A Quaker friend once presented me with an interesting challenge. Since the Scriptures say Jesus Himself is the Word of God (John 1:1), how can the Bible be the Word of God?
The simple answer is that the Word was made flesh, and the written word, the Scriptures, is how we know this. What follows is an all too brief defense of this.
The Scriptures were penned, compiled and preserved by the Holy Spirit. Imperfect men and processes may have been used to bring about the Scriptures as we know them, but I see no reason not to stand by faith in God’s written word.
Our Scriptures are amazingly empowered by the Holy Spirit for our guidance. It’s these specially preserved Scriptures which tell us of Christ and His works and character in the first place. Without them we’d have nothing but oral stories and traditions, which are easily perverted or lost.
The Scriptures speak to us as if God Himself were present and speaking to us. He won’t give revelations to us today that contradict His works, character, and the writings which enlighten us as to those things.
Below are a few verses that demonstrate how the Word who came in the flesh and the written word are inseparable.
I’ll start with some verses which quote Jesus from the book of John. They point to the deity of Christ and the role of the Holy Spirit to reveal and illuminate God’s written word.
John 5:18-20 and 39 have this to say.
18. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
19. Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
20. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel…
39. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
John 8:16-18 says this.
16. And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
17. It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.
18. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.
Furthermore, Jesus says this in John 16:13-15.
13. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
14. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
15. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Peter was one of the three closest disciples of Jesus who saw an astounding vision on the Mount of Transfiguration. Yet he chose not to trust in that vision more than the written word of God. In 2 Peter 1:16-21 he said this.
16. For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
17. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
18. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
19. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
20. Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Paul concisely sums up the purpose and value of God’s written word in 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
16. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17. That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.