Thy Word is a Lamp Unto My Feet Outreach

The Final Word

From where does the Bible derive its authority?

THE WORD OF YHWH
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. [Romans 15:4]

We all live under one authority or another. But why should any of us put ourselves under the authority of a book? The answer is that the Bible isn’t just a book; it is, instead, the Word of YHWH. By virtue of who its author is, the Bible comes with its divine authority built in. After all, who has authority of YHWH? No one. That’s why the Bible has to be the foundational and final word.

The Bible writers made incredible claims about the books they were writing. Phrases used to describe the original sources of their messages were expressed as YHWH hath spoken [Isaiah 1:2], Thus saith YHWH [Amos 1:3] and The word of YHWH that came [Micah 1:1], for example. The New Testament letters convey the same importance to the source of these messages; for example, But I certify to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ [Galatians 1:11, 12], For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness [Romans 4:3] and Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people […] As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began [Luke 1:68, 70].

Scattered over the long centuries, all these men, regardless of the vast differences in their circumstances and background, testified to the same thing: the messages they were writing weren’t their own but that they were moved by the power of YHWH, who commanded them to write what He was telling them.

YHWH-BREATHED
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, throughly furnished unto all good works. [2 Timothy 3:16, 17]

The Greek word for inspiration literally means “god-breathed.” It clearly indicates Scripture originated from YHWH. Think on this: And YHWH God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul [Genesis 2:7] and By the word of YHWH were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth [Psalm 33:6]. The same creative power that brought the world into existence was also behind the origins of Scripture! Dwell on the implications of this amazing truth!

Regardless of how YHWH communicated to them, the writers of the Bible weren’t merely acting as writing machines. The Lord didn’t push them as He would keys on a typewriter to produce His message. Each writer had his own style; these differences are seen all through the Bible. The crucial point is these messages were not their own; they were writing down what was delivered to them by YHWH: The spirit of YHWH spake by me, and his word was in my tongue [2 Samuel 23:2] and […] 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 [1 Thessalonians 2:13]. As a result of divine revelation, Scripture is also called the book of YHWH [Isaiah 34:16], the gospel of God [Romans 1:1], the word of Christ [Colossians 3:16] and the good word of God [Hebrews 6:5].

MESSIAH’S VIEW OF SCRIPTURE
For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed Me: for he wrote of Me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe My words? [John 5:46, 47]

Today there are all sorts of views about Scripture, its authority, validity, etc. Many within Christianity itself don’t view the Bible as the type of authority it ought to be — and this is shocking! So what does the ultimate Authority say? How did Messiah view Scripture? There are numerous texts in the Gospel accounts that reveal how truthful and authoritative Yahushua’s view of Scripture was. For example, He believed the story of Creation (Mark 10:6), of Noah and the Flood (Matthew 24:37-39) and of Jonah and the whale (Matthew 12:39-41). He also referred to the creation of the first couple (Matthew 19:4), and He quoted Genesis 2:24 in Matthew 19:5, which speaks about the original purpose of marriage.

Yahushua Himself verified His own mission by quoting Scripture (John 5:46, 47). After His resurrection, He quoted Scripture to clarify the importance of His ministry (Luke 24:27). Throughout His life on earth, Yahushua used Scripture, spoke from Scripture, promoted Scripture, uplifted Scripture and interpreted Scripture; He is its true interpreter. His use of Israel’s Scriptures is our model of biblical interpretation. Our guiding principle is based on the conviction that the redemptive activity of YHWH in the history of Israel reached its fulfillment in Messiah.

UNITY AMID DIVERSITY
Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. [Proverbs 30:5, 6]

A span of 1,000 years covers the writings of the Old Testament. There was, then, a gap of about 500 years when no Bible books were written, at least not until the birth of the New Testament church. The writings of the New Testament were started and completed in the last half of the First Century A.D. — thus, the Bible took more than a millennium-and-a-half to be completed.

One of the strongest evidences the Bible was prepared under divine direction, is its unity. Although the writers came from diversified backgrounds, its content has one predominant purpose. The Bible was written by kings, a prime minister, shepherds, fishermen, prophets, priests, a tax collector, a physician, and many other people with occupations — but all of them wrote about the same Deity. Some manuscripts are historical; some are prophetic. Some writers wrote in poetry; others in prose. Some writings are missionary reports; others are church letters or personal correspondence. However, each speaks about the same loving and caring Creator, YHWH; each one informs us about the same plan of salvation; each one uplifts the same standard of righteousness. All look forward to the same reward. This isn’t a coincidence. It all shows that the Bible writers have one Source of Inspiration.