Now, while I cannot speak for all such opinions and conclusions, those of which I am aware are conspicuously silent on what the Bible actually says about itself. I know that, as far as what is accepted as empirical research is concerned (and at least as far as I was told), what a written work has to say about itself is not typically considered in its evaluation. At least not to a significant degree. As far as genuine empirical research itself is concerned, this may not be true. By no means do I consider myself the best of researchers. I've been told I've done pretty good work in some areas, but, I'm not the sort to blow his own horn where this is concerned. But the fact remains, the silence is there. It may not be universal, but, considering what the Bible says about itself, my thinking is that it shouldn't be there at all. But then, where research exterior to the Bible itself is concerned, that's just me.
It should first be understood that the central focus of the Bible is Jesus Christ as a revelation of God. And the context of that revelation is the redemption of man from sin through Christ's sacrifice and ministry. His ministry and sacrifice are the center around which all of the Bible's teachings revolve.
Reading the Bible, it can be clearly seen that, throughout the Bible, the responsibility of communicating God's will and intentions to man, with a few rare, individual exceptions, has been delegated to man. This can be seen in God's designs for the nation of Israel as evidenced by His interaction with them. It can also be seen in the commission of the preaching of the Gospel in the New Testament. Paul shows this in the opening of his letter to the Romans, and, a little further in, in referencing the appointed responsibility of the Jews.
"Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (which He had promised afore by His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,) concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: by Whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for His name: among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: to all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ." - Romans 1:1-7
"What advantage then hath the Jew? Or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God." - Romans 3:1, 2
The Bible also refers to itself as an ideal source of instruction in principle and religion for the purpose of preparing one for the preaching of the Gospel and the performance of ministries. And, as is consistent with things so closely connected to and associated with God, Scripture is considered "holy", "sacred".
"For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For everyone that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." - Hebrews 5:12-14
"But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 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." - 2 Timothy 3:14-17
Those who contributed to the Bible consistently related that what they wrote did not come from them. In messages and prophecies, what is said is indicated as something they were shown or told by God.
"The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against Me." - Isaiah 1:1, 2
"The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake. And he said, The Lord will roar from Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall whither." - Amos 1:1, 2
"The word of the Lord that came to Micah the Morashthite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. Hear, all ye people; hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord God be witness against you, the Lord from His holy temple." - Micah 1:1, 2
"The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see. O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! Even cry out unto Thee of violence, and Thou wilt not save! Why dost Thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? For spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention." - Habakkuk 1:1-3
"But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver thee. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the Lord, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live. But if thou refuse to go forth, this is the word that the Lord hath shewed me: and, behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah's house shall be brought forth to the king of Babylon's princes, and those women shall say, Thy friends have set thee on, and have prevailed against thee: thy feet are sunk in the mire, and they are turned away back." - Jeremiah 38:20-22
Scripture further indicates that it is the Holy Spirit who shows and gives prophets messages and prophecies.
"Yet many years didst Thou forbear them, and testifiedst against them by Thy Spirit in Thy prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gavest Thou them into the hand of the people of the lands." - Nehemiah 9:30
"Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in His Spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts." - Zechariah 7:12
"Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and His word was in my tongue." - 2 Samuel 23:1, 2
"And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee. And the Spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me." - Ezekiel 2:1, 2
"And the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak; Thus saith the Lord; Thus have ye said, O house of Israel: for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them." - Ezekiel 11:5
"Afterwards the Spirit took me up, and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to them of the captivity. So the vision that I had seen went up from me. Then I spake unto them of the captivity all the things that the Lord had shewed me." - Ezekiel 11:24, 25
"But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin." - Micah 3:8
Communication from God to man, throughout the history of the nation of Israel consistently, in one way or another, involved the Holy Spirit. While communication of the will and intentions of God was a responsibility delegated to those chosen by Him to be prophets, the means by which this communication was effected was the Holy Spirit. This was acknowledged by king David in his last words. (2 Samuel 23: 1, 2 [see above]). The Spirit was indicated as the active agent in the vision of Micah concerning the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel and Judah. (Micah 3:8 [see above]). The Spirit was directly involved in Ezekiel's vision concerning Judah during their captivity under the Babylonians. (Ezekiel 2:1, 2; 11:5, 24, 25 [see above]). After the captivity, in their prayer of recommitment to God, the Levites acknowledged the role of the Holy Spirit in the warnings given by the prophets before the captivity. (Nehemiah 9:30 [see above]). The involvement of the Holy Spirit in the work and messages of the prophets in the Old Testament is also acknowledged in the New Testament. Even by Christ Himself.
"And Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David? For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit Thou on My right hand, till I make Thine enemies Thy footstool." - Mark 12:35, 36
"And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias (Isaiah) the prophet unto our fathers, saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: for the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them." - Acts 28:25-27
"Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow." - 1 Peter 1:10, 11
"For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." - 2 Peter 1:21
Then, there are those rare occasions where the Holy Spirit is indicated to have spoken Himself. In these instances, there is little or no indication of a person used by God to communicate to man.
"Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: when your fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into My rest.)" - Hebrews 3:7-11
"But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: the Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; which stood only in meats and drinks, and diverse washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation." - Hebrews 9:7-10
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth." - 1 Timothy 4:1-3
According to what is written in the Bible, its authorship is not as simple as many assume. It's not just about a number of people across a large tract of time and history writing things that, once collected, were taken as Scripture. Those who wrote or spoke in the name of God in the Bible credit the messages to God. Whatever revelation they received is indicated to have come to them from God, by way of the Holy Spirit. This, as a process, is described by Paul as "inspiration" in his second letter to Timothy (2 Timothy 3:14-17 [see above]). The writers and prophets being taken at their word, the revelations of Scripture being attributed to the Holy Spirit regardless of the manner of His involvement, it is concluded by believers that the actual author of the Bible is God.
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