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Gordon R. Lewis and Bruce A. Demarest begin their discussion on biblical authority by surveying what the Bible claims about itself in every genre of its literature: Pentateuch, historical books, poetry/wisdom, the Prophets, the synoptic gospels, primitive Christianity, Johannine works, the Pauline corpus, and the rest of the New Testament. God sought to reveal himself in order to showcase his glory and unfold his plan and did so through divine revelation given to commissioned emissaries such as prophets, priests, and apostles. Of course, Jesus Christ himself is the chief prophet, priest, and apostle of God the Father, perfectly revealing his character to the world. When they taught, God taught. The theologians argue that any case for biblical authority must begin with the God who reveals himself chiefly in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. The authority of the Bible then is connected to Jesus’ authority. The theologians write, “Jesus Christ not only placed his imprimatur on the Old Testament, he also prepared the way for a similar preservation of his teaching to the apostles of the New Testament. Jesus, having all authority in heaven, delegated authority for ministry in history to his apostles.”[1]

The truthfulness as well as authority is not only evidenced by Christological delegation but also veracious authority, the authority of truth.  The theologians list various ways the work of the apostles bears authenticity. The truth of the Bible is empirically verifiable (1 John 1:1; 1 Cor. 15:1-11; John 20-21) and can be known through historical inspection. The written message is existentially viable, which means the message of the Bible is livable, transformative, and intellectually satisfying. Furthermore, the claims of the Bible are logically noncontradictory or faithful to the way things actually are. For the authors, the Bible meets logical, factual, and existential criteria that substantiate its claims of divine authority.[2]

The writers go on to list other evidences for the Bible’s authority in the context of discussing and defending the doctrine of inerrancy. Major lines of relevant evidence include the following: Jesus Christ’s view of Scripture, the claims of the prophets, the claims of the apostles, the dominance of the Bible’s authority within the history of the church, and the positive phenomena such as fulfilled prophecy and miracles.[3] They close their chapter highlighting how the Bible has relevance to life and ministry by listing ways it transforms its readers. While this information is descriptive, a reader might wonder if the theologians would include such information in discussions concerning biblical authority as a strand of arguments for the supernatural character and ability of the Bible.[4] The theologians move beyond the claims of Scripture and offer verficational evidences that are often absent from other works.

[1] Gordon R. Lewis and Bruce A. Demarest, Integrative Theology. (Zondervan, 1996), 149.

[2] Ibid., 150-151.

[3] Ibid., 157.

[4] Ibid., 165-169. The Bible is a book of life-transforming power, the only inerrant guide for decision-making, a dependable means of fellowship with the Living Word, truth to which the Holy Spirit witnesses, an unfailing stimulus to faith, and an indestructible weapon for victory in spiritual warfare.