable to NT believers (e.g., we don’t sacrifice or go to the temple
periodically), and vice versa. So be careful about cross referencing between the OT
and the NT.]

B. Develop and apply related principles.

1. Develop principles from the passages.

As noted above, the events of Acts preceded the writing of 1 Corinthians. Further study
of the phenomenon of “speaking in tongues” reveals that Acts 2 is the first recorded
occurrence of such in the Bible. Therefore, the original purpose for tongues is clearly set
forth in Acts 2: to communicate a message to others in their own language.

By the time 1 Corinthians was written, the practice had apparently degenerated to the
point that unintelligible speech was considered to be a gift from God (1 Corinthians
12 13). Paul’s letter to the Church at Corinth sought to correct this and other errors. The
teaching of 1 Corinthians 14 on tongues is consistent with the original purpose set forth
in Acts 2. This is why only words that “instruct others” are deemed by Paul to be
appropriate for a church service. Thus, the principle of “edifying” or “building up”
others is taught in this passage (1 Corinthians 14:4 5).

2. Apply the principles to your life.

[A passage has only one correct interpretation, but may have several legitimate
applications. This is what makes the Bible timeless. Our main task is to discern
eternal, unchanging principles taught in the Bible and apply them to our lives.
Principlizing is especially important when dealing with narrative sections of the
Bible. Remember the description vs. prescription idea.]

Activity which directly builds up or contributes to the building up of others is to be

our primary concern in the church. Preaching, teaching, singing, etc. is to be done for
the edification of others, not self glorification.

Suggested Bible study tools:

A. Good Bible translations: New International Version (NIV), New American Standard Bible
(NASB), King James Version (KJV), New King James Version (NKJV)

B. Study Bibles: NIV Study Bible, Ryrie Study Bible

C. Bible dictionary: Unger’s Bible Dictionary

D. Bible concordance:  Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance

E. Bible commentaries:  The Bible Knowledge Commentary, 2 volumes;  Bible Study

Commentary, 49 volumes; Everyman’s Bible Commentary (multiple volumes); Expositor’s
Bible Commentary, 12 volumes

F. Bible encyclopedia: Baker’s Encyclopedia of the Bible, 2 volumes

G. Bible doctrine resources: Basic Theology by Charles Ryrie; Moody Handbook of

Theology by Paul Enns

H. Bible handbook:  Halley’s Bible Handbook

I. Bible atlas: Moody Atlas of the Bible

Recap & Review

In this lesson, we have learned that in order to determine the author’s intended
meaning of a passage, we must:

1. Study the words of the passage. Choose the key and unfamiliar words and define
them by consulting an English dictionary, a Bible dictionary, and an exhaustive
concordance.

2. Study the sentences of the passage. This includes both the structure of each sentence
and the relationships between the sentences.

3. Study the paragraphs of the passage. After determining the boundaries of each

paragraph, determine the meaning of each.

4. Study the book containing the passage. Read the entire book to become familiar
with it and to determine its author, recipients, and purpose.

5. Correlate the passage with other Scripture. After studying related passages, noting
the content and time of each, develop and apply principles from them.

[Let me reemphasize that Bible interp. is no quick and easy task. Pastors and teachers
spend years honing their skills so they can better interpret the Bible. The better you
are at things like grammar and syntax, the easier it will be for you to implement these
steps. Think about that when you are studying grammar in English class.]

Learning to Live It
The following exercises will help you put into practice the material learned in the last
two lessons.

1. One Protestant denomination refuses to have paid preachers on the basis of 1
Timothy 3:3 (“not a lover of money”). Is this a proper interpretation of this verse? How
does 1 Timothy 5:17 18 relate to this issue?

no; It clearly teaches that pastors are to be paid for what they do.

2. You find out a friend is seriously dating and planning to marry an unbeliever. While
pointing out passages like 2 Corinthians 6:14 17 to her, she responds by quoting 1
Corinthians 6:12 (“Everything is permissible for me.”). Is her understanding of this
passage correct? What does the context indicate? What should you tell her?

no; that this is a Corinthian slogan (hence, italicized in the NIV), not Paul’s words–Paul argues
against it; that her interpretation is incorrect and that she should end the relationship based
upon  2 Corinthians 6:14-17; you could use that slogan to validate anything.

3. Some people teach that Deuteronomy 22:5 (“A woman must not wear men’s
clothing.”) indicates that women today should not wear pants. Is this a valid
interpretation? How would an understanding of men’s and women’s dress in that
period help? Does an understanding of the original audience help? Does a knowledge
of the other commands in chapters 21 22 contribute to a proper understanding of this
verse?

no; both wore similar clothing; Moses is writing at a time when there were no such things as
pants; yes–if  Deuteronomy 22:5  is applicable to us today, so are the other commands in chapters
21 and 22, such as stoning rebellious sons (21:18-21), building a parapet around your roof
(22:8), mixing seeds (22:9), mixing plowing animals (22:10), and mixing fabrics (22:11)

4. Some parents read Proverbs 22:6 (“Train a child in the way he should go and when he
is old he will not turn from it.”) and consider it an absolute promise from God that if
they rear their children correctly, they will turn out well. Did Solomon intend for this to
be interpreted as a guarantee? Are proverbs guarantees? (Does an apple a day always
keep the doctor away?)

no; no (no)–Proverbs are general truths, not absolute ones.

5. Some people take Paul’s statement in Acts 20:20 (that he taught “from house to
house”) as a biblical example of door to door evangelism. Was Paul referring to door to
door evangelism here? How would an understanding of Paul’s normal evangelistic
practice help? Does a knowledge of his original audience help? Does the context
provide any helpful information?

no; Paul did not practice door-to-door evangelism. Rather, he went to the synagogue and into the
marketplace.; yes–Paul is speaking to the Ephesian pastors; yes–He is speaking about edification,
not evangelism. Furthermore, the houses spoken of were probably house-churches.
6. People in the charismatic/healing movement take Isaiah 53:5 (“By his wounds we are
healed.”) to mean that when Christ died, He secured a life of perfect health for His
children. Does this passage teach that? Is the context talking about physical sickness as
the problem to be healed? If they are correct, what do we do with the clear teaching of 2
Corinthians 12:7 8 that Paul had a constant physical ailment which God would not
remove?

no; no, spiritual sickness; Paul either was not a believer or if he was, he lacked the faith to be
healed.