The Bible records different kinds of revelations from God. It was given by dreams, visions, direct writing on the tablets of stone, messages through prophets, the words of Jesus, the person of Jesus, and revelations that God inspired individuals to write. The Bible demonstrates that it is the Word of God. It is both the revealed and inspired Word of God.

Not only does the Bible reveal the spoken word of God, it identifies Jesus Christ as the “Living Word of God.”

• John 1:1 NIV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
• John 1:14 NIV The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and only, Who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
• 1 John 1:1 NIV That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.

The “Word of God” is the words from God’s mouth.

• Genesis 1:3 NIV And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
• Psalm 33:6 NIV By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.

The “Word of God”was spoken from the mouth of men.

• Jeremiah 1:9 NIV Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “Now, I have put my words in your mouth.
• Jeremiah 1:7 NIV But the Lord said …You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.
• Exodus 4:12 NIV Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

The “Word of God” was also given to us in written form.

• Exodus 31:18 NIV When the Lord finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger
• Exodus 32:16 NIVThe tablets were the work of God; the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.
• 1 Corinthians 14:37 NIV …what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.

Many books were written that record the history of mankind and the world.

The Bible is unique in that it not only records history, it reveals God and His dealings with man. The absolute authority of the Bible over our lives is based on the fact it does not merely contain the Word of God, but that it is the Word of God in its sum and in its parts. 

Inspiration of the Bible

• 2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
• 2 Timothy 3:16 NIV84 All Scripture is God-breathed …

The first five books of the Bible — The Pentateuch, or the Books of the Law — were written around 1400 B.C. The Revelation was written between 70 to 95 A.D. From Genesis to Revelation involves around 1,500 years. Many ancient books were written during that time span. Not every ancient book is worthy of a place in the Bible. 

The sixty-six books were written by more than 40 authors.

They had various educational and cultural backgrounds.

• Joshua was a general.
• Daniel was a prime minister.
• Nehemiah was a court servant to a king.
• Amos was a shepherd.
• Luke was a physician.
• Paul was a rabbi.
• Peter and John were fishermen.

The books were written in various cultures.

• David wrote while he was a fugitive and a king.
• Jeremiah wrote from a dungeon.
• Ezekiel was in Babylon.
• Paul wrote from a Roman prison.
• John was on the Isle of Patmos.

The books were written in the continents of Africa, Asia, and Europe.

What is the Canon of the Bible?

The biblical cannon is the collection of books that comprise the scriptures. A book entitled to a place in Scripture is CANONICAL and has met the standard or rule as the inspired Word of God. The word “canon” comes from ancient words meaning “measuring stick, rod, ruler, staff” and is used to describe the sixty-six books of the Bible. It designates the books that meet the requirements of being acknowledged as divinely inspired.

Canonicity is determined by God

Many books outside of the Bible contain accurate historical information. Canonicity is determined or fixed once and for all by the authority and inspiration of God. 

The question is not if a book received its divine authority, but how did men recognize that authority.

The canon of Scripture is recognized by men of God, but inspiration determines canonicity. A book is authoritative and powerful because God breathed it (inspired) and made it so.  The canon of scriptures was not determined by men but by God. 

• Proverbs 30:5-6 NIV Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.
• Revelation 22:18 NIV I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.
• Luke 24:27 NIV And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.
• Luke 24:44 NIV He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
• 2 Peter 1:21 NIV For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

The 39 books of the Old Testament canon of Scripture are a prophetic statement from God. In the Greek, the word “prophet” means “one who speaks in place of another.” A prophet is one who spoke for God—not only “fore-telling” but “speaking as God inspired him.” They were the mouthpiece of God. The Old Testament was written by men of God who declared and wrote the truths of God.

The Old Testament Cannon

The Old Testament was given by Divine inspiration.

• Exodus 32:16 NIV The tablets were the work of God; the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.
• Leviticus 1:1 NIV The Lord called to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting. He said,
• Numbers 36:13 NIV These are the commands and regulations the Lord gave through Moses…
• Deuteronomy 4:2 NIV Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.
• Joshua 24:26 NIV And Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God.

The inspiration of the Old Testament was clearly declared. The Ten Commandments were the earliest collection of God’s written words. The collection of the authoritative words of God grew throughout the History of Israel until the year 520 B.C.

Who are the writers of the Old Testament?

According to Jewish tradition, the Old Testament canon of scripture was ascribed to Ezra and the men of the great synagogue. The members of the Great Synagogue included Zerubbabel, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Mordecai, and Simon the Just. Ezra was “a scribe of the words of the commandments of the Lord, and of His statutes to Israel,” (Ezra 7: 11). He “prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments,” (Ezra 7: 10).They did not make the Scriptures the Word of God, but recognized that the words were the Inspired Words of God and arranged them in their present form. Jesus, His disciples, the Jewish leaders, and the Jewish people fully accepted that the Old Testament canon ended after the time of Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.

The thirty-nine Books in our Old Testament

• 5 Books of the Law — Genesis — Deuteronomy
• 12 Books of History — Joshua — Esther
• 5 Books of Poetry — Job — Song of Solomon
• 5 Major Prophets — Isaiah — Daniel
• 12 Minor Prophets — Hosea — Malachi

Jesus and New Testament Affirm the Old Testament Canon

Luke 24:44 NIV He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”

Jesus Christ is the key to the inspiration and canonization of the Scriptures. He confirmed the inspiration of the Hebrew canon of the Old Testament. The actions and testimony of Jesus and the New Testament fulfill all that was promised in the Law, Prophets, and Writings of the Old Testament. Jesus quoted from the Old Testament sixty-four (64) times. Several books were in existence in Jesus’ time that were not included in the Old Testament canon. He never quoted from any of the books that were not included in the canon. The Bible is complete, trustworthy, and sufficient to answer anything we need to know for eternal salvation or practical wisdom concerning our relationships, morality, character, or conduct.

Jesus confirmed the truth that every word of the Scriptures is given by God.

Jesus said: Matthew 5:18 NKJV For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.

His affirmation referenced the smallest letter “jot,” (Hebrew – yod) and “tittle” the smallest punctuation point. There is no room left for debate.

The New Testament teaches the comprehensive verbal inspiration of the Bible.

2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

The Old Testament is Christ-centered. 

Luke 24:27 NIV And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.

The 27 Books Of The New Testament Canon

There is ample evidence to confirm the books of the New Testament are inspired books. The New Testament was written during a period of a half-century by eight or nine different writers. There are thousands of surviving manuscripts of the New Testament from the first few centuries after Jesus Christ.

There are a large number of rejected books 

During the first few centuries after Christ, numerous books were written that were not based on fact, but departed from the beliefs and standards of the Bible and the Gospel. They presented heresies and exaggerated false religious traditions. Their deviant doctrines presented ideas that were contrary to God’s nature and character and denied God as the Creator. Some proposed that Christ did not have a human body and His suffering and death was not real. They practiced self-discipline and abstinence as a pursuit of religious and spiritual goals. Their writings fell short of the quality of the inspired Word of God and cannot be compared with the New Testament canon of Scriptures. They were revered by some cults and some of the Orthodox Church Fathers. By the ninth (9^th ) century, more than 280 were listed. Some of these writings are reported to be the “lost gospels.”

2 Corinthians 11:4 NIV84 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.

The New Testament is inspired by God, the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 1:1-2 NIV In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ²but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed Heir of all things, and through Whom He made the universe.

The valid test of the inspiration of a writer in the New Testament was their relationship with the Lord Jesus. Jesus is the central person and message of the gospel. Jesus selected men divinely qualified to teach and record without error the facts and doctrines of His gospel.

Who Wrote the New Testament?

The New Testament books were written by an Apostle or their companion (secretarial assistant). Mark was the companion and secretary of Peter, and Luke was the companion of Paul. Luke wrote the third gospel and was a companion of Paul during his journeys as Luke records in Acts. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would reveal what they could not understand while He was with them.As a result of the Holy Spirit’s work, the apostles spoke and wrote with divine authority.

• John 14:25-26 NIV  All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
• John 16:12-15 NIV I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. 
• Galatians 1:11-12 NIV I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
• 1 Corinthians 2:9-13 NKJV But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

All 27 books of New Testament had Apostolic Authority.

The 27 books of the New Testament were treasured by the churches who exchanged these letters, copied them, and sent them to other churches. The canon, or rule, guiding them was simply: “A New Testament book must be written by an apostle or an amanuensis (companion) of an apostle.”

They named the 27 books of the New Testament. 

• 4   –  Gospels (Matthew – John)
• 1   –  Book of History (Acts)
• 7   –  Major Epistles (Romans-Colossians)
• 14 –  Minor Epistles (1Thessalonians – Titus)
• 1   –  Book of Prophecy (Revelation)

The Bible is the inspired Word of God, written by men of God, preserved by the keeping power of the Holy Spirit and has been accepted through the ages by the people of God. 

We have the entire Word of God

Romans 10:17 NKJV So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.