Lesson 4: First Principles – The Holy Scriptures

Introduction

Hello, and welcome to lesson 4 of An Introduction To The Christian Faith. I thought it would be good to warn you from the outset that this is an unusually long lesson. There is a danger in putting out such a long lesson so early in a study like this. I run the risk of scaring you away! But I trust that you will persevere. This lesson is a bit long, but it is so important.  

In the previous lesson, we concluded by examining Baptist Catechism 3 which asks, “How may we know there is a God?” The answer is, “The light of nature in man and the works of God plainly declare that there is a God; but His Word and Spirit only do it fully and effectually for the salvation of sinners.” Question 4 builds upon this by asking, “What is the Word of God?” This is an important question. If it is true that the Word of God reveals the truth about God and provides us with the information we need to be saved, then we had better know what the Word of God is. Here is the answer: “The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, and the only certain rule of faith and obedience.” Let’s consider this answer piece by piece.

Question 4: What is the Word of God?
Answer: The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God,
and the only certain rule of faith and obedience.

The Characteristics Of Holy Scripture

First, notice our catechism tells us about the characteristics of Holy Scripture. “The Holy Scriptures… are the Word of God…”

The word “scripture” means writings. The word “holy” means pure and set apart. So, the writings we are referring to are not common, but pure and holy. When we say that the Scriptures are the Word of God, we mean that, though they are writings of men, they are inspired by God. And no, by this we do not mean that are simply really good pieces of literature – writings produced by men who felt inspired or strongly moved to write what they wrote. Shakespeare might have felt inspired to write what he wrote, but that is not what we are talking about here. Instead, we mean that God led, moved, or carried along the writers of Holy Scripture to write what they wrote so that the final product is the not the word of man but the Word of God (see 1 Thessalonians 2:13). 

Consider two key texts of Scripture that teach this. The first one is 2 Peter 1:20-21. It says, “knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20–21, ESV). The Scriptures, like all other writings, were written by men. But these writings did not originate with them. Instead, God the Spirit moved the authors of Scripture to say what they said and to write what they wrote, so that the final product may truly be called, the Word of God. The second Scripture text to consider is 2 Timothy 3:16-17. There Paul writes, “All Scripture is breathed out by God 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 Timothy 3:16–17, ESV). The Greek word which is translated by the ESV as “breathed out” can also be translated as “inspired” or “given by inspiration”. 

This is the way that the Holy Scriptures speak of themselves – the Holy Scriptures claim to be inspired. The Holy Scriptures were written by men – men who were Prophets or Apostles of God, or closely associated with the Prophets or Apostles of God. You should know that these men were proved to be Prophets or Apostles by their working of signs and wonders (see Deuteronomy 6:22; Hebrews 2:1-4). Think, for example, of Moses. Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible. But he did not take it upon himself to speak and to write on behalf of God. No, he was sent by God to speak on his behalf. And God proved that he was with Moses by performing signs and wonders through him. Think of the outpouring of the ten plagues upon the Egyptians, the deliverance of the Hebrews from Egyptian bondage through the parting of the Red Sea, and the receiving of the law at Sinai, which was accompanied by signs and wonders observed by all the people. The people recognized Moses as a Prophet of God because the Lord worked miracles and accomplished a work of redemption through him. The point that I am here making is a very important one. The Holy Scriptures were not written by men who merely claimed to be inspired. No, they were written by men who were proven to be representatives of God by the working of signs and wonders. This was true of Moses, the prophets of Old, Christ Jesus, and his Apostles. The pattern that we observe in the Scriptures is that God acts and then God speaks. God acts and then he gives his Word to his people to reveal the significance of his acts. The Holy Scriptures were not written by men who merely claimed to be inspired by God. They were written (or approved) by men who were proven to be God’s representatives through the working of signs and wonders. Our catechism is correct. “The Holy Scriptures… are the Word of God.” They were written by men under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit so that what we have in the end is the Word of God. 

One question you might have is, how did inspiration work? This is not the place for a full treatment of this subject. I’ll make a few brief comments. 

One theory is that God dictated the Holy Scriptures. The dictation view asserts that God took over the writing process in an extreme way, the result being that the Scriptures were really written by God and not so much by man. According to this view, man was used more like a writing tool. Did God dictate the Scriptures? Usually not. I say usually not because there are a few instances where the Scriptures were “dictated” by God. The Ten Commandments, for example, were written by the finger of God on stone. In other instances, God told his prophets exactly what they were to say. But more often than not, the Scriptures were written by human authors in such that their personalities, vocabularies, and writing styles shine through. In other words, God spoke through them and did not circumvent them in the process.  

Another theory is that God accommodated his Word to the human author so much so that the final product includes errors. We reject this view. God’s Word is to be regarded as pure. 

It is our view that God superintended the writing of Holy Scripture. This means that God managed, directed, or oversaw the writing of Scripture so that, on the one hand, men wrote the Scriptures, and on the other hand, the words of Holy Scriptures are not merely the words of men but are the very words of God.

Before moving on, I think it would be good to think through some of the implications of the doctrine of inspiration. In other words, if it is true that the Holy Scriptures are the Word of God, what must that mean?

Firstly, if the Holy Scriptures are the Word of God they must be without error. God is pure, and his word is pure. The Holy Scriptures are inerrant – they are without error. The Holy Scriptures are infallible – they cannot error. Psalm 19:7 speaks of the purity of Scripture when it says, “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple” (Psalm 19:7, ESV). Now, it needs to be clarified, that when we speak of the inerrancy and infallibility of inspired Scripture, we have in mind the writings as they came from the hand of the original author. The Old Testament was written in the Hebrew language. The New Testament was written in the Greek language. The writers of Scripture wrote in these languages, and then copies were made. It is our view that God did not only supernaturally superintend the writing of Holy Scripture, he also preserved the Scriptures, so that God’s people have access to God’s inspired Word in every age. It is the copies of the Scriptures written originally in Hebrew and Greek that were inspired. Today we are blessed to have translations of the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures in many different languages. These translations are a great blessing. They carry the authority of God’s Word as they faithfully convey the meaning of the Hebrew and Greek texts. But we should remember that they are translations. It is good for pastors to study Hebrew and Greek so they can engage with the text as it came from the author of Scripture originally.

Secondly, if the Holy Scriptures are the Word of God they must be clear. This is the doctrine of the clarity (or perspicuity) of Scripture. If we believe that God has spoken to us – if we believe that he has given us his Word – it would be absurd to think that his Word is unclear. Is God a poor communicator? I think not. Now, the doctrine of the clarity of Scripture does not deny that some things in Scripture are hard to understand (see 2 Peter 3:16). The Scriptures speak of marvelous, deep, and mysterious things. It is no wonder that we sometimes struggle to comprehend them. But this is not the fault of Scripture. It is due to our own inadequacies. And the doctrine of the clarity of Scripture does not deny that we must learn to properly interpret Scripture and work hard at this. Yes, we must labor to rightly divide the Word of truth (see 2 Timothy 2:15). What the doctrine of the clarity of Scripture asserts is that God is a good communicator and that the main message of Scripture is clear. From time to time in this study I will reference or encourage you to read our confession of faith, The Second London Baptist Confession. Chapter 1 of our confession is about the Holy Scriptures, and paragraph 7 is about the clarity of Scripture. It says, “All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all; yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned [literate], but the unlearned [illiterate], in a due use of ordinary means, may attain to a sufficient understanding of them.” 

Why have I spent so much time talking about the doctrine of the clarity of Scripture? It is because I think this doctrine is very important, especially in our day and age. Our belief that the Scriptures are the Word of God is foundational to all that we believe. It should come as no surprise, therefore, that this doctrine is always under attack. Sometimes men will challenge the doctrine of the inspiration of Scripture. Sometimes they will challenge the doctrine of the infallibility of Scripture. And sometimes men will question the doctrine of the clarity of Scripture. In fact, I think it is the doctrine of the clarity of Scripture that is under heavy attack today. Even some who claim to be Christian will say, yes, the Scriptures are the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God, but they are unclear – we cannot know for sure what they mean, therefore, anything goes. Again, I ask, is God a poor communicator? I think not. God’s Word is clear, and that is why the Psalmist can speak of the Word in this way: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105, ESV). If God’s Word were unclear, it could not function as a light for our feet. 

Thirdly, if the Holy Scriptures are the Word of God they must be sufficient. By this, we mean that God has given us everything we need to know in the Scriptures. They are sufficient. This does not mean they are exhaustive. Are there things we are curious about that are not revealed in the Scriptures? Yes. And are there things we can learn from nature that are not revealed in Scripture? Yes. The Bible is not a scientific textbook. There are things to learn from nature that the Bible does not talk about, but we should always expect God’s book of nature and his book of Scripture to agree! If there is a contradiction, someone is not interpreting one of the books correctly. When we say that the Scriptures are sufficient we mean, to quote Second London Confession 1.7 again,  “that those things which are necessary to be known, believed and observed for salvation, are… clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other…” 

Earlier I cited 2 Timothy 3:16 which says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God…” Let me read that text to you again, this time starting in verse 14 and reading through verse 17. Paul wrote to Timothy, saying, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings [the Holy Scriptures], which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God 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 Timothy 3:14–17, ESV). Notice that Paul viewed the Scriptures as sufficient – they are able to make a person “wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” and to be used to teach, reprove, correct, and train, God’s people to live right. Everything the Christian needs, and everything the man of God (or Christian minister) needs, is found in the Holy Scriptures. The Scriptures are sufficient.  

Fourthly,  if the Holy Scriptures are the Word of God they must be authoritative. By authoritative we mean that the Scriptures are the rule or standard for what we are to believe concerning God and what he requires of us. 

Notice, this is what Baptist Catechism 4 teaches. “What is the Word of God?” Answer: “The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, and the only certain rule of faith and obedience.” 

“Rule” means standard. The Scriptures are our standard. Perhaps you have heard the Bible referred to as the canon. Canon also means rule or standard. The canon of Holy Scripture is the rule or standard to which we must measure up. Notice that our catechism calls Scripture the only certain rule. “Certain” means sure, definite, or unquestionable. And notice what the Scriptures are a sure standard for – “faith and obedience”. The Scriptures reveal what we are to believe concerning God (and all things in relation to him) and what duty God requires of man.

What is our final authority for truth? The Scriptures are. Listen to the opening paragraph of the Second London Confession of Faith. “The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience. Although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet they are not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and his will which is necessary unto salvation. Therefore it pleased the Lord at sundry times and in divers manners to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto his church; and afterward for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan, and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing; which maketh the Holy Scriptures to be most necessary, those former ways of God’s revealing his will unto his people being now ceased” (Second London Confession Of Faith, 1.1).  What a wonderful way to begin a confession of faith!

Do we find evidence in the Scriptures that they are to be viewed as authoritative? Yes, indeed. Consider, for example, the way that Christ appealed to the Old Testament Scriptures, saying, “it is written” (see Matthew 4:4). Consider the way that the Apostles appealed to the Old Testament Scriptures, saying, “it is written” (see Acts 13:33).  

Let us now briefly review what we have learned before moving on. Baptist Catechism 4 asks, “What is the Word of God?” Answer: “The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, and the only certain rule of faith and obedience.” When we say that the Holy Scriptures are the Word of God, we mean they are inspired by God. And there are a few implications of the doctrine of inspiration. Because the Scriptures are the Word of God they are inerrant and infallible, clear, sufficient, and authoritative. And it is because the Scriptures are authoritative that they are most necessary. These are the characteristics, qualities, or we might say, properties, of Holy Scripture. 

The Identity Of Holy Scripture

Let us now consider the identity of Holy Scripture. Here the question is, what writings in particular are to be regarded as Holy Scripture, the Word of God? Our catechism identifies the books of Holy Scripture when it says, “​​The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God…” You should know that our confession of faith lists these books in chapter 1 paragraph 2. Our catechism has these books in mind when it says, “the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God…”

Let me provide you with a very rapid and high-level overview of the books of the Bible and their order in the canon of Scripture.

How many books are there in the Bible? Answer: 66. We call them books, but some are letters. The Book of Psalms is a collection of 150 Psalms. The Book of Proverbs is a collection of many wise sayings. We call them books, and that is fine, but that is a loose way of describing them.

The Old Testament is made up of thirty-nine books. All of these were written before the birth of Jesus Christ.

First, we have the Pentateuch. The word Pentateuch means “five books”. It refers to the first five books of the Old Testament which were written by Moses at around the year 1,400 B.C. They are the books of:

1. Genesis: The book of beginnings: creation, man, sin, redemption, God’s Old Covenant people.
2. Exodus: God’s deliverance of his people out of bondage from Egypt.
3. Leviticus: Laws concerning atonement, worship, and holy living for the Old Covenant people of God.
4. Numbers: God’s people wander in the wilderness for 40 years because of disobedience and faithlessness.
5. Deuteronomy: Second law. Moses reiterates the law and prepares the Old Covenant people for life in the land promised to them.

Next, we have twelve historical books. Calling them books of history can be a little misleading. All of the books of the Old Testament are, in one way or another, historical. And these books are not only about history – they contain prophecies too! In general, they describe God’s dealings with Old Covenant Israel from the death of Moses and the conquest of Canaan onward. These books were written from about 1,400 B.C. to 450 B.C. They are the books of:

1. Joshua
2. Judges
3. Ruth
4. 1 Samuel
5. 2 Samuel
6. 1 Kings
7. 2 Kings
8. 1 Chronicles
9. 2 Chronicles
10. Ezra
11. Nehemiah
12. Esther

Next, we have five books of poetry. These reflect upon God’s greatness and his dealings with men. They are the books of:

1. Job: The question of suffering as it relates to the sovereignty of God.
2.  Psalms: Songs that give praise to God and instruct.
3. Proverbs: Practical wisdom for daily living.
4. Ecclesiastes: Highlights the emptiness of a life lived apart from God.
5. Song of Solomon: A celebration of marital joy.

Next, we have the major prophets. There are five major prophets. A prophet was called by God to speak his words to men. These books are called major because they are longer than the minor prophets. These prophets ministered from about 740 – 550 B.C. Their teaching is recorded in the books of:

1. Isaiah
2. Ezekiel
3. Jeremiah
4. Daniel
5. Lamentations

Finally, we have the minor prophets. There are twelve minor prophets. These prophets ministered from approximately 840 – 400 B.C. They are the books of:

1.  Hosea 
2. Joel
3. Amos
4. Obadiah
5. Jonah 
6. Micah
7. Nahum
8. Habakkuk
9. Zephaniah
10.  Haggai
11. Zechariah
12. Malachi

Though we order the Old Testament in this way: The Pentateuch, Books of History, Poetry, Major Prophets, and Minor Prophets, the New Testament refers to the Old Testament as the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms (See Luke 24:44).

The New Testament is made up of twenty-seven books. These were all written after the life, death, and resurrection of Christ either by, or under the supervision and approval of, the Apostles of Christ. These books describe the life and teaching of Christ, the beginning of the Christian church, the way of salvation, instruct for Christian living, and speak about God’s plan for the future.

First, we have the four Gospels. These books describe the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. They were written for different audiences and, therefore, emphasized different aspects of his ministry. The four Gospels are:

1. Matthew
2. Mark
3. Luke
4. John

Next, we find a book of history, The Acts Of The Apostles. This book was written by Luke. It is the sequel to his Gospel. The book of Acts tells us about the birth and growth of the church, the beginning and expansion of Christ’s kingdom to all nations,  the establishment of the New Covenant, and the passing away of the Old.

1. Acts

After this, we have a collection of letters or epistles. There are twenty-one epistles. The first thirteen (or fourteen) are letters from the Apostle Paul to various churches or individuals (usually pastors of churches). The author of Hebrews is unknown, though some believe it was also written by Paul. The last seven (or six) letters are called general, or catholic epistles, being written by a variety of authors to a diverse, or general, audience. These letters apply the person, teaching, and work of Jesus Christ to the New Covenant people of God. The twenty-one epistles are:

1.  Romans
2. 1 Corinthians
3. 2 Corinthians
4. Galatians
5. Ephesians
6. Philippians
7. Colossians
8. 1 Thessalonians
9. 2 Thessalonians 
10. 1 Timothy
11. 2 Timothy
12. Titus
13. Philemon
14. Hebrews
15. James
16. 1 Peter
17. 2 Peter
18. 1 John
19. 2 John
20. 3 John
21. Jude

The final book of the New Testament is a book of prophecy. It is called the Book of Revelation. In it, the church is encouraged to remain faithful to Christ until he returns. It also speaks of the time of the end when the Lord will return, raise the just to eternal life, the unjust to eternal condemnation, and usher in the new heavens and the new earth. All of this is communicated in a highly symbolic way in this piece of apocalyptic literature. 

1. Revelation

What event divides the Old Testament from the New Testament? Answer: The birth of Jesus the Messiah. 

What is the relationship between the Old Testament and the New? St. Augustine said it well: “The New is in the Old concealed; the Old is in the New revealed.” Christ is the central figure of both the Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament points forward to the coming of Christ, the New Testament looks back upon his life, death, and resurrection. Christ is revealed in the Old Testament but in a somewhat mysterious and hidden way. Christ is revealed in the New Testament in a very direct and clear way.

This principle can be demonstrated from many texts of Scripture. One of my favorites is Luke 24:25-27. Christ met with two of his disciples after he was raised from the dead. They were leaving Jerusalem and were headed towards a town called Emmaus. They thought Jesus was dead, but he appeared to them arisen, and said,  “‘O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:25–27, ESV).

The Usefulness Of Holy Scripture

Very briefly, we must mention the usefulness of the Scriptures: “The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, and the only certain rule of faith and obedience.”

The word “faith” indicates that the Scriptures are the standard for what we are to believe concerning God and our relation to him. 

The word ”obedience” indicates that the Scriptures are the standard for how we are to live. 

I’ve kept my remarks on this point very brief because we will come back to this topic when we consider Baptist Catechism question 6 in just a moment. 

Question 5: May all men make use of the Holy Scriptures?
Answer: All men are not only permitted, but commanded and exhorted,
to read, hear, and understand the Holy Scriptures.

Let’s turn our attention now to Baptist Catechism question 5. It asks, “May all men make use of the Holy Scriptures?” Answer: “All men are not only permitted, but commanded and exhorted, to read, hear, and understand the Holy Scriptures.” 

The question, “May all men make use of the Holy Scriptures?”, might seem like a no-brainer to you. We are accustomed to having copies of the Scriptures written in our native language. It is very common for pastors today to encourage Christians to read the Scriptures for themselves. But we should remember that things have not always been this way. There was a time, before the invention of the printing press, when very few people had copies of the Scriptures in their possession. And even if someone did, it was probably written in a language that very few people could read – Hebrew, Greek, or perhaps Latin. In addition to this, it should be remembered that the Roman Catholic church very much discouraged the private reading of Scripture. The invention of the printing press, the practice of translating the Scriptures into the native language of the people, and the Protestant Reformation changed all of that. In a very short time, people went from having very little access to Scripture to having the opportunity to read the Scriptures for themselves. If we keep this history in mind, then the question, “May all men make use of the Holy Scriptures?”, will seem more reasonable to us. 

The answer to the question is very helpful because it is true: “All men are not only permitted, but commanded and exhorted, to read, hear, and understand the Holy Scriptures.”

The Scriptures Are For All Men

The words, “all men”, are very important. They emphasize the need for all people – men and women, boys and girls, clergy and laymen, the educated and uneducated, rich and poor, etc – to engage with the Holy Scriptures. The Scriptures are not to be reserved for a particular class of men within society or the church, but all should have access to them. Psalm 1:1-3 says, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” (Psalm 1:1–3, ESV)

All Men Are Commanded And Exhorted To Read The Scriptures 

Next, our catechism says that all men are “not only permitted, but commanded…” to engage with Holy Scripture. The proof texts that are listed in our catechism are really interesting. They are John 5:39; Luke 16:29; Acts 8:28-30; and 17:11. All of these passages share this in common: they speak of men searching the Scriptures. For example, Acts 17:11 speaks of the men of Berea and says that they “were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” (Acts 17:11, ESV)

We are to read the Scriptures, so long as we are able. 

Do you read the Scriptures, brothers and sisters? You should. May I encourage you to read the Scriptures daily? The word of God should be like daily bread for our souls. I would encourage you to read the Scriptures regularly and to read them broadly. By this I mean, we should read through the Scriptures from beginning to end, though not necessarily in that order. We all have our favorite books and passages. Yes, some portions of the Bible speak more to the soul than others. But do not forget that all Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable. No part of Scripture can be called unimportant, therefore, for each part does contribute in some way to the whole. Read the Scriptures, brothers and sisters. Read them carefully and thoughtfully. Read them broadly.

Personal Bible reading is a good discipline to develop. Here are some tips:

1. Pick a time, place, and have a plan to read the Scriptures daily. 
2. The Scriptures are to be meditated upon. 
3. The Scriptures are to be applied to life.
4. It is good to memorize Scripture. 
5. Over time you will need to learn how to properly interpret the Scriptures. One of the best ways to learn how to interpret the Scriptures is to sit under faithful preaching and to pay careful attention the way that your Pastor interprets the Scriptures. By the way, the Second London Confession of Faith offers some good guidance on proper interpretation in 1.9.
6. Having a good study Bible can help. I recommend the ESV Study Bible. 
7. Family Bible reading is also important. 

All Men Are Commanded And Exhorted To Hear The Scriptures 

Notice our catechism also says the Scriptures are to be heard. Here, we are to think primarily of listening to the reading of the Holy Scriptures by the pastor when the church is assembled for worship on the Lord’s Day. Did you know that this is one of the things that pastors are called to do? Listen to what Paul says to Timothy: “Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching” (1 Timothy 4:13, ESV). When ministers read Scripture they should work hard at reading clearly and in such a way that the meaning of the text shines through. When congregants listen to the reading of the Scriptures, they should listen very intently, knowing that they are encountering the very words of God.

It is important to come to church on the Lord’s Day with our hearts prepared to hear the Word of God with: 

1. Holy reverence. In Isaiah 66:2 we hear the Lord say, “All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.” (Isaiah 66:2, ESV)
2. Delight. Remember Psalm 1. Blessed is the man whose “delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:2, ESV)
3. Faith. Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please [God]” (Hebrews 11:6, ESV)
4. Meekness. James 1:21 says, “Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” (James 1:21, ESV)
5. The intent to obey. Deuteronomy 32:46 says, “Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law.” (Deuteronomy 32:46, ESV)
6. The desire to hear God’s word again and again.  Acts 13:42 says, “As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath” (Acts 13:42, ESV), this being a reference to the preaching of Paul and Barnabas.

God’s Word is to be read, and it is to be heard. 

All Men Are Commanded And Exhorted To Understand The Scriptures 

Lastly, our catechism exhorts us to understand the Scriptures. “All men are not only permitted, but commanded and exhorted, to read, hear, and understand the Holy Scriptures.” 

As has already been mentioned, understanding the Scriptures can sometimes be difficult. One of the proof texts listed by our catechism is Acts 8:28-30. This is the passage where Phillip approaches the Ethiopian eunuch who is reading Isaiah the prophet and asks him, “Do you understand what you are reading?” What was his response? “‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him” (Acts 8:31, ESV). I’m sure that many Christians have felt like the  Ethiopian eunuch at times while reading Scripture. How can I understand this unless someone guides me?

Earlier I taught you the doctrine of the clarity of Scripture. What do we mean when we say that the Scriptures are “clear”?

First, when we say that the Scriptures are clear we do not mean that all things are equally clear. Some things are indeed difficult to understand. Second, when we say that the Scriptures are clear we mean that the main message is clear. The gospel is clear. “Those things which are necessary to be known, believed and observed for salvation” are clear. Third, not everything is equally clear to everybody. Those who have been in the faith for a long time may have an easier time understanding Scripture when compared to those who are new to the faith. And indeed, some are more gifted, naturally or spiritually, than others when it comes to the interpretation of Scripture.    

Not all understand the Scriptures. The reasons for this are varied:

1. Some have been negligent.
2. Others have been handed over to judicial blindness. Isaiah 6:10 God says, “Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” (Isaiah 6:10, ESV). In Luke 8:10 Christ says, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.” (Luke 8:10, ESV)
3. Some twist the Scriptures intentionally for selfish gain. “And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.” (2 Peter 3:15–16, ESV)’

The problem is not with the Scriptures but with the heart and mind of man. How important it is to come to the Word of God with the heart and mind prepared.

Question 6: What things are chiefly contained in the Holy Scriptures?
Answer: The Holy Scriptures chiefly contain what man ought to believe concerning God,
and what duty God requireth of man.

Finally, we come to Baptist Catechism question 6. It asks, “What things are chiefly contained in the Holy Scriptures?”, and answers, “The Holy Scriptures chiefly contain what man ought to believe concerning God, and what duty God requireth of man.”

I don’t need to say much to you about Baptist Catechism 6 because I have already explained the significance of this question and answer in lesson 2. I think it will suffice to remind you of two things: 

One, this is a good summary of the main message of the Bible. The Bible tells about who God is and who we are in relation to him. The Bible also reveals the duty God requires of us. In brief, we are to keep his law. And now that we are fallen into sin, we must turn from our sin and place our faith in Jesus Christ as he is offered to us in the gospel. 

Two, this question and answer reveals what the rest of the catechism will be about. Questions 7-43 will teach us what we are to believe concerning God and our relationship to him. Questions 44-114 will teach us about the duty that God requires of us. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is presented in these two sections in two different ways. I think it is good to recognize that our catechism aims to be chiefly about what the Bible is chiefly about. 

Application And Conclusion

This has been a very long lesson. I commend you for sticking with it!

Let’s conclude with a few brief suggestions for application. If it is true that “The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, and the only certain rule of faith and obedience” (which it is), how then should we live?

One, we ought to develop and maintain reverence for the Holy Scriptures knowing that they are the Word of God.

Two, we should aim to grow in our familiarity with the Scriptures. We should read the Bible often, even daily. We should also be faithful to assemble with the church to hear the Scriptures read and preached.  

Three, we should strive to grow in our understanding of the relationship between the Old Testament and the New and to see Jesus Christ as the central figure of both Testaments.  

Four, not only should we aim to grow in our comprehension of the teaching of Holy Scripture, we must ask God to give us the faith to believe the Scriptures and the strength to obey them. 

Well, I think that it is enough for now. I pray that you are seeing the benefit of a study like this where foundational truths are laid down precept upon precept. I hope you will persevere in it. Until next time, abide in Christ (John 15:1-17).