Bibliology
Lessons in this Course
Compiled by
Elder Oscar B. Mink
(1924 - 2004)
(Webmaster Note: These lessons were compiled by Elder Mink sometime in
the mid 1970s and were offered as a home study / correspondence course
by the Philadelphia Baptist Church of Birmingham, Alabama and Elder E.G.
Cook. We are making them available to our visitors in the hope that the
Lord's people may have their appreciation for the inspired Word of God
increased and that they may be enabled to serve the Lord to a greater degree.)
Introduction
Why a course in bibliology? Everybody knows the Bible is Divinely inspired.
If the term "everybody" means everybody in a local New Testament Baptist
church, then there is a great amount of truth in the statement. If the
term has reference to all professing to be Baptists, then the term loses
much of its scope, and, if meant to apply to Christendom in general, the
term not only suffers further loss in identifying those which hold to the
great truth of Divine inspiration, but it would be more correct to say,
in reference to so-called Christendom no one believes this great truth.
Thus it is, this feeble effort is sent forth with the hope of encouraging
those who are settled and grounded in this truth, and with the hope of
inciting new Christians in whose hands these pages may come to diligently
consider the subject.
This doctrine (Divine Inspiration of the Scriptures) has been, for nearly
2,000 years, and, is yet today, one of the chief distinctives which set
Baptists apart from Romanism and Protestantism. Roman Catholicism proudly
places their traditions on an authoritative level with the Bible and their
papal dogmatism above the authority of Holy Writ.
Protestantism while claiming primacy for the Bible in their creeds, have
by their many and varied inventions, reduced the Bible to a mere souvenir
of the past. It would be an expression of kindness to say Protestantism
questions the Divine authority of the Bible. The sad fact is, with protestantism,
the Bible is fallible, frustrating and fallacious. With true Baptists,
the Holy Scriptures are the recognized authority and the only court of
appeal in regard to Christian faith and practice.
Baptists not only hold that the Scriptures are separated from all other
literature by virtue of the authority Divinely ascribed to them, but that
the Bible is THE only book which can be correctly described: Holy, Sacred
or Divine. The Bible not only contains the Word of God, the Bible is the
Word of God.
To the person who really desires to know, love and obey the Truth, God
has promised, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you
free," (John 8:32). Do not let the title of this course deter
you. The word "Bibliology" simply means, regarding this course; an account
of the Bible. Baptists accept without a single reservation, the testimony
of Scripture as to the origin and purpose of the Bible. The inerrant record
reveals that, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished
unto all good works." (II Timothy 3:16-17). So, the indispensable
text book for this course is the Bible. The Bible is the only Book which
Baptists study with a completely objective mind. All other literature is
studied objectively. Yet, there is much to be gained from the uninspired
writings of faithful and God honoring men. With this thought in mind I
have taken much of the subject matter of this course from A. T. Pierson's
great book titled, The Bible and Spiritual Criticism. You, as a
student of this course will need this book. It can be purchased from almost
any religious book store. It is concise and economically priced. If you
are unable to obtain one, let me know. I will do my best to provide you
with one. However, the course is designed so as the student can successfully
complete it without any text book except the Bible.
It is my prayer that God will use this course to magnify His Precious Word.
Oscar
B. Mink
219 North Street
Crestline, Ohio 44827
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