The Christian View of Scripture

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The Christian View of ScriptureBy J. Luis Dizon

; The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the

simple(Psalm 119:130)1

I. IntroductionA. Beginning on Common Ground

1. e !o"# !elie$e "#a" "#ere is only one God% as a C#ris"ian & #a$e no

'ro!lem airming "#e rs" #al* o* "#e +#a#ada# ( .(,. -ore rele$an" "o our disussion/ e !o"# !elie$e "#a" God is

on"inually a"i$e in "#is uni$erse and #as s'oen "o i" $ia di$ine

re$ela"ion.3. 2#is is a on$ersa"ion !e"een -ono"#eis"i A!ra#ami

+u'erna"uralis"s/ and in order *or our dialogue "o go any#ere/ e

mus" a''roa# all "#e issues e raise u' aordingly.B. Being Amia!le in Disagreemen"

1. Colossians :456: Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best

use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with

salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.,. 7o ma""er #o mu# e$idene & 'resen"/ no ma""er #o ogen" my

logi is/ i* & do no" a!ide !y "#is e"#i/ you may regard me as a

#a$ing *ailed in "#is dialogue.C. Le""ing "#e 2e8"s s'ea on "#eir on "erms

1. &n my 'resen"a"ion/ & in$i"e "#e audiene "o see !o"# "#e Bi!le and

"#e uran "#e ay "#ey 'resen" "#emsel$es,. Le" !o"# "e8"s "o s'ea on "#eir on "erms and unders"and "#e

orld$ies "#eyre oming *rom.II.Two Types of Revelation (General and Special)

A. General ;e$ela"ion1. Deri$ed *rom o!ser$ing "#e rea"ed order and *rom our moral

onsienes.,. +ri'"ure 'assages on General ;e$ela"ion

1All sri'"ure ,016 !y J. Luis Dizon. All rig#"s reser$ed.
http://www.esvbible.org/http://www.esvbible.org/


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a) Psalm 19:15,: The heavens declare the glory of !od, and the sky

above proclaims his handiwork. "ay to day pours out speech,

and night to night reveals knowledge.!) ;omans 1:195,0: #or what can be known about !od is plain to

them, because !od has shown it to them. #or his invisible

attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have

been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in

the things that have been made. So they are without e$cuse.3. C#ris"ian 2#eologian ;.C. +'roul no"es "o reasons #y i" is alled

General:a) ?@irs"/ "#is re$ela"ion is general !eause i" is noledge "#a" is

gi$en "o e$eryone. Di$ine general re$ela"ion is a$aila!le "o all

'eo'le in "#e orld. God does no" sim'ly re$eal imsel* "os'ei indi$iduals% is sel*5re$ela"ion is mani*es"ed "o e$ery

#uman !eing. ,

!) ?+eond/ "#e on"en" o* i" is o* a general sor"% "#a" is/ i" does

no" gi$e us "#e de"ails o* Gods or in redem'"i$e #is"ory/ su#

as "#e a"onemen" or "#e resurre"ion o* C#ris". Ene anno" s"udy

a sunse" and see "#e #ea$ens delaring Gods 'lan o* sal$a"ion%

one mus" go "o "#e Bi!le *or "#a". +ri'"ure #as s'ei

in*orma"ion "#a" no one an gain *rom a s"udy o* na"ure.3

B. +'eial ;e$ela"ion1. +'roul: ?+'eial re$ela"ion disloses Gods 'lan o* redem'"ion. &"

"ells us o* "#e inarna"ion/ "#e ross/ and "#e resurre"ionF"#ings

"#a" anno" !e learned "#roug# a s"udy o* "#e na"ural realm. &" is

*ound 'rimarily ("#oug# no" e8lusi$ely) in sared +ri'"ure.

,. e say 'rimarily and no" e8lusi$ely !eause (and "#is is a 'oin"

C#ris"ians and -uslims agree on) no" e$ery ord o* God as

2;. C. +'roul/Everyone%s a Theologian& 'n (ntroduction to Systematic Theology

(+an*ord/ @L: ;e*orma"ion 2rus" Pu!lis#ing: ,01)/ 14.

3&!id./ 16.

4+'roul/Everyone%s a Theologian, ,0.

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reorded *or us. -any 'ro'#e"s 'ro'#esied i"#ou" "#eir

'ro'#eies !eing ri""en.3. 7one"#eless/ e do #a$e reords o* "#ose 'ro'#e"i ords "#a" God

illed "o #a$e ri""en: ?2#roug# !o"# "#e 'ro'#e"s o* "#e Eld

2es"amen" and "#e A'os"les o* "#e 7e 2es"amen"/ e #a$e !een

gi$en a ri""en reord o* s'eial re$ela"ion.4

III. The Inspiration of the BibleA. #a" &ns'ira"ion does notmean

1. &ns'ira"ion does notmean Di"a"iona) 2#is is #ere "#e urani and Bi!lial $ies o* ins'ira"ion

di$erge.!) +ome 'laes in "#e Eld 2es"amen" are di"a"ed/ e.g. "#ose "#a"

!egin i"# "#e '#rase )thus says the Lord* (

).

) Bu" o*"en/ "#e !i!lial ri"ers main"ain "#eir 'ersonali"ies as "#eyri"e sri'"ure/ i"# God ensuring "#a" "#ey ri"e #a" #e

in"ends *or "#em "o ri"e.,. &ns'ira"ion does no" mean any doumen" "#e Bi!le


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d) &* "#e !i!lial au"#ors ere ali$e "oday/ "#ey mig#" do "#e same

"#ing "o "#e daily 'a'ers% i* Paul as ri"ing an e'is"le "o "#e

2oron"onians/ #e mig#"


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!) ;.C. +'roul 'ro$ides "#is rule o* "#um! in in"er're"ing sri'"ure:

?2#e sim'le anons o* ommon deeny s#ould 'ro"e" any

au"#or *rom unarran"ed #arges o* sel*5on"radi"ion. &* & #a$e

"#e o'"ion o* in"er're"ing a 'ersons ommen"s one o* "o ays/

one rendering "#em onsis"en" and "#e o"#er on"radi"ory/ i"

seems "#a" "#e 'erson s#ould ge" "#e !ene" o* "#e dou!".10,. &n*ogra'#i: ?2#e Bi!le as ri""en o$er a s'an o* 1/600 years

aross 3 on"inen"s !y o$er 0 au"#ors in 3 languages (Aramai/

e!re M Gree)/ ye" i" #as 1 'rimary "#eme: 2#e glory o* God in

"#e sal$a"ion o* #umanind.3. &"s message is ena'sula"ed !y ?2#e Grand 7arra"i$e o* is"ory/

#i# omes in *our 'ar"s: Crea"ion/ @all/ ;edem'"ion and

;es"ora"ion.11

B. ;emem!er "#a" "#e Bi!lial orld$ie is +u'erna"ural1. +ine !o"# C#ris"ians and -uslims are su'erna"uralis"s/ e an

agree #ere.,. is"orial Cri"is "ae *ullled 'ro'#eies as e$idene "#a" "#e

'ro'#eies mus" !e ri""en a*"er "#e e$en"s:a) &n &saia# 54/ "#e 'ro'#e" 'redi"s "#e Persian ing Cyrus

"#ree en"uries !e*ore #is !ir"#% "#ere*ore "#is 'ro'#ey mus" !e

da"ed "o "#e Persian 'eriod.!) Jesus 'redi"s "#e *all o* Jerusalem (AD I0) in -a""#e ,:3 and

Lue ,1:6% "#ere*ore -a""#e and Lue mus" !e ri""en a*"er AD

I0.3. 2#is is !egging "#e ,016 !y J. Luis Dizon. All rig#"s reser$ed.
http://nimcanada.org/2014/10/28/the-grand-narrative-of-historyhttp://nimcanada.org/2014/10/28/the-grand-narrative-of-history


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'rodu" o* egelian $ies o* "#esis/ an"i"#esis and syn"#esis. 2#e

'ossi!ili"y o* sri'"ure !eing di$inely ins'ired is re^e"ed a priori.

As Ar#er s"a"es/ ?e$en "o sugges" an in$es"iga"ion o* "#ese

e$idenes is a!solu"ely un"#ina!le in "#e minds o* "#e Li!eral

es"a!lis#men".1,

C. ;ead "#e Bi!le C#ris"ologially1. 2#e -essiani #o'e is a reurring "#eme "#roug#ou" "#e Eld

2es"amen"6. Jesus er"ainly assumed "#a" "#e Eld 2es"amen" as a!ou" #im.

+'eaing "o "#e Jes/ *or e8am'le/ e s"a"es in Jo#n 4:45I: "o

not think that ( will accuse you to the #ather. There is one who

accuses you& 3oses, on whom you have set your hope. #or if you

believed 3oses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. 7ut if

you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words83. -essiani 'ro'#eies: Gen. 9:10/ Psa. ,,/ &sa. 9:15I/ &sa 43/ -i.

4:,54.. @ulllmen" o* 'ro'#ey is one "#e e$idenes *or !i!lial ins'ira"ion

a) &"s !een alula"ed "#a" "#e odds o* one 'erson *ullling all "#e

messiani 'ro'#eies is 1 in 10[.!) 2#is is "#e e ,016 !y J. Luis Dizon. All rig#"s reser$ed.
http://nimcanada.org/2016/01/26/evangelical-responses-to-historical-criticism-a-brief-surveyhttp://nimcanada.org/2016/01/26/evangelical-responses-to-historical-criticism-a-brief-surveyhttp://nimcanada.org/2016/01/26/evangelical-responses-to-historical-criticism-a-brief-surveyhttp://nimcanada.org/2016/01/26/evangelical-responses-to-historical-criticism-a-brief-survey


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,. Hlse#ere/ Dr. +ale# s"a"es: ?-uslims in "#e rs" en"ury o* "#eir

religious #is"ory ine$i"a!ly #ad "o rely on "#e Bi!le *or "#e

!aground o* "#e sal$i #is"ory "#a" "#e ur_an as laiming "o

in#eri". -oreo$er/ "#e a!!re$ia"ed manner in #i# "#e ur_an

rela"ed s"ories *rom "#e Jeis# and C#ris"ian "radi"ions as

sarely suiien" *or "#e s"ories "o *un"ion inde'enden"ly. 2#e

ur_an needed a narra"i$e !aground *or i" "o !eome

om're#ensi!le. . . . 2#ey na"urally "urned "o !i!lial lore ("#e

Bi!le/ midras#/ and C#ris"ian li"era"ure) "o 'ro$ide "#a" narra"i$e

!aground.1

3. A "erm de$elo'ed among -uslim s#olars "o designa"e "#ese

"radi"ions:(sra%iliyyat.. 2#ese re^e"ed !y more onser$a"i$e s#olars. Ene no"a!le -uslim

s#olar *rom \o*2 ri"es: ?2#ere as a la"er "endeny "o relega"e

su# *a!les "o "#e margins o* "#e e8ege"ial s"ream. &!n 2aym`ya#

(d. I,[K13,[) in #is -u


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6. En i"ing "#ese narra"i$es/ i" e8#or"s:(f you are in doubt as to what

we have revealed to you, ask those who read the book before you;

the truth has come to you from your Lord& so never be among the

doubters( 10:9).

I. 7o sur'rise "#en "#a" one #adi"#/ ,016 !y J. Luis Dizon. All rig#"s reser$ed.
http://www.usc.edu/org/cmje/religious-texts/hadithhttp://www.usc.edu/org/cmje/religious-texts/hadith


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3. 2#e same a''lies "o "#e &n il:Let the people of the !ospel ?udge by

what 'llah revealed therein, and whoever does not ?udge by what

'llah revealed, they are the transgressors ( 4:I).VI. Tar%f (Corruption)

A. Deni"ion1. @rom "#e Ara!i $er!.((arra*a/ meaning ?"o orru'"

,. \sed "o e8'lain dierenes !e"een "#e Bi!le and "#e uran.3. 2o "y'es o* 2ar`*:

a) 2a r`* al5-ana (Corru'"ion o* meaning)!) 2ar`* al57ass (Corru'"ion o* "#e "e8")

. -os" -uslim 'rea#ers and a'ologis"s &$e lis"ened "o ad$oa"e "#e

la""er.4. 2#e uran/ #oe$er/ a''ears "o !e "ea#ing "#e *ormer.

;emem!er 10:9 and 4:I.

6. E"#er $erses: ,:I4/ 3:I[/ :6/ 4:13/ 1.B. 2#e urani ]ie

1. o an "#e uran re*er "o "#ose #o$e read 're$ious !oos *or

onrma"ion/ or as "#ose i"# "#e &n^il "o ^udge !y i"/ i* "#eir !oos

are orru'"edI. +ome -uslim aademis reognise "#is. @or e8am'le/ A!dulla#

+aeed *rom "#e \ni$ersi"y o* -el!ourne s"a"es: ?&n no $erse in "#e

uran is "#ere a denigra"ing remar a!ou" "#e sri'"ures o* "#e

Jes and C#ris"ians. &ns"ead/ "#ere is res'e" and re$erene. Anydis'araging remars ere a!ou" "#e Peo'le o* "#e Boo/ indi$iduals

or grou's/ and "#eir a"ions.19

[. &" is no" lear #en urani e8ege"es !egan in"er're"ing urani

"ar`* $erses as re*erring "o "ar`* al57ass/ !u" "#e s#i*" a''ears "o

#a$e "aen 'lae gradually:a) I"#5["#en"uries -uslim soures only "ea# 2ar`* al5-ana (&!n

A!!as/ &!n -una!!i#/ &!n &s#a ,016 !y J. Luis Dizon. All rig#"s reser$ed.
http://quranandinjil.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/The-Charge-of-Distortion-of-Jewish-and-Christian-Scriptures_Abdullah%20Saeed.pdfhttp://quranandinjil.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/The-Charge-of-Distortion-of-Jewish-and-Christian-Scriptures_Abdullah%20Saeed.pdfhttp://quranandinjil.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/The-Charge-of-Distortion-of-Jewish-and-Christian-Scriptures_Abdullah%20Saeed.pdfhttp://quranandinjil.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/The-Charge-of-Distortion-of-Jewish-and-Christian-Scriptures_Abdullah%20Saeed.pdf


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) 11"#en"ury5'resen" 2ar`* al57ass domina"es -uslim 'olemis

(Al5-a ,016 !y J. Luis Dizon. All rig#"s reser$ed.


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1. Jo#n 3:16: #or !od so loved the world, that he gave his only Son,

that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal

life.,. ;om. 10:9: (f you confess with your mouth that esus is Lord and

believe in your heart that !od raised him from the dead, you will

be saved.3. 9[:6: Those who disbelieve among the +eople of the 7ook and

the polytheists will abide in the re of hell. They are the worst of

creatures.VIII. Conclusion

A. 2#e La o* 7on5Con"radi"ion1. A "#ing anno" !e !o"# "rue and no" "rue a" "#e same "ime in "#e

same on"e8".

,. 2#e !ig ,016 !y J. Luis Dizon. All rig#"s reser$ed.


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*n Canon and Te+tual Criticis

omoszesi/ J. Hd/ -. James +ayer and Daniel B. allae.

4einventing esus& 0ow 1ontemporary Skeptics 3iss the 4eal esus and

3islead +opular 1ulture. Grand ;a'ids/ -&: regel Pu!lia"ions/ ,006.

js"en!erger/ Andreas J./ M -i#ael J. ruger. The 0eresy of9rthodo$y& 0ow 1ontemporary 1ulture/s #ascination with "iversity 0as

4eshaped 9ur Dnderstanding of Early 1hristianity. #ea"on/ &L: Crossay/

,010.

ruger/ -i#ael J. The :uestion of 1anon& 1hallenging the Status :uo

in the ew Testament "ebate. Doner_s Gro$e/ &L: &]P Aademi/ ,013.

Lig#"*oo"/ 7eil ;. 0ow We !ot the 7ible (3rded.). Grand ;a'ids/ -&:

Baer Boos/ ,010.

*n Biblical Interpretation

@ee/ Gordon D./ and Douglas +"uar". 0ow to 4ead the 7ible 7ook by

7ook& ' !uided Tour. Grand ;a'ids/ -&: onder$an/ ,009.

ffffffffff. 0ow to 4ead the 7ible for 'll (ts Worth ("# Hd.). Grand

;a'ids/ -&: onder$an/ ,01.

-uilin/ ;o!er"son. Dnderstanding and 'pplying the 7ible(;e$ised

and H8'anded). C#iago/ &L: -oody Pu!lis#ers/ ,009.

+'roul/ ;.C. 5nowing Scripture (;e$. Hd.). Doner_s Gro$e/ &L:&n"er]arsi"y Press/ ,009.

*n the #ur$an and the Bible

Adang/ Camilla. 3uslim Writers on udaism and the 0ebrew 7ible&

#rom (bn 4abban to (bn 0a=m. Leiden: Brill/ 1996.

Bannis"er/ Andre G.'n 9ral2#ormulaic Study of the :ur%an. Lan#am/

-D: Le8ing"on Boos/ ,01.

7iel/ Gordon.arratives of Tampering in the Earliest 1ommentaries

on the :uran. Leiden: Brill Aademi/ ,010.

ffffffffff. The !entle 'nswer to the 3uslim 'ccusation of 7iblical

#alsication. Calgary/ AB: Bru"on Ga"e/ ,014.

;eynolds/ Ga!riel +aid. The Emergence of (slam& 1lassical Traditions in

1ontemporary +erspective. -innea'olis/ -7: @or"ress Press/ ,01,.

1, = P a g eCo'yrig#" > ,016 !y J. Luis Dizon. All rig#"s reser$ed.


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ffffffffff.ew +erspectives on the :ur%an(;ou"ledge +"udies on "#e

uran). 7e or: ;ou"ledge/ ,011.

ffffffffff. The :ur/an and (ts 7iblical Subte$t (;ou"ledge +"udies on

"#e uran). 7e or: ;ou"ledge/ ,010.

ffffffffff. The :ur/an in (ts 0istorical 1onte$t (;ou"ledge +"udies on

"#e uran). 7e or: ;ou"ledge/ ,00[.

+aeed/ A!dulla#. ?2#e C#arge o* Dis"or"ion o* Jeis# and C#ris"ian

+ri'"ures. The 3uslim World@all 9, (@all ,00,)/ 19536.

+ale#/ alid. (n defense of the 7ible& ' 1ritical Edition and an

(ntroduction to al27i-

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The Christian View of Scripture