Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  1000 God  »  1600 Scripture as the word of God  »  1610 Scripture  »  1611 Scripture, inspiration and authority of

Those writings that are acknowledged to be the word of God to be revered as issuing from him and as having his authority.

Recognition of a body of sacred writings

In the OT

Nehemiah 8:1 See also Exodus 24:7; Joshua 8:34; 2 Kings 22:8 pp 2 Chronicles 34:14; 2 Kings 23:2 pp 2 Chronicles 34:30; 2 Chronicles 35:12; Ezra 6:18; Nehemiah 8:8; Nehemiah 9:3; Nehemiah 13:1

By Jesus Christ

Matthew 22:29 See also Luke 4:21; Luke 24:27,45

Matthew 21:13 Jesus Christ frequently appealed to the OT as a recognised sacred corpus, with the expression “it is written”. pp Luke 19:46 See also Isaiah 56:7; Jeremiah 7:11; Matthew 4:4 pp Luke 4:4; Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:7 pp Luke 4:12; Deuteronomy 6:16; Matthew 4:10 pp Luke 4:8; Deuteronomy 6:13; Matthew 21:42 pp Mark 12:10; Psalm 118:22-23; Matthew 26:31 pp Mark 14:27; Zechariah 13:7; Mark 7:6-7; Isaiah 29:13; Luke 7:27; Malachi 3:1; John 7:38

By the apostles

2 Timothy 3:14-15 See also Acts 1:15-17; Romans 1:1-2; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17

By the early church

Acts 17:11

The inspiration of Scripture

2 Timothy 3:16 See also 2 Kings 17:13-14; Nehemiah 9:30; Matthew 22:43-44 pp Mark 12:36; 1 Corinthians 2:13; Hebrews 1:1-2; 1 Peter 1:10-11; 2 Peter 1:20-21

The authority of Scripture recognised in the OT

Psalm 119:89; Joshua 23:6 See also Joshua 1:8; 2 Kings 22:11; Ezra 10:1-4,9-12; Nehemiah 13:1-3; Isaiah 40:8

The authority of Scripture recognised in the NT

John 10:34-36 See also Matthew 5:17-19; Luke 21:21-23; Luke 16:17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13

Jesus Christ claims scriptural authority for his own words

Matthew 24:34-35 pp Mark 13:30-31 See also John 12:47-50; John 14:10,23-24

See also

1428  prophecy, OT inspiration
1439  revelation
1690  word of God
2333  Christ, attitude to OT
3236  Holy Spirit & Scripture
3281  Holy Spirit, inspiration
5215  authority
5379  law, Christ's attitude