The Holy Scriptures

HOW WERE THE SCRIPTURES GIVEN?

2 Peter 1:21

KJV 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. WEB ²¹ For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit.
2 Timothy 3:16-17

KJV ¹⁶ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: ¹⁷ That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. WEB ¹⁶ Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that each person who belongs to God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

HOW DID GOD REVEAL TRuth TO HIS PROPHETS?

Numbers 12:6

KJV ⁶ And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. WEB ⁶ He said, “Now hear my words. If there is a prophet among you, I, Yahweh, will make myself known to him in a vision. I will speak with him in a dream.
Galatians 1:12

KJV ¹² For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. WEB ¹² For I didn’t receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ.

HAS GOD GUARDED THE PURITY OF HIS WORD?

Psalm 12:6-7

KJV ⁶ The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. ⁷ Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. WEB ⁶ Yahweh’s words are flawless words, as silver refined in a clay furnace, purified seven times. ⁷ You will keep them, Yahweh. You will preserve them from this generation forever.
Proverbs 30:5

KJV ⁵ Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. WEB ⁵ “Every word of God is flawless. He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

ARE THE SCRIPTURES INFALLIBLE?

Psalm 119:160

KJV ¹⁶⁰ Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. WEB ¹⁶⁰ All of your words are truth. Every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever.
Matthew 24:35

KJV ³⁵ Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. WEB ³⁵ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

ARE THE WRITINGS OF THE PROPHETS TO BE RECEIVED AS THE WORDS OF GOD HIMSELF?

2 Samuel 23:1-2

KJV ¹ Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, ² The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. WEB ¹ Now these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse says, the man who was raised on high says, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel: ² “Yahweh’s Spirit spoke by me. His word was on my tongue.
Jeremiah 1:4-9

KJV ⁴ Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, ⁵ Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. ⁶ Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. ⁷ But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. ⁸ Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord. ⁹ Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. WEB ⁴ Now Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, ⁵ “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I sanctified you. I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” ⁶ Then I said, “Ah, Lord Yahweh! Behold, I don’t know how to speak; for I am a child.” ⁷ But Yahweh said to me, “Don’t say, ‘I am a child; ’ for you must go to whomever I send you, and you must say whatever I command you. ⁸ Don’t be afraid because of them, for I am with you to rescue you,” says Yahweh. ⁹ Then Yahweh stretched out his hand, and touched my mouth. Then Yahweh said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.
1 Thessalonians 2:13

KJV ¹³ For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. WEB ¹³ For this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that when you received from us the word of the message of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also works in you who believe.

ARE THE PROPHECIES IMPORTANT NOW?

Hosea 12:10

KJV ¹⁰ I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets. WEB ¹⁰ I have also spoken to the prophets, and I have multiplied visions; and by the ministry of the prophets I have used parables.
Amos 3:7

KJV ⁷ Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. WEB ⁷ Surely the Lord Yahweh will do nothing, unless he reveals his secret to his servants the prophets.
2 Peter 1:19

KJV ¹⁹ We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: WEB ¹⁹ We have the more sure word of prophecy; and you do well that you heed it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns, and the morning star arises in your hearts:

FOR WHAT PURPOSE WERE THE SCRIPTURES WRITTEN?

2 Timothy 3:16-17

KJV ¹⁶ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: ¹⁷ That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. WEB ¹⁶ Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that each person who belongs to God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Deuteronomy 29:29

KJV ²⁹ The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. WEB ²⁹ The secret things belong to Yahweh our God; but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
John 20:30-31

KJV ³⁰ And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: ³¹ But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. WEB ³⁰ Therefore Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book; ³¹ but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

WHAT IS NECESSARY ON OUR PART?

John 5:39

KJV ³⁹ Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. WEB ³⁹ “You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify about me.
Psalm 119:11

KJV ¹¹ Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. WEB ¹¹ I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Psalm 119:16

KJV ¹⁶ I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. WEB ¹⁶ I will delight myself in your statutes. I will not forget your word.

HOW ARE WE TO SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES?

Luke 24:27

KJV ²⁷ And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. WEB ²⁷ Beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
1 Corinthians 2:13

KJV ¹³ Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. WEB ¹³ We also speak these things, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual things.
Isaiah 28:10

KJV ¹⁰ For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: WEB ¹⁰ For it is precept on precept, precept on precept; line on line, line on line; here a little, there a little.
3 Isaiah 28:13

KJV ¹³ But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. WEB ¹³ Therefore Yahweh’s word will be to them precept on precept, precept on precept; line on line, line on line; here a little, there a little; that they may go, fall backward, be broken, be snared, and be taken.

HOW SHALL WE RELATE OURSELVES TO THE SCRIPTURES?

Proverbs 2:1-5

KJV ¹ My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; ² So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; ³ Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; ⁴ If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; ⁵ Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. WEB ¹ My son, if you will receive my words, and store up my commandments within you, ² so as to turn your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; ³ yes, if you call out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding; ⁴ if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures: ⁵ then you will understand the fear of Yahweh, and find the knowledge of God.
Proverbs 22:20-21

KJV ²⁰ Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, ²¹ That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee? WEB ²⁰ Haven’t I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge, ²¹ To teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?
Luke 6:46-49

KJV ⁴⁶ And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? ⁴⁷ Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: ⁴⁸ He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. ⁴⁹ But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great. WEB ⁴⁶ “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things which I say? ⁴⁷ Everyone who comes to me, and hears my words, and does them, I will show you who he is like. ⁴⁸ He is like a man building a house, who dug and went deep, and laid a foundation on the rock. When a flood arose, the stream broke against that house, and could not shake it, because it was founded on the rock. ⁴⁹ But he who hears, and doesn’t do, is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream broke, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”