(II Timothy 3:16-17) “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”  These two scriptures are the reference scriptures for every Bible Authority question.  When people ask why the Church of Christ, does the things that it does, this should be the very first thing out of our mouths.  For people to understand Bible Authority they must understand that the Bible is the complete, without error, final word of God.  This is primarily what I will be addressing in this article.  This article will address how the Bible is inspired.  The fact that it is of God and not man.  This article will also address that the Bible is final, and then a closing of a plea to return to the word of God for those that have gone astray or have never been!

How did men of the New and Old Testaments speak and write the words of God.  (II Peter 1:21) “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.”  Men spoke simply by the Holy Spirit guiding them.  This was promised to the apostles in the first century.  Christ comforted them with this note.  (Matthew 10:19-20) “But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.  For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.”  The promise was fulfilled in Acts chapter two.  (Acts 2:1-4) “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”  Notice here that they began to speak as the spirit gave them utterance.

As we noticed that they spoke when the Spirit gave them the words.  The word that they spoke was not of man, but of God.  Paul made this statement in his letter to the congregations of Galatia.  (Galatians 1:10-12) “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.  But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.  For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”  Paul, urges the Galatians that this gospel is not of a man, but by revelation.  It was very important for Paul to relay this message to the Galatians.  They were obviously struggling with perversion of the Gospel (Galatians 1:6-7).  Maybe, these are the words that could be related to so many in this day and age that use perversions of the gospel.  It seems that people today want to convert the Gospel to meet their needs and lifestyle, instead of changing their lifestyle to meet the commands of God.

There are many that are waiting and believing that there will be more to come in the way of revelation from God.  What we must realize is the only thing left to come from Heaven is Christ himself, in which the only revelation that will matter is the final destination of each and every one of us.  We listen and watch many denominational men and women claim to have had visions from God.  We even have religions based upon that very belief.  For instance, the Mormons believe that Joseph Smith (a self-proclaimed prophet) had revelations given by an angel named “Moroni”.  If we would just look back to the first chapter of the letter to the Galatians we could see that this is not possible.  (Galatians 1:8-9) “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”  Not an angel, or Apostle had or has the authority to change the word!  It is that simple.  We are also told in several other places not to change the word.  For instance: (Deuteronomy 4:2) “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.”  No adding or subtracting allowed.  The same sentiments are shared in the book of Revelation.  (Revelation 22:18-19) “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”  I do believe that those messages should be loud and clear to all readers of them.  We simply do not have the authority to change God’s word.  We are told that his word gives us all that we need.  We should not seek to find any further than that which we are given.  (II Peter 1:3-4) “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

Finally, I must plea just as Paul did to the congregations in Galatia.  Please do not pervert the Gospel of our Lord.  Do not seek to destroy the foundation of our faith.  Do not seek wisdom in man.  Be ready to accept that which is pure and from Heaven.  Earthly wisdom is not wisdom that we need.  It is not Bible authorized.  God condemns earthly wisdom.  (James 3:13-17) “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.  But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.  This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”
 
 

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