God's Sovereignty in Scripture and Its Reliability
God's Sovereignty in Scripture
The concept of God's sovereignty is deeply rooted in Scripture, emphasizing God's absolute authority and control over all things. According to Easton's Bible Dictionary, God's sovereignty is defined as "his absolute right to do all things according to his own good pleasure" [1]. This understanding is supported by various biblical passages, including Daniel 4:25, 35, Romans 9:15-23, and Revelation 4:11.
Biblical Foundation
The biblical foundation of God's sovereignty is evident in several passages. Psalms 147:5 declares, "Great is our Lord, and mighty in power. His understanding is infinite" [6]. This verse highlights God's immense power and infinite understanding, underscoring his sovereignty. Additionally, Psalms 33:4 states, "For the word of the LORD is upright, and all His work is trustworthy" [7], emphasizing the reliability of God's actions and words.
Attributes of God's Sovereignty
Torrey's Topical Textbook outlines several attributes of God's power, including its greatness, strength, glory, might, and everlasting nature [2]. These attributes are supported by various biblical references, such as Psalms 79:11, 89:13, and Isaiah 26:4. The sovereignty of God is also linked to his faithfulness, as expressed in Psalms 89:2, 33, and 2 Timothy 2:13 [5].
Inspiration and Reliability of Scripture
The reliability of Scripture is closely tied to the concept of God's sovereignty. According to 2 Timothy 3:16, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God" [4]. This inspiration is understood as a supernatural divine influence that renders the writings infallible. The Baptist/Reformed commentary by John Gill on Psalms 119:41 notes that the Scriptures are "by divine inspiration, come from the God of truth, contain nothing but truth in them, and are called 'the Scriptures of truth'" [10].
Implications of God's Sovereignty
The sovereignty of God has significant implications for the understanding of Scripture and its reliability. As Jamieson, Fausset & Brown comment on 1 Peter 1:16, "Scripture is the true source of all authority in questions of doctrine and practice" [9]. The Protestant academic commentary on 2 Timothy 3:16 explains that the fact that Scripture is "God-breathed" affirms that God is fully responsible for its content, without negating the involvement of human authors [11].
Assurance and Faith
The sovereignty of God also relates to the concept of assurance and faith. According to Easton's Bible Dictionary, the "full assurance of faith" is a fulness of faith in God that leaves no room for doubt [3]. This assurance is rooted in the reliability of Scripture and the faithfulness of God. As Matthew Henry comments on 2 Peter 1:19, the doctrine of the power and coming of Jesus Christ is not a "mere fable or cunning contrivance of men, but the wise and wonderful counsel of the holy and gracious God" [12].
The understanding of God's sovereignty in Scripture underscores the reliability of the biblical text and the trustworthiness of God's actions and words. As Psalms 68:34 declares, "Ascribe strength to God; His majesty is over Israel And His strength is in the skies" [8]. This majestic portrayal of God's power reinforces the confidence in his sovereignty and the reliability of Scripture.
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Sovereignty — Of God, his absolute right to do all things according to his own good pleasure (Dan. 4:25, 35; Rom. 9:15-23; 1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 4:11).”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Power of God, The — Is one of his attributes -- Ps 62:11. Expressed by the Voice of God. -- Ps 29:3,5; 68:33. Finger of God. -- Ex 8:19; Ps 8:3. Hand of God. -- Ex 9:3,15; Isa 48:13. Arm of God. -- Job 40:9; Isa 52:10. Thunder of his power. -- Job 26:14. Described as Great. -- Ps 79:11; Na 1:3. Strong. -- Ps 89:13; 136:12. Glorious. -- Ex 15:6; Isa 63:12. Mighty. -- Job 9:4; Ps 89:13. Everlasting. -- Isa 26:4; Ro 1:20. Sovereign. -- Ro 9:21. Effectual. -- Isa 43:13; Eph 3:7. Irresistible. -- De 32:39; Da 4:35. Incomparable. -- Ex 15:11,12; De 3:24; Job 40:9; Ps 89:8.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Assurance — The resurrection of Jesus (Acts 17:31) is the "assurance" (Gr. pistis, generally rendered "faith") or pledge God has given that his revelation is true and worthy of acceptance. The "full assurance [Gr. plerophoria, full bearing'] of faith" (Heb. 10:22) is a fulness of faith in God which leaves no room for doubt. The "full assurance of understanding" (Col. 2:2) is an entire unwavering conviction of the truth of the declarations of Scripture, a joyful steadfastness on the part of any one of conviction that he has grasped the very truth. The "full assurance ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Inspiration — That extraordinary or supernatural divine influence vouchsafed to those who wrote the Holy Scriptures, rendering their writings infallible. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God" (R.V., "Every scripture inspired of God"), 2 Tim. 3:16. This is true of all the "sacred writings," not in the sense of their being works of genius or of supernatural insight, but as "theopneustic," i.e., "breathed into by God" in such a sense that the writers were supernaturally guided to express exactly what God intended them to express as a revelation of his mind and ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Faithfulness of God, The — Is part of his character -- Isa 49:7; 1Co 1:9; 1Th 5:24. Declared to be Great. -- La 3:23. Established. -- Ps 89:2. Incomparable. -- Ps 89:8. Unfailing. -- Ps 89:33; 2Ti 2:13. Infinite. -- Ps 36:5. Everlasting. -- Ps 119:90; 146:6. Should be pleaded in prayer -- Ps 143:1. Should be proclaimed -- Ps 40:10; 89:1. Manifested In his counsels. -- Isa 25:1. In afflicting his saints. -- Ps 119:75. In fulfilling his promises. -- 1Ki 8:20; Ps 132:11; Mic 7:20; Heb 10:23. In keeping his covenant. -- De 7:9; Ps 111:5. In executing his judgments. -- Je”
- Psalms “Great is our Lord, and mighty in power. His understanding is infinite. -- Psalms 147:5”
- Psalms “Psalms 33:4 (BSB) — For the word of the LORD is upright, and all His work is trustworthy.”
- Psalms “Psalms 68:34 (NASB) — Ascribe strength to God; His majesty is over Israel And His strength is in the skies.”
- 1 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Peter 1:16: Scripture is the true source of all authority in questions of doctrine and practice. Be ye . . . for I am--It is I with whom ye have to do. Ye are mine. Therefore abstain from Gentile pollutions. We are too prone to have respect unto men [CALVIN]. As I am the fountain of holiness, being holy in My essence, be ye therefore zealous to be partakers of holiness, that ye may be as I also am [DIDYMUS]. God is essentially holy: the creature is holy in so far as it is sanctified by God. God, in giving the command, is willing to give also the power to obey i”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119:41: And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,.... The Scriptures, which are by divine inspiration, come from the God of truth, contain nothing but truth in them, and are called "the Scriptures of truth", Dan 10:21. Or the Gospel, which is often so called, Eph 1:13; This comes from God, who cannot lie, and is a declaration of his mind and will concerning the salvation of men; in which Christ, who is the truth, is concerned, being the author, preacher, and substance of it; into which the Spirit of truth leads men, and makes it useful and effectual; which has”
- 2 Timothy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Timothy 3:16: 3:16-17 These verses elaborate on 3:15 by explaining Scripture’s effectiveness, its source, and the ways that it gives wisdom to live out our salvation. Paul was speaking of the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament), but his statement can now apply to all Scripture, including the New Testament (see, e.g., 2 Pet 3:15-16). 3:16 The fact that Scripture is inspired by God (literally God-breathed, breathed out by God’s own speech; see also Heb 4:12-13; 2 Pet 1:20-21) does not negate the active involvement of the human authors. But it does affirm that God is fully re”
- 2 Peter (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 2 Peter 1:19: In these words the apostle lays down another argument to prove the truth and reality of the gospel, and intimates that this second proof is more strong and convincing than the former, and more unanswerably makes out that the doctrine of the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is not a mere fable or cunning contrivance of men, but the wise and wonderful counsel of the holy and gracious God. For this is foretold by the prophets and penmen of the Old Testament, who spoke and wrote under the influence and according to the direction of the Spirit of God. Here no”