Category: Sword and Trumpet

The Truthfulness and Authority of Scripture | Part 2

We understand that, since God has all authority, His Word also has all authority. Having authority means having “power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior.”1 Just like God does not conform to some higher truth standard but is Himself the standard, so God does not draw His authority from a higher power but is Himself the highest authority. Read More

The Inspiration of Scripture | Part 3

Orthodox inspiration holds that God knows what He’s talking about, even when it doesn’t fit with what we think or understand. It believes that, whether or not it seems to make sense, the Bible is always right. Whether we’re dealing with science or history, it says that, since Scripture is from God—and God does not and cannot lie—the Bible will always be right. It leaves God and His Word in authority, choosing to bow to Him. Read More

The Inspiration of Scripture | Part 2

In our discussion on the inspiration of Scripture, we now move from how God inspired the Bible to what that inspiration entails. As we discovered last time, most Christians agree that Scripture is inspired, but they often disagree when they define that inspiration. Just as they have various understandings of the process God used, they also hold various beliefs on how inspired the end product—Scripture—actually is. Read More

The Inspiration of Scripture | Part 1

The word “inspiration” brings many different thoughts to mind. In the modern sense, we sometimes think of inspiration as a motivating or energizing force. An artist may feel a flash of inspiration for his next painting, a musician may be inspired to compose a new song, or I may search for inspiration to study for and write this article.

Yet, historically and theologically, inspiration carries a different meaning. Read More

Valuing Scripture

The Word of God is a great gift. Think about it—where would we go to learn who God is if we didn’t have His Word? While creation does testify of God, we can’t fully know Him simply by studying the starry sky or a nearby bush. We can look within, but our own hearts are deceitful and our minds are darkened (Jer. 17:9, Rom. 1:21). We can’t hope to know Him unless He first shows Himself to us. The Bible is that revelation, God’s gift to us—Himself. Scripture is the source of all knowledge of God; therefore, to truly know God we must know His Word. Read More

The Canon of Scripture | Part 3

We remember that our confidence in the canon is not in our own observations, nor is it in the abilities of mere men to correctly identify and compile God’s words, but it must ultimately be in God’s faithfulness to His people. By this we believe that God has truly provided us with His Word and has given us all we need. And so we know that, “The canon of Scripture today is exactly what God wanted it to be, and it will stay that way until Christ returns.”11 Our Bible—Genesis to Revelation—contains every word God intended for His people. It is truly and fully the Word of God. Read More

The Canon of Scripture | Part 2

Just as God was at work in creation, in the calling of his people Israel, in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, and in the early work and writings of the apostles, so God was at work in the preservation and assembling together of the books of Scripture for the benefit of His people for the entire church age. Ultimately, then, we base our confidence in the correctness of our present canon on the faithfulness of God. Read More

The Canon of Scripture | Part 1

God speaks. Through His word He formed the heavens. He breathed out stars. He breathed into man, giving him life. And He did not abandon man—He spoke to him, telling him of Himself. To Abraham He gave a blessing and a promise. To Moses He gave direction and the law. To the prophets He gave warnings and judgments. He spoke to the apostles, teaching the new covenant through Christ. He spoke to the church, guiding them into truth and into grace. And He speaks to us today. Read More