Chapter 5 – The Origin and Authority of the Bible
Some Key Terms:
Natural Revelation
Knowledge of God derived from observing creation - establishes that God exists and is good, but is limited to making inferences
Divine Revelation (Special Revelation)
God's direct self-disclosure to humanity - not merely information about God, but a privileged place where the reader can personally encounter God
Inspiration
The special gift God gave the human authors of Scripture, not possession or dictation, but a grace that moved them to communicate exactly what God intended, in their own style, idiom, and voice
Inerrancy
God is truth itself, cannot lie, and cannot err. What he inspires must be without error, provided it is interpreted correctly according to its genre and intent.