The Scripture itself overflows with affirmations that every part of it is from God. Over 400 times, one reads (in the KJV), “Thus saith the Lord” (with over 300 of those in the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel). When Paul says that “all Scripture” is God-breathed (2 Tim. 3:16), he had earlier used that word “Scripture” to refer to part of the New Testament, as well (1 Tim. 5:18; cf. Luke 10:7). Every one of the 66 books of the Old Testament and New Testament are from God. He wanted Bible readers to always know, “…The things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord” (1 Cor. 14:37).
In fact, Paul and Peter state this in the negative, as well. In affirming that he was teaching what “the Holy Spirit teaches,” Paul first stated that “we have received, NOT the spirit of the world” and again, “These things we also speak, NOT in words which man’s wisdom teaches”—that’s not where his writings originated (1 Cor. 2:12-13). The Thessalonians “received the word of God…NOT as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God…” (1 Thess. 2:13). Likewise, Peter insisted, “knowing this first, that NO prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy NEVER came by the will of man” (2 Pet. 1:20-21).
Look at these verses one more time and note the superlatives that are used. “ALL Scripture is inspired by God.” “NO” part of Scripture was from “ANY [man’s] private interpretation,” for Scripture “NEVER came by the will of man.”
The 1,189 chapters in your Bible are all given by God. Not only is that repeatedly affirmed by the penmen chosen by God, but the evidence within those 66 books is overwhelming, including its perfect unity, amazing accuracy, predictive prophecy and scientific foreknowledge. So, when we go to God’s inspired Scripture, what do we find?
Bible certainty #2: The 66 books of the Old Testament and New Testament are ALL-sufficient for man today. What does the Bible say? Do we have all that we need? Do we have all that the Lord intended for us to have? Let’s allow the Bible to speak.
Jesus promised His apostles that when He left them (to return to heaven) that the Father would send the Holy Spirit, and “He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). Into how much truth would the Spirit guide the apostles? All! When He was done guiding the apostles, how much truth would He have given them? All! There could not have been anything missing or otherwise needed when the apostles died, else the words of Jesus would be found to be faulty.
The all-wise, all-powerful God had an opportunity to provide all that man would need in His Scripture? Did He do it? Can we know? (More next week)