How Do We Know The Bible Is God's Word?
Today we will continue our study of biblical doctrine by looking at our next subject: the authority of the Bible. What does this mean? Why is it important? As always, I am ably assisted by Dr Wayne Grudem. He defines the authority of scripture as:
"The authority of scripture means that all the words in Scripture are God’s words in such a way that to disbelieve or disobey and word of Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God."
Christians often say that the Bible is their final authority. But in exactly what sense does the Bible claim to be our authority?
Firstly, all the words in scripture are God’s Words;
a. This is what the Bible claims for itself – I.e. the many scriptural references to “thus says the Lord.”
b. We are convinced of the Bible’s claims to be God’s Words as we read it. The internal witness of the Holy Spirit speaks to Christians.
c. Other evidence is useful but not finally convincing – ie historical accuracy; doesn’t contradict itself; many prophecies that have been fulfilled; cultural influence; lives it has affected.
d. The words of scripture are self-attesting – they cannot be ‘proved’ to be God’s words by appealing to a higher authority. If we did do that, then the Bible ceases to be our highest authority!
Isn’t this all a circular argument though? We believe the Bible is God’s Words because it claims to be! Ultimately, it is an argument of faith.
This argument for belief is true for anything anyone believes. Ultimately, we all say we believe something because we ‘see the evidence’ or ‘feel it’ or it ‘seems right to us.’ But really, its more how we interpret what we see, or feel, or seems right to us! These are all circular arguments, and we all employ them – Christian or not.
We need to look at the points above to see what stands and what falls. Ultimately believing in the authority of the Bible is a matter of faith. But believing that the Bible is not the authoritative Word of God is also requires faith!
Secondly, to disbelieve or disobey any word of scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God.
Thirdly, the Bible must be inherently true and correct;
a. God cannot lie or speak falsely (Titus 1:2, Heb 6:18).
b. Therefore all the words in scripture are completely true and without error in any part.
c. Therefore God’s words are the ultimate standard of truth
d. Therefore no new historical or scientific discovery will contradict the Bible – provided we have interpreted the Bible correctly
e. Therefore written Scripture is our final authority
So what?
If the Bible is our final authority then it has the final say over matters of belief and behaviour, doctrine and practice. It is God's opinion and therefore overrules ours if we disagree. To be blunt, to disobey or disregard clear biblical teaching is to rebel against God!
Attempts by liberal theologians to cut out, remove and amend sections of the Bible are tantamount to violent attacks against the very things God has spoken to us for our good - as 2 Timothy 3:16 makes clear to us.
Currently listening to: AC/DC - Back In Black from The Razor's Edge
6 Comments:
Indeed. In fact almost the very last words written in the new testament (Rev 22:18-19) strongly warns us not to add or takeaway from the words of prophecy in the Bible.
This is a good blog Ant, but the bit about circular arguments doesn't follow very well. Any circular argument is a useless argument because it doesn't provide any support for what it's claiming. If I want to argue that the earth is flat or round, I need to provide evidence based on what I have observed.
Now as you seem to say, it could be that my senses are misleading, in which case I cannot know whether the earth is flat or round. But the observations are still valid reasons to believe that the earth is flat or round, whereas simply saying "the earth is round because I believe it to be round" is useless, because you could just as easily argue "the earth is flat because I believe it to be flat."
So never say that we need to use circular arguments. I've heard a few people say that, and it's completely wrong. It is true that we all believe things we cannot prove, but there is no point in pretending that such a belief is actually a valid argument.
Other than that, this post is great.
Thanks Oliver.
I'm actually saying the same as you are - that the only way we can believe that scripture is authoritative is by faith! Like you say, circular arguments are pointless - and with scripture being the highest form of authority, we cannot refer it to something else to prove it!
My article point was about the nature of faith in believing scripture is authoritative.
Why did you remove Benny's comment?
I would like to be mentioned in one of your blogs. Mayeb not one about the accuracy of Scripture, though NIV does stand for Nat's Interesting Version. Maybe one about how to finally confess to a woman that you've loved her since you were 13?! ;-)
I didn't delete it, I believe Benny did. I think it was because he wanted to change what he wrote - he felt telling me to shrivel up and stop pestering him was a tad harsh :)
Interesting dilemma you have there, Miss Williams. I could blog about it soon, after i answer another pressing question: Why is the best love always the furthest away? :p
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