What sets the Bible apart from all other writings?
Is the Bible the Word of God? Can we rely on it? How can we know it is true and accurate? The Bible is God’s written word. It is what God has spoken in times past that were deemed worthy to be recorded and preserved for all generations. But it is not a natural, human authored book. It is a supernatural book with has the Holy Spirit as it author. Read 2 Timothy 3:16. What is it that makes scripture different from all other writings?
What four things can we gain from studying God’s word?
What is the end result of apply God’s word to our lives?
The Scriptures are inspired by God. The word used for inspired means God-breathed in the Greek language is and the word for ‘breath’ is the same word used for spirit as in the Holy Spirit.
God is the author of scripture and he infers upon it his authority. Read 2 Peter 1:20, 21. What prompted men to record God’s message?
Was their writing subject to their own interpretation?
Who is the best interpreter of scripture? The Holy Spirit who its author. Read Matthew 22:23-32. Jesus told the Sadducees, who did not in a resurrection, that they were in error because of what?
Then Jesus quotes from the book of Exodus to the Sadducees; who does Jesus say God is speaking to?
Jesus tells the Sadducees that God speaks to them through the Old Testament wittings. Thus, he acknowledges the authority of the scriptures; the scripture is God’s words to us. Can the same words that were spoken to Moses centuries ago still speak to us today? Yes. Read Hebrews 4:12. How does the author of Hebrews describe the word of God?
He says it is alive. And it penetrates. It reaches to the depths of the human spirit and soul that no man-made instrument can touch.
Read John 6:63. How does Jesus describe his words?
They are spirit, that is they pertain to man’s spiritual nature; and they are life, they promote and enhance life.
Now read John 10:31-36. According to Jesus can scripture be broken?
“Can not be broken” means that God’s word can not be set aside, canceled or annulled. Read Matthew 5:17, 18. What was the purpose of Jesus’ coming concerning the word of God?
How long with God’s word last?
Theologians use the Latin term, sola scriptura which means ‘by scripture alone’. It is by scripture alone that we understand God, his nature and the nature of all he created.
God’s word is self-authenticating
Read 1 Thessalonians 2:13. How did the Thessalonians respond to the word that Paul preached?
Why did the word work in them?
Read Mark 16:20. How did God confirm his word?
Read Hebrews 2:3- 4. How else did God confirm his word?
Read Luke 24:25-27. 44, John 1:45, John 2:22. What did God’s word predict?
God’s word is our source of truth
Today truth is in short supply and there is much deception in our world. Truth is defined as the highest source of reality. Where can we find truth? Read John 17:17; what is the only source of truth?
Read 1 John 2:21. Is any deception found in God’s truth?
Read Titus 1:2 and Hebrews 6:18. Is it possible for God to lie?
God can not lie. What ever he say becomes the truth.
Read Matthew 4:1-14. Notice the Satan’s first statement attempts to raise doubts about who Jesus is. But how did Jesus respond to Satan?
And did Satan respond or raise any objection to Jesus’ answer?
No, Satan could not dispute with the answer that Jesus gave because God’s word is final authority. Read John 12:48, 49. What will judge those who reject Jesus and his words?
And who does Jesus attribute as the source of his words?
Read 1 Corinthians 1:18. What is the world’s response to God’s word?
Read Proverbs 30:5, 6. What warning do we have concerning God’s word?
Promises of what the word can do for us
Read each of the passages listed below and write what each one promises
Psalms 119:105:
Psalms 119:130:
Psalms 107:17-20:
Romans 1:16:
Romans 10:17:
Romans 15:4:
Ephesians 5:25-27, John 15:3
James 1:23-25
1 Peter 2:2:
2 Peter 1:3, 4:
Summarize what you have learned from this study:
Recommended Memory Verses on the Authority of God’s Word
You will receive insight, comfort and encouragement from memorizing verses such as these along with their scripture references. Go over them twice a day until you can quote them word for word. Then review them once each month.
Psalm 89:34 – I will not break my covenant, Nor alter what my lips have uttered.
Psalm 119:130 – The entrance of your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple.
Matthew 4:4 – But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”
John 6:63 – It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.
John 12:48, 49 – He who rejects me, and doesn’t receive my sayings, has one who judges him. The word that I spoke, the same will judge him in the last day. For I spoke not from myself, but the Father who sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
John 17:17 – Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth.
2 Timothy 3:16 – Every writing [scripture is] inspired by God is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction which is in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
1 Peter 1:23 – ..having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which lives and remains forever.
2 Peter 1:20, 21 – …knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation. For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit.
Copyright © 2009-2011 by Alan Pasho, www.disciplepedia.org. All rights reserved. Scriptures taken from the Word English Bible (WEB)