The Bible
A Comment on Definitions
John 1:30-31
"This is He of whom I said, "After me comes a Man
who is preferred before me, for He was before me."31 "I did not know Him;
but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with
water."
NKJV
In discussing the application of the Bible to our lives, we must understand the differences in terms used to describe how the Bible originated and operates in our lives.
Revelation refers to the content of God's truth as it was revealed to the Old Testament and New Testament authors of Scripture.
Inspiration refers to the accurate transmission of that content to men, first verbally (as with the prophets) and then in written form (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20, 21).
Canonization refers to the recognition and collection of those inspired books into a canon, the Bible.
Illumination refers to the understanding of the Bible's message. This is primarily an action that occurs only in the lives of believers. Unbelievers can only experience this work as it pertains to His convicting ministry in relation to the gospel message (John 16:8-11).
