A Short Theology, Part 1: Introduction to the Bible
od reveals Himself in the heavens above, meaning that every person both has a sense of God and is subject to Him (Ps 19; Rom 1:19–21). Yet, compared to Scripture, the universe communicates little about God, which is why theologians call it only general revelation. As animals rarely open their mouths to speak, those seeking a full understanding of God need His special revelation.
The Bible, in conjunction with the illumination of the Holy Spirit (Jn 16:12–15; 1 Cor 2:7–15), is God’s means of communicating with man. It is a “breathed out” (cf. 2 Tm 3:16) spiritual truth taught by God (1 Cor 2:13). While the words might be human, expressed within particular historical-grammatical contexts, they come from the mind of God (see 1 Thes 2:13). It does not contain only some words or ideas of God, clouded or obscured by human intervention, but exists as it stands in the standard sixty-six book formulation as the Word of God.
We should therefore test all human ideas and teachings by it (Acts 17:11, 1 Thes 5:21).