We have traced the history of special revelation from the time of Adam until its consummation in Christ Jesus. The place of the apostles in God's final word has been explained. What then is the implication of all this for us who today wish to hear from God?

     "Sola Scriptura" was a Latin phrase coined during the reformation which means "scripture alone." The phrase was intended to assert that scripture alone is the source of revelation for post-apostolic Christians. We believe that a true understanding of the history of special revelation leads one to this belief. To say that Christ is God's final word is to say "the Bible is our only rule of faith and practice."

     In explaining the truth of "Sola Scripture," there are several issues we should address:

      1. "Sola Scriptura" is an assertion of the sufficiency of the Bible as a spiritual guide. As a revelation it needs no additions. This is often stated in scripture:

"And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness;
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."
II Timothy 3:15-17

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
Psalm 119:105

     2. "Sola Scriptura" is an assertion of the finality of scripture. This is logically connected to the sufficiency of the Bible. That which is sufficient needs no additions. The old covenant promised a new covenant. Christ in bringing this new covenant, brought God's final word:

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ,
John 1:17

     There is no newer covenant beyond Christ. Christian's possessed of a complete Bible expect and need no other word from God. To add to the apostolic record is to add to the revelations God gave through his Son. It is to deny the fullness and finality of Jesus the "Word."

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      Connected to the finality of the scriptures is the fact that the Bible has two major divisions. Remembering that the history of special revelation has two major divisions this is just as we would expect. Both Christ and the orthodox Jews accepted the first 39 books of scripture as an inspired record of the first covenant.¹ It comes then as no surprise that with the coming of Christ and a new covenant a new body of scripture would emerge. Such was recognized to be the case. In apostolic times, the New Testament books as they were produced were accorded equal authority with the old covenant scripture.² Returning now to the finality of the Bible we make our point: Just as the history of special revelation has two divisions, so we expect scripture in its complete and final state to likewise have two major divisions. Our two-part Bible is complete and final.

     At the risk of being repetitious, let us close this section of our study by reviewing the facts that lead us to assert the truth of "Sola Scriptura." It is impossible to over-estimate the importance of this issue. Here then is a brief survey reviewing our line of thought:

     1. The Old Testament was received by Jesus Christ as God's word and as the inspired record of special revelation up through the ministry of Malachi.

     2. Jesus Christ in his coming was God's final word; the fullness of what God had to say.

     3. Christ's apostles were witnesses and expositors of God's final word.

     4. These men were promised infallibility of memory concerning Christ, as well as fullness of understanding. They were guided into all truth.

     5. Following the pattern of Old Covenant prophets they produced a body of scripture containing the fullness of the revelations received.

     6. The apostles in producing the New Testament gave in their lifetime a record of God's final word. This is why Jude 3 speaks of the faith or body of doctrine as "once delivered."
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     ¹ The content of the Jewish Canon was exactly that of our Old Testament and never included the Apocrypha. Our Lord never quoted the Apocrypha but constantly received and used the Jewish Canon as authoritative.
     ²The Apostle Paul quotes the writings of both Moses and Luke as of equal authority (I Timothy 5:18). Peter recognized Paul's epistles as "scripture" (II Peter 3:15-16).

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     7. The apostles being dead and Christ's promises being true, God's word is now complete. The New Testament contains the "apostles' doctrine," the "faith once delivered to the saints," the "all truth," and the "all things" brought to remembrance.

     8. Any attempt to add to the New Testament is an attempt to go beyond Christ as God's final word.

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Chapter 4
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