DCox Online Library: Bibliology Resources Page

Bibliology - The science of Scripture. This is the study of the Bible as unit, what it is, how we got it, why some books are included in "Scripture" or "the Bible" and others are not (Canon), how to understand it (Hermeneutics).

Recommended Sites for Reference: Bible Research

16.00 Bibliology (Works treating the entire gamut of Bibliology) <top of page>

Binney - Theological Compend (1875 Methodist) (b) 571K (57 pages)
Keathley (Author profile) - Bibliology 567K.
Gibbs, Alfred - (Brethren) Introduction To A Study of Church Truth (a) 78K (24 pages)
Horton - What Are We Looking For In The Bible?
Pink - The Scriptures and the World
Unknown - Introduction to Bibliology

Go here to see more

16.01 Canonicity, Apocrypha, Pseudographia <top of page>

Canon (Canonicity) - deals with the reason why certain books are included in the Bible. Apocrypha - are books which first century Christians accepted as having some spiritual value, but they are not inspired of God. They were comparable John Bunyan's "Pilgrims Progress". Pseudographi - The pseudo (false or fake) graphi (writings) are the books supposedly written by biblical characters which are not accepted as really being written by them.
Bahnsen - The Concept and Importance of Canonicity
MacMahon - The Apocrypha is not scripture 151K (19 pages) 16 Bibliology
McCallum - The Canonicity Question 55K (5 pages)
Sawyer, James M - Evangelicals & the Canon of the NT 107K (23 pages)
Warfield - Formation of Canon of NT 16K (4 pages)

Hodge, Archibald - Canon and Inspiration (s)

Recommended Sites - Bible Research

16.02 Analogy of the Faith <top of page>

Analogy of the Faith - This refers to the fact of the supernatural intervention of God in making sure that every part and parcel of the Bible is in supernatural agreement with the truth of God such that no one part contradicts any other, and there is a divine unity that "holds" all parts into conformity with the divine will of God.
Fuller, Daniel - Biblical Theology & the Analogy of Faith (a) 94K (25 pages)

16.03 Inspiration, Verbal Plenary, Inerrant <top of page>

Inspiration - Inspiration refers to the quality of Scripture being "God-breathed", that is, that the Bible is actually a product of the mouth of God, it is the very words of God, and so it has a special quality that no other book has. Verbal Plenary - refers to the inspiration of the Bible, and has special reference to the extent of inspiration, it is not just the general concepts and general message that is inspired, but inspiration extends down to the very words, grammatical structure, forms, and technical aspects of the Bible, all of these were closely guarded by God when the Bible was humanly recorded so that these parts of words and speech are also inspired by God and without error, the very words God has divinely chosen to communicate to us.
Binney - Theological Compend (1875 Methodist) IB The Bible (b) 571K (57 pages)
Boettner - Inspiration - Trustworthiness of the Bible (a) 19K (6 pages) here
Boettner - The Inspiration Of Scripture - Part I: The Nature of Scripture Inspiration
Boettner - The Inspiration Of Scripture - Part III: The Nature of the Influence by Which Inspiration is Accomplished
Boettner - The Inspiration Of Scripture - Part VI: The Plenary Inspiration of the Bible
Bridges - The Scriptures More Precious Than Gold
CRTA - Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy (a) 72K (5 pages)
Hanko - The Battle for the Bible
Hodge, A.A. (Author profile) - The Inspiration of the Bible (a) 67K (16 pages)
Lin, Timothy (page) - Inspiration and Inerrancy of the Bible (a) 28K (6 pages)
Lloyd-Jones - The Authority of Scripture
McDowell, Josh - The Authority of the Bible (b) 1.9MB (582 pgs).
Philpot, J.C. - Authority & Power of the Word upon the Heart (a) 116K (39 pages)
Pink, Arthur - Divine Inspiration of Bible (b) 277K (51 pages)
Sawyer, James M - History of Doctrine of Inspiration from Ancient Church through Reformation (a) 60K (11 pages)
Sawyer, James M - Inspiration & Inerrancy (a) 100K (13 pages)
Sawyer, James M - Theories of Inspiration (a) 37K (6 pages)
Warfield - Authority & Inspiration of Scriptures (a) 36K (4 pages)
Warfield - Inspiration (a) 11K (2 pages)
Warfield - Divine & Human in the Bible (a) 18K (4 pages)
Hodge, A.A. - Outlines#Inspiration.
Simmons, Thomas - Systematic Study of Bible Doctrine#The Inspiration of the Bible
Simmons, Thomas - Systematic Study of Bible Doctrine#Objections to Verbal Inspiration of the Bible

16.04 Divine Authority in Scriptures <top of page>

Boston, Thomas - Divine Authority in Scriptures (s)
Edwards, Jonathan - The Scripture is the Word of God (s)
Gill, John - Scriptures the Only Guide in Matters of Religion (s)

16.05 Perspicuity <top of page>

Perspicuity - refers to the quality of the Bible, that when God communicates to us through the writing of His Word, God has communicated so that we have understanding, and therefore there is not a purposeful confusion inserted into God's word, but God's word is simple, clear, and means what it says.

Pink, Arthur - Profiting from the Word (b) 213K (71 pages)
Armstrong-Bryant - Debate on Perspicuity (a) 147K (30 pages).

Arminius - Volume 2 of His Works Page 19 (bottom).
CRI - Perspicuity of Scriptures offsite
Catholic attack against Perspicuity - here.

16.06 Preservation and Trustworthiness <top of page>

Preservation - refers to the fact that God's word is eternal, and the same God of the Bible with the same power seen in the Bible is the one who makes sure that God's word will remain forever.
Combs - Preservation of Scripture (a) 195K (42 pages).
Boettner - Inspiration - Trustworthiness of the Bible (a) 19K (6 pages)
Berkhof (Author Profile) - Summary of Christian Doctrine#Scripture

See also Inspiration

16.07 Revelation, Prophets <top of page>

Revelation - refers to the momentary communication between God and individual men of God (prophets) when God first reveals His message to mankind. This revelation was consummated in the giving of the Holy Scriptures, and today there is not a continuing on going revelation of new material to us.
Binney - Theological Compend (1875 Methodist) IA Divine Revelation (b) 571K (57 pages)
Meyer, FB - Secret of Guidance (b) 299K (26 pages).
Machen, J Gresham - Prophets False and True (a) 140K (7 pgs)
Pink, Arthur (Pink Page) - The Doctrine of Revelation (b) 794K (154 pages)
Berkhof (Author Profile) - Summary of Christian Doctrine#Revelation
Boice or Boyce - Abstract of Systematic Theology#Reasons and Revelation
Simmons, Thomas - Systematic Study of Bible Doctrine#The Bible a Revelation from God

16.08 Sufficiency of Scripture (Sola Escritura) <top of page>

Sufficiency of Scripture - refers to the fact that all that God wants of us in respect to salvation and the Christian life and ministry, God has revealed in His Word, and it is sufficient for all that we need. This was one of the key points of the Reformation, and they referred to it as Sola Escritura.

Downing - Sola Scriptura (a) 188K (16 pages)
Webster - Sola Scriptura and the Early Church
Hodge, A.A. - Outlines#Authority.
Boston - The Scope of Scriptures (s)

16.09 Guidance and Direction <top of page>

Guidance and Direction - refers to God's will being understood by individuals through general principles of God's word and their particular application in a person's life.
Alligood - The Christians Surest Guide: Subjective Feelings or God's Word?
Field, Fred - Do I need an Expert to tell me what the Scriptures Mean (a) 185K (17 pages)
James, John - Reading the Scriptures (s) 40K (12 pages)
James, John - Directions for profitably hearing the Word of God (s) 17K (3 pages)
Lin, Timothy (page) - How we know and understand God and can live according to his Word (a) 106K (4 pages)
Lane, Robert D. - Reading the Bible
Ames, William - Biography & Works#Contentment
Ames, William - Biography & Works#Hearing the Word
Boston - Utility of the Scriptures as a Rule (s)

16.10 Hermeneutics (Principles of Interpretation) <top of page>

Hermeneutics - refers to the principles of correctly interpreting the Word of God such that we arrive at the understanding of God's word that God wants us to have. These principles should guide us away from doctrinal error and misinterpretation. Here the key concept is exegesis (the drawing out of a text its meaning) and NOT eisegesis (reading into a text a presupposed interpretation that cannot legitimately be gotten out of that text).
Carson, D.A. - Must I learn how to Interpret the Bible (a) 133K (6 pages)
Dungan - Hermeneutics a Textbook 815K (b) (239 pages)
Erkel - A Guide to Basic Bible Interpretation (b) 148K (60 pages)
Frye - How to Interpret the Bible (a) 135K (8 pages)
Gowens - How to Interpret the Bible (a) 112K (5 pages)
Packer, JI - In Quest of Canonical Interpretation (a) 168K (16 pages)
Pentecost, Dwight - Interpretation of Prophecy 5MB (b) (771 pages)
Pink, Arthur - Interpretation of the Scriptures (b) 171K (99 pages)
Smith, Bob - Basics of Bible Interpretation 1MB (b) (180 pages)

Anderson, Robert - Literal Interpretation of Scripture (s)
Boston, Thomas - Manner of Discovering the True Sense of Holy Scripture (s)

Recommended Sites: Bible Research

Types & Typology: Bible Research: Typology

Interpretation of Parables:

16.11 Diligent Study of Scriptures Enjoined <top of page>

Boston - Scriptures: Book of Lord, Diligent Study and Search Recommended and Urged (s)

16.12 Study Methods <top of page>

Study Methods - These are the methods, plans, systems, and practices that students of Scripture use to study the Bible.

Bingham - How to Study the Bible (b) 262K (39 pages) (Anglican)
McGarvey - A Guide to Bible Study (b) 441K (85 pages).

Boston, Thomas - Useful Directions for Reading and Searching Scriptures. (s)

16.13 Supposed errors in the Bible <top of page>

Supposed Errors - Many skeptics criticize the Bible for "its errors". By undermining the inspiration and accuracy of the Scriptures, they think that they can overturn the Bible's message of their sin, their condemnation for that sin, and their need of a Savior. These works deal with answering this objections and supposed errors and showing them inconsistent and wrong.

Boettner - Inspiration - Trustworthiness of the Bible (a) 19K (6 pages)
Boettner - The Inspiration Of Scripture - Part IV: The Alleged Errors in Scripture
Bruce, FF - NT Documents Are they Reliable (a) 257K (77 pages) 25_NT
Geisler, Norman - How to Approach Bible Difficulties (a) 216K (14 pages)
Kaiser - Hard Sayings of the Bible (b) 5.1MB (1115 pages)
McDowell, Josh - Evidence that demands a verdict (b) 688K (127 pgs).
Radio Bible Class - Study in Contrasts (Bible Contradictions) (b) 421k (45 pages)
Torrey, RA - Bible Difficulties (b) 408K (145 pages).

See also Inspiration

16.14 Versions and Translations <top of page>

Translation - The Bible was originally given to man in Hebrew (the Old Testament) with a very few parts in Aramaic, and Greek (the New Testament). Any Bible manuscript (book) that is not in these languages is a translation. Within one single language, there many be various different versions in that language, some emphasizing one particular principle of translation over another (one very literal even at the expense of not being so understandable or conversational, another very easily understood and conversational but not very literal and true to the original texts).
KJV Translators - Preface to 1611 version (a) 196K (14 pages)

I personally use and recommend the KJV Bible. But I am not a crazy about it, placing it as an authority above and beyond any criticism at all. It is a version, a translation, and no translation is entirely accurate to the original language it is translated from. Those who maintain that the Greek and Hebrew need to be corrected from the KJV are exalting a version above copies of Scriptures that are much more closer to the originals than ANY English version.

Having said that to clarify my position a bit, I would like to recommend Maxey's site that evaluates various different versions of the English Bible [KJV, NIV, RSV, Living Bible, New World Translation (JWs), NASB, ASV]. I feel it is a little more realistic (i.e. read not knocking anything that is not KJV), and deals with valid considerations in each Bible evaluated.

Dozens of versions (in various languages)
http://bible-researcher.com/versions.html

NIV - New International Version

Cammenga - KJV vs. NIV - Which Bible?

16.14.01 King James Only Position (Pro View) <top of page>

King James Only Position - Although there are many different flavors in this position, basically this position holds to the King James Bible over any and every other version, translation, or differing Bible.
Go to separate page of these articles on
16.13.01 King James Only Position (Pro View)

16.14.02 Anti King James Only Position (Contra View) <top of page>

Anti-King James Only Position - Again this position has various different extremes, some do not hold the King James as inspired over the original Greek and Hebrew manuscripts but still prefer and use the King James Version over any other versions, others prefer other English translations, but essentially all do not hold the King James Version (as a version) as inspired over the original manuscripts.
Go to separate page of these articles on
16.13.02 Anti King James Only Position (Contra View)

16.15 Textual Criticism <top of page>

Textual Criticism - refers to the linguistic science of evaluating differ manuscripts of a work (usually ancient work) and variants within that work. A manuscript is a single copy of the work or a portion of the work. A variant is when comparing two manuscripts of the same passage of the same work, there is some kind of difference in spelling, words, word order, extra or missing words. The rules of textual criticism are usually established in reference to ancient works and are not much different between secular works and religious works.
Terry, Bruce - A student's Guide to NT Textual Variants 900K (b)
Elliot - Encyclopedia of NT Textual Criticism 5.5MB (b)

16.16 Higher Criticism <top of page>

Higher Criticism is a tendency within liberals and others that interpret the Word of God towards human rational explanations instead of accepting the miraculous obvious presentation of Scripture. This tendency also extends to attacking the proposed biblical authors of Scripture, typically moving prophecies to dates after their prophecy making them history presented as prophecy, and other such maneuvers to remove the miraculous or offensive (to their way of thinking) in the Bible so that their version of Christianity is less offensive.

16.17 Bibliolatry <top of page>

Bibliolatry - is defined as an inordinate worship of the Word of God. In general the groups which make this accusation have an alternate source of absolute authority, i.e. Roman Catholics which use the church in Rome and the Pope, Jehovah's Witnesses which use the Watchtower, the Mormons, etc. The accusation is actually a defense of their own position (i.e. the Holy Scriptures are not supreme over every other source of authority), and is to be considered a rouse.

Anderson, Robert (Author profile) - The Bible or the Church (b) 332K (98 pages)

16.18 Translation Theory <top of page>

Translation theory - refers to the mindset or working principles of the translators of the Bible from one language (usually the original languages) into another modern language.

Anderson - What today's Christian needs to know about The Greek New Testament

Recommended Sites: Bible Research

16.19 Apocrypha, Pseudepigrapha, Deuteronocanonical Books <top of page>

Apocrypha - Those books that were at times inserted between the Old and New Testaments. Pseudepigrapha - Those books who are attributed to a biblical personage, but are not held by scholars as being actually written by that person. Deuteronocanonical books - Those books written in same spirit as the Bible (religious works) but are outside of the recognized Biblical Canon.

Apocrypha (b) 1.1MB (468 pages).
Wesley Center - OT Pseudepigrapha 1.3MB (b) (411 pages)
Closson - OT Apocrypha Controversy 119K (a) (7 pages).
Collins - Apocrypha and OT 106K (a) (2 pages).
Dew - Why Apocrypha is rejected from Canon of Scripture 84K (a) (3 pages).
MacMahon - The Apocrypha is not scripture (a) 151K (19 pages)
Vandermark, Traci - OT Apocrypha, Inspired or inspiring 75K (a) (3 pages).
Unknown - Apocrypha (a) 54K (3 pages)

16.99 Literature on Bibliology

Books

Sermons

Chapters in Books

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16 Bibliology Last Updated on Febrero 26, 2008

Visits to this page since Oct 1, 2007

Summary: Bibliology Resource Page, Doctrine of Scriptures, Bibliology, Canon, Inspiration, Perspicuity, Preservation, Sufficiency, Hermeneutics, Study methods, Supposed Errors, Versions & Translations, KJV pro & con positions, Textual Criticism, Higher Criticism, Translation Theory, Apocrypha.