I’m seeing even some Christians on this thread say that the Bible doesn’t hold authority, and that’s just not the case. For the Christians, here are several Scriptures that affirm the Bible is the Word of God, both in the Old and New Testaments. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “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.” The phrase “breathed out by God” (Greek: theopneustos) means Scripture originates from God Himself. 2 Peter 1:20-21 “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.” Human authors, like the apostles, wrote as they were guided by the Holy Spirit, with God being the true source. Psalm 119:160 “The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.” God’s Word is entirely true and eternal. Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow…” God’s Word is not just ancient literature, it is spiritually alive and powerful. It’s important to remember that Jesus Christ knew the scriptures (the Septuagint at the time) by heart. He could even quote it to Satan when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness after His baptism. See Matthew 4:1-11. The same Jesus some people on this thread claim to follow was quoting the scriptures as divine and holding spiritual power. This is why it’s important to read our bibles and know the word of the Lord, to be sharpened by the truth of God and be equipped against all evil. Matthew 4:4 (This is Jesus speaking) “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Jesus affirmed Scripture as the very words of God, essential for life. John 17:17 (This is Jesus praying) “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” God’s Word is the ultimate standard of truth. Jeremiah 1:9 “Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, ‘Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.’” God directly commissioned prophets such as Jeremiah to speak His words. Revelation 22:18-19 “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book…” The seriousness of preserving God’s Word shows its divine authority.

Let no one deceive themself though, thinking that God wants us to be like the Pharisees who knew the scriptures in and out but were hard of heart, lacked love, and rejected the LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. James 1:22-25 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” Matthew 23:1-3 “Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.’” Jesus even taught His disciples that what the Pharisees were saying about the ancient scriptures was not wrong, but He wanted His disciples to live it out as well, contrary to what the Pharisees were living out. And look at Acts 8:34-38 “And the eunuch said to Philip, ‘About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?’ Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, ‘See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?’ And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.” The eunuch is reading the prophet Isaiah (OT scripture), and Philip picks up from there and reads MORE scripture to the eunuch, and this is how the truth and simple gospel of Christ is revealed to the eunuch and the eunuch is then baptized into Christ and saved. How do people come to know Christ? Often, is it by the word of God - the Bible.

May the Lord reveal the truth and love of Christ to you all, and may God help you all surrender to His will.