Is It Bible?

Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him.

Colossians 2:6–7

“What is the Bible?”

“The Bible is not a collection of true facts about God, like a divinely dictated encyclopedia. It is a narrative through which God has chosen to make himself known—Father, Son, and Spirit.”

-NT Wright

The Bible is God’s Word

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16–17

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 1:20–21

“The Scriptures are indeed perfect, since they were spoken by the Word of God and His Spirit.”

Irenaeus (2nd century)

“The sacred books are not the compositions of men, but are written by divine inspiration through the will of the Father of all things.”

Origen (3rd century)

Early church leaders didn’t “decide” which books would be included in the Bible; but they did “discover” which books were clearly inspired by God.

Apostolicity – Was it written by an apostle or a close companion of one?

Conformity (Orthodoxy) – Does it align with the core teachings of Jesus and the apostles?

Catholicity (Universal Acceptance)- Was it widely used and accepted by churches across the Christian world?

So, how can we know that the Bible is God’s Word?

• It claims to be
• It seems to be
• It proves to be

The Bible is Our Guide

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm 119:105

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

John 16:13

The Bible is Life-Giving

After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life

John 6:66-68

The Bible is Our Authority

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

2 Timothy 3:16–17

“If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.”

Augustine of Hippo

The Bible is a Treasure

I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.

Job 23:12