Biblical Theological Seminary

 

Jesus andInerrancy

Robert C. Newman

 

Introduction

 

We are called "Christians" as followers of Christ.     

Jesus Christ is our example; what did he think of the Bible?

 

His General Attitude

 

Jesus' own language is filled with allusions to Scripture.

Again and againhe quotes Scripture: 74 times, according to the very modest estimate in the 3rdedition of the United Bible Societies' Greek New Testament.

 

What aboutJesus' remarks in the Sermon on the Mount?

 

Doesn't Jesus sethimself against Scripture six times in Matthew 5:21-48?

            "Youhave heard É (quotes Scripture) É but I say"

            (21-22)murder, Ex 20:13 or Deut 5:17

            (27-28)adultery, Ex 20:4 or Deut 5:18

            (31-32)divorce, Deut 24:1, 3

            (33-34)vows, Lev 19:12 and Num 30:2

            (38-39)eye for eye, Ex 21:24, Lev 24:20 or Deut 19:21

            (43-44)love neighbor, Lev 19:18

 

But note thecontext, Matt 5:17-19

            Jesuscame not to abolish the law but to fulfill it (17)

            Untilheaven and earth pass, not one jot or tittle (18)

            Whoeverannuls least command will be least in kingdom (19)

Therefore, ifJesus is setting himself against Scripture, he is also contradicting himself.

 

What is Jesusdoing, then?

            NoteMatt 5:20: righteousness surpasses that of scribes and Pharisees

            Notephrase "heard it said," not Jesus' usual phrases for citingScripture:

                        "itis written," or "haven't you read?"

These pointssuggest he is dealing with Rabbinic oral traditions (some now preserved in theTalmud), which are interpretations of Biblical law; Jesus attacks suchinterpretations elsewhere:

            Matt9:11-13: eating with sinners

            Matt12:1-8, 9-14: Sabbath keeping

            Matt15:1-9: ceremonial washing

            Matt19:3-9: divorce

            Matthew23 especially: Jesus' woes to Pharisees

In agreementwith this, the first and last examples (Matt 5: 21, 43) add to the law.

 

Solution:  Jesus is responding to the followingfaulty interpretations:

            (1)Murder is liable to punishment, but hatred is not.

            (2)Adultery is wicked, but lust is not.

            (3)Divorce is permitted, so it is OK.

            (4)False vows are wrong, but a false statement without a vow is not.

            (5)Personal vengeance is allowed by law.

            (6)Love your neighbor, but hate your enemy.

 

Thus, in thesecases, rather than Jesus correcting the law, we see him with such a high regardfor it that he cannot let others go unanswered when they misinterpret it.

 

Jesus Teachingthe People (e.g., Matt 11:1-30; 12:39-42)

 

An answer to takeback to John the Baptist (11:4-6)

            Allusionsto Isaiah 35:5-6; 61:1

            Jesus'point is that he is fulfilling prophecy.

 

The place of Johnthe Baptist (11:9-10)

            QuotesMal 3:1 with "it is written"

            Johnis seen as the fulfillment of prophecy.

 

Woesto Unrepentant Cities (11:20-24)

            Jesus'refers to Sodom and its fall as historical, like Tyre and Sidon.

 

Woesto Unbelieving Generations (12:39-42)

            Jesusrefers to historicity of Jonah, Queen of Sheba, Solomon's wisdom.

 

Summary:  Jesus believes in real and detailedfulfillment of prophecy, and in the historicity of Biblical narratives, or atleast he teaches like he does.

 

Jesus Arguingwith Leaders (e.g., Mark 12:18-37)

 

With Sadducees onResurrection (18-27)

            Theirtrouble is that they don't understand Scripture (24).

            Jesuscites Exodus 6:3

 

With Lawyer onGreat Commandment (28-34)

            Jesuscites Deut 6:4; Lev 19:18 (29-31)

            Hecommends the lawyer (34).

 

With Pharisees onMessiah's Person (35-37)

            Jesusaccepts Psalm title on Psalm 110 (36-37).

            Heargues on the basis of one word "Lord" (37).

            Henotes that "David says by the Holy Spirit" (36).

Jesus LayingHis Life on the Line (Luke 4:1-13; Mark14:49, 60-62)

 

When Tempted bySatan (Luke 4:1-13)

            Surelyno need to pander to Satan's "belief system"!

            Note3-fold use of "it is written" by Jesus.

            Jesusbases his responses on Scripture, though it may cost him his life.

            Herefutes Satan's misuse of Scripture.

 

When Arrested(Mark 14:49)

            Jesusdoes not resist.

            Henotes the fulfillment of Scripture (possibly Isa 53:12; Zech 13:7).

 

When on Trial forHis Life (Mark 14:60-62)

            Jesusis put on oath re/ the capital charge of blasphemy.

Jesus seals hisMessianic claim with the citation of Ps 110:1 and Dan 7:13 applied to himselfas to be fulfilled in the future.

 

JesusInstructing His Disciples after the Resurrection (Luke 24:-25-27, 32, 44-48)

 

On the Road toEmmaus (25-27, 32)

            Thedisciples are "fools not to believe all the prophets have spoken" (25).

            Itwas "necessary for the Christ to suffer and to enter glory" (26).

Jesus,"beginning with Moses and all the prophets, explained the thingsconcerning himself in the Scriptures" (27).

Disciples:"Didn't our hearts burn while explained Scriptures?" (32)

 

Upper Room inJerusalem (44-48)

            Jesus:"All things written about me in the Law & Prophets must be fulfilled" (44).

            He"opened their minds to understand Scriptures" (45).

            Jesus:"Thus it is writtenÉ"

                        (1)suffering of Christ

                        (2)resurrection of Christ

                        (3)repentance & forgiveness in his name to all nations

 

Conclusions

 

1. Jesus neverplayed down, minimized or found fault with Scripture; why should we?

 

2. Jesus taughtfrom it and argued on the basis of it.

 

3. He accepted ashistorical those passages most maligned today:  creation, the flood, Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch,Davidic authorship of the psalms, historicity of Jonah, Queen of Sheba, Sodomand Gomorrah.

 

4. Though onemight claim he was condescending to the views of the people of his time inthis, he showed no reluctance to correct them when wrong.  This certainly doesn't apply to hisconflict with Satan.

 

5. Though onemight claim that Jesus abandoned his divine knowledge during his earthlyministry, he would still be protected by whatever process was used for theapostles and prophets (recall Deut 18:21-22).  Without inspiration, he know nothing of God's program; withit, we are told that Scripture is inerrant.

 

6. The contrastbetween Jesus' attitude toward Scripture and that of modern deniers ofinerrancy is striking.  For Jesus,whatever Scripture said, God said.