The Uniqueness of Scripture (2) — The New Testament

In the previous article we considered the Old Testament’s view of itself. We saw that from within the OT there is a record of authoritative, written documentation, which had a unique place in the life of God’s covenant people. This is what became the Old Covenant Scriptures.

This is illustrated most helpfully in the latter stages of Israel’s history before Christ’s coming, as recorded in Ezra-Nehemiah. Here, Jeremiah’s prophecy about a return to the land is referenced at the very outset. The return is a mini exodus. Their priority is worship and the temple. Everything is done in accordance with the regulations set out by Moses and David. The Psalms are sung – “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever” (Psalm 106:1, 107:1, 118:1, 136:1,1 Chronicles 16:34, 2 Chronicles 5:13). The temple is built in a way that echoes the building of the temple under Solomon.

In addition, when the people are discouraged, God sends them prophets, Haggai and Zechariah. We have their prophecies recorded in Scripture.

In Nehemiah 8, after the walls have been built, the people gather to hear the Book of the Law read by Ezra. Not only is it read, but others are present to give the sense of the book so that all understand. As a result of the reading, the people celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles in obedience to it. Strikingly, in Nehemiah 9, the people confess their sin and rehearse God’s dealings with them throughout their history. In chapter 10 they recommit themselves to the Lord, resolving to follow God’s law given through Moses.

But Ezra-Nehemiah shows that there is more to come. Despite some having returned to the land, the people still consider themselves in exile (Nehemiah 9:36). There is no glory cloud filling the temple. This is an anticipation of the exodus to come, but it isn’t the exodus to come.

Jesus Christ: The Revelation of God

This, of course, awaits the coming of Christ. All of the OT Scriptures point to him and speak of him. He is the one who will deliver his people in the great exodus through his death and resurrection. He is the glory of God who comes to his temple.

In the last article I noted that the revelation of God is wider than Scripture. This is truest when we consider Jesus Christ himself. He is the image of the invisible God, the Eternal Word of God, the radiance of the Father’s glory. B.B. Warfield (1851-1921) puts it like this: “He does not so much make a revelation of God as Himself is the revelation of God; He does not merely disclose God’s purpose of redemption, He is unto us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.”

And Christ too is the author of Scripture. It was the Spirit of Christ who was at work in the prophets revealing to them the things concerning himself (1 Pet 1:10-11). As we shall see in a moment, Christ is also the author of the New Testament Scriptures.

But how have I come to know these things? Through the Scriptures! And that is the point. My knowledge of Christ comes from the Scriptures. It, and it alone, is the authoritative voice of Christ for the church on earth today.

Sola scriptura does not deny that God’s revelation is wider than Scripture – far from it. What it is saying, is that the church, before Christ returns, lives by faith and not by sight. This means that the Scriptures are our sole authority for faith and practice. Jesus Christ rules from heaven on earth by the sceptre of his word, the Scriptures. We hear the voice of the risen Christ as he speaks to us in the Scriptures. That is the way Jesus exercises his headship.

And this is no static voice in the past. He speaks today. When the author to the Hebrews quotes Scripture (e.g. Psalm 95), he introduces it as “the Holy Spirit says.” His word is living and active. The risen Lord Jesus speaks from heaven by the Spirit through the Scriptures read, preached and meditated on.

The New Testament

I have written all of this to avoid misunderstanding and caricature. We are now in a position to pick up where we left off with regard to Scripture’s view of itself in relation to the New Testament.

We ended the last article by saying that it needed to be shown that (1) the New Testament understood itself in continuity with the OT Scriptures and (2) on a par with them. The first point is not difficult since it is everywhere in the New Testament. There is a veritable cottage industry of publications showing the fulfilment of the OT in the New Testament writings.

The second point is more subtle.  Does the New Testament recognise itself as Scripture on a par with the OT? I will make a number of observations that together present a picture which demonstrates this point.

We Should Expect New Testament Scriptures

First, if Jesus is the Christ, the climax of God’s revelation, we should expect writings that record his deeds and words. If God’s pattern was to codify in writing the history of redemption and God’s progressive covenant dealings with his people throughout the centuries, how much more when the climax of that redemption and goal of God’s covenant is reached?

This brings me to making a vital point: the Scriptures are covenantal and redemptive-historical and, therefore, commensurate with God’s redemption and covenant. Jesus accomplishes salvation once and for all and inaugurates the New Covenant, the fulfilment of God’s covenant promises. There should be every expectation that there will be Scriptures to accompany this consummative point of the history of redemption.

Second, we see this very thing anticipated in the upper room discourse with Jesus and his disciples. He will send them out to be his authorised representatives who will testify of Christ, being equipped by the promised Holy Spirit. Consider these verses from John 13-17:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” (13:20)

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (14:26)

“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.” (15:26-27)

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” (16:30)

Chapter 17 records Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer and falls into three clear sections. Jesus prays first for himself (vv1-5). Then he prays for his disciples (vv6-19). Finally, he prays for those who will believe in Christ through the disciples’ word (vv20-26).

Note the distinction between the apostles and those who believe through their word. When we take this distinction, together with the words quoted above, we should expect Scriptures that come through the apostles. This is especially so when we consider that their witness is accompanied by Christ’s presence to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). How else is this to be fulfilled but by apostolic Scriptures preserved until the return of Christ?

The Apostles

Third, Paul self-consciously recognises his place in redemptive history and, in particular, his place in the revelation of God’s purposes. He, along with the other apostles, has the unique task of unfolding the mystery of God that was hidden in ages past - Ephesians 3:4-5:

“When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.”

The apostles and prophets (yes, there were prophets in the New Covenant era) were given a unique revelation from Christ of the climactic purposes of God. This mystery is Christ himself in all his glory (Col 2:2), with a particular focus in Ephesians on the fact that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and partakers of the promises made long ago. Here is continuity with the covenant promises in the past, but progress in the widening ingathering of God’s people. What was promised to Abraham and his seed belongs to the Gentiles. They are grafted into the olive tree (Rom 11). Paul and the other Apostles had the unique role of unfolding the mystery at this decisive juncture in the history of the world. This is how we are to understand their writings.

Note that Paul refers to “the apostles and prophets”. This is significant because just a few verses earlier he refers to them as the foundation of the church, Christ being the chief cornerstone (Eph 2:20). In their revelatory capacity they play a foundational role. No wonder that in the great vision of revelation of the perfected city of God the names of the apostles are found on its foundations (Rev 21:14).

It is true that some of the New Testament scriptures are not written by the apostles (most notably Luke-Acts), but they all emerged from the general apostolic circle. The apostles, in their unique witness bearing to Christ, are part of the final foundation of Christ’s church, never to be re-laid.

Other Clues

With this framework in place, we should expect clues throughout the New Testament that testify to its own status as Scripture. Notice, I say, clues. We are not needing, I would suggest, repeated billboard-like statements saying, “What is written here is Scripture!” That would be suspicious. According to Paul, Scripture is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16). The character of these writings themselves testifies to their status as scripture.

What clues do we have? Here are some:

• The OT Scriptures in John are introduced as “it is written”. It is striking, therefore, that John includes in his purpose statement for his gospel account the words, “these things are written…”. John is putting his writing on a par with the OT Scriptures.

• Disobedience to Paul’s teaching written in his letters can lead to excommunication (2 Thessalonians 3:14). This puts it on a par with Old Covenant law, rejection of which would lead to being cut off from God’s people.

• God has given his Spirit to the apostles to impart the words taught by the Spirit to others (1 Corinthians 2:11-13).

• Paul writes the commands of the Lord, something spiritual persons should recognise (1 Corinthians 14:37).

• The Book of Revelation is to be read aloud with the expectation of a blessing (Revelation 1:3). Addition or subtraction leads to covenant cursing (Revelation 22:18-19).

• 1 Timothy 5:18 quotes Deuteronomy 25:4 and Luke 10:7 in the same breath, referring to them as Scripture.

• Peter recognises Paul’s writings as Scripture (2 Peter 3:16).

• Paul’s letters are to be read in church (Colossians 4:16), just as the OT scriptures would be read.

A Completed Canon

Is the canon complete? Yes. Why? Because there are no more apostles and no more prophets. The foundation is laid. We have “the faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). The Spirit has guided his apostles into all the truth for this present age.

In addition, the decisive events of redemptive history have taken place in the incarnation, life, death, resurrection, ascension and heavenly session of Christ, accompanied with the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost through Christ. The New Covenant, a covenant which will never be superseded, has been inaugurated. The end of the ages has come (1 Cor 10:11).

There is only one more day on God’s calendar – Christ’s return. Then we will not need the Bible, for we shall see Christ face to face. But until that time, the Scriptures are God’s covenant, canonical word to his church, the sole authority for faith and practice. Of this the Apostle Peter wrote (2 Pet 1:19-21):

“And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 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.”

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