reading 7-8

Question 2

What is Divine Revelation?

Answer 2

Divine Revelation means God makes Himself known to us because we can’t know who God is on our own due to His greatness and our limitations. God reveals Himself so we can know Him.

Question 3

Why do we need Divine Revelation?

Answer 3

We need Divine Revelation because, like knowing someone who never spoke to us, we can’t truly know God unless He reveals Himself. God communicates in ways we can understand, like a loving parent speaking to a child.

Question 4

How does God reveal Himself?

Answer 4

God reveals Himself through the Bible, which contains His Word, and through history and prophets, especially through Jesus, showing how God acts in the world to save people.

Question 5

What is the Bible like?

Answer 5

The Bible is both divine (message from God) and human (written by people in their own language, style, and time). It’s a combination of both divine and human elements.

Question 6

What is the purpose of Divine Revelation?

Answer 6

God reveals Himself to build a relationship with us, not just to give facts. Revelation is a conversation where God speaks and we are meant to respond.

Question 7

Why is the Bible considered both human and divine?

Answer 7

The Bible was written by various people over time, reflecting their personalities and cultures, but Christians believe it also has a divine side because of its consistent themes and life-changing message.

Question 8

Is there absolute proof the Bible is God’s word?

Answer 8

No, belief in the Bible as God’s word is a personal decision based on whether its message makes sense and fits one’s life.

Question 9

How did prophecy work in the Bible?

Answer 9

Prophets received vivid, real messages from God through visions or dreams at specific times, remaining aware and in control, with messages meant to be delivered to others.

Question 10

What was the purpose of prophecy?

Answer 10

The purpose was to deliver God’s message to people, focusing on salvation and guidance, rather than the process of how the Bible was created.

Question 11

What is the Reign of God?

Answer 11

The reign of God is God’s kingdom, started by Jesus but not fully realized yet, with Christians living between the ‘already’ and the ‘not yet.’

Question 12

What is the Church?

Answer 12

The Church is the community of believers who follow Jesus, not just a building, showing how Jesus changes lives collectively, not only individually.

Question 13

Why is the Church important?

Answer 13

The Church continues God’s work on Earth, bringing people together to live God’s kingdom values, helping people experience salvation fully through community.

Question 14

How is the Church different from other groups?

Answer 14

The Church is built around Jesus, united by the Holy Spirit, where the community is more important than the individual alone.

Question 15

What is the mission of the Church?

Answer 15

To share God’s salvation with everyone and live reflecting God’s reign, through worship, baptism, communion, and spiritual growth.

Question 16

Why did God choose Israel?

Answer 16

God chose Israel out of love and faithfulness, not because they were powerful or better, but to bring salvation and blessings to all nations.

Question 17

What was Israel’s mission?

Answer 17

Israel was called to be a ‘light to the nations,’ showing God’s power and love to the whole world.

Question 18

How is the Church like Israel?

Answer 18

The Church is God’s chosen people too, made up of ordinary people by God’s grace, sharing salvation and God’s love with everyone.

Question 19

What are key differences between Israel and the Church?

Answer 19

The Church is international and centered on Jesus as Messiah, unlike Israel, and includes all people without divisions of race, class, or gender.

Question 20

What do Christians believe about Israel’s role today?

Answer 20

Views vary: some believe Israel’s role ended and the Church continues God’s plan; others believe Israel still has a unique role; some see Judaism and Christianity as separate but valid.

Question 21

What is the new covenant through Jesus?

Answer 21

Jesus started a new and better covenant, dealing with sin and giving direct access to God, acting as mediator through the Holy Spirit.

Question 22

What is the Church as the body of Christ?

Answer 22

The Church depends entirely on Jesus, who is the source and head; its identity and authority come from Him, not its members or leaders.

Question 23

What about Peter and church authority?

Answer 23

Peter was important, but Christ is the foundation of the Church. Early Church authority was shared through councils, not just one leader.

Question 24

What does Paul say about love and spiritual gifts?

Answer 24

Love is the most important gift; it means serving others selflessly. Without love, other gifts like tongues or prophecy don’t matter.

Question 25

What is the gift of tongues according to Paul?

Answer 25

Speaking in tongues is a spiritual gift but should not cause confusion; prophecy that helps all understand is more helpful; everything should be done decently and orderly.

Question 26

How do Pentecostals and Charismatics view speaking in tongues?

Answer 26

They see it as a sign of being filled with the Holy Spirit and proof of salvation, though the Bible’s explanation is not fully clear.

Question 27

Who was Ellen G. White?

Answer 27

Ellen G. White was a 19th-century Seventh-day Adventist prophet who received special messages from God and helped guide the church in publishing, education, health, and missions.

Question 28

How do Seventh-day Adventists view Ellen White’s writings?

Answer 28

They respect her as inspired by the Holy Spirit but always subordinate to the Bible; her writings support and explain the Bible without replacing it.

Question 29

Did Ellen White write all original content?

Answer 29

No, she used many historical books and had assistants who helped collect and edit material; some think the Holy Spirit guided her use of these sources.

Question 30

What is the church’s view on Ellen White’s inspiration?

Answer 30

The church is still discerning her inspiration but finds her writings spiritually valuable and helpful for faith.

Question 31

What does the New Testament say about the Church and community?

Answer 31

The Church is a community where salvation happens through relationships; it is inclusive and creates care, love, and support among diverse people.

Question 32

What is "Inerrancy" according to Christian fundamentalists?

Answer 32

Inerrancy is the belief that the Bible has no errors of any type, including doctrinal, spiritual, scientific, and historical statements, often extending to every word of the original Greek and Hebrew texts.

Question 33

What is affirmed positively about the Bible's authority?

Answer 33

The Bible speaks with infallible authority in matters of ethics, doctrine, and spiritual formation.

Question 34

What motivates people who hold verbal/dictation and inerrancy views?

Answer 34

They believe that if any part of the Bible is unreliable, it compromises the entire Scripture’s authority.

Question 35

What is the key presupposition behind the claim of inerrancy?

Answer 35

That God can only authoritatively communicate in ways and words totally without error.

Question 36

What are "autograph texts" in the context of biblical inerrancy?

Answer 36

The original copies of the Bible written under divine inspiration that are considered inerrant.

Question 37

What problem arises with the claim of inerrant original texts?

Answer 37

God did not preserve clearly identifiable inerrant 'autographs,' and certifying such originals is practically impossible.

Question 38

How should we view biblical inerrancy in terms of history and science?

Answer 38

The Bible may contain errors in historical and scientific details, but its authority should not depend on total inerrancy in these areas.

Question 39

What moderate position is suggested for Bible-believers regarding inerrancy?

Answer 39

A moderate agnosticism that admits we do not know everything and lack overwhelming evidence for all biblical statements.

Question 40

How reliable is the Bible historically?

Answer 40

There is abundant but probable (not coercive) evidence for historical reliability, requiring some considered faith.

Question 41

What is the Bible's relationship with science?

Answer 41

The Bible is not a scientific book but is not anti-scientific; it communicates theological meaning rather than technical scientific facts.

Question 42

What assumption do inerrancy advocates often have?

Answer 42

They assume faith must depend on absolute, detailed historical and scientific proof of every biblical fact.

Question 43

What irony exists between fundamentalist inerrantists and liberal modernists?

Answer 43

Both share an Enlightenment worldview that history and science can prove almost everything, despite opposing perspectives.

Question 44

What central issues does the Bible focus on instead of scientific or historical facts?

Answer 44

Matters like sin confession, moral commitment, grace, atonement, justice, and mercy.

Question 45

How does the Bible interpret history?

Answer 45

As providential history, the setting for the drama of good versus evil, emphasizing moral and spiritual meaning over mere facts.

Question 46

What is the bottom line on inerrancy?

Answer 46

Faith concerns probable truths rather than certainties; extreme demands for scientific proof trivialize the Bible's core moral and spiritual messages.

Question 47

What did Alister McGrath mean by “Nothing important is certain and nothing certain is important”?

Answer 47

Mathematical facts are certain but trivial; important human truths rely on probable faith rather than certainty.

Question 48

What is said about possible errors in the Bible?

Answer 48

If errors exist, they are minor and inconsequential and do not affect the spiritual truths of Scripture.

Question 49

What are the two illustrations used to explain possible errors in the Bible?

Answer 49

Old tapestries with holes and Leonardo da Vinci’s decayed Last Supper both still convey powerful overall messages despite flaws.

Question 50

What is the misplaced focus of inerrant fundamentalism?

Answer 50

Focusing too much on proving the Bible’s formal authority rather than the power of its message.

Question 51

What distinguishes the Bible’s formal authority from its material authority?

Answer 51

Formal authority is about the Bible’s inerrancy; material authority is the power and saving message contained in the Bible.

Question 52

What is the ultimate vindication of the Bible’s authority?

Answer 52

The saving power and life-changing impact of its message on sinners.

Question 53

Why might inerrancy advocates lose sight of the Bible’s authority?

Answer 53

By focusing excessively on textual perfection rather than the spiritual power of the message.

Question 54

What does Ellen White say about errors in Scripture?

Answer 54

‘All the mistakes will not cause trouble to one soul… that would not manufacture difficulties from the plainest revealed truth.’