What level of authority should the Bible have in the believer’s life? Is there any other authority that is higher?

Teaching Notes:

The Authority Of Scripture

Wayne Grudem: “The authority of Scripture means that all the words in Scripture are God’s words in such a way that to disbelieve or disobey any word of Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God.”

What Does The Bible Claim For Itself?

“Thus says the Lord” appears 420x in NASB! When the prophets say, “Thus says the Lord,” they are claiming to be messengers from the sovereign King of Israel, namely, God Himself, and they are claiming that their words are the absolutely authoritative words of God.

Further, God is often said to speak “through” the prophet (1Kings 14:18; 16:12,34; 2Kings 9:36; 14:25; Jer.37:2; Zech.7:7,12). Thus, what the prophet says in God’s name, God says. Thus, what the prophet says in God’s name, God says (1Kings 13:26 with v.21; 1Kings 21:19 with 2Kings 9:25-26; Hag.1:12; cf. 1Sam.15:3,18). To disbelieve or disobey anything a prophet says is to disbelieve or disobey God Himself (Deut.18:19; compare 1Sam.10:8 w/ 13:13-14; 15:3,19,23; 1Kings 20:35-36.
These verses do not claim that ALL the words in the OT are God’s words, but the cumulative force of these passages, including the 420 passages that begin “Thus says the Lord,” demonstrates that within the OT we have written records of words that are said to be God’s own words. These words when written down constitute large sections of the OT.

In the NT, a number of passages indicate that all o the OT writings are thought of as God’s words. 2Tim.3:16. Graphe refers to Scripture in every one of its 51 occurrences in the NT. Paul affirms that all of the OT writings are God-breathed. Since it is writings that are said to be “breathed out”, this breathing must be understood as a metaphor for speaking the words of Scripture. Thus, the OT writings are regarded as God’s Word in written form. For every word of the OT, God is the one who spoke it.

2Pet.1:19-21 – the ultimate source of every prophecy was never a man’s decision about what he wanted to write, but rather the Holy Spirit’s action in the prophet’s life.

Mt.1:22 – Is.7:14. “Isaiah’s words are cited as “what the Lord had spoken by the prophet.” Mt.4:4 “Man shall live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” – in the context of Jesus’ repeated citations from Deuteronomy, the words that proceed from the mouth of God are the written Scriptures of the OT.

In Mt.19:5, Jesus quotes Gen.2:24 and said “God said”. In Mk.7:9-13, the same OT passage can be called interchangeably, “the commandment of God,” or what “Moses said” or “the word of God.”

In Acts 1:16,20 the words of Ps.69 and 109 are said to be the words which “the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David”. Words of Scripture are thus said to be spoken by the Holy Spirit.

In Acts 2:16-17, in quoting “what was spoken of through the prophet Joel” in Joel 2:28-32, Peter inserts “God says) in 2:17, thus attributing to God, words written by Joel, and claiming that God is presently saying them.

Paul could say he believed everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets (Acts 24:14)

2Tim.3:16 says everything that belonged in the category “scripture” had the character of being God-breathed”; its words were God’s very words.

But at 2 places in the NT, we see NT writings also being called “scripture” along with the OT writings. 2Pet.3:16; 1Tim.5:18. This shows that during the time of the writing of the NT documents there was an awareness that additions were being made to this special category of writings called “scripture.” Once we establish that a NT writing belongs to the special category “scripture”, then we are correct in applying 2Tim.3:16 to that writing as well.

Is there further evidence that the NT writers thought of their own writings as being the words of God? 1Cor.14:37. Also 2Pet.3:2 (words of apostles on same level as words of prophets). 1Thess.4:15; Rev.22:18-19.

What Do We Find as We Read the Bible?

It’s one thing to affirm that the Bible claims to be the words of God. It is another thing to be convinced that those claims are true. Our ultimate conviction that the words of the Bible are God’s words comes only when the Holy Spirit speaks in and through the words of the Bible to our hearts and gives us an inner assurance that these are the words of our Creator speaking to us. Just after Paul has explained that his apostolic speech consists of words taught by the Holy Spirit (1Cor.2:13), he says, “The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned (1Cor.2:14). Apart from the work of the Spirit, a person will not receive spiritual truths and in particular will not receive or accept the truth that the words of Scripture are in fact the words of God. How then, does a person accept that the words of Scripture are the words of God? It is similar to Jesus’ statement, “My sheep hear My voice.” Those who are Christ’s sheep hear the words of their great Shepherd as they read the words of Scripture, and they are convinced. But this conviction does not come apart from Scripture, or in addition to Scripture. It is not as though the Holy Spirit one day whispers in our ear, “Do you see that Bible sitting on your desk? I want you to know that the words of that Bible are God’s words.’ It is rather as people read Scripture that they hear their Creator’s voice speaking to them in the words of Scripture and realize that the book they are reading is unlike any other book, that it is indeed a book of God’s own words.

What Are Some Other Arguments?

Historically Accurate – Archaeology
Internally Consistent – Unity
Fulfilled Prophecies
Changes Lives
Influenced Human History

The Words of Scripture are Self-Attesting. They cannot be proved to be God’s words by appeal to any higher authority, because there is no higher authority.
Because of sin our perception and analysis of God and creation is faulty. Sin is ultimately irrational, and sin makes us think incorrectly about God and creation. In a world free from sin, the Bible would commend itself convincingly to all people as God’s Word. But because sin distorts people’s perception of reality, they do not recognize Scripture for what it really is. It requires the work of the Holy Spirit, overcoming the effects of sin, to enable us to be persuaded that the Bible is the Word of God.

What was the Process by which God communicated to the biblical authors what He wanted to be said? Not Dictation. There are a few scattered instances of dictation. Rev.2:1; Is.38:4-6. But on the other hand we have Luke 1:1-3.
When the authors wrote, the words were fully their own words but also fully the words that God wanted them to write, words that God would claim also as His own.

Throughout the history of the church, the greatest preachers have been those who have recognized that they have no authority in themselves and have seen their task as being to explain the words of Scripture and apply them clearly to the lives of their hearers. Their preaching has drawn its power not from the proclamation of their own Christian experiences or the experiences of others, nor from their own opinions, creative ideas, or rhetorical skills, but from God’s powerful words. They stand in the pulpit, point to the Biblical text, and say, “This is what this verse means. Do you see that meaning here as well? Then you must believe it and obey it with all your heart, for God Himself, your Creator and your Lord, is saying this to you today!”

1. God cannot lie. God breathed all of Scripture. Therefore all of Scripture is true. Tit.1:2. Heb.6:18 – it is impossible for God to lie.

2. Therefore all the words in Scripture are completely true and without error in any part. Ps.12:6; Pr.30:5; Num.23:19. Jn.17:17 – “Your word is truth.” He didn’t say God’s word weas true, in the sense that it conforms to some higher standard of truth, but rather to think of the Bible as being itself the final standard of truth. Those assertions that conform with Scripture are true, while those that do not conform with Scripture are not true.

Ron Rhodes
Old Testament Designation/New Testament Designation
The psalmist said (Psalm 95:7)/The Holy Spirit said (Hebrews 3:7)

The psalmist said (Psalm 45:6)/God said (Hebrews 1:8)

The psalmist said (Psalm 102:25,27)/God said (Hebrews 1:10-12)

Isaiah said (Isaiah 7:14)/The Lord spoke by the prophet (Matthew 1:22-23)

Hosea said (Hosea 11:1)/The Lord spoke by the prophet (Matthew 2:1).

Eliphaz’s words (Job 5:13)/God’s Word (1 Corinthians 3:19)

MORE EXAMPLES:
Acts 1:16 is a highly significant verse in this regard, for we read: “Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus” (emphasis added)

Likewise, we read in Acts 4:24-25: “And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?” (emphasis added).
And again, we read in Acts 28:25: “When they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers” (emphasis added).

What Was Jesus’ View of Scripture?

Divine Inspiration: Matthew 22:43

Indestructibility: Matthew 5:17-18

Infallibility: John 10:35

Final Authority: Matthew 4:4,7,10

Historicity: Matthew 12:40; 24:37

Scientific Accuracy: Matthew 19:2-5

Factual Inerrancy: John 17:17; Matthew 22:29

Christ-Centered Unity: Luke 24:27; John 5:39

Spiritual Clarity: Luke 24:25

Faith and Life Sufficiency: Luke 16:31

New Testament References Where the Writers Claim 
Divine Authority for their Writings

1 Corinthians 2:13
In 1 Corinthians 2:13 the apostle Paul said he spoke “not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

In this passage Paul (who wrote a huge portion of the New Testament) affirms that his words were authoritative because they were rooted not in fallible man but infallible God (the Holy Spirit). The words were taught by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit here is the Spirit of truth who was promised to the apostles to teach and guide them into all the truth (see John 16:13).

1 Corinthians 14:37
In this verse Paul says, “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.” Paul’s writings have divine authority because they are “commandments of the Lord,” not the words of fallen man.

1 Thessalonians 2:13
In 1 Thessalonians 2:13 Paul says, “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”

Again, the reason why Paul’s words were authoritative is that they were rooted in God, not in man. God used Paul as His instrument to communicate His word to man. Regarding this, note the following summary formulated by the Synod of the Christian Reformed Church in 1961:

It is significant that Paul, while holding to the view of a canon of God-breathed writings which constitute “the oracles of God,” claims for his own teaching, either oral or written, equal status.

The word that he preached was not “the word of men” but “the word of God” (1 Thess. 2:13).

That which he wrote was “the commandment of the Lord” (1 Cor. 14:37).

He that does not obey the writing of the apostle is to be disciplined (2 Thess. 3:14).

If any man preach or teach any other gospel than that which Paul proclaimed, he is to be accursed (Gal. 1:8-9).

When Paul speaks as an apostle of Jesus Christ to the churches it is “Christ that speaketh” in him (2 Cor. 13:3).

Paul did not learn his gospel at the feet of men but rather received it “through revelations of Jesus Christ,” Gal. 1:12, some of which were “exceeding great” (2 Cor. 12:7).

Messianic Prophecies Fulfilled By Jesus Christ
Seed of woman: Genesis 3:15

Virgin Birth: Isaiah 7:14

Birthplace: Bethlehem: Micah 5:2

Forerunner: John: Malachi 3:1

Ministry of miracles: Isaiah 35:5-6

Sold for 30 shekels: Zechariah 11:12

Hands and feet pierced: Psalm 22:16

Crucified with thieves: Isaiah 53:12

No bones broken: Psalm 22:17

Suffered thirst on cross: Psalm 69:21

Resurrection: Psalm 16:10; 22:22