Sola Scriptura 7

The Old Testament prophets attested to Sola Scriptura. Their frequent usage of “thus says the LORD” reveals the divine authority entrusted to their stewardship. Their call to ministry and their message as prophets did not originate with themselves, but rather from God.  Jesus acknowledged this delegated authority when He quoted these prophets (Matthew 24:15).

In the Gospels, Jesus emphatically supported the Scripture’s ultimate authority when He quoted them during His battle with Satan (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-4). He also preached, in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7, that He came to fulfill Scripture. In Matthew 5:17-18 He stated, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” (ESV).

In 2 Peter 1:19-21, the text states:

And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of men, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit (NKJV).

Throughout the Scriptures, God reveals Himself to mankind. Biblical revelation is authoritative. 2 Timothy 3:16-4:5 declares:

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.  For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.  As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry (ESV).

In 2 Timothy 3:16a, the Apostle Paul writes, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God…” (NKJV). All Scripture! Notice the universal positive statement by the apostle. There are no exceptions regarding a particular group of writings which are identified as being Scripture. Therefore, the Bible does not become the Word of God, neither is there only a portion of the Bible identified as God’s Word, but rather God declares all Scripture to be His inspired Word.