Th 503 Chapter 16

1. Chapter Sixteen
“Jesus and the Bible”
PowerPoints prepared by Dr. Mark E. Hardgrove
2010

2. If the Gospels present accurately whatIf the Gospels present accurately what
Jesus taught, and if what He taught wasJesus taught, and if what He taught was
confirmed by miracles to have divineconfirmed by miracles to have divine
authority, then what Jesus taught about theauthority, then what Jesus taught about the
origin and nature of the Scripture is divinelyorigin and nature of the Scripture is divinely
authoritative.authoritative.

3.  Jesus affirmed its divine authorityJesus affirmed its divine authority
 Jesus affirmed its imperishabilityJesus affirmed its imperishability
 Jesus asserted its unbreakabilityJesus asserted its unbreakability
 Jesus declared its ultimate supremacyJesus declared its ultimate supremacy
 Jesus affirmed its factual inerrancyJesus affirmed its factual inerrancy
 Jesus insisted on its historical reliabilityJesus insisted on its historical reliability
 Jesus affirmed its scientific accuracyJesus affirmed its scientific accuracy

4.  Jesus used phrases that encompass the whole OT
 Jesus referred to most of the individual books of the OT
 Jesus referred to the OT as a whole
 Jesus promised the divine authority of the NT
 The Apostles claimed the divine authority for their works
 Paul cited the Gospels
 Peter acknowledged Paul’s letters as Scripture
 The NT is the only authentic record of Apostolic teaching

5.  Jesus affirmed that Daniel was a prophet, not a mere
historian
 Jesus confirmed that God created Adam and Eve
 Jesus affirmed that Jonah was swallowed by a great
fish
 Jesus verified that the world was covered by a flood
 Jesus maintained that there was one Isaiah, not two
 Jesus confirmed David wrote the Psalms ascribed to
Him

6. Jesus and His disciples affirmed many other OT persons
and events (see Geisler, vol. 1, pp. 272-273)
If Jesus is the Son of God, then the Bible is the Word of
God, including what it says about these authors and
events.
If the Bible is not the Word of God, then Christ is not the
Son of God.
The two Words of God, Living and written, are tied
together.

8. In order to avoid the conclusion that Jesus wasIn order to avoid the conclusion that Jesus was
actually affirming Scripture to be historically andactually affirming Scripture to be historically and
supernaturally true, some negative critics insist thatsupernaturally true, some negative critics insist that
He was merely accommodating Himself to theHe was merely accommodating Himself to the
accepted Jewish belief of the day.accepted Jewish belief of the day.
The argument is that He didn’t intend to correctThe argument is that He didn’t intend to correct
misinterpretations, but he used them as a startingmisinterpretations, but he used them as a starting
point to convey His own spiritual and moralpoint to convey His own spiritual and moral
message (accommodation).message (accommodation).

9. Accommodation to error is contrary to the patterns ofAccommodation to error is contrary to the patterns of
Jesus’ life.Jesus’ life.
First,First, Jesus rebuked those who accepted JewishJesus rebuked those who accepted Jewish
teaching that contradicted the Bible.teaching that contradicted the Bible.
Second,Second, Jesus often set His words against false view ofJesus often set His words against false view of
the Bible— “You have heard, but I say”the Bible— “You have heard, but I say”
Third,Third, Jesus rebuked Nicodemus for not understandingJesus rebuked Nicodemus for not understanding
spiritual truths.spiritual truths.
Fourth,Fourth, Jesus tells the Sadducees that their view ofJesus tells the Sadducees that their view of
Scripture was in error.Scripture was in error.

10. Accommodation to error is contrary to the patterns ofAccommodation to error is contrary to the patterns of
Jesus’ life.Jesus’ life.
Fifth,Fifth, Jesus denounced the Pharisees in a way that wasJesus denounced the Pharisees in a way that was
less than accommodating.less than accommodating.
Sixth,Sixth, Jesus did not accommodate false beliefs andJesus did not accommodate false beliefs and
practices in the temple.practices in the temple.
Seventh,Seventh, Jesus spoke specifically about the authorshipJesus spoke specifically about the authorship
of portions of the OT.of portions of the OT.
Eighth,Eighth, even Jesus’ enemies recognized that He did noteven Jesus’ enemies recognized that He did not
compromise.compromise.

11. Bottom line is that there is nothing in ScriptureBottom line is that there is nothing in Scripture
to indicate that Jesus as an accommodator toto indicate that Jesus as an accommodator to
accepted error on any topic.accepted error on any topic.
Even from a purely human standpoint, JesusEven from a purely human standpoint, Jesus
was known as a man of high moral character.was known as a man of high moral character.
His closest friends found him impeccable, andHis closest friends found him impeccable, and
even Pilate exclamed, “I find no basis for aeven Pilate exclamed, “I find no basis for a
charge against this man”(Luke 23:4)charge against this man”(Luke 23:4)

12. Admittedly, God adapted to human limitationsAdmittedly, God adapted to human limitations
in order to communicate with us. Jesus whoin order to communicate with us. Jesus who
was God was also a human being.was God was also a human being.
However, we know that Jesus never erred forHowever, we know that Jesus never erred for
two reasons.two reasons. First,First, limits on understanding arelimits on understanding are
different from misunderstanding.different from misunderstanding. Second,Second, whatwhat
Jesus did know and teach He affirmed withJesus did know and teach He affirmed with
divine authority.divine authority.

13. ConclusionConclusion
There is no evidence that Jesus everThere is no evidence that Jesus ever
accommodated Himself to human error inaccommodated Himself to human error in
anything He taught. Nor is there anyanything He taught. Nor is there any
indication that His self-limitation in theindication that His self-limitation in the
Incarnation necessitated any error. HeIncarnation necessitated any error. He
taught with the authority of the Father,taught with the authority of the Father,
having all authority in heaven and earth.having all authority in heaven and earth.

14. According to this view, Jesus was so limited in HisAccording to this view, Jesus was so limited in His
human knowledge that it did not extend to mattershuman knowledge that it did not extend to matters
such as the authority and authenticity of the Oldsuch as the authority and authenticity of the Old
Testament, and as such He was not affirming theseTestament, and as such He was not affirming these
issues. Rather His ministry was limited only to theissues. Rather His ministry was limited only to the
spiritual or moral matters, and He affirmed nothingspiritual or moral matters, and He affirmed nothing
about historical, scientific or critical matters.about historical, scientific or critical matters.
Two main pillars of this argument are: the humanityTwo main pillars of this argument are: the humanity
of Christ and the kenosis theory.of Christ and the kenosis theory.

15. The humanity of Christ argument:The humanity of Christ argument:
The Bible repeatedly affirms the humanity of Christ,The Bible repeatedly affirms the humanity of Christ,
and if Jesus was human in every respect, then whyand if Jesus was human in every respect, then why
could He not experience human error so long as itcould He not experience human error so long as it
did not hinder His overall redemptive mission?did not hinder His overall redemptive mission?

16. The argument that Jesus emptied Himself ofThe argument that Jesus emptied Himself of
Omniscience:Omniscience:
If Jesus emptied Himself of omniscience then thereIf Jesus emptied Himself of omniscience then there
were some things he did not know. For example,were some things he did not know. For example,
the day or hour of His return (Mark 13:32). Also, thethe day or hour of His return (Mark 13:32). Also, the
fact that there were not figs on the fig tree (Markfact that there were not figs on the fig tree (Mark
11:13). If Jesus was ignorant of these things,11:13). If Jesus was ignorant of these things,
perhaps He was also ignorant of the origin of the OTperhaps He was also ignorant of the origin of the OT
and the historicity of the persons and events.and the historicity of the persons and events.

17. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in
Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God,
did not consider it robbery to be equal with
God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation,
taking the form of a bondservant, and coming
in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in
appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and
became obedient to the point of death, even the
death of the cross.

18. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing,
(kenoo from keno, meaning, “to empty”)
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death —
even death on a cross!

19. Response:Response:
Jesus was not just man, but was also God, and asJesus was not just man, but was also God, and as
such error cannot be attributed to Him.such error cannot be attributed to Him.
Jesus never emptied Himself of Diety.Jesus never emptied Himself of Diety.
First,First, according to Philippians 2 He emptied Himselfaccording to Philippians 2 He emptied Himself
of His divine prerogatives, but not of His deity byof His divine prerogatives, but not of His deity by
humbling Himself to become human.humbling Himself to become human.
Second,Second, though emptied, He was still in the “form”though emptied, He was still in the “form”
(essence) of God.(essence) of God.

20. Response:Response:
Jesus never emptied Himself of Deity (continued)Jesus never emptied Himself of Deity (continued)
ThirdThird, while on earth in human form Jesus claimed to, while on earth in human form Jesus claimed to
be God (Mk. 2:10; Jn. 8:58; 10:35-36; Jn. 17:1-6).be God (Mk. 2:10; Jn. 8:58; 10:35-36; Jn. 17:1-6).
Fourth,Fourth, Jesus accepted the attribution of deity givenJesus accepted the attribution of deity given
to Him by others, as well as worship due only to Godto Him by others, as well as worship due only to God
(Matt. 28:17; Jn. 9:38)(Matt. 28:17; Jn. 9:38)..
When Christ became man He never ceased beingWhen Christ became man He never ceased being
God. The incarnation was not theGod. The incarnation was not the subtractionsubtraction ofof
deity; it was thedeity; it was the additionaddition of humanity.of humanity.

21.  Orthodoxy does not deny the full humanity ofOrthodoxy does not deny the full humanity of
Jesus, but orthodoxy also claims the full divinity ofJesus, but orthodoxy also claims the full divinity of
Jesus as well and these two natures must be heldJesus as well and these two natures must be held
in harmony with one another.in harmony with one another.
 Jesus had a supernatural knowledge even in HisJesus had a supernatural knowledge even in His
human state. He knew things about people that ahuman state. He knew things about people that a
mere human could not have known.mere human could not have known.
 Christ possessed complete and final authority forChrist possessed complete and final authority for
whatever He taught. He claimed that He spokewhatever He taught. He claimed that He spoke
what the Father gave Him to speak.what the Father gave Him to speak.

22. Conclusion:Conclusion:
The only reasonable conclusion is that Jesus’The only reasonable conclusion is that Jesus’
teachings are possessed of divine authority.teachings are possessed of divine authority.
Therefore, whatever Jesus taught from came fromTherefore, whatever Jesus taught from came from
God, including His affirmations concerning theGod, including His affirmations concerning the
historicity and reliability of the Old Testament text.historicity and reliability of the Old Testament text.