p. 8 | The Holy Scriptures

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · May 16, 1911

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 38, No. 19.

The Holy Scriptures

1. By what terms does Jesus designate the Old Testament Scriptures?

The Law of Moses, and the Prophets, and the Psalms. Luke 24: 44. See also verse 27.

2. How does Paul, writing to the young Jew Timothy, refer to them?

From a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2 Tim. 3: 15.

NOTE.—The Holy Scriptures, or Holy Writings, of the Jews consisted of the Old Testament books that we have to-day. They divided them into the Law, the Prophets, and the Hagiographa (Holy Writings), sometimes called the Psalms, because the Psalms is the first book in the last division. The Law includes the first five books of the Bible; the Prophets,—Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Hosea to Malachi inclusive; the Holy Writings,—Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, 1 and 2 Chronicles. These, as the above scriptures and many others clearly show, were approved and endorsed by our Lord and His apostles.

3. What promise did Jesus give the disciples as to their teaching?

The Holy Spirit . . . shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you. John 14: 26; 16: 13-15.

4. What does Paul say of the apostolic writings?

Which things also we speak, not in words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the SPIRIT TEACHETH. 1 Cor. 2: 13. See Eph. 3: 5, where prophets and apostles are classed together.

5. How does the apostle Peter class the writings of Paul?

Even as our beloved brother Paul . . . wrote unto you; as also in ALL HIS EPISTLES, speaking in them of these things; wherein are some things hard to be understood, which the ignorant and unsteadfast wrest, as they do also THE OTHER SCRIPTURES, unto their own destruction. 2 Peter 3: 15, 16.

NOTE.—In this text the apostle Peter classes the writings of the apostle Paul among the "other Scriptures," the Old Testament Scriptures. And the words of the apostle Paul place the New Testament writings with the Holy Scriptures.

6. What is said of the inspiration of the Scriptures?

All Scripture is given by INSPIRATION OF GOD, and is profitable. 2 Tim. 3: 16.

NOTE.—A more literal rendering would be, "All Scripture is God-breathed." Whether we take "all Scripture" as in the Common Version, or "every Scripture inspired of God," as in the Revisions, we are at no loss, if we regard the context, as to the meaning of the term. The apostle refers to the Holy Scriptures which Timothy the Jew had known from a child, the Old Testament Scriptures. See the previous verse. Note also that it is not the writers which are inspired, or God-breathed, but the Scriptures, the writings.

7. What does another say as to how these Scriptures came to us?

Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Peter 1: 21.

Concerning which salvation the prophets sought and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you; searching what time or what manner of time THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST WHICH WAS IN THEM did point unto, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that should follow them. 1 Peter 1: 10, 11.

NOTE.—This last scripture shows clearly that it was the Spirit of Christ as well as the Father which inspired the Word. Therefore He is called the Word, the One through whom the Father gave all things. John 1: 1-3; 1 Cor. 8: 6. The whole Bible is therefore "the Word of Christ" which ought to "dwell richly" in the souls of His children. See also 2 Sam. 23:2; Acts 1:16; Heb. 3:7; John 10:35; Matt. 8:17; Isa. 1:10, etc., etc.

NOTE.—It is everywhere the Word of Jehovah, the Word of the Lord, the Holy Spirit. The man is God's willing instrument. God is the Master. While the words are the words of Moses, of David, of Jeremiah, of Ezekiel, of Hosea, of Paul, of James, of Peter, they are also the words of God. The words, the style, bear the impress of the character of the man through whom God spoke; nevertheless they are the words of God. It is as tho a musician, wishing to affect a great mass of people, should play on various instruments, such as piano, organ, harp, guitar, cornet, drum, fife, bagpipe, etc. Some souls would be affected by the harsher instrument who would not be touched at all by the softer, more perfect one. The music would bear the stamp of the instrument, but it would also reveal that a master was producing the best music of which the various instruments were capable. So God has used learned and ignorant men, great men and small men. The work has different standards of excellence; but it is always the best which can be produced from the men God has used. By using men of all kinds of temperaments and all walks of life, He reaches men of all classes.

8. What is said of the sufficiency of the Scriptures?

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, THOROLY FURNISHED unto all good works. 2 Tim. 3: 16, 17.

9. What is said of its might?

For the WORD OF GOD IS QUICK, AND POWERFUL, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Heb. 4: 12.