The Illiteracy Rate

One of the reasons, in my humble opinion, we are being inundated with the preaching of craziness is the lack of understanding about Biblical construction. My specific point of conflict is the pervasive attitude that the writers of the New Testament epistles just kinda made stuff up as they were constructing their corpus under the ‘inspiration of the Holy Spirit.’ I fully believe in divine inspiration, but not in the way it is portrayed by many spittle-spraying preachers today.

There are many ministers and ministries who seem justified to ‘make stuff up,’ likely due to thinking the Biblical authors did that. I have heard a pink-haired ‘prophetess’ say that ‘thus sayeth the Lord,’ your adored pets will be in Heaven and she verified it by going there and seeing all the cute furballs frolicking around. I am sorry (not sorry), but that is an emotionalized opinion at best and antithetical heresy at worst. And, the irreverence it takes to attach divine authority to it thrusts the action past sin into blasphemy. Much of these activities are fueled by the desire for popularity, attention, and (dare I say it) money.

1 Timothy 6:9-10
Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

Sadly, this is the modern, progressive, church-i-anity messaging today. The only reason it works is because the Christian masses do not have decent Bible literacy. A heart filled with truth is difficult to deceive.

Inspiration is a complex and patient work of the Spirit of Truth that involves a plethora of dynamics, all synchronized together and often working together simultaneously in the same chosen person. The men and women through whom inspired thoughts and words were compiled that compose our Holy script, were uniquely crafted, studied, and developed vessels chosen for the high honor of their historic contribution to our unified faith.

As the scriptures declare about the former ‘holy ones’ (this is the proper interpretation of the Greek term ‘hagiois’ that is mostly rendered ‘saints’) used mightily for divine purposes, causes, and missions, so says the Spirit about anyone willing to be a mighty change agent today. I preached an entire message on this HERE. The principle is outlined in these unique statements:

Genesis 6:8 – Noah, however, found favor in the eyes of the LORD.

Exodus 33:17 – So the LORD said to Moses, “I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor in My sight, and I know you by name.”

Luke 1:30 – So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 

One does not just accidentally find the favor or grace of God. One prepares their heart, their life, and their soul to obtain that divine gift. Grace is not like a random quarter lying on the sidewalk outside of Walmart that is surprisingly stumbled upon. Grace is supernatural and divine empowerment to achieve or accomplish something that could never (God-word) be done in the flesh.

The precious folks that were highly honored to have a part in producing our Holy Cannon, were used in that aspect by the orchastration of an omnipotent God Who had infinite understanding about the vital importance of those scriptures being annotated according to His Will and plan. They were not some yucksters who were bored and decided to make a cute psalmic poem that sounded good so it just got stuck into the book. Additionally, there was not some alien abduction-type scenario going down either (can you see my major eye-roll?).

In an effort to over-dramatize the common misconception about the development of scripture, let me give a visual aid to start the process. Many (no exaggeration) believers have a concept about inspiration that is more sci-fi than it is spiritual. Some imagine it like this:

Bubba Believer is in his tent chilling on his couch after a long day of tending rebellious sheep and making cave wall pictographs when he slips off into dreamland from exhaustion and sweet wine. Just then, the Super-Soverign God of the universe, body-snatches Bubba and takes possession of his writing hand like an auto-pen in the White House. In an outcome akin to robotic, programmed activities, there ‘mysteriously’ develops a nearly glory-glowing document of perfectly precise God language that just happens to be in Hebrew or Greek depending on the century. Bubba then shakes himself out of his spiritual brain fog and looks down in surprised excitement to see a parchment of perfectly articulated text still glittering from the gold dust of the shekinah presence of Yahweh’s finger. Bubba picks up the fresh prints (Now this is a story all about how my life got flipped-turned upside down. And I’d like to take a minute, just sit right there, I’ll tell you how I became the prince of a town called Bel-Air.… if you know, you know…) and dashes outside screaming at his dusty shepherd pals about how he has been promoted in his nap-time to ‘Prophet-Scribe’ by God because you never know what God’s gonna do! From zero to hero because he was possessed by Holy Spirit!

No, Beloved. The folks who had a hand in the creation of that precious Bible on your end table were highly skilled, educated, and honed ministers who knew their ministry well… knew language construction exceedingly well… and were matured by God through experience and circumstance for that unique and special destiny. They ‘found favor’ by making themselves ready by diligently searching for it.

Revelation 19:7
Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him the glory.
For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready.

If we consider this to be true, it should adjust our interaction with the scriptures quite a bit. One of the natural outcomes of this adjustment would be a deeper commitment to ‘studying’ the scriptures instead of simply ‘reading’ them. When we more dutifully engage in Bible Study, we will see a massive world of revelation unfold around us giving the reward of wisdom and knowledge that can empower us into more divine outcomes and abundant life.

Paul was a man who was superbly discipled into a place of usability for the high calling of apostle and New Testament author.

Acts 22:1-3
“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.” When they heard him speak to them in Hebrew, they became even more silent. Then Paul declared, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but raised in this city. I was educated at the feet of Gamaliel in strict conformity to the law of our fathers. I am just as zealous for God as any of you here today.”

• Gamaliel was, and is, a famous Rabbi who had exceptional intelligence and Godliness.

Acts 21:39
But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.

• A Roman citizen of a prominent town… no easy achievement for a Jew.

Romans 11:1
I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

• A ‘pure-blooded’ Hebrew knowing his lineage directly linked to the Benjamite tribe. This was rare because the tribes had just spent the last 800 years intermarrying with Babylonian Gentiles.

2 Corinthians 11:21b-23
Speaking as a fool, however, I can match what anyone else dares to boast about. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? I am speaking like I am out of my mind, but I am so much more: in harder labor, in more imprisonments, in worse beatings, in frequent danger of death.

• His credentials were in more than just education and pedigree. Paul was fiercely tested in the fire of persecution and unjust treatment by the government of his time and horrendously, even his countrymen.

Paul was educated to the highest levels that Judaism offered in his day. He was also a citizen of Rome which gave him certain privileges and access to ‘paideia,’ which was the Roman version of intensive educational processes. He was likely fluent in Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic. Multiple times in his epistles, he quoted Persian and Greek philosophers, medical professionals, and scientific leaders, second-temple texts with deep theology, the Septuagint (Greek version of the Old Testament), the Masoretic Text (Hebrew Version of the Old Testament), and also the Targums (Aramaic Version of the Old Testament) utilizing the ‘commentaries’ from each of these sources for validating his doctrinal positions. It is widely speculated by some scholars that he was a Cives Romani. These were full Roman citizens who were born in Rome or had acquired citizenship through birth, marriage, or adoption. They enjoyed all the rights and privileges of citizenship, including the right to vote, hold public office, and serve in the army. This was the highest possible citizenship attainable.

He was deeply engaged with having a strong working knowledge of his Bible and associated writings. Because we tend to think that Paul was a rogue cowboy of doctrine, we often miss how interconnected his declaration of Gospel truth was already solidified in the Old Testament. His writings were so revolutionary because he had a unique ability to ‘connect the dots’ of old truth with The Living Truth in Christ. Look at this example:

Ephesians 6:13-17
Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed, and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

If I were to ask you, “How many Old Testament references were in those verses,” most would respond with a very low number. But look at this…

Isaiah
11:5 – Righteousness will be the belt around His hips, and faithfulness the sash around His waist.

49:2 – He made My mouth like a sharp sword; He hid Me in the shadow of His hand. He made Me like a polished arrow; He hid Me in His quiver.

52:7 – How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

59:17 – He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on His head; He put on garments of vengeance and wrapped Himself in a cloak of zeal.

Psalm
18:30, 35 – As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him. You have given me Your shield of salvation; Your right hand upholds me, and Your gentleness exalts me.

91:9-10 – Because you have made the LORD your dwelling— my refuge, the Most High— no evil will befall you, no plague will approach your tent.

7:10, 13 – My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart. He has prepared His deadly weapons; He ordains His arrows with fire.

76:3 – There He shattered the flaming arrows, the shield and sword and weapons of war.

That is just a really quick fly-by of references. We could do this for hours. Also, each of these references has other connected references to go with them. Most of these verses and contexts easily connect directly to the Messianic profile that was and is Christ. Paul connected the ideas in powerful ways. The Bible as a whole is a massive hyperlink to a massive mosaic picture and a deep matrix of ideas that span thousands of years, across a global landscape, and among a plethora of people groups. All of that is readily available for you and me to enhance our prospects of freedom, success, health, and the abundant life promised to us by our merciful and loving Savior.

The purpose of this message today is to whet your appetite for the lavish banquet table of provision that countless martyrs died to preserve and promote for us. They loved us, as illustrated by the sacrificing of their own lives, by giving us the greatest gift one person could bestow on a future generation… TRUTH.

John 15:13 – Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

John 17:17, 19 – Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth. For them I sanctify Myself, so that they too may be sanctified by the truth.

3 John 1:3-4 – For I was overjoyed when the brothers came and testified about your devotion to the truth, in which you continue to walk. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

I end my message to you by using the salutation that the Apostle John gave to the one he loved in ministry, Gaius:

The elder,

To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth: Beloved, I pray that in every way you may prosper and enjoy good health, as your soul also prospers.

(3 John 1:1-2)

Steve