Authority of Scripture in Christian Faith and Theology
Scripture holds its authority in Christian faith not from ecclesiastical decree but from its divine origin. The New Testament consistently identifies Scripture as "given by inspiration of God" (2 Timothy 3:16), with the Holy Spirit as the agent of that inspiration [1]. Peter affirms that "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21) [1], establishing that biblical authority derives from God himself speaking through human authors.
The Biblical Foundation
Christ himself sanctioned scriptural authority by appealing to it during temptation and teaching from it after his resurrection [1]. The term "Scripture" in the New Testament invariably denotes "that definite collection of sacred books, regarded as given by inspiration of God" [3], initially referring to the Old Testament and later encompassing the apostolic writings. These texts are called "the Word of God" (Hebrews 4:12), "Word of truth" (James 1:18), and "Holy Scriptures" (Romans 1:2) [1], each designation emphasizing their divine character.
Canon and Rule
The word "canon" derives from a Hebrew and Greek term for a reed or measuring rod, signifying "something straight, or something to keep straight" [4]. Applied to Scripture, it denotes "the authoritative rule of faith and practice, the standard of doctrine and duty" [4]. The canon may be described as "the collection of books which form the original and authoritative written rule of the faith and practice of the Christian Church" [2]. This canonical authority does not arise from church councils conferring legitimacy but from the inherent divine character of the texts themselves [4].
Infallibility and Saving Knowledge
Because Scripture was "written under the guidance of the Holy Spirit," it is "free from all error of fact or doctrine or precept" [5]. The Bible functions as God's word because "he speaks to us in its sacred pages"—whatever the inspired writers declare binding, God declares binding [5]. One Presbyterian commentary emphasizes that "Scripture is the true source of all authority in questions of doctrine and practice" [6], reflecting the Reformation principle of sola scriptura. All saving knowledge, according to this view, is obtained from the word of God [5], making Scripture not merely one authority among others but the foundational norm for Christian belief and conduct.
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Scriptures, The — Given by inspiration of God -- 2Ti 3:16. Given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit -- Ac 1:16; Heb 3:7; 2Pe 1:21. Christ sanctioned, by appealing to them -- Mt 4:4; Mr 12:10; Joh 7:42. Christ taught out of -- Lu 24:27. Are called the Word. -- Jas 1:21-23; 1Pe 2:2. Word of God. -- Lu 11:28; Heb 4:12. Word of Christ. -- Col 3:16. Word of truth. -- Jas 1:18. Holy Scriptures. -- Ro 1:2; 2Ti 3:15. Scripture of truth. -- Da 10:21. Book. -- Ps 40:7; Re 22:19. Book of the Lord. -- Isa 34:16. Book of the law. -- Ne 8:3; Ga 3:10. Law of the Lord. -- Ps 1:2; Isa”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Canon Of Scripture, The — may be generally described as the "collection of books which form the original and authoritative written rule of the faith and practice of the Christian Church," i.e. the Old and New Testaments. The word canon, in classical Greek, is properly a straight rod, "a rule" in the widest sense, and especially in the phrases "the rule of the Church," "the rule of faith," "the rule of truth," The first direct application of the term canon to the Scriptures seems to be in the verses of Amphilochius (cir. 380 A.D.), where the word indicates the rule by ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Scripture — Invariably in the New Testament denotes that definite collection of sacred books, regarded as given by inspiration of God, which we usually call the Old Testament (2 Tim. 3:15, 16; John 20:9; Gal. 3:22; 2 Pet. 1:20). It was God's purpose thus to perpetuate his revealed will. From time to time he raised up men to commit to writing in an infallible record the revelation he gave. The "Scripture," or collection of sacred writings, was thus enlarged from time to time as God saw necessary. We have now a completed "Scripture," consisting of the Old and New Testa”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Canon — This word is derived from a Hebrew and Greek word denoting a reed or cane. Hence it means something straight, or something to keep straight; and hence also a rule, or something ruled or measured. It came to be applied to the Scriptures, to denote that they contained the authoritative rule of faith and practice, the standard of doctrine and duty. A book is said to be of canonical authority when it has a right to take a place with the other books which contain a revelation of the Divine will. Such a right does not arise from any ecclesiastical authority, but fr”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Word of God — (Heb. 4:12, etc.). The Bible so called because the writers of its several books were God's organs in communicating his will to men. It is his "word," because he speaks to us in its sacred pages. Whatever the inspired writers here declare to be true and binding upon us, God declares to be true and binding. This word is infallible, because written under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and therefore free from all error of fact or doctrine or precept. (See [670]INSPIRATION; [671]BIBLE.) All saving knowledge is obtained from the word of God. In the case of ”
- 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”