This week we pick up our discussion of biblical authority with the Apostles of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit guided the apostles into all truth (John 16:13) so that they could ultimately guide us into all truth. The apostle Paul put it this way: "For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If yie have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; (Ephesians 3:1-5).

     The word of God teaches that the Holy Spirit would continue to directly inspire men until the Bible was completed ("when that which was perfect has come" I Corinthians 13:8-13). InJames 1:25, we learn that the gospel of Jesus Christ is referred to as the "perfect (complete) law of liberty." And, in II Timothy 3:16,17, we find out: "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 [the word means complete or mature], thoroughly furnished unto all good works." Finally, in II Peter 1:3, the Bible clearly says that God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. In light of these passages, it is safe to say that all the Scriptures have been completed. This is why the apostle Peter admonished in I Peter 4:11: "If any man speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God." There will be no latter day revelation for us today or in the future. There simply isn't any need for it. Unlike the Old Testament, the New Testament has left nothing unaccomplished (Heb. 8:7).

     With that said, it should now be very clear that doctrine does not come from direct inspiration today; it comes, rather, from the word of God, the Bible. If we allow ourselves to be reproved, corrected, and instructed by the completed word of God, it will, in turn, make us perfect or complete, and will completely furnish us for every good work (II Timothy 3:16,17). In other words, if our actions in life and particularly in religion are going to be from heaven and not men, they will be found in the Bible. Consequently, what the Bible says, and does not say, is very important! But is it enough that we find something in the Bible?

     In Paul's second letter to Timothy, we find the phrase "rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim 2:15). This is important because common sense would seem to dictate that if the Bible can be "rightly divided," then it can also be "wrongly divided." This common sense truism would satisfactorily explain how good, sincere, people can look at the same text and come away with as many different meanings and interpretations as there are people.

     Next week, we will try to discuss ways to differentiate what is recorded in the Bible from what is actually taught in the Bible. We will address some ways to determine what the Bible teaches. How can we establish biblical authority?

Bro Eli