WLC 4

Q4. How doth it appear that the scriptures are the word of God?

The scriptures manifest themselves to be the word of God, by their majesty and purity; by the consent of all the parts, and the scope of the whole, which is to give all glory to God; by their light and power to convince and convert sinners, to comfort and build up believers unto salvation: but the Spirit of God bearing witness by and with the scriptures in the heart of man, is alone able fully to persuade it that they are the very word of God.

Proof texts

• Hos. 8:12 — [12] Were I to write for him my laws by the ten thousands, they would be regarded as a strange thing.
• 1 Cor. 2:6-7,13 — [6] Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. [7] But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. [13] And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
• Ps. 119:18,129 — [18] Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. [129] Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them.
• Ps. 12:6 — [6] The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.
• Ps. 119:140 — [140] Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it.
• Acts 10:43 — [43] To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
• Acts 26:22 — [22] To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass:
• Rom. 3:19,27 — [19] Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. [27] Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.
• Acts 23:28 — [28] And desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council.
• Heb. 4:12 — [12] For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
• Jas. 1:18 — [18] Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
• Ps. 19:7-9 — [7] The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; [8] the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; [9] the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.
• Rom. 15:4 — [4] For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
• Acts 20:32 — [32] And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
• John 16:13-14 — [13] When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. [14] He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
• John 20:31 — [31] but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
• 1 John 2:20,27 — [20] But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. [27] But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie — just as it has taught you, abide in him.

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited Hos. 8:12 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 17 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
3. WSC Q1 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
4. WSC Q3 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WSC Q1 · WSC Q3 · HC Q1 · HC Q2 · BC 1.1 · BC 1.2 · BC 1.3 · BC 1.4 · BC 1.5 · BC 1.6 · BC 1.7