June 4, 2023 – Bible Doctrine 1: The Bible’s Authority and Inspiration

Lesson Date: June 4, 2023

Focal Scripture Passage: Matthew 4:1-10; 5:17-18; 26:51-56; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Titus 1:2; 1 Peter 1:23-25; 2 Peter 1:20-21.

AIM: To lead students to discover the origin, nature, authority, and value of the Bible, and to encourage them to read it every day this week.

Before class: Read the chapters containing the focal passages several times during the week.  Search the Internet to discover popular opinions (man’s views) about the following questions: What is the Bible?  Where did the Bible come from?  Is the Bible different from other religious books?  Can the Bible be trusted?  What, if any, is the value of reading the Bible?  Get enough copies of the Lesson Outline handout for your anticipated attendance.

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Hold up your Bible in front of the class.  Tell them that many people consider the Bible to be just one of many so-called “holy” or “sacred” books.  Ask: “Can you name any books that other religions consider to be holy or sacred?” (they might name the Koran, the Book of Mormon, the Torah, the writings of Confucius, or even the Satanic Bible).  Tell the students that many people see no difference between the Bible and all those other books; they lump them all together as “holy” books of various religions.

Ask: “Are all these so-called ‘holy’ books the same?” (no).  Tell the class that we as Christians believe the Bible is the one and only truly “holy” book.  Ask: “What makes the Bible different from all those other books?  If someone were to ask you that question, how would you answer?” (allow time for responses).

Tell the students the title of today’s lesson is The Bible’s Authority and Inspiration.  As we study several different Bible passages, we will learn about the Bible’s origin, nature, authority, and value.

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1. Review and Introduction to the Survey of Bible Doctrine.
   • Ask: “What was last week’s lesson about?” (Praise God).
   • Ask: “Have you made an effort to spend more time praising God this week?”
   • Ask if any volunteer would recite last week’s memory verse (Ps. 150:6).
   • Be sure everyone present has a copy of the new Sunday School Member Quarterly.
   • Tell them we are beginning a three-month study of Bible doctrine.
   • Explain that the word doctrine simply means teaching or instruction.
   • Tell the students the goal of this study is to learn basic Bible doctrines and why we believe those doctrines.
2. The Origin of the Bible.
   • Ask: “Where did the Bible come from: man or God? Is it merely a collection of religious books written by men?” (allow time for responses).
   • Ask: “If someone were to ask you those questions, how would you answer? Could you give a reason for what you believe?”
   • Ask everyone to turn to 2 Timothy, and then read the first phrase of 2 Timothy 3:16.
   • Ask: “Where did the Bible come from?” (it was inspired by God).
   • Explain the following:
     • We sometimes use the word inspired to describe a great work of art or music: we say the artist or musician was inspired.
     • We also use the word to describe things that motivate us: we see or experience something that inspires us to take a certain action.
     • The English words, “given by inspiration of God” are translated from one Greek word, theopneustos.
     • Theo means God, and pneustos means breath or air (as in pneumonia or pneumatic), so theopneustos literally means breathed out by God.
   • Tell the students the first thing we must know about the origin of the Bible is that the Bible was inspired by God.
   • Ask everyone to turn to 2 Peter, and then ask a volunteer to read 2 Peter 1:20-21.
   • Ask: “According to verse 21, did the Bible come from men or from God?” (God).
   • Ask: “How did God inspire men like Moses, David, Isaiah, and Paul to write the words contained in our Bibles?” (God moved them with His Holy Spirit to speak and write exactly what He wanted them to).
   • Tell the students the second thing we must know about the origin of the Bible is that the Bible came from God, not men.
   • Summarize: The origin of the Bible is that it was inspired (breathed out) by God. It came from God and is not merely a collection of the writings of men.
3. The Nature of the Bible.
   • Ask: “Is the Bible different from all the other so-called ‘holy” books? If so, in what ways?”
   • Ask: “If someone were to ask you those questions, how would you answer? Could you give a reason for what you believe?”
   • Ask everyone to turn back a few pages to 1 Peter, and then read 1 Peter 1:23-25.
   • Tell the students these verses teach us that the Bible is where we learn the Gospel so we can be born again (saved, redeemed).
   • Ask: “What do verses 23 and 25 call the Bible?” (the “word of God” and the “word of the Lord,’ respectively).
   • Tell the class that, “The words of scripture are breathed out by God and are themselves divine utterances” (Jimmy A. Millikin, Christian Doctrine for Everyman, p.17).
   • Stress the fact that the Bible doesn’t just contain God’s Word; it IS God’s Word.
   • Ask: “What else do these verses say about the Bible?” (it will endure forever).
   • Tell the students the first two things we must know about the nature of the Bible is that the Bible is God’s Word, and that the Bible will endure forever.
   • Ask everyone to turn to Titus, and then ask a volunteer to read Titus 1:2.
   • Ask: “What does this verse reveal about God?” (He cannot lie).
   • Ask: “Since the Bible is God’s Word and God cannot lie, what does that tell us about the Bible?” (it is true and accurate in everything it says).
   • Tell the class that, “The Bible does not deceive or mislead. It contains no falsehoods nor contradictions” (Millikin, p. 17).
   • Explain that the words scholars use to describe the truthfulness of the Bible are infallible (unfailing) and inerrant (without error).
   • Tell the students the third thing we must know about the nature of the Bible is that the Bible is infallible and inerrant.
   • Tell the class another way to state this truth is this: if the Bible contains errors, it cannot be God’s Word, because God cannot lie.
   • Summarize: The nature of the Bible is that it is God’s Word, it will endure forever, and it is infallible and inerrant.
4. The Authority of the Bible.
   • Ask: “Does it matter what the Bible says? Must we obey the Bible?  If so, why?”
   • Ask: “If someone were to ask you those questions, how would you answer? Could you give a reason for what you believe?”
   • Ask everyone to turn to Matthew 5, and then ask a volunteer to read Matthew 5:17-18.
   • Tell the class that the Jewish scriptures (our Old Testament) were often called the Law and the Prophets.
   • Ask: “Did Jesus come to destroy or do away with the Old Testament scriptures?” (no).
   • Ask: “What did He come to do?” (fulfill the Word of God).
   • Ask: “What did He say about the permanence of the Bible?” (it will outlast heaven and earth).
   • Tell the students the first thing that shows the authority of the Bible is that Jesus came to fulfill the Bible; this tells us that the Bible is our sole and final authority.
   • Ask everyone to turn to Matthew 26, and then read Matthew 26:51-56.
   • Explain the following:
     • The setting of these verses is the betrayal and arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.
     • Peter pulled a sword in an attempt to prevent Jesus from being arrested.
     • Jesus told Peter He could call twelve legions of angels to protect Him if He chose to.
   • Ask: “According to verse 54, why did Jesus not resist arrest?” (to fulfill the scriptures).
   • Ask: “According to verse 56, why did all this happen?” (to fulfill [obey] the prophecies found in the scriptures).
   • Tell the class that, “The chief reason … why we accept the sole authority of the Bible is because Christ did” (Millikin, p. 15), and “For Jesus, if a matter is written in Scripture, then it is settled” (Millikin, p. 14).
   • Tell the students the second thing we must know about the authority of the Bible is that Jesus obeyed the Bible, and we should, too.
   • Summarize: The authority of the Bible is proven and confirmed by the facts that Jesus came to fulfill the scriptures and He obeyed the Bible.
5. The Value of the Bible.
   • Ask: “Do we really need the Bible? Aren’t we smart enough to make it on our own?”
   • Ask: “If someone were to ask you those questions, how would you answer? Could you give a reason for what you believe?”
   • Ask everyone to turn to Matthew 4, and then read Matthew 4:1-10.
   • Ask: “What was taking place in those verses?” (Jesus was being tempted by the devil).
   • Ask: “According to verses 4, 7, and 10, how did Jesus resist and reject Satan’s temptations?” (by quoting scripture).
   • Ask: “Wouldn’t you agree that since Jesus is God, He had the power to simply tell Satan to leave, or even to destroy Satan completely?” (yes, but instead of doing that, He quoted scripture).
   • Tell the students the first thing we should know about the value of the Bible is that Jesus believed the Bible and quoted the Bible when facing temptation. We should do the same.
   • Ask everyone to turn to 2 Timothy, and then ask a volunteer to read 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
   • Remind them that we previously read the first part of verse 16, which says the Bible is inspired by God.
   • Explain the following:
     • The word profitable means useful or valuable.
     • Doctrine is teaching or instruction.
     • Reproof refers to conviction and rebuke of our sin.
     • Correction refers to restoring the sinner to an upright state and getting him back on the right path.
     • Instruction in righteousness refers to training one how to live a righteous life and continue in righteousness.
   • Tell the students that the Bible is valuable for doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness, and for spiritual growth.
   • Summarize: The Bible is valuable for resisting temptation, teaching us truth, exposing our sin, correcting our behavior, teaching us how to live right, and growing us spiritually.

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Remind the students that the title of today’s lesson is The Bible’s Authority and Inspiration.  Give each of them a copy of the Lesson Outline handout.  Review the lesson by reading the four main points and their subpoints from that outline:

The Origin of the Bible

• The Bible was inspired by God – 2 Timothy 3:16a
• The Bible came from God, not man – 2 Peter 1:20-21

The Nature of the Bible

• The Bible is God’s Word – 1 Peter 1:23
• The Bible will endure forever – 1 Peter 1:23-25
• The Bible is infallible and inerrant – Titus 1:2

The Authority of the Bible

• Jesus came to fulfill the Bible – Matthew 5:17-18
• Jesus obeyed the Bible – Matthew 26:51-56

The Value of the Bible

• The Bible is valuable for resisting temptation – Matthew 4:1-10
• The Bible is valuable for teaching us truth, exposing our sin, correcting our behavior, teaching us how to live right, and growing us spiritually – 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Read 2 Timothy 3:17 once again.  Ask: “Do you want to be spiritually mature?”  Tell them the only way to become spiritually mature is to read the Bible.  Ask: “Will you make a private commitment to God right now to read His Word every day this week?”  Encourage everyone to read the Bible every day this week.  Voice a closing prayer.

CONCLUSION: Tell the students to keep the Lesson Outline handout in their Bibles so they can refer to it again.  Ask them to memorize 2 Timothy 3:16, and to read the Bible every day.  The Daily Bible Reading Guide in their Sunday School Member Quarterly is a good place to start.