Notes from Dr. George Martin's "Biblical Basis of Christian Missions" class: The Nature and Character of Scripture

[Notice, these are NOT from the outline that Dr. Martin gave to the class, but are only an outline based on the lecture as I heard it.]

I. There is a distinction between Systematic Theology and Biblical Theology (BT as a discipline)

II. There is a progressive nature to God's revelation

III. Scripture as God's "Self-Revelation"
A. Purpose of the Old Testament
Q: "Why has God given to us this material?"
A: "That people might know God"/"to make Himself known" through WORDS and DEEDS
1. The WORDS of Scripture are God's words (ex. Hos 1:1,2,4; 2:1; Joel 1:1; Amos 1:1-3,6,9,11,13, etc.)
2. "This is a God who ACTS in history" (Gen 1:1; Exod 3)
3. Words and deeds are especially focused into COVENANTS with His people
4. God reveals Himself by telling His people His NAMES, as recorded in Scripture
B. Knowledge of God
1. knowledge=experience;relationship (see Gen 3:22; 4:1, in which word "to know" is used)
2. knowledge of God affects knowledge of all else:
a. knowledge of the Divine
b. knowledge of self
c. knowledge of society

IV. Inspiration of Scripture
A. "In essence, what 'inspiration' means is that these are God's words."
B. God's words are recorded so that God may be known and obeyed.
1. Moses was specifically commanded to write down God's words.
2. The prophets were specifically instructed to write down God's words.
C. God's words are, by definition, true; therefore, Scripture is inerrant.