Journal: Interdisciplinary Journal on Biblical Authority
Volume: IJOBA 02:3 (Spring 2021)
Article: Authority Of Scripture And Hermeneutic Method As Historical And Continual Bases For Christian Unity And The Collaborative Avenues They Imply
Author: Christopher B. Cone

IJOBA 2:3 (Spring 2021) p. 53

Authority Of Scripture And Hermeneutic Method As Historical And Continual Bases For Christian Unity And The Collaborative Avenues They Imply1

Christopher Cone

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Differences And Commonalities

On What Constitutes Scripture?2

“God in the past used various methods to communicate His word to man, as … He spoke long ago to the fathers in many portions and in many ways.”3 Although the methods varied, the Giver of revelation is always the same. The claim of inspiration is made4 regarding (1) the origin of Scripture, as proceeding from the mouth of God, and regarding (2) the purpose of Scripture, as for training unto being fully equipped for life and ministry.5 The Scriptures are the revelation of God, given via inspiration of God. The revelation is what God said; inspiration is the instrument of revelation.

Old Testament revelation was delivered to prophets, although not exclusively so, as Kuyper observes,

The divine speaking is not limited to prophecy. God spoke also to others than prophets, e.g., to Eve, Cain, Hagar, etc. To receive a revelation or a vision does not make one a prophet, unless it be accompanied by the command to communicate the revelation to others. The word “nabi,” the

IJOBA 2:3 (Spring 2021) p. 54

Scriptural term for prophet, does not indicate a person who receives something of God, but one who brings something to the people. Hence it is a mistake to confine the divine revelation to the prophetic office.6

All that is revealed in Scripture is divine revelation, and is inspired, or God-breathed (theopneustos) by the Holy Spirit. There are two distinct categories of revelation identified in the Old Testament: speaking and dreams/visions/trances.

With respect to speaking as a revelatory tool, a comparison of Is. 6:1–10 and Acts 28:25 shows that the Holy Spirit is equated with God and is the One speaking. It is vital to understand that the literal interpretation of this method would require audible communication in linguistic terminology understandable by the recipient—in other words, the use of human language and words.7

Dreams, visions, and trances were valid, although s...