Week 1: Knowing God: His Word is Absolute Authority
“These two God has married and will never part: dust on the Bible and drought in the heart.” The Foundation of All Theology Every serious study of theology must begin with one foundational question: How does God speak? The Christian answer is clear — God has spoken through His Word. If Scripture is not authoritative, […]
“These two God has married and will never part: dust on the Bible and drought in the heart.”
The Foundation of All Theology
Every serious study of theology must begin with one foundational question: How does God speak? The Christian answer is clear — God has spoken through His Word.
If Scripture is not authoritative, theology becomes speculation. If the Bible is merely human opinion, truth becomes relative. But if Scripture is the Word of God, then it stands above culture, tradition, and personal experience.
The Bible is not one authority among many. It is the authority by which all others are measured.
Born Again Through the Living Word
1 Peter 1:23–25 (ESV)
“Since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for ‘All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.’ And this word is the good news that was preached to you.”
Peter teaches that the new birth itself comes through the Word of God. Salvation is not sustained by emotion, experience, or tradition — it is anchored in something eternal.
Human life fades. Cultures change. Empires rise and fall. But the Word of the Lord remains forever.
What Does the Bible Say About Itself?
The Bible does not present itself as inspirational literature or religious philosophy. It consistently declares itself to be the very Word of God.
Throughout Scripture — thousands of times across the Old and New Testaments — the Bible speaks with divine authority, often using phrases such as “Thus says the Lord.”
This claim is stated most clearly in one of the most important doctrinal passages in Scripture.
2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV)
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
Scripture is described as “breathed out by God.” This does not mean God dictated mechanically, but that He sovereignly guided human authors so that what they wrote was exactly what He intended. The words are truly theirs — and fully His.
The Word of God and the Son of God
The Bible is inseparable from Jesus Christ. They are not identical, but they cannot be separated.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1, ESV)
“He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.” (Revelation 19:13, ESV)
Jesus is the living Word. Scripture is the written Word. To diminish one is to misunderstand the other. We cannot claim devotion to Christ while neglecting His Word.
The Bible’s Divine Origin
2 Peter 1:20–21 (ESV)
“Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
Scripture did not originate in human imagination. God used real people, real personalities, and real historical circumstances — yet the final product was exactly what He intended.
Evidence for the Trustworthiness of Scripture
1. Fulfilled Prophecy
The Bible contains hundreds of fulfilled prophecies, many of them concerning Jesus Christ. Over 300 Old Testament prophecies point to His lineage, birth, ministry, death, and resurrection.
2. Historical and Archaeological Accuracy
Discoveries such as the Dead Sea Scrolls have confirmed the accuracy of the Old Testament text. Archaeology has repeatedly verified people, places, and events recorded in Scripture.
3. Unity and Consistency
The Bible consists of 66 books written by approximately 40 authors over 1,500 years — yet it presents one unified message of God’s redemptive plan.
4. Transformed Lives
Countless lives have been changed by the power of Scripture. The Word of God convicts, heals, restores, and transforms.
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17, ESV)
5. Scientific Accuracy and Foreknowledge
While not a science textbook, Scripture speaks accurately about the natural world:
- The earth suspended in space (Job 26:7)
- The water cycle (Ecclesiastes 1:7)
- The vast number of stars (Jeremiah 33:22)
- The earth described as a “circle” (Isaiah 40:22)
Memory Aid: F.A.C.T.S.
- F — Fulfilled Prophecy
- A — Archaeological Evidence
- C — Consistency and Unity
- T — Transformative Power
- S — Scientific Foreknowledge
Discussion Questions
- What does it mean that Scripture is “breathed out by God”?
- Why is belief in biblical inspiration essential to Christian faith?
- How has Scripture been profitable in your life?
- What role does the Bible play in equipping believers for good works?
- Why is the Bible the only source of absolute truth?
Additional Scripture Reading
Reflection and Application
Consider how you approach God’s Word. Is it shaping your thinking, correcting your course, and training your heart? Scripture is not merely to be read — it is to be obeyed.
In a world of shifting opinions and competing truths, God’s Word stands as the final authority.
Homework
For next week’s study on the nature of God, find Scriptures that reveal God’s character or attributes. Be prepared to share at least one verse with the group.
