Scripture (Reformed Theology Series)

The foundation of all religion, piety, and theology is the Word of God contained in the Bible. When asking the question, “What is reformed theology?” we must begin with where theology comes from and what grounds we have for determining any truths. The Scriptures of the old and new testaments are where Christianity begins and ends.

The confession begins with the doctrine of Scripture. Simply stated, this doctrine means that we believe the Bible to be without error or fault, that it is the very word of God, and that it is given to us for knowing the will of God, knowing of God Himself, and learning how we might live on this side of eternity. This post will unpack these ideas.

Nature vs. Scripture

God revealed Himself to mankind in two ways: naturally and specially. Natural revelation is the world around us. The natural world God created is called revelation because it speaks to us of Him. “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (Psa. 19:1). The natural world should leave us in awe and wonder of the God Who made it.

Although we can learn so much about God from creation (such as His power, orderliness, and goodness), we cannot learn from it the things we need to know in order to be saved. Those things require a special form of revelation, and God chose for it to be the Bible, His Word. These Scriptures were given to tell us things God had to tell us from His own mouth—that we are too sinful to save ourselves, the long story of our Redeemer, and how we can be reconciled to God by Him.

Who Wrote the Bible?

Although the Bible is written by over forty authors in the span of 66 books, it was all written in a greater sense by God the Holy Spirit. In essence, although the writing was done by men, it was inspired by the Spirit of God—the men were not simply writing their own ideas, but were writing God’s words. This is what we refer to as the doctrine of inspiration.

The apostles Peter and Paul help us understand this idea more clearly. In II Peter 1:20, Peter writes, “For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” Although he is speaking of prophecies here, Jesus tells us elsewhere that all the Scriptures were pointing to him prophetically (see John 5:46, Luke 24:27, and Luke 24:44–48), so Peter’s statement is true of the whole Bible.

In addition, Paul wrote these words to Timothy: “All Scripture is breathed out by God” (II Tim. 3:16). They were not just talking about the Old Testament before them, though, for Paul wrote to the Corinthians that “we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God… these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit” (I Cor. 2:7, 10).

This is why we have the ability to trust Scripture. It is the very word of God. “The authority of the Holy Scripture…” relies “wholly upon God the author thereof” (WCF 1.5). Men wrote the Bible, but God inspired them, making Him the true author, and making it most trustworthy.

Scripture is Enough

Another piece of the doctrine of Scripture is what we call the sufficiency of Scripture. This means that the Bible alone is enough, but enough for what? Two things are central here.

First, the Bible alone is enough for living all of life, learning to please God, and knowing how one comes to know God. Peter again helps us here: “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence” (2 Pet. 1:3). It is by knowing God as His Word teaches that we can learn to please Him and live in this world.

Second, the Bible is enough for learning to understand the Bible. In other words, Scripture is Scripture’s best interpreter. The language of the confessions helps us again here: “The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself: and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture… it must be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly” (WCF 1.10). When you have a question about Scripture, there will always be another place in Scripture that can help you understand it.

It is amazing to know that God has given us a book that is enough for all of these things.

The Purpose of the Bible

With the nature, Author, and sufficiency of Scripture in mind, we can now articulate its purposes. Although the Bible has many purposes, there are a few broad ones that help us understand it more fully.

First, God’s Word was given to us so that we can know what pleases God. “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction… that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 15:4–5). We go to the Bible to learn how to live in a way that honors God.

Second, we have the Scriptures to tell us of salvation, called “the mystery of Christ” (Col. 4:3). As we noted earlier, natural revelation cannot tell us of those things, so we needed God to speak. He has spoken, and in His Word we can find the way to reconciliation with Him (II Cor. 5).

Finally, the Bible is “making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose” (Eph. 1:9). Yes, we learn what pleases God and how to be reconciled to Him, but we can also know what His purposes are for His creation by reading the Bible.

Summary

In all, this book is remarkable. It holds all things we need for any situation in life, teaches us the way of salvation in Christ, and unfolds for us who God is and why we must know Him. This, right here, is the foundation for all our theology. Without a proper understanding of Scripture, no other doctrines have their basis. With a sound understanding of what the Bible is and what purposes it has, we can begin to formulate thoughts about other truths knowing where they come from and why we can trust them.

The next article in this series is on God Himself >>>

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Text of the Westminster Confession, Chapter 1:

1. Although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of His will, which is necessary unto salvation. Therefore it pleased the Lord, at sundry times, and in divers manners, to reveal Himself, and to declare that His will unto His Church; and afterwards, for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the Church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing: which maketh the Holy Scripture to be most necessary; those former ways of God’s revealing His will unto His people being now ceased.

2. Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testament, which are these: [for space, the list has been removed, but to read it in full, see this link].

3. All which are given by inspiration of God to be the rule of faith and life.

4. The books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the canon of the Scripture, and therefore are of no authority in the Church of God, nor to be any otherwise approved, or made use of, than other human writings.

5. The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, and obeyed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man, or Church; but wholly upon God (who is truth itself) the author thereof: and therefore it is to be received because it is the Word of God.

6. We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the Church to an high and reverend esteem of the Holy Scripture. And the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is, to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes of the only way of man’s salvation, the many other incomparable excellencies, and the entire perfection thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God: yet notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts.

7. The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man’s salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word; and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the Church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature, and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.

8. All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all: yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded, and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.

9. The Old Testament in Hebrew (which was the native language of the people of God of old), and the New Testament in Greek (which, at the time of the writing of it, was most generally known to the nations), being immediately inspired by God, and, by His singular care and providence, kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentical; so as, in all controversies of religion, the Church is finally to appeal unto them. But, because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God, who have right unto, and interest in the Scriptures, and are commanded, in the fear of God, to read and search them, therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come, that, the Word of God dwelling plentifully in all, they may worship Him in an acceptable manner; and, through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, may have hope.

10. The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself: and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture (which is not manifold, but one), it must be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly.

11. The supreme judge by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Spirit speaking in Scripture.

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