One of the most intriguing books in Christian literature of the past half century is Francis Schaeffer’s classic, He is There, and He is not Silent. God exists, and He has spoken! Integral to the Christian Worldview is the concept that God has communicated absolute propositional truth about Himself, creation, and humanity. This communication is possible because God created people in His own image, Gen. 1:26 (rational, self-aware, self-active, and moral).
While God has revealed certain general truths about Himself in nature (natural revelation), He has communicated more specific truths via spoken and written words (special revelation). God chose certain men to convey His words and provided attestation to His messengers through miraculous signs (Acts 2:22; Heb. 2:3-4). We know these men as the Prophets and Apostles (2 Peter 3:2). The prophetic formula was “Thus says the LORD.” The apostolic formula was “Thus says the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor. 2:13; 1 Tim. 4:1; 1 Peter 1:12; Rev. 3:22). The messages of both Prophet and Apostle, in both spoken and written form, were identified as the very Word of God, and the miraculous signs attested to this bold yet genuine claim.
Uniquely embedded in God’s special revelation about Himself, creation, and mankind is revelation about this special revelation itself. In 2 Tim. 3:16, we read that “All Scripture is God-breathed.” In 1 Peter 1:21, we read that “No prophecy was of private interpretation, but men spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” In 2 Peter 3:15-16, we find that Paul’s writings were considered “Scripture.” These passages teach that all of the prophetic and apostolic writings were ultimately of divine origin. While God spoke through men and utilized their intellects and unique personalities, at the same time, He also ensured that what His messengers spoke and wrote was exactly and precisely what He wanted to be communicated—extending even to the very words (Matt. 22:31-32; Mark 12:35-37; Gal. 3:16). Theologians refer to this divine superintendence as the “Inspiration of Scripture.” Because Scripture is verbally (every word) and plenary (every portion) inspired, it is infallible (cannot err) and is therefore inerrant (does not err).
The Inspiration of Scripture is foundational to the Authority of Scripture. If God (infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth) has indeed addressed a particular subject, then it follows that such information must be considered ultimate, final, and absolute. In Scripture, God addresses morality, sin, salvation, and eternal life. But He also addresses science and history. Whenever God speaks, the result is ultimate, final, and absolute truth. The authority of Scripture has as its very basis the authority of God Himself. Put simply, “What God says, goes!”
Obviously, many books claim to be authoritative revelation from God. What makes the Bible so different? Many things! The Bible was written over a period of about 1500 years by almost forty different authors, yet has one central overarching theme: the redemption of sinners through the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Bible contains hundreds of predictive prophecies (there are over 300 Messianic prophecies alone), which are fulfilled in minute detail hundreds, and sometimes, thousands of years from the original prophecy. The multiple typologies presented in the Old Testament all find their complete fulfillment thousands of years later in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The public (and therefore indisputable) miracles performed by the prophets and apostles as God’s messengers attest to the divine origin of their message. Jesus, as the Great Prophet, taught that the writings of the Old Testament were divine in origin (Matt. 5:17-18; John 10:35) and His resurrection attests to the truth of this teaching. This same resurrected Jesus promised that His commissioned Apostles would be directed and taught by the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; 16:13-15). Lastly, the martyrdom of the Apostles is a strong testimony to the integrity and authenticity of their writings as God’s messengers.
God has not left us in the dark as to which book He has authored. Indeed, its authority stems from its Author.
John H. McDonald, B.A., M.A., Th.D. currently serves as the Director of The North American Reformed Seminary in Sumter, SC and previously taught Biblical and Worldview Studies at Chamberlain-Hunt Military Academy in Port Gibson, MS.