The following excerpt was extracted with permission from her book Why Do We Need the Bible, by Hermisten Maia, by Fiel Editor.
The main need for biblical narrative was the sin of man. In Eden, there was only one book: the book of nature; however, with human sin, nature has also suffered the consequences, darkening itself, losing some of its primitive eloquence in appointing its Creator (Genesis 3:17-19) 1 and, as part of the punishment of sin, man has lost discernment. . To see the glory of God manifested in creation (Psalm 19:1; Romans 1: 18-23). The general revelation that met man’s needs in Eden?Although we know that there was also a special Revelation (Gen 2. 15-17. 19,22; 3. 8ss) ?, now it has become incomplete and ineffective2 to bring man into a personal and conscious relationship with God . 3 of Calvin, here we find it important: “Let us remember that our ruin must be attributed to the depravity of our nature, not to nature itself, in its original state, for fear of making the accusation against God Himself , author of this nature. ?4
- Throughout history.
- God has separated and prepared men to record their designs accurately and infallibly.
- With the Word of God written.
- Among other things.
- The corrective of distorted ideas that nature can give us in its fallen state.
- 5.
In this way, the Bible has an instrumental and temporal character, although its effects and truths are eternal. What we are trying to say is that in eternity there will be no more Bibles; we will only have a broad and experimental vision of what he intended: the victory of the Lamb!
Consequent need
As a logical consequence of the above argument, we can observe that the Bible was written to record in depth and inert God’s will over here and now and there and then, thus avoiding natural deviations, fruits of human sin. Therefore, only the revelación. de of God contained in the Bible is considered appropriate; it is only through the scriptures that man can have knowledge of God without superstition.
Calvin, realizing this fact, wrote:
In fact, if we reflect the strong tendency of the human spirit to forget God, the great propensity to make all kinds of mistakes, how pronounced is the taste for forging new and fanciful religions at every moment, we can realize how necessary such written authentication of celestial doctrine was, so that it would not be lost in oblivion. , or dissipated by error, or by the corruption of men.
The Bible, as the inspired and infallible Word of God, gives man the adequate response to the spiritual needs he so badly needs, showing Jesus Christ (Jn 5,39) and the power of God. In the Scriptures we find the life expectancy prepared, realized, and consumed by the Triune God (Rom. 15: 4; 1 John 5:13). The Bible was not recorded just for our spiritual enjoyment; but rather so that we fulfill his precepts, given by God himself (Deut 29,29; Jos 1,8; 2Tim 3,15,16; James 1,22); Nor was the Bible given to us to satisfy our sinful curiosity (Dt 29:29), which generally arouses speculation and strange features; 7 we have been granted to know its Author and, by knowing and adoring him, the more we know him (Hos 6,3; 2 P 3,18) 8. The Bible has been entrusted to us so that through the illumination of the Holy Spirit 9, we are led to Jesus Christ (Jn 5,39; Lk 24,27, 44), being He himself who leads us to the Father (Jn 14,6-15; 1Tm 2,5; 1Pe 3,18) and gives us life in abundance ( Jn 10. 10; Cl 3. 4). Therefore, “When we study God, we should seek to be led to Him. Has revelation been given to us for this purpose and should we use it for this purpose? 10
References
one? Venereal disease Hermisten M. P. Costa, Theological Anthropology: A Biblical Vision of Man, São Paulo: 1988, p. 22-24. Groningen emphasizes: “The Sovereign Lord has found it necessary to explicitly reveal the nature of his covenant relationship with humanity. He did it before man fell into sin. After the Fall, it became even more necessary due to the effects of sin. (Gerard Van Groningen, Messianic Revelation in the Old Testament, Campinas, SP . : Luz para o Caminho, 1995, p. 63). two? See B. B. Warfield, Revelation and Inspiration: In: The Works of Benjamin B. Warfield, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1981, p. 7ss. The general revelation is “dim and dark for sinful humanity, and even for redeemed humanity. ” (Gerard V. Groningen, Messianic Revelation in the Old Testament, p. 64). 3? Venereal disease Hermisten M. P. Costa, Introduction to Systematic Theology, São Paulo: 1986, p. 7ss; 21. 4? J. Calvin, The Institutes, II. 1. 10. 5? H H. Meeter, Church and State, 3rd ed. , Grand Rapids, Michigan: TELL. (n. d. ), p. 28. 6? J. Calvino, The Institutes, I. 6. 3. (See Westminster Confession, I. 1). 7? Calvino fought vehemently against speculation; in various places he wrote on the subject; as an example I quote: “Because there are very few among the immense crowd of men in the world who want to know the way to go to paradise; but everyone wants to know in advance what is being done there. (The Institutes, III. 25. 11; see also I. 5. 9). Scriptures are helpful. It follows that it is incorrect to use it in an unusable way. In giving us the scriptures, the Lord did not intend to satisfy our curiosity, or to feed our thirst for ostentation, or to give us an opportunity for mystical inventions and silly language; on the contrary, his intention was to do us good. Therefore, the correct use of the Scriptures should always guide us towards what is beneficial. [J. Calvino, As Pastorais, São Paulo: Paracletos, 1998, (2Tm 3. 16), p. 263]. Let us not examine the things that the Lord has hidden in secret, which he has discovered, let us not neglect them, lest we be condemned or too curious on the one hand, or ingratitude on the other. (The Institutes, III. 21. 4). “Let us not be ashamed of even submitting our intelligence to the immense wisdom of God, who succumbs to his many mysteries. Because of those things that are neither given nor lawful to know, ignorance is learned, the lust for knowledge, a kind of madness (The Institutes, III. 23. 8) . 8? You Calvino, The Institutes, I. 5. 10, Augustine, Confessions, 9th ed. Porto, Apostolate of the Press, 1977, I. 1. 1. P. 27-28; JI Packer, Knowledge of God, São Paulo: Christian World, 1980, in particular, pp. 26-35. 9? J. Calvin observed that: “It is only when God radiates the light of his Spirit in us that the Word can take effect. Thus, the internal vocation, which only acts in the chosen one and is convenient for him, is distinguished from the external voice of men. [J. Calvino, Exposition of the Romans, São Paulo: Paracletos, 1997, (10. 16), p. 374 ] The effective vocation of elected officials consists not only in the preaching of the Word, but also in the illumination of the Holy Spirit. (J. Calvino, The Institutes, III. 24. 2). ten? JI. Packer, The Knowledge of God, p. one.