Years
ago I heard a public discussion between a gospel preacher and a denominational
preacher in which the denominational preacher claimed he could write letters
like those in the New Testament. He was not claiming to be directly guided by
the Holy Spirit to write divine commandments. He meant that, because of his
spiritual maturity and wisdom, he could be "inspired" to write helpful
spiritual lessons like poets are "inspired" to write poetry.
This
illustrates the view that many people today take of Scripture.
* Still
others claim the Bible writers had some good ideas, but they were not intended
to be a pattern or Divine commands that men must follow to please God and
receive eternal life.
* Other
people claim that God never intended for these writings to be collected and
preserved for later generations. They were simply intended to benefit the
people to whom they were immediately written, not for people of other times and
places, certainly not for people today.
The
purpose of this study is to examine the claims made by the Scriptures about
themselves.
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Do they
claim to be a message revealed from God Himself to man? Do they claim to be an
infallible standard of religious authority for people to obey? Do they claim
that people of future generations should study them to learn God's
commandments?
I. The Claims of the Old Testament Concerning Itself
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
We do
not follow the laws of the Old Testament today, but we will be better able to
understand the significance of the claims of the New Testament if we first
understand the claims the Old Testament writers made concerning their writings.
Note
what these writers claimed regarding their writings:
A. The
Writers Claimed to Write Commands Given Directly to Them from God for the
People.
===========================================
Exodus 24:3,4 - Moses wrote in a book "all the words of
Jehovah" [cf. v1-8].
Deuteronomy
30:9,10 - Moses said God would bless the people "if you obey the voice of
the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written
in this Book of the Law." If they disobeyed Him, however, they would be
under a curse (cf. 28:58,59).
Jeremiah
30:1-2 - The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, "Thus
speaks the Lord God of Israel, saying: `Write in a book for yourself all the
words that I have spoken to you.'" Jeremiah claimed that God told him to
write down in a book the words God spoke to him.
Expressions
such as "Thus saith the Lord," or "The word of the Lord came to
me," are found literally thousands of times in the Old Testament.
Folks
are mistaken when they claim the Bible writers did not know they were writing
revelations of God's will intended to serve as law or authority people must
follow. They did know it and they said so.
[Cf.
Deuteronomy 31:9-13,24-29; Exodus 17:14 & 24:12; 34:1,27,28; Deuteronomy
4:13; 5:22; 10:2,4; Exodus 32:15,16; 31:18; Deuteronomy 9:10; 29:20,21,27;
Numbers 33:2; Deuteronomy 27:1-8; Jeremiah 36:2 (see chap. 36); 25:13; 51:60;
Isa 30:8; Hab. 2:2; Nahum 1:1; 2 Chronicles 26:22; Joshua 24:26; 1 Samuel
10:25]
B.
These Writings Were Intended to Serve as Law or Authority for both the Present
Generation and Future Generations.
============================================
Deuteronomy
31:24-29,9-13 - The words Moses wrote were a law intended to prevent the people
from departing from God. This included future generations.
Deuteronomy
17:18-20 - Future kings of Israel were to have a copy of the law that they
might keep them and do them, departing neither to right nor left.
Folks
are mistaken when they say the writings were intended only for the current
generation to whom they were addressed, not future generations. In fact, the
messages were written down for the expressed intent that they would be
preserved for people in the future.
[Psalm
102:18; Exodus 17:14; Deuteronomy 28-30; Isaiah 30:8]
C. By
God's Guidance, Later Generations Did Use the Old Testament Writings as a
Pattern of Authority.
===========================================
Joshua
1:7,8 - After Moses died, Joshua was told to use the book of the law written by
Moses as his guide that he might observe all the commands written therein. When
he died, Joshua in turn charged the nation of Israel to follow the commands
written by Moses (23:6).
2
Chronicles 34 & 35 - A copy of the law of God given by Moses was found in
the temple. Josiah used it to restore the worship and service of God.
Note
34:14-19; Read 34:29-31 - This illustrates perfectly the "restoration
principle." God's written word is so designed that, by simply studying and
following it, we can restore the pattern of God's service even after years of
departure and apostasy.
Nehemiah
8:1-9:3 - A similar example occurred when God's people returned from Babylonian
captivity. They restored their service to God by studying the written record of
the laws God had revealed.
It is a
serious mistake to think that God's word is not intended to serve as a pattern
of guidance, or that later generations should not study and adhere to it as the
guide for right and wrong. The Scriptures say that is exactly how they should
be used. To reject these claims is to say they are not good books at all, but
are false and misleading. Why accept them as being from God at all? If they are
wrong about this, how could we know what they say is right and what is wrong?
[Nehemiah
13; Ezra 6:18; 7:10; 2 Kings 22,23; Daniel 9:2; 2 Chronicles 17:9; 2 Kings
17:37; Josh 8:30-35; 1 Kings 2:3; 2 Kings 14:6; 1 Chronicles 16:40; 2
Chronicles 23:18; 25:4; 30:5,18; 31:3,4; Ezra 3:2,4; Nehemiah 10:34ff; Daniel
9:11,13; Isaiah 34:16]
II. The Claims of the New Testament Concerning the Old Testament
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
By the
time Jesus and His apostles lived, the Old Testament Scriptures had been
completed for hundreds of years. They had been collected, preserved, copied,
and circulated. First-century Jews quoted Old Testament Scripture as a standard
of authority. In short, people used the Old Testament just like we today use the
whole Bible.
What
attitude did Jesus and His apostles show toward this use of the Old Testament?
Remember, Jesus and His apostles never hesitated to disagree with the Jews if
they were spiritually wrong on any point. Did they object to how the Jews viewed
the Old Testament? Did they say that God never intended the Scriptures to be
written and circulated as authority and law? Did the say the Scriptures were
not intended for future generations, as some today are saying about our use of
the Bible?
By understanding
how Jesus and faithful first-century men viewed and treated Old Testament
Scripture, we can understand how we today should view and treat the completed
Scriptures as we have them today.
A. The Attitude of Jesus toward the Old Testament Scriptures
======================================
Jesus
quoted Scripture as authoritative revelation from God.
*************************************************
Matthew
15:1-6 - Jesus quoted Old Testament Scripture as being what God said (v4), the
command of God (v3), the Word of God (v6).
Matthew
22:23-33 - When Sadducees confronted Jesus about the resurrection, He said they
were in error because they did not know the Scriptures. Then He cited a
Scripture written by Moses to answer them. [Mark 12:24,27]
John 10:35 - "The Scripture cannot be broken."
During
Jesus' lifetime, the Old Testament laws were in effect just like the New
Testament laws are in effect for us today. He viewed them as the word and
command of God. We will see that is the same attitude we should take toward the
New Testament.
[Luke
16:29-31; 4:17ff; 24:27,44-46; John 5:39,45-47; 1:45; Matthew 26:54,56; Luke
3:4; 7:27; 18:31; 21:22; 22:37; John 2:22; 7:38; 13:18; 17:12; 19:24,28,36,37;
20:9; Matthew 2:5; 11:10; 26:24,31; Mark 1:2; 9:1-14; Matthew 5:17; John
12:14,16; 15:25]
Jesus
obeyed the Old Testament, taught others to obey it, and rebuked those who did
not understand or obey it.
*****************************************************
Matthew
4:4,7,10 - When Jesus was tempted, He quoted Scripture as the unanswerable
standard of right and wrong.
Luke
10:25-28 - When questioned about God's commands, Jesus urged men to go to the
Scriptures for the answer.
Even
though the Old Testament was written many generations before His day, Jesus
never disagreed with the Jews that it was a pattern revealing God's will. He
used it as authority and expected others to do the same. Some people today
criticize us for using Scripture this way, but it is exactly the way Jesus used
it.
[Matthew
21:42-45; 15:7-9; 22:41-45; 24:15; 21:13; 13:13-15; Luke 4:16-21; Mark 7:6;
12:10; John 6:44,45; 8:17ff; Luke 2:23; Matthew 8:1ff]
B. The
Attitude of the Apostles and Other Inspired Men toward the Old Testament
===========================================
They
viewed the Old Testament Scriptures as the inspired will of God revealing His
very words to man.
*****************************************************
2 Peter 1:20,21 - The Scriptures came by the will of God, not the
will of man.
1 Corinthians 10:1-11 - The Old Testament contains examples for
our learning and admonition.
New
Testament writers realized that Old Testament laws are not binding today, but
that is because God Himself removed that law and replaced it with the New
Testament. But they still recognized that the Old Testament was the very word
of God, and that as long as it was in effect, Jews of all generations had to
obey it. Even today it reveals useful principles and examples.
[Acts
17:11; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; Romans 11:2,4; 15:4; 3:9-18; 1 Corinthians 9:9,10; 1
Timothy 5:18; Hebrews 1:5-14; Romans 9:17; 12:19; James 2:8ff; 1 Corinthians
1:19,31; 3:19,20; 2 Corinthians 4:13; 8:15; 9:9; 1 Peter 1:16; Romans
4:3,23,24; James 2:23ff; Romans 15:25,26]
They
used the Scriptures to prove Jesus was the Christ.
*********************************************
Acts 17:2,3 - Paul reasoned from the Scriptures to prove Jesus was
the Christ.
Acts 2:24-36 - Peter said prophecies from David were fulfilled in
the resurrection of Jesus.
In
making such arguments, these inspired men recognized the Old Testament as
authority and proof for their positions. This is exactly what people say we
today should not do.
[Romans
1:1-4; 2 Peter 2:6-8; Acts 18:24,28; Galatians 3:10,13,22-25; 4:21-31; 1 Cor.
15:1-4]
They
cited other New Testament events as fulfilling Old Testament prophecy.
*****************************************************
Acts 2:14ff - The coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost fulfilled
Old Testament prophecy.
Acts
15:13-21 - Old Testament prophecy provided evidence that Gentiles could be
saved according to the gospel.
Both
Jesus and His apostles recognized that behind the Old Testament Scriptures
stood the authority and infallibility of God Himself. If the Scriptures said
it, it must be true because that means God said it. The Scriptures were a
pattern for future generations. When you know what the Scriptures say, you know
what God Himself says.
This
serves as a pattern for us (1 Peter 2:21f; 1 Corinthians 11:1; Philippians
3:17; 4:9; etc.). We should have the same attitude toward the completed
Scriptures that they had toward the Old Testament Scriptures.
[Acts
1:16,20; 8:32,35; Romans 10:11,13; Galatians 3:8; Acts 7:42; 13:29,33; Romans
11:2-4; Hebrews 8:8-13; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Romans 1:17; 9:13,33; 11:8,26; 14:11;
Hebrews 10:7]
III. The Claims of the New Testament Concerning Itself
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
If we
remember how these writers viewed the Old Testament writings, it will help us
as we consider what the New Testament says about itself,. Knowing what
authority they claimed the Old Testament possessed, they would have been very
evil men if they falsely claimed or only pretended to have that kind of
authority.
A. New Testament Writers Claimed Their Writings Are an Inspired
Revelation of God's Will Just as the Old Testament Was.
=========================================
1 Corinthians 14:37 - Paul claimed his writings are the commandments
of the Lord.
Ephesians
3:3-5 - Paul received his message from the Holy Spirit, then wrote it so others
might understand. Therefore, what he wrote was not his own human ideas. [cf.
Galatians 1:11,12]
1
Thessalonians 4:8 - The message was originated by God, not by the men who
penned it (v2). So, those who reject it are rejecting, not the men, but God.
2
Timothy 3:16,17 - All Scripture is inspired by God: not just the Old Testament,
but all of it. It is profitable for teaching, reproof, instruction in
righteousness and to provide us to all good works. In short, Scripture is what
we claim it to be: a revelation of God's will to teach us how to live our
lives. But is the New Testament "Scripture"?
1
Timothy 5:18 - The same writer quotes two passages that he calls
"Scripture." One is from the Old Testament, and the other is from
Luke 10:7. So, the New Testament is "Scripture" just like the Old
Testament, and both are cited as authority that proves what we ought to
practice.
2 Peter
3:15,16 - Peter referred to Paul's epistles as "Scripture," right
along with other Scripture. We can appreciate the significance of this only
when we understand what Peter and other inspired men mean by
"Scripture." This same apostle, in 1:19-21, said Scriptures come from
God, not man.
[2
Thessalonians 2:13-15; 3:14; Revelation 1:11,19,9; 22:18,19; chap. 2,3; 14:13;
19:9; 21:5; Acts 15:22-29; 16:4,5; 1 Peter 5:12; 1 John 2:7-17,21,26; 2 John 5]
B. New Testament Writings Are a Pattern People Must Follow to Be Saved.
=========================================
1 Corinthians 14:37 - They are the commands of the Lord.
2 Timothy 3:16,17 - They teach and instruct us and provide us to
all good works.
John
20:30,31 - They provide evidence on which to base our faith so we can have
eternal life through Jesus. Clearly we must believe what they say to be saved.
1 John 1:1-4 - They were written so we might have fellowship with
Jesus and the Father.
[Luke
1:1-4; Acts 1:1ff; John 21:24,25; 19:35; 1 Timothy 4:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:6; 1
Timothy 6:13ff; 1 John 2:1-6; 5:13; 1 Corinthians 4:14; Jude 3; 2 Corinthians
2:3,4,9; 7:12; 13:10; Philippians 3:1; Galatians 1:20; 2 Thessalonians 3:17; 1
Corinthians 4:6]
C. New Testament Writings Were Intended to Benefit Future
Generations, Even after the Deaths of the Writers.
============================================
Apostles knew their letters would be circulated among churches and
wanted it to be so.
2 Peter
3:15,16 - Peter and his readers were familiar with Paul's epistles. Even though
those epistles had not been addressed to him personally, yet he respected them
as "Scripture" and expected other Christians to understand and
respect them too.
Colossians
4:16 - Paul said the letter he wrote to the church at Colosse should be read
also to the church in Laodicea.
Revelation 1:4,11 - The Revelation was addressed to seven
different churches.
2 Peter
1:1 - Many epistles were addressed to Christians in general, not to any
specific Christian, let alone a local congregation. [Jude 1; Galatians 1:2;
James 1:1; 1 Peter 1:1,2]
2 Peter
1:12-15 - Peter wrote to remind people of the truths they had been taught, so
they would have these things in writing and could be reminded of them after his
death. [Cf. 3:1,2; Romans 15:15; Hebrews 12:25-28; 13:20]
So the
New Testament was not intended just for the use of a very limited group of
people. The writers knew their writings would be used as authority by many
people in many places for many years, even after their death.
This is
what they would expect knowing that their writings would be classed as
"Scripture." They knew how the Old Testament Scriptures were
circulated and respected, so they would know the same would be done with their
"Scriptures."
Conclusion
=======
Contrary
to what some people believe, Bible writers in both the Old and New Testaments
knew they were writing by the direct guidance of God, so that what they wrote
constituted a revelation of the mind of God, an authoritative standard of
divine authority. Further, God intended for these writings to serve as
religious authority for all people, including future generations.
Jesus
and His apostles quoted the Scriptures they had as authority to settle issues
of religious right and wrong, and their example shows us how we ought to treat
the Scriptures we have today.
The
claims the Bible writers made leave us no room for a middle ground position. We
must either accept them as the Divine authority they claim to be, or we must
reject them entirely as a fake and a fraud. There can be no middle ground.
Folks who claim to accept the Bible as a good book, but do not respect its
authority to guide their lives and determine their conduct, in reality simply
do not believe what the Bible itself says and they certainly do not follow the
example of Jesus Christ.
What is
your view of Scripture? Do you believe it to be God's inspired word? Do you
study and obey it as the standard for your life?
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Hillcrest Church of Christ, Utica, Ohio
