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 parallel 2 Chronicles 34:14; 2 Kings 23:2 parallel 2 Chronicles 34:30; 2 Chronicles 35:12; Ezra 6:18; Nehemiah 8:8, Nehemiah 9:3, Nehemiah 13:1

At that time all the people gathered together in the square before the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel.

By Jesus Christ

Matthew 22:29 See also Luke 4:21, Luke 24:27, Luke 24:45Matthew 21:13 parallel Luke 19:46 Jesus Christ frequently appealed to the OT as a recognised sacred corpus, with the expression “it is written”. See also Isaiah 56:7; Jeremiah 7:11; Matthew 4:4 parallel Luke 4:4; Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:7 parallel Luke 4:12; Deuteronomy 6:16; Matthew 4:10 parallel Luke 4:8; Deuteronomy 6:13; Matthew 21:42 parallel Mark 12:10; Psalm 118:22–23; Matthew 26:31 parallel Mark 14:27; Zechariah 13:7; Mark 7:6–7; Isaiah 29:13; Luke 7:27; Malachi 3:1; John 7:38

Jesus answered, “You are mistaken because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.

And He declared to them, “It is written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer.’ But you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”

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

But as for you, continue in the things you have learned and firmly believed, since you know from whom you have learned them. From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

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 parallel Mark 12:36; 1 Corinthians 2:13; Hebrews 1:1–2; 1 Peter 1:10–11; 2 Peter 1:20–21

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

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, Ezra 10:9–12; Nehemiah 13:1–3; Isaiah 40:8

Your word, O LORD, is everlasting; it is firmly fixed in the heavens.

Be very strong, then, so that you can keep and obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, not turning aside from it to the right or to the left.

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 replied, “Is it not written in your Law: ‘I have said you are gods’? If he called them gods to whom the word of God came — and the Scripture cannot be broken — then what about the One whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world? How then can you accuse Me of blasphemy for stating that I am the Son of God?

Jesus Christ claims scriptural authority for his own words

Matthew 24:34–35 parallel Mark 13:30–31 See also John 12:47–50, John 14:10, John 14:23–24

Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.