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Implications of Inspiration

1. Salvific
   1. Scripture points us to Jesus, where salvation is found. 
   2. Expanded view of salvation
2. Authoritative
   1. While Scripture is not the only way God reveals himself to us, it is God’s authorized witnesses to his self-revelation. Therefore, all other encounters of God must be validated by Scripture. 
   2. Obedience = living as part of God’s story
      1. Ethics – rooted in God’s nature and creation 
3. Trustworthy
   1. Since Scripture is “God-approved” it can be relied upon as true. 
   2. Ties back to the purpose of Scripture 
   3. Inerrancy and infallibility
      1. Cannot prove
      2. Historically – were not there; do not know what happened; do not know authors original intent
      3. Scientifically – the authors are trying to witness to and explain what God is doing in the best way they know how 

What Makes Something True? 

1. Truth in History – something historically happened (e.g., Jesus of Nazareth was a man who lived in first century Palestine and died by crucifixion at the hands of the Roman Empire.) 
2. Truth in Story – something that did not necessarily happen but is true within a certain story world (e.g., Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker’s father)
3. Truth Through Story – a real world truth delivered through a story that may or may not have historical truth (e.g., Jesus’ parables) 

Conclusion

• Option 2, 3, or 4 works
• God guided the process to reveal himself to redeem all of creation. 
• J.W. McGarvey illustrated it by a man driving down the street a horse hitched to a buggy. So long as the horse was going exactly like he wanted him to go, the driver did not pull either the right rein nor the left. But if, before the driver wanted to go home, the horse started to turn homeward, his master would pull the rein, guiding the horse and causing him to go exactly where the driver desired. 
• Heiser Quote – Why must we say God chose or gave the words? Why can we not say God was satisfied by the word decisions made by the people He chose? (attributes providence guidance in reference to 2 Peter 1:20-21).

Did the authors believe they were writing Scripture?