May 7, 2017 Dr. Phillip A. Howard Series: Foundational Truths for Life Valley Bible Church 1 

 What is the Bible? 

Various Scriptures 

An Overview of the 

Doctrine of Scriptures: Bibliology 

I. The Bible is GOD’S WORD 

“It says in words what God wanted to say to us.” 

1. Not all spoken by God 

? The Bible contains the lies people told, but does not teach lying. 

2. Not all that is spoken is true 

? Satan’s lies for example 

II. The Bible is a Revelation from God 

“Supernatural impartation of truth by God that man could 

not otherwise know.” 

1 Corinthians 2:9-16; Romans 1:18-26; Psalm 19 

1. Natural Revelation 

2. Special Revelation 

? Christ 

? Scriptures 

III. The Bible is Inspired by God 

2 Timothy 3:16 

“All the words of every part of scripture are breathed out 

by God. Consequently what is breathed out has the 

quality of being a divine product thus free from error.” 

“All scripture is theopneustos, literally, God breathed. This makes it plain that what we call inspiration is not the man but the book; not the writer, but his writings; not the speaker, but his words. The purpose of God in inspiration was not to give us a number of infallible men, but to give us an infallible book that would never pass away. Between this position and infidelity there is no neutral ground.” 

Robert G. Lee, “The Word of God Not Broken and Not Bound” May 7, 2017 Dr. Phillip A. Howard Series: Foundational Truths for Life Valley Bible Church 2 

IV. The Bible was Inscripturated by God 

2 Peter 1:20-21 

V. The Bible needs to be Illuminated by God 

1. The Need for it 

a. Natural blindness:1 Cor. 2:14 

b. Satanic blindness:2 Cor. 4:3-4 

c. Carnal blindness:1 Cor. 3:4; Heb. 5:11-14 

d. National Judicial blindness:Romans 11:25, 5-9; 

2 Cor. 3:3-15 

2. Illumination defined 

“That influence of the Holy Spirit which happens 

frequently enabling all who are being controlled by 

the Spirit to understand some parts of Scripture.” 

3. Illumination is promised to the believer: 

1 John 2:20, 27 

VI. The Bible is Animated 

1. It is a living Word:Heb. 4:12; 1 Peter 23-25;2 Cor. 3:6; John 6:63 

2. The energy of the Word:Rom. 10:17; 1:16; 1 Peter 1:23 

3. The effects of the Bible – the Word of God 

? It cleanses:John 17:17; Eph. 5:26 

? It causes one to grow:1 Peter 2:1-3 

? It is the word that engenders faith:Rom. 10:13 

May 7, 2017 Dr. Phillip A. Howard Series: Foundational Truths for Life Valley Bible Church 3 

? It is enduring:Matt. 5:18; Isaiah 40:6-7 

? It indwells the hearts of God’s people:Jer. 31:33; Col. 3:16 

? It alone knows the future: prophecy 

Look at Psalms 19 

Description Effect 

1. Perfect _________________________ 

2. Sure _________________________ 

3. Right _________________________ 

4. Pure _________________________ 

5. Clean _________________________ 

6. True/Righteous _________________________ 

7. Keeping the Word ______________________ 

VII. The Bible Has Authority for the Believer 

? Determines what we are to believe 

? Determines what we are to practice 

2 Timothy 3:16-17 

VIII. The Bible is Sufficient for Guidance and 

Direction for the Believer’s Life 

1. Fourfold Sufficiency of the Scriptures 

___________________________________ 

___________________________________ 

___________________________________ 

___________________________________ 

2. End result of being equipped by the Scriptures 

2 Timothy 3:17 May 7, 2017 Dr. Phillip A. Howard Series: Foundational Truths for Life Valley Bible Church 4 

“adequate” (NASV) ____________________ 

“fit, complete, capable, sufficient, i.e., able to 

meet all demands” LKNT, 647 

“equipped”: Perfect Passive 

“completely outfitted, fully furnished, fully 

supplied” - used of a wagon or rescue boat 

being completely outfitted 

IX. The Requirements for Understanding the Bible 

1. Spirit taught:1 Cor. 2:6-16 

2. Seek its meaning as treasure: Proverbs 2 

3. Study it:2 Tim. 2:15 

4. Seek God’s favor in prayer that He will enlighten your heart: Eph. 1 & 3 

5. Submit to doing the Word before even knowing what it 

means:James 1:22-24; John 7:17 

6. Surrendering your preconceived notions of what it has to 

mean – become teachable 

? Scripture not emotion 

? Scripture above experience 

? Scripture above human opinion 

Luther: “Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason – I do not accept the authority of popes or councils, for they have contradicted each other. My conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me, Amen.” 

(Here I Stand, Roland Bainton, p. 185)