What the Bible Says of Itself

“More than one thousand times do the writers of the first sixteen books of the Old Testament give the Lord as the authority for what they wrote. David said, ‘The Rock of Israel spake to me’ (2 Samuel 23:3); and it is recorded that after the death of Moses ‘the Lord spake unto Joshua.’ Joshua 1:1. Amos said, ‘Hear this word that the Lord hath spoken.’ Amos 3:1. The prophets, as the name implies, speak supernaturally, and in their writings, more than thirteen hundred times they give credit to the Lord for what they write. New Testament writers quote from fifty-nine different psalms.”TOJ 7.1

Christ placed His approval upon all that the prophets had written. (Luke 24:25; John 5:46, 47.) The prophet Isaiah makes mention of Israel’s deliverance as a fact of history. (Isaiah 63:11-13.) The apostle Peter places his approval upon the Psalms. (Acts 1:16, 20.) The prophet Malachi indicated his acceptance of the writings of Moses. (Malachi 4:4.) Other references of similar import might be cited in this connection. The manner in which the Scriptures were given and their purpose is thus stated by the apostle Paul:TOJ 7.2

“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, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16, 17.TOJ 7.3

The reference here made is to the Old Testament writings, for when Paul penned these words, the New Testament canon was not compiled; indeed, much of it was yet unwritten. None of the prophets are excluded; all that was embraced in the Scriptures up to that time is declared to be inspired—“God-breathed.” The apostle Peter emphasizes this point. In speaking of the salvation that comes to us through our Lord and Saviour, he says:TOJ 7.4

“Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” 1 Peter 1:10, 11.TOJ 8.1

Here is revealed the manner in which the Scriptures were given. The Spirit of Christ in the prophets testified through them. Then it was not primarily David who spoke, not Isaiah, not Daniel, but Christ speaking through them. The prophets were fallible, sinful men, but saved by grace; and ofttimes they failed to understand their own prophecies, and with others had to search what God had revealed through them, to find that salvation of which they prophesied.TOJ 8.2

The Spirit carried them out of themselves and beyond their own finite understanding. The prophets prophesied not at will. The Spirit of Christ was not theirs to use at pleasure. Simon Magus thought thus to use the Spirit’s power, but suffered a rebuke for his blasphemous audacity. (Acts 8:9-24.)TOJ 8.3

Again the apostle Peter says:TOJ 8.4

“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. 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.” 2 Peter 1:20, 21.TOJ 8.5

If the prophecy came not by the prophets’ own will, if they spoke only as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, then it was not they that spoke, but the Spirit of Christ speaking through them. They might be sinful men, and the conditions surrounding them might be most forbidding, but that did not invalidate their message. It makes the rarest pearls none the less precious if they are incased in caskets of little worth.TOJ 8.6

So with God’s message. The Bible has been given through instruments of clay, but it is the message of God, however frail and humble may be the channels through which it comes to us. (2 Corinthians 4:7.)TOJ 9.1