By Gary Ray Branscome
Unlike all other books in the world, the Holy Bible (the
Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments) is the Word of God. It is the Word of
God in the same way that the writings of George Washington are his word, and
the writings of Abraham Lincoln are his word. Through the words, “Search the
scriptures; for in them you think that you have eternal life: and they are they
that testify of me,” Jesus tells us that the Bible was written to testify
of him (John
The
words, “Unto them [the Jews] was committed the word of God,” tell us
that the Hebrew Scriptures are Word of God (Romans 3:2). Jesus’ words, “Everything
must be fulfilled, that was written in the law of Moses, in the prophets, and
in the psalms, concerning me,” tell us that because the Old Testament is
the Word of God, “everything” it says about Christ had to be “fulfilled” (Luke
24:44). [Note: the phrase, “In the law of Moses, in the prophets, and in the
psalms,” refers to the three divisions of the Hebrew Bible, and was a way of
saying, “In all of the Scriptures”.]
Regarding
the fulfillment of God’s word, the words, “Until heaven and earth pass away,
not one letter or stroke will pass from the law, until everything has
been fulfilled,” tell us that even the letters and strokes are the Word of
God, and that all that is written will be fulfilled (Matthew 5:18). The words, “All
this took place, to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, saying,
Behold, a virgin will be with child, and will bring forth a son, and they will
call His name Emmanuel,” tell us that Christ was born in fulfillment of
Scripture (Matthew 1:22-23 - See Isaiah 7:14). The words, “Fulfilling what
was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, who said, Out of Egypt have I
called my son,” tell us that the words of the prophet were the words of
God, and the flight of Mary, Joseph and Jesus to Egypt took place in
fulfillment of Scripture (Matthew 2:15 - See Hosea 11:1). The words, “None
of them is lost, except the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled,”
tell us that Judas betrayed Christ in fulfillment of Scripture (John
The
words, “Lord… You said through the mouth of your servant David, Why do the
heathen rage, and the people plot in vain?” tell us that the words of David
(quoted from Psalm 2:1) were spoken by God (Acts
Consider
carefully the words, “Of which salvation the prophets have enquired 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. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but
unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them
that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from
heaven; which things the angels desire to look into,” (1Peter 1;10-12).
Those words tell us that the same “Spirit of Christ” who spoke through the
prophets, was speaking through the apostles.
The
words, “Therefore, brethren, stand firm, and hold fast to the instructions
that you were taught, either by what we said, or our letter,” tell us that
the writings of the apostles carry the same God-given authority as if they were
speaking in person (2Thessalonians 2:15). The words, “You want proof that
Christ is speaking through me,” tell us that Christ was speaking through
the apostles (2Corinthians 13:3). The words, “If any man thinks that he is a
prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things I write to you are
the commandments of the Lord. But if any man will not hear what I have said,
refuse to hear him,” tell us that the words of the apostles are the words
of God, and we should not listen to those who refuse to heed what they say
(1Corinthians