The Doctrine of the Bible; 3. Illumination

Without inspiration no Scripture would ever have been written.

Without Illumination no sinner would ever have been saved.

Definition:

Illumination is that method used by the Holy Spirit to shed Divine light upon all seeking men as they look into the Word of God. Illumination is from the Written Word to the Human Heart.

Eph_1:18  the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what is the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

Barnes: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened - The construction here in the Greek is, probably, “that he may give you (δώη  dōē, Eph_1:17) the Spirit of wisdom, etc. - eyes of the understanding enlightened,” etc. Or the phrase, “the eyes of your understanding being enlightened,” may be in the accusative absolute, which Koppe and Bloomfield prefer. The phrase, “the eyes of the understanding,” is a figure that is common in all languages. Thus, Philo says, “What the eye is to the body, that is the mind to the soul;” compare Mat_6:22. The eye is the instrument by which we see; and in like manner the understanding is that by which we perceive truth. The idea here is, that Paul not only wished their “hearts” to be right, but he wished their “understanding” to be right also. Christianity has much to do in enlightening the mind. Indeed, its effect there is not less striking and decisive than it is on the heart.

The understanding has been blinded by sin. The views which people entertain of themselves and of God are narrow and wrong. The understanding is enfeebled and perverted by the practice of sin. It is limited in its operations by the necessity of the case, and by the impossibility of fully comprehending the great truths which pertain to the divine administration. One of the first effects of true Christian faith is on the understanding. It enlarges its views of truth; gives it more exalted conceptions of God; corrects its errors; raises it up toward the great Fountain of love.

Heb_6:4  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit,

Impossible (ἀδύνατον)

It is impossible to dilute this word into difficult.

Those who were once enlightened (τοὺς ἅπαξ φωτισθέντας)

Rend. “once for all enlightened.” Ἅπαξ is frequent in the Epistle. Comp. Heb_9:7, Heb_9:26, Heb_9:27, Heb_9:28; Heb_10:2; Heb_12:26, Heb_12:27. Indicating that the enlightenment ought to have sufficed to prevent them from falling away; not that it does not admit of repetition. Enlightened, through the revelation of God in Christ, the true light, and through the power of the Spirit. Φωτίζειν in lxx usually to teach or instruct; see Psa_119:130; 2Ki_12:2; 2Ki_17:27. Comp. in N.T. Joh_1:9; Eph_1:18; Eph_3:9; Heb_10:32. Erasmus gives the correct explanation: “Who once for all have left the darkness of their former life, having been enlightened by the gospel teaching.”

Tasted of the heavenly gift (γευσαμένους τῆς δωρεᾶς τῆς ἐπουρανίου)

For γευσαμένους tasted, comp. Heb_2:9. The meaning is, have consciously partaken of. Comp. 1Pe_2:3, and τρώγων eateth, Joh_6:56. The heavenly gift is the Holy Spirit. It is true that this is distinctly specified in the next clause, but the two clauses belong together.

Partakers of the Holy Ghost (μετόχους πνεύματος ἁγίου)

“Heavenly gift” emphasizes the heavenly quality of the gift. The Holy Ghost is the gift itself which possesses the heavenly quality.VWS

A. The Reasons for Illumination.

Why is this third step of Illumination necessary? Why can’t a sinful man merely read and heed the Biblical Message without Divine Aid?

1.It is necessary because of natural Blindness. Paul writes in 1Co 2:14  But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

The natural man (ψυχικὸς ἄνθρωπος)

See on Rom_11:4, on the distinction between ψυχή soul, life, and πνεῦμα spirit. The contrast is between a man governed by the divine Spirit and one from whom that Spirit is absent. But ψυχικὸς natural, is not equivalent to σαρκικός fleshy. Paul is speaking of natural as contrasted with spiritual cognition applied to spiritual truth, and therefore of the ψυχή soul, as the organ of human cognition, contrasted with the πνεῦμα spirit, as the organ of spiritual cognition. The man, therefore, whose cognition of truth depends solely upon his natural insight is ψυχικός natural, as contrasted with the spiritual man (πνευματικός) to whom divine insight is imparted. In other words, the organ employed in the apprehension of spiritual truth characterizes the man. Paul therefore “characterizes the man who is not yet capable of understanding divine wisdom as ψυχικός, i.e., as one who possesses in his ψυχή soul, simply the organ of purely human cognition, but has not yet the organ of religious cognition in the πνεῦμα spirit” (Dickson). It is perhaps impossible to find an English word which will accurately render ψυχικός. Psychic is simply the Greek transcribed. We can do no better than hold by the A.V. natural.

Does not receive (οὐ δέχεται)

Not, does not understand, but does not admit them into his heart; thus, according to New Testament usage, when the word is used in connection with teaching. See Luk_8:13; Act_8:14; Act_11:1; 1Th_1:6; Jam_1:21.VWS

Our Lord also commented Mat 16:16  And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Mat 16:17  Jesus answered and said to him, You are blessed, Simon, son of Jonah, for flesh and blood did not reveal it to you, but My Father in Heaven.

No natural sagacity, study, or discernment had revealed the great truth. None of these had overcome slowness of apprehension, prejudices of education, slackness of faith. No unregenerate mortal man had taught him the gospel mystery. My Father which is in heaven. Christ thus accepts Peter’s definition of him as "the Son of the living God." None but the Father could have revealed to thee the Son. Pulpit Commentary.

2. It is necessary because of Satanic Blindness

2Co 4:3  But also if our gospel is hidden, it is hidden to those being lost,

2Co 4:4  in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving ones, so that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ (who is the image of God) should not dawn on them.

Overt Illuminati Satanic Symbols Pour Out of the American Music Industry, Secular Society Turns a Blind Eye. biblicaltimes.wordpress.com

3. It is necessary because of Carnal Blindness. 1 Cor 3;

Heb 5:12  For indeed because of the time, you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again what are the first principles of the oracles of God. And you have become in need of milk, and not of solid food.

Heb 5:13  For everyone partaking of milk is unskillful in the Word of Righteousness, for he is an infant.

Heb 5:14  But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, even those who because of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

2Pe 1:9  For he in whom these things are not present is blind and cannot see afar off and has forgotten that he was purged from his sins in the past.

The outer circle stands for the "body" of man, the middle for the "soul," and the inner for the spirit, or what Paul calls the "Carnal" (1 Cor. 3:1-3); the "Natural" (1 Cor. 2:14); and the "Spiritual" (1 Cor. 3:1); parts of man.

2Pe 1:10  Therefore, brothers, rather be diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things, you shall never fall.

2Pe 1:11  For so an entrance shall be ministered to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

2Pe 1:12  Therefore I will not neglect to put you always in remembrance of these things, though you know them and are established in the present truth.

2Pe 1:13  But I think it right, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by a reminder,

2Pe 1:14  knowing that the putting off of my tabernacle is soon, as indeed our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.

2Pe 1:15  And I will also be diligent to cause you to always have memory of these things after my departure.

2Pe 1:16  For not having followed fables having been cunningly devised, but becoming eyewitnesses of the majesty of Jesus Christ, we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord.

2Pe 1:17  For He received honor and glory from God the Father, when was borne to Him a voice from the excellent glory, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

2Pe 1:18  And we heard this voice being borne from Heaven, being with Him in the holy mountain.

2Pe 1:19  We also have a more sure Word of prophecy, to which you do well to take heed, as to a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the Daystar arises in your hearts,

2Pe 1:20  knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture came into being of its own private interpretation.

2Pe 1:21  For prophecy was not borne at any time by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke being borne along by the Holy Spirit.

Your Understanding being enlightened ILLUMINED,

Eph 1:18  the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what is the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, MKJV

be enlightened G5461 φωτίζω phōtizō Thayer Definition:

1) to give light, to shine

2) to enlighten, light up, illumine

3) to bring to light, render evident 3a) to cause something to exist and thus come to light and become clear to all

4) to enlighten, spiritually, imbue with saving knowledge 4a) to instruct, to inform, teach

4b) to give understanding to

the eyes of your understanding being enlightened,

Compare the contrary state of unbelieving, the heart being in fault (Eph_4:18; Mat_13:15).

Translate,  “Having the eyes of your heart enlightened” (Eph_5:14; Mat_4:16). The first effect of the Spirit moving in the new creation, as in the original physical creation (Gen_1:3; 2Co_4:6). So Theophilus to Autolycus (1.3), “the ears of the heart.” Where spiritual light is, there is life (Joh_1:4). The heart is “the core of life” [Harless], and the fountain of the thoughts; whence “the heart” in Scripture includes the mind, as well as the inclination. Its “eye,” or inward vision, both receives and contemplates the light (Mat_6:22, Mat_6:23). The eye is the symbol of intelligence (Eze_1:18). JFB

that you may know what is the hope of His calling,MKJV

you will know the confidence that is produced by God having called you,ISV

Barnes The meaning here is, that it would be an inestimable privilege to be made fully acquainted with the benefits of the Christian hope, and to be permitted to understand fully what Christians have a right to expect in the world of glory. This is the first thing which the apostle desires they should fully understand,

the rich glory that is his inheritance among the saints, ISV

what the wealth of the glory of His inheritance in God's people,WNT

And what the riches of the glory of his inheritance - This is the second thing which Paul wishes them to understand. There is a force in this language which can be found perhaps nowhere else than in the writings of Paul. His mind is full, and language is burdened and borne down under the weight of his thoughts; see the notes at 2Co_4:17. On the word “riches” used here, see the notes at Eph_1:7. The phrase “riches of glory” means “glorious wealth;” or, as we would say, “how rich and glorious!” The meaning is, that there is an abundance - an infinitude of wealth. It is not such a possession as man may be heir to in this world, which is always limited from the necessity of the case, and which cannot be enjoyed long; it is infinite and inexhaustible; compare notes, Rom_2:4. The “inheritance” hero referred to is eternal life. notes, Rom_8:17. Barnes

Eph 1:19  and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us, the ones believing according to the working of His mighty strength

Eph 1:20  which He worked in Christ in raising Him from the dead, and He seated Him at His right hand in the heavenlies,

Eph 1:21  far above all principality and authority and power and dominion, and every name being named, not only in this world, but also in the coming age.

Eph 1:22  And He has put all things under His feet and gave Him to be Head over all things to the church,

Eph 1:23  which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

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The Doctrine of the Bible C. The Implications of Inspiration.

Note these nine Conclusions:

1. Plenary-Verbal Inspiration does not teach that all parts of the Bible are equally important, but only that they are equally inspired. Judges 3:16 is not as important as John 3:16

2. Plenary - Verbal Inspiration does not guarantee the inspiration of any modern or ancient translation of the Bible but deals only with the Original Manuscripts in the Hebrew and Greek Languages.

3. Plenary - Verbal Inspiration does not allow for any false teaching, but it does on occasion record the lie of someone. Eg. Satan distorts the truth and lies to Eve,

Gen 3:4  And the serpent said to the woman, You shall not surely die,

Gen 3:5  for God knows that in the day you eat of it, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as God, knowing good and evil.

Therefore we have an accurate record of the devil’s words. As one reads the Bible, he must carefully distinguish between what God records and what He sanctions. Thus, while lying, murder, adultery and polygamy are to be found in the Word of god, they are never approved by the Word of God.

4. Plenary - Verbal Inspiration does not permit any historical, scientific, or prophetical error whatsoever.

While it is admitted that the Bible is not a textbook on science, it is nevertheless held that every scientific statement in Scripture is absolutely true.

5. Plenary - Verbal Inspiration does not prohibit personal research. The Writer of the Gospelo f Luke begins his Gospel with the Following:

Luk 1:1  Seeing that many have attempted to draw up a narrative of the facts which are received with full assurance among us

Luk 1:2  on the authority of those who were from the beginning eye-witnesses and were devoted to the service of the divine Message,

Luk 1:3  it has seemed right to me also, after careful investigation of the facts from their commencement, to write for you, most noble Theophilus, a connected account,

Luk 1:4  that you may fully know the truth of the things which you have been taught by word of mouth.

6. Plenary - Verbal Inspiration does not deny the use of Extra- Biblical Sources. Here are two examples.

a. On two occasions Paul quotes from heathen authors.Act 17:28  For it is in closest union with Him that we live and move and have our being; as in fact some of the poets in repute among yourselves have said, 'For we are also His offspring.'

Tit 1:12  One of their own number--a Prophet who is a countryman of theirs--has said, "Cretans are always liars, dangerous animals, idle gluttons."

b. Jude quotes from an ancient hebrew Book, one not included in the Bible

Jud 1:14  It was also about these that Enoch, who belonged to the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, "The Lord has come, attended by myriads of His people, to execute judgement upon all,

Jud 1:15  and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly deeds which in their ungodliness they have committed, and of all the hard words which they, ungodly sinners as they are, have spoken against Him."

7. Plenary-Verbal Inspiration does not overwhelm the personality of the Human author. Bible authors did not experiences coma-like trances as some mediums during a seance.

Isa 6:1  In the year that King Uzziah died I then saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple.

Isa 6:2  Above it stood the seraphs; each one had six wings; with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.

Isa 6:3  And one cried to another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is Jehovah of Hosts; the whole earth full of His glory.

Isa 6:4  And the doorposts moved at the voice of the one who cried, and the house was filled with smoke.

Isa 6:5  Then I said, Woe is me! For I am undone; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, Jehovah of Hosts.

Isa 6:6  Then one of the seraphs flew to me, having a live coal in his hand, snatched with tongs from the altar.

Isa 6:7  And he laid it on my mouth and said, Lo, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged.

Isa 6:8  And I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then I said, Here am I; send me!

Isa 6:9  And He said, Go, and tell this people, You hear indeed, but do not understand; and seeing you see, but do not know.

Isa 6:10  Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn back, and be healed.

Isa 6:11  Then I said, Lord, how long? And He answered, Until the cities are wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land laid waste, a desolation,

Compare Daniel 12.

8. Plenary - Verbal Inspiration does not exclude pictorial and symbolic Language.

The Bible does not demand we accept every word in a wooden and legalistic way. Eg. a case could be made that God has feathers like a bird from Ps 91:4. Here the thought is simply that the persecuted believer can flee to his Heavenly Father for protection and warmth.

9. Plenary - Verbal Inspiration does not mean uniformity in all details given in describing the same event.

a. OT Example. The wicked King Manesseh is vividly described in two separate passages: 2 Kings 21:1-18 and 2 Chronicles 33:1-20. In2 Kings we read of his wickedness while in 2 Chronicles we are told of his eventual prayers for forgiveness and subsequent salvation.

b. New Testament example. There are four different accounts of the superscription on the Cross at calvary.

Matthew says: Mat 27:37  And they put up over His head His accusation, written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Mark says: Mar 15:26  And the inscription of His accusation was written over Him, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Luke says : Luk 23:38  And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek and Latin and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

John says: Joh 19:19  And Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

The entire title was probably “This is Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews”.

So God included all that He wanted us to know and excluded what He did not what included.

2Ti 3:15  and that from a babe you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

2Ti 3:16  All Scripture is God-breathed, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

2Ti 3:17  that the man of God may be perfected, thoroughly furnished to every good work.

The Doctrine of the Bible - Inspiration

6. The Plenary - Verbal Inspiration Theory.

Meaning : - that all (plenary), the very words (verbal) of the Bible are inspired by God. This view alone is the Correct one.

2Ti 3:16  Every Scripture passage is inspired by God. All of them are useful for teaching, pointing out errors, correcting people, and training them for a life that has God's approval.

2Ti 3:17  They equip God's servants so that they are completely prepared to do good things. GW

1Co 2:13  These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. MKJV

Joh 17:8  For I have given to them the Words which You gave Me, and they have received them and have known surely that I came out from You. And they have believed that You sent Me.

Joh 6:63  It is the Spirit that makes alive, the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit and are life. MKJV

B. Various Scriptures on Inspiration.

The Bible Itself strongly claims it’s writings are from God. Note the following:

1. No Old Testament Scripture was thought up by the Prophet himself.

2Pe 1:19  And in the written word of prophecy we have something more permanent; to which you do well to pay attention--as to a lamp shining in a dimly-lighted place--until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

2Pe 1:20  But, above all, remember that no prophecy in Scripture will be found to have come from the prophet's own prompting;

2. All Old Testament Scriptures were given by the Holy Spirit as He moved upon men.

2Pe 1:21  for never did any prophecy come by human will, but men sent by God spoke as they were impelled (moved upon) by the Holy Spirit.

3. The Spirit Breathed Inspiration was given in many different ways.

Heb 1:1  God, who in ancient days spoke to our forefathers in many distinct messages and by various methods through the Prophets,

Heb 1:2  has at the end of these days spoken to us through a Son, who is the pre-destined Lord of the universe, and through whom He made the Ages.

Barnes Notes: And in divers manners -  - πολυτρόπως  polutropōs. In many ways. It was not all in one mode. He had employed various methods in communicating his will. At one time it was by direct communication, at another by dreams, at another by visions, etc. In regard to the various methods which God employed to communicate his will, see Introduction to Isaiah, section 7. In contradistinction from these, God had now spoken by his Son. He had addressed us in one uniform manner. It was not by dreams, or visions; it was a direct communication from him. The word used here, also, occurs nowhere else in the New Testament.

4. Once it was given, this inspired writing:

a. Could not be broken or shaken down. Joh 10:35  If those to whom God's word was addressed are called gods (and the Scripture cannot be annulled),WNT ;  cannot be nullified; Murdock;

(and the scripture cannot be broken), ASV

Barnes :The scripture cannot be broken - See Mat_5:19. The authority of the Scripture is final; it cannot be set aside.

b. Is exact in all details.

Mat 5:18  Solemnly I tell you that until Heaven and earth pass away, not one iota or smallest detail will pass away from the Law until all has taken place. WNT

c. Would  abide forever.

1Pe 1:25  BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD REMAINS FOR EVER." And that means the Message which has been proclaimed among you in the Good News. WNT

5, The OT Writers did not always understand the nature of everything they wrote about.

Luk 10:23  And He turned towards His disciples and said to them apart, "Blessed are the eyes which see what you see!

Luk 10:24  For I tell you that many Prophets and kings have desired to see the things you see, and have not seen them, and to hear the things you hear, and have not heard them."

1Pe 1:10  There were Prophets who earnestly inquired about that salvation, and closely searched into it--even those who spoke beforehand of the grace which was to come to you.

1Pe 1:11  They were eager to know the time which the Spirit of Christ within them kept indicating, or the characteristics of that time, when they solemnly made known beforehand the sufferings that were to come upon Christ and the glories which would follow.

1Pe 1:12  To them it was revealed that they were serving not themselves but you, when they foretold the very things which have now been openly declared to you by those who, having been taught by the Holy Spirit which had been sent from Heaven, brought you the Good News. Angels long to stoop and look into these things.

a. They did not completely understand Christ’s Sufferings.

b. They did understand that these mysteries would be clearer to a generation other than theirs.

6. The four Gospels were given by Divine Inspiration.

2Pe 3:1  My dear friends, this is the second letter I have written to encourage you to do some honest thinking. I don't want you to forget

2Pe 3:2  what God's prophets said would happen. You must never forget what the holy prophets taught in the past. And you must remember what the apostles told you our Lord and Saviour has commanded us to do.

7. Paul believed His writings were inspired by God.

1Co 2:4  When I talked with you or preached, I didn't try to prove anything by sounding wise. I simply let God's Spirit show his power.

1Co 15:3  I told you the most important part of the message exactly as it was told to me. That part is: Christ died for our sins, as the Scriptures say.

1Co 15:4  He was buried, and three days later he was raised to life, as the Scriptures say.

1Th 2:13  And for this further reason we render unceasing thanks to God, that when you received God's Message from our lips, it was as no mere message from men that you embraced it, but as--what it really is--God's Message, which also does its work in the hearts of you who believe.

1Th 4:15  For this we declare to you on the Lord's own authority--that we who are alive and continue on earth until the Coming of the Lord, shall certainly not forestall those who shall have previously passed away.

8. Paul used the Holy Spirit’s Words to explain the Holy Spirit’s facts.

1Co 2:13  Of these we speak--not in language which man's wisdom teaches us, but in that which the Spirit teaches--adapting, as we do, spiritual words to spiritual truths.

9. All Paul’s Writings were received by special revelation from Christ.

Gal 1:11  For I must tell you, brethren, that the Good News which was proclaimed by me is not such as man approves of.

Gal 1:12  For, in fact, it was not from man that I received or learnt it, but by a revelation from Jesus Christ.

10. Peter believed Paul's Writings were inspired by God.

2Pe 3:15  And always regard the patient forbearance of our Lord as salvation, as our dear brother Paul also has written to you in virtue of the wisdom granted to him.

2Pe 3:16  That is what he says in all his letters, when speaking in them of these things. In those letters there are some statements hard to understand, which ill-taught and unprincipled people pervert, just as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own ruin.