What role does the written Word of God play in our lives? It is the authoritative Word of God, delegated above tradition, recognized by the church, testified by the Spirit, and proven by God himself.
The first section of the 5th Article of the Belgic Confession explicitly states that only these 66 books (stated in the 4th Article) are holy and canonical. During the time of the 16th century Reformation, many Protestants objected to the elevation of tradition by the Roman Catholic Church. They placed tradition alongside, and sometimes above, the authority of Scripture. The Protestants answered that Scripture alone is our ultimate authority for God’s Word. As a Protestant/Reformed confession, 5th Article stresses that only Scripture is authoritative.
The authority of the written Word of God is not given by the church but recognized by the church. My child does not give me authority over her; she recognizes that I am in a position of authority over her. It is God’s design. Likewise, we don’t give authority to the Word of God; we recognize the authority of these 66 books of the Old and New Testaments by God’s design.
The authority of the written Word of God is also testified by the Holy Spirit. Notice that it does not say that the Spirit of God works apart from the written Word of God. Rather, the Holy Spirit testifies through the Word. This is an important point. The Holy Spirit illumines the written Word of God; he does not prophecy against it or in contradiction to it.
The authority of the written Word of God is most importantly stated by God Himself. God speaks to us about His written Word as authoritative because it comes from Him (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 3:16; Mark 12:26; Luke 20:42). In other words, the authority of the written Word of God rests in God Himself. God declared His Word authoritative.
How is it, then, that we have so many translations? We have many different translations because the original manuscripts of the written Word of God are lost. We have many copies of the written Word. Because copies were done by human hands, errors were made in the copies.
So can we trust the copies? While it is uncertain why God chose not to preserve the originals, we trust that through good work we can obtain a credible and reliable copy. Suppose I write a letter to my children while I am away. Jodi receives the letter and instructs my children to copy it. Jodi loses my original letter. She returns to my children to ask for their copies. Are they reliable copies? Well, comparing the two copies helps Jodi return to a more accurate and reliable letter. In the same way, we can trust the Bible. Not all copies are the same, which means hard work and discipline are needed to discern a more accurate copy.
God chose not to preserve the originals. But God also raised faithful workers to discern and advance credible and reliable copies. Can we trust the copies? Well, can we trust God and His providential hand over all things? Your answer to the latter question will give you the answer to the former question.
The first section of the 5th Article of the Belgic Confession explicitly states that only these 66 books (stated in the 4th Article) are holy and canonical. During the time of the 16th century Reformation, many Protestants objected to the elevation of tradition by the Roman Catholic Church. They placed tradition alongside, and sometimes above, the authority of Scripture. The Protestants answered that Scripture alone is our ultimate authority for God’s Word. As a Protestant/Reformed confession, 5th Article stresses that only Scripture is authoritative.
The authority of the written Word of God is not given by the church but recognized by the church. My child does not give me authority over her; she recognizes that I am in a position of authority over her. It is God’s design. Likewise, we don’t give authority to the Word of God; we recognize the authority of these 66 books of the Old and New Testaments by God’s design.
The authority of the written Word of God is also testified by the Holy Spirit. Notice that it does not say that the Spirit of God works apart from the written Word of God. Rather, the Holy Spirit testifies through the Word. This is an important point. The Holy Spirit illumines the written Word of God; he does not prophecy against it or in contradiction to it.
The authority of the written Word of God is most importantly stated by God Himself. God speaks to us about His written Word as authoritative because it comes from Him (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 3:16; Mark 12:26; Luke 20:42). In other words, the authority of the written Word of God rests in God Himself. God declared His Word authoritative.
How is it, then, that we have so many translations? We have many different translations because the original manuscripts of the written Word of God are lost. We have many copies of the written Word. Because copies were done by human hands, errors were made in the copies.
So can we trust the copies? While it is uncertain why God chose not to preserve the originals, we trust that through good work we can obtain a credible and reliable copy. Suppose I write a letter to my children while I am away. Jodi receives the letter and instructs my children to copy it. Jodi loses my original letter. She returns to my children to ask for their copies. Are they reliable copies? Well, comparing the two copies helps Jodi return to a more accurate and reliable letter. In the same way, we can trust the Bible. Not all copies are the same, which means hard work and discipline are needed to discern a more accurate copy.
God chose not to preserve the originals. But God also raised faithful workers to discern and advance credible and reliable copies. Can we trust the copies? Well, can we trust God and His providential hand over all things? Your answer to the latter question will give you the answer to the former question.
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