HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BIBLE

 

          The Bible is a Theanthropic Book (Greek: theos, “God”; Anthropos, “man”), meaning it is of Divine Origin and it also has Human Authors

Avoiding 2 Extremes

     1. Denying or Diminishing the Bibles divine characteristics while affirming its human traits

     2. Affirming its divine properties while denying or diminishing its human elements

 

The Bible Has Human Authors

  • Every book in the Bible is the composition of a human writer, nearly forty persons in all

The Bible was Written in Human Languages

  • Hebrew, Aramaic, and Koine Greek

The Bible Uses Different Human Literary Forms

  • Narrative Form – Books of Samuel and Kings
  • Poetry – Book of Jobs and Psalms
  • Parables – The Gospels
  • Allegory – Galatians 4
  • Symbols – Revelation
  • Metaphors and Similes – James 1-2
  • Satire – Matt. 19:24
  • Hyperbole – Colossian 1:23

The Bible Expresses Human Culture

  • The Bible is filled with expressions and practices of the Hebrew culture
  • Numerous other Near-Eastern cultural practices are indicated in Scripture

The Bible Utilizes Other Written Human Sources

  • The Old Testament often used non-cannonical writings as sources (Josh 10:13; Num. 21:14; 1 Chron. 29:29)
  • In the New Testament
      • Luke is believed to have referred to written sources about Christ available to him (Luke 1:1-4)
      • Paul quoted non-Christian poets 3 times (Acts 17:28; 1 Cor. 15:33; Titus 1:12)
      • Jude cited non-cannonical material (Jude 9, 14)