14 – Authority
AUTHORITY
§ 14. The authority of the Bible is that prerogative by which the Bible justly claims unrestricted acceptance of all its statements,1 full assent to all its teachings,2 unwavering confidence in all its promises,3 and willing observance of all its demands4 by those whom they concern, the prerogative by which it is the only infallible source and norm of doctrine5 and rule of life.6
1. The authority of the Bible is that prerogative by which the Bible justly claims unrestricted acceptance of all its statements,
Matthew 4:3 And when the tempter came to Him, he said, If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
Luke 4:3 And the devil said unto Him, If Thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
John 10:35 If he called them gods, unto whom the Word of God came, and the Scripture cannot be broken.
Luke 24:25 Then He said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
Psalm 119:160 Thy Word is true from the beginning: and every one of Thy righteous judgments endureth forever.
Psalm 119:140 Thy Word is very pure; therefore Thy servant loveth it.
Psalm 119:167 My soul hath kept Thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.
2. full assent to all its teachings,
II Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
II Thessalonians 2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word or our epistle.
Luke 24:25–27 Then He said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
Luke 16:29–31 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
3. unwavering confidence in all its promises,
II Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
II Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
Titus 1:2–3 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; but hath in due times manifested His Word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Savior.
II Thessalonians 2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
II Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure Word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed.
4. and willing observance of all its demands
Deuteronomy 12:32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
Deuteronomy 5:9–10 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me, and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me and keep My commandments.
Cf. Exodus 20:5–6.
James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
Joshua 1:8 This book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein.
5. by those whom they concern, the prerogative by which it is the only infallible source and norm of doctrine
Luke 16:29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
II Timothy 3:15–17: And that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 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.
Jeremiah 8:9 The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the Word of the Lord, and what wisdom is in them?
Jeremiah 23:16 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you; they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord.
Isaiah 8:19–20 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the Law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
I Corinthians 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
Galatians 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Acts 15:14–15 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for His name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written.
6. and rule of life.
Luke 16:29 Abraham said unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
II Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.