Special Works of the Holy Spirit

Scripture and Revelation

Scripture: Authority

What is authority?

How does it correlate with truth?

How or why is the Bible authoritative?

How did we get the Bible?

Reliability of the Bible

How was the NT preserved?
Handwritten
Papyrus
Parchment
Vellum
Codex vs. the Scroll
5,000+ Greek texts
20,000+ extant language texts
400,000 variants in the texts!
1. Spelling and nonsense errors
2. Minor changes (e.g. synonyms)
3. Non-viable changes
4. Meaningful and viable

Scripture: Authority

The classical creeds (pre-Reformation): I believe

in God, the Father, Almighty; Maker of heaven and
earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son, our
Lord (Apostles Creed)

Scripture: Authority

The Westminster confession:

Chapter I Of the Holy Scripture

Chapter II Of God, and of the Holy Trinity
Chapter III Of God's Eternal Decree
Chapter IV Of Creation
Chapter V Of Providence
Chapter VI Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and the
Punishment

The Story of the Spirit

Where does our language and vision of the Spirit

even come from?

The Prophets: Isa 44; Ezek 39; Joel 2

LukeActs

Inspiration: Scripture

WE AFFIRM that inspiration was the work in which God by

His Spirit, through human writers, gave us His Word. The
origin of Scripture is divine. The mode of divine inspiration
remains largely a mystery to us.

WE AFFIRM that inspiration, strictly speaking, applies only

to the autographic text of Scripture, which in the providence
of God can be ascertained from available manuscripts with
great accuracy. We further affirm that copies and
translations of Scripture are the Word of God to the extent
that they faithfully represent the original. (The Chicago
Statement on Biblical Innerancy)

Inspiration: Scripture
The OT

Moses hears the voice of God and is told to write

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Habakkuk all receive command to write

the word of the Lord

The word of the Lord generally in the prophets (e.g. 12 Samuel,

Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel)

Ezek 37: In the Spirit

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our
fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us
by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through
whom also he created the world. (Heb 1:12)

Inspiration: Scripture

All Scripture is breathed out by God (theopneustos) and profitable

for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in
righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped
for every good work. (2 Tim 3:1617)

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints
and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the
heart. (Heb 4:12)

Does inspiration=authority?

Authority as witness to revelation of Jesus Christ

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you
have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me (John
5:39)

Revelation: General

What is revelation?

God reveals himself (by his Spirit) through creation (Psalm

19; Rom 1)

Work of Spirit is to orient creation toward its goal (God)

Knowledge is gift to all for recognizing revelation

Morality, desire, and sensus divinitatis are part of general

revelation

General revelation is not sufficient for salvation or to know

God (e.g. Trinity, incarnation, and redemption); special,
subjective revelation is necessary

Special Revelation: The OT

The specific revelation of God the Spirit is to orient

humanity toward its Good

Moses: receiving the law

Prophets: proclaiming Gods will in judgment and

promise

Narratives and Psalms: the character of God

The Bible is not the revelation, but the witness to it

Leading into the NT: The Spirit reveals (and

inspires) the Scriptures (Rev 13)

Special Revelation: The NT

What is the focus of NT revelation?

God in Jesus Christ

Spirit reveals sin and righteousness (in relation to

Christs character; John)

ONLY Christ can reveal the Father to people (now

especially by his Spirit and by his choosing; John)

Spirit reveals several great mysteries

Christ crucified (1 Cor 12)

Christ in you (Eph and Col); Spirit unites to God

The Gentiles are included in the people of God

Special Revelation: The NT

The Spirit continues to reveal Christ through the

Scriptures; the Scripture as ongoing place of
revelation

The Spirit enables believers to witness to Gods

revelation in Christ through the Scriptures (i.e.
effective evangelism; Luke 12)

On occasion, the Spirit gives particular revelations

(Simeon, Peter, Paul, etc. caution needed)

Monsters too might float in the Empyrean,

coming to earth with gifts glittering and poisoned
(William Desmond)

Group Assignment

Read Revelation 13

Answer the following questions:

How does the Spirit work in these chapters?

What is the Spirits relation to Christ?

What is the Spirits relation to the churches?