Definitively, Scripture was not initiated by men; it is not subject to human logic. The Lord revealed Himself to mankind by His own intention. The communication channels varied; sometimes, it was through creation, and other times, through visions or speaking prophets. But the most thorough and understandable self-disclosures are through written Scripture. 2 Timothy 3:16 states, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.”
Furthermore, the biblical view of inspiration conveys that God inspired Scripture written by human authors. Specifically, the inspiration was verbal plenary, which indicates that every word written was inspired by God and supervised under His authority. As designed by God, the texts themselves testify to that authority.[1] The Holy Spirit was active in the process.
Concerning the Old Testament, it identifies itself as the literal words of God.
Many times, the text states, “God said” (e.g., Ex.17:14; 19:3, 20:1; 24:4).
The Old Testament records direct, prophetic, and dictated speech from God. In the opening of Genesis, direct verbal statements from God affirm He is the creator. Beginning with Moses (Ex.3:15), Yahweh’s prophets were recognized as authoritative messengers from Him. Additionally, there are several accounts in the Old Testament when God gave instructions to write down His words (e.g., Ex.34:27).[2]
The New Testament also witnesses the Old Testament, as its writers refer to it numerous times. Beyond these identifications, there are an abundance of intertextual harmonies that synthesize all sixty-six books, displaying continuity and inspiration in the canon. For instance, direct prophecies of Christ from the Old Testament are fulfilled by Christ in the New Testament. Just a few examples include Matthew 2:5;3:2-3; Acts 2:30-35;8:32; 13:33-34; Romans 15:12; and 1 Peter 2:22. Subsequently, evidence of a “foreshadowing nature” of the Old Testament narrative points to Christ in the New Testament.[3]
Accordingly, the truth that Yahweh inspired all words and supervised His written revelation indicates that Scripture is without error. As demonstrated with the verbal plenary view of Scripture, every word in the canon is derived from the Spirit of God, so it must be without fallacy. 2 Peter 1:20-21 states, “But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”
Likewise, the Bible’s view of its own authority witnesses to the truth of its inerrancy.
Declarations of “thus says the Lord” create the reality of inerrancy in the Old Testament.
New Testament writers universally assumed the absolute truthfulness of the Old Testament, and following Jesus' example, they based their doctrine on the verbiage of the biblical texts they quoted.[4]
The Lord's authority is found throughout Scripture. It is intertwined from Genesis 1:1 (“In the beginning God created...”) through Revelation 22:20 (“Yes, I am coming quickly.”).[5] What is truly known about authority did not originate outside of Scripture but from within. In essence, the doctrine of authority is claimed by the Word itself, and it is a display of God’s sovereignty.
For Christians, the realization that Jesus affirmed both the Old Testament and New Testament is beyond joyous. God in the flesh, in His authority, not only fulfilled Scripture, but He validated it. The Word Himself confirmed the truth. Jesus is the backbone of the canon. He submitted to the Old Testament’s authority, and He affirmed its authors and events. Likewise, He anticipated the words of the New Testament. He declared that His words were the very words of God. Thus, Christ confirmed the Old Testament as being divine, and He repeatedly referred to the authors of the Old Testament. He spoke directly of Moses (John 5:45–47), David (Luke 20:42), and Isaiah (Matthew 13:14). Messiah declared the authority and the veracity of the Old Testament against Satan (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13). Beyond His recognition of the Old Testament, Christ pre-authenticated the New Testament as Scripture. His words were directly derived from God. As He put it in John 8:26-28 [6],
“I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world.” They did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me.”
As we begin 2025, we should ponder the magnificence of God's process in conveying His truth to men. The faithful have the very words of God which were dictated in a manner that only He could conceive and supervise.
[1]. MacArthur, John, and Richard Mayhue. Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, 2017), 132-134. Kindle.
[2]. MacArthur and Mayhue, Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth, 132-134. Kindle.
[3]. Beale, G.K., “Finding Christ in the Old Testament.” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 63, no. 1 (March 2020): 25.
[4]. MacArthur and Mayhue, Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth, 171-172. Kindle.
[5]. Mayhue, Richard L.“The Authority of Scripture.” The Master’s Seminary Journal 15,
no. 2 (Fall 2004): 227.
[6]. MacArthur and Mayhue, Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth, 137-148. Kindle
John 1:14
"And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."
John 10:27-28
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand."
2 Peter 1:19-21
So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
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