Searching for Truth: Discovering the Meaning and Purpose of Life by Joe Boot

Author:Joe Boot [Boot, Joe]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Joshua Press
Published: 2012-01-04T00:00:00+00:00

The original Greek language here implies that all the written documents of Scripture are from God and inspired by him. Paul is referring to the Old Testament documents that were part of the canon of Scripture and to New Testament documents that were already in circulation. He was not referring to oral traditions or contemporary ideas.

In 2 Peter 1:20–21 (nrsv) the apostle Peter also points to the origin of the Scriptures. He states, “No prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” Peter is explaining the divine origin of Scripture but also shows that it was given through people whom God chose to use. As they wrote, they were carried along by God so that the message was not theirs but God’s. The things they wrote were not of their own invention but were given to them by God. When we consider that God is the Creator and sustainer of the universe, it is not difficult to believe that he could direct human authors in what they should say. If he did not use human authors, how could we possibly comprehend a divine message?

In another crucial passage, 1 Timothy 5:18, Paul quotes from two Bible passages—the fifth book of the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 25:4) and Jesus’ words in the Gospel of Luke (10:7). This is important for several reasons. First, it shows that Paul gave equal authority to the Old and New Testaments (even though the latter was not yet complete), affirming that they are both from God. Second, it shows that from the earliest time (that of Jesus’ disciples), the Gospels were referred to as “scripture” and continued to be considered so by the early church. The church did not evolve the idea of the authority of the Bible or later develop the idea of inspiration. These were taken for granted.

Finally, in 2 Peter 3:16 Peter refers to the writings of Paul as “scripture.” This is important, because in doing so he puts the words of Paul on a par with those of Moses, King David and Jesus himself. As Paul is responsible for a large portion of the New Testament, this is a significant pronouncement from Peter.

Many more statements in the Bible affirm its claim to divine inspiration. These claims cannot be taken lightly nor dismissed easily. Because of the Bible’s view of itself, ultimately we have just two choices: either the ancient Jews and early disciples are telling the truth, or they are fabricators of a heinous deception involving centuries of collaboration. To say that the Bible is a great book of holy teaching, but not inspired (given) by God, is nonsensical. Both cannot be true. It is either what it claims to be or it is false, unworthy of honest people’s attention. In order to refute the Bible’s witness about itself, the prosecution needs evidence. One would need to produce material evidence to show that it cannot be true, such as definitive archeological or textual evidence that refutes biblical claims.

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