This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ. -John 17:3
In the introduction, we learnt that everyone is a theologian. The real question is whether we are good theologians or bad ones? That raises another question, what makes one a good theologian? We have looked at it briefly in the introduction, the one and only source of truth is the Word of God, Bible, or the Scriptures. To be a good theologian, the theology should be grounded in the Bible itself. Why is that?
2 Timothy 3:16-17
WEB Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that each person who belongs to God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
KJV 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, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
ESV All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Let’s dig into some of the words in this verse, before looking at all of them together.
Every / All
Does the word every (or all), exclude anything?
Scripture
What is scripture? Let’s start with the Old Testament
Old Testament
Many of the passages in the Old Testament are directly called out as the Word of God and as the words that should be written down. Starting from the Law of Moses and all the way to Malachi:
Exodus 34:27 Yahweh said to Moses, “Write these words; for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.”
Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, behold, he comes!” says Yahweh of Armies.
In the New Testament, Jesus confirms that the Old Testament is Scripture. In Luke, Jesus explained all the Scriptures, the Old Testament, beginning from Moses, all the prophets and the Psalms.
Luke 24:27 Beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
Luke 24:44-45 44 He said to them, “This is what I told you, while I was still with you, that all things which are written in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures.
Not only did Jesus explain all the Scriptures concerning Himself to the disciples after resurrection, but he also quoted Scripture many times in his interactions with Jews.
- To the chief priest and the elders of the people (some in the crowd were also Pharisees):
- Matthew 21:42 Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures …
- To the Sadducees
- Matthew 22: 29 But Jesus answered them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures …
- To the multitudes:
- Matthew 26:56 But all this has happened that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.”
Apostles and disciples, continue to quote from Scriptures, to teach Jesus is the Christ.
- Peter:
- Acts 1:15-16 15 In these days, Peter stood up in the middle of the disciples (and the number of names was about one hundred twenty), and said, 16 “Brothers, it was necessary that this Scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to those who took Jesus.
- Philip:
- Acts 8:35 Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him about Jesus.
- Paul:
- Acts 17:2-3 2 Paul, as was his custom, went in to them, and for three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”
Thus, we can see that the Old Testament was established as the Scriptures. What about the New Testament?
New Testament
We see a similar pattern of God commanding that His words should be written down.
Revelation 21:5 He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” He said, “Write, for these words of God are faithful and true.”
Paul states that the words he is writing down are the commandments of God.
1 Corinthians 14:37 If any man thinks himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him recognize the things which I write to you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.
And Peter affirms that what Paul wrote was Scriptures too:
2 Peter 3:15-16 15 Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you, 16 as also in all of his letters, speaking in them of these things. In those, there are some things that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unsettled twist, as they also do to the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
God-breathed / inspiration of God
As ESV states, all Scripture is breathed out by God. That is, these are the Words of God Himself. Some are dictated, like in the case of Moses, where there was a clear instruction to “Write these Words”. And some are not dictated. For example, Luke writes what he says is based on his own research “… having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order …”. However, it is all God-breathed or the result of being inspired by God. How do we know that Luke is also scripture? Paul confirms it in his letter to Timothy.
1 Timothy 5:18 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox when it treads out the grain.” And, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
While the quote about the Ox is from Deuteronomy 25:4, the quote about the laborer being worthy of his wages, is actually from Luke.
Luke 10:7 Remain in that same house, eating and drinking the things they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Don’t go from house to house.
The New Testament, therefore, was held at the same level of authority, as the rest of the Old Testament Scripture by the apostles Paul and Peter. Peter clarifies evenmore in his 2nd epistle, that holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 1:20-21 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation. 21 For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit.
Not only is the Word of God written by men of God moved by the Holy Spirit, we need the Holy Spirit to teach us the Word of God.
1 John 2:27 As for you, the anointing which you received from him remains in you, and you don’t need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, you will remain in him.
Authority of Scripture
Connecting all the words together, the clear message is All Scripture, that is all the Words in the Scripture, whether dictated or otherwise, is breathed out by God. The authority of Scripture is based on the fact that all the words in Scripture are God’s words. That is the reason why the Word of God is living and active.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Therefore to disbelieve or disobey any word of Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God. God is Truth.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.
Some may consider the authority of Scripture a circular argument. Scripture, Bible, confirms that it is God’s Word. Because God’s Word in the Scripture says so. However, this is often the case, with any final authority. Because, in this case, no further higher authority exists. For each one of us, confirming that Scripture is the Word of God, is also the work of God.
Luke 24:45 Then he opened their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures.
When God opens our minds, Scriptures become the power of God, transforming our lives. On the flip side, the same word is foolishness for those who are dying in their sin.
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Consider: A fool thinks that there is no God. And the Word of God, for such a fool, is also foolishness.
Psalm 14:1 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”
In Summary, all the words in the Scripture are God’s words. God’s words, in the Scripture, affirm so. Because God is Truth and cannot lie or speak falsely, His Word, the Scripture, is also True. His Word is not just true, but it is the Truth itself, the ultimate standard for Truth.
Disbelieving and disobeying any word of Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God.
