The Scriptures

A brief overview

the scriptures Can we trust the scriptures? the message of the scriptures

...the holy scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus

II Tim 3:15

1. What are the scriptures?

By the Scriptures we mean the 66 books of the Bible, which are found both in the Old and New Testaments. We regard the scriptures as the written word of God; they were given to us by Divine Inspiration. (ie. God breathed) and are therefore inerrant.

…..All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness..

II Tim.3:14-16.

2. Can we trust the Scriptures?

The OT writers knew that they were penning the Word of God, for example:

and Moses wrote all the words of the Lord..

Ex.24:4

The Spirit of the Lord spake by me and His word was in my tongue [ie.David]

II Sam. 23:2

..this word came unto Jeremiah from the Lord saying " Take thee a roll of a book and write therein all the words that I have spoken…"

Jer.36:1-2

The Apostle Peter says that both the OT and NT were written by men moved by God.

Concerning the OT:

Knowing this first that no prophecy of the scriptures is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

II Pet.1:20

top

Concerning the NT:

That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets and the commandment of us the apostles the Lord and Saviour.

II Pet.3:2

The apostle makes it clear that those who wrote the scriptures were not giving their own opinion but rather they were writing down the very words that God the Holy Spirit gave to them. And that the commandments of the apostles have the same authority as the prophets.

Paul's letters especially :

And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

II Pet.3:15-16

We have to conclude then that the Bible is God's [written] Word and that it is the FINAL authority on any matter it touches.
We say that Scripture is INSPIRED (God Breathed), and INERRANT (Without error) because it is impossible for God to lie (Heb.6:18)

top

3. What is the message of the Scriptures?

Jesus said:

(ye) Search the Scriptures , for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are which TESTIFY of ME. And ye will not come to Me that ye might have Life.

Jn. 5:39-40.

.......beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them all the scriptures the things concerning Himself

Lk.24:27

Clearly we see that the Bible's central message is Jesus Christ Himself; every part of the OT points to Jesus, whether it's the law, prophets or poetical ; the NT reveals Him

..these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye might have [eternal] Life through His name.

Jn. 20:31

top