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PAUL.--"All scripture is given by inspiration of God" (II Tim. 3: 16).
Such is the testimony of Paul before his martyrdom for Christ's sake. The truth
especially entrusted to him as "The Lord's prisoner" (II Tim. 1: 8, 11, 12, 13), to be
passed on to "faithful men who shall be able to teach others also" (II Tim. 2: 2), and the
testimony to the Scriptures as a whole, are all associated with Paul's own appointment
and trust (II Tim. 3: 14).
These inspired Scriptures are equally fitted both to make a child "wise unto salvation"
and to provide complete equipment for the service of the man of God (II Tim. 3: 15, 17).
In view of that solemn day when the Lord shall judge the quick and the dead at His
appearing and kingdom, Paul exhorts Timothy to "Preach the Word" (II Tim. 4: 2), and
assumes that this Word is both "Truth" and "Sound doctrine", the preaching of which
constitutes the "Work of an evangelist" (II Tim. 4: 3, 4, 5). For his own part testimony
to the veracity of the Holy Scriptures formed no small portion of the "faith" which he had
so faithfully "kept" (II Tim. 4: 7). Finally, if Paul was mistaken in his attitude to the
Scriptures, how can the "Righteous Judge" be expected to approve of such mistaken zeal
"in that day"?
CHRIST.--"I have given unto them the words which Thou gavest Me . . . . . I have
given them Thy Word . . . . . Thy Word is truth" (John 17: 8, 14, 17).
The Saviour, in full view of the fact that His hour had come, with emphasis upon the
knowledge of the "true God", the finishing of His work, and His investment with the
glory which He had before the world was, brings into prominence both "The Words" and
"The Word" which He had received and passed on, declaring that this Word was "Truth".
Here then we have a threefold witness that cannot be set aside without destroying the
whole Christian fabric. But the endorsement of the Holy Scriptures by Peter, Paul and
the Lord is not confined to their last testimonies, for it forms the very warp and woof of
their whole witness. In illustration of this, and as a supplement to the threefold testimony
to which we have referred, we append the headings of a discourse upon the Saviour's
endorsement of Holy Scripture.
(1)
THE O.T. CANON . . .
"THE LAW OF MOSES--
THE PROPHETS--
THE PSALMS."
(2) SPECIFIC AUTHORS . . .
MOSES (John 5: 46, 47).
DAVID (Matt. 22: 41-46).
ISAIAH (Luke 4: 16-19).
JONAH (Matt. 12: 40, 41).
DANIEL (Matt. 24: 15).