A Biblical Vision, Part I: Mastering the Old Testament Witness to Christ

Sess ion 1: Int roduct ion

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D. Authority of the Scriptures

1. The authority of Scripture is rooted in God’s very own person as he who is Lord and sovereign over all, Dan. 4.34-35.

2. God is the God of absolute truthfulness and faithfulness; his word, therefore, is absolutely authoritative (i.e., Hebrew ‘emet , rendered “truth” or ”faithfulness,” e.g., Deut. 32.4; Ps. 108.4; Hos. 2.20).

3. God’s absolute faithfulness touches all that God is and does, including his word (cf. Ps. 117.2; 57.3; 119.89).

a. God is not a man who can lie, Num. 23.19; cf. 1 Sam. 15.29; Ps. 89.35.

b. God’s word is the word of truth (completely trustworthy and therefore authoritative), cf. Ps. 119.160.

4. The entire Old Testament is seen to be “the word of God” designated as “the Scripture of truth” (Dan. 10.21 AV).

5. The word of the Scriptures actually share, therefore, God’s very own character and reality, 2 Tim. 3.16-17; 2 Pet. 1.20-21.

E. Summary

1. The Old Testament is the inspired, inerrant, veracious word of the living God.