God’s Breathed Word as Final Authority

What makes a book trustworthy? You see, we live in an age where information floods our lives from countless sources. Social media posts, news articles, opinion blogs, academic papers—everyone claims to have the truth. But how do we know what to believe? How do we determine which source deserves our ultimate trust?

Here’s the thing: when it comes to matters of eternal significance, we need more than human wisdom. We need a word from God himself. And that’s exactly what we have in the Holy Scriptures. This morning, as we begin our journey together at Paris Bible Church, I want to establish the foundation upon which everything else will rest: the absolute authority and reliability of God’s written Word.

The question before us is this: Why should we trust the Bible as our final authority for faith and life? The answer lies in understanding three crucial truths about Scripture’s nature: its divine origin, its inspired process, and its divine precision.

When God Breathes Out His Word

Let’s start off with 2 Timothy 3:16-17, where the apostle Paul provides the most comprehensive statement about Scripture’s nature in the whole New Testament:

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

You see that phrase “God-breathed”? In the original Greek, it’s the word θεόπνευστος (theopneustos)—a compound word meaning literally “breathed out by God.” This isn’t describing human inspiration, like when we say a poet was “inspired” by a sunset. This is describing divine expiration—God breathing out his very words through human authors.

What’s interesting is that Paul doesn’t say Scripture is “breathed into by God,” but “breathed out by God.” The emphasis is on divine origin, not human reception. Just as God breathed into Adam the breath of life in Genesis 2:7, and just as Jesus breathed on his disciples in John 20:22, here we see God breathing out his Word through Scripture.

But here’s the point: because Scripture originates from God himself, it carries divine authority. This isn’t merely human wisdom about divine things—this is divine communication through human instruments. When you open your Bible, you’re not just reading the thoughts of Moses or David or Paul. You’re reading the very words that God breathed out through these men.

And notice what flows from this divine origin—Scripture’s practical usefulness. Paul describes four functions that cover the complete spectrum of spiritual growth:

Teaching (didaskalia)—positive instruction in truth. Scripture doesn’t just tell us what’s wrong; it shows us what’s right. It provides the doctrinal foundation for understanding God, salvation, and Christian living.

Rebuking (elegchos)—exposing error and sin. God’s Word has a way of shining light into the dark corners of our hearts, convicting us of sin and calling us to repentance.

Correcting (epanorthosis)—setting right what is wrong. Scripture doesn’t just point out our failures; it shows us the path back to righteousness.

Training in righteousness (paideia)—ongoing moral education. Like a patient teacher, God’s Word shapes our character over time, conforming us to the image of Christ.

You see, this fourfold usefulness covers everything we need for spiritual growth. And verse 17 tells us the ultimate purpose: “so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” The word “thoroughly equipped” means complete, lacking nothing. Scripture provides everything necessary for faith and practice.

At its core, this means we don’t need additional revelation beyond Scripture. We don’t need new prophecies or special insights to live the Christian life effectively. God has given us everything we need in his written Word.

Carried Along by the Spirit’s Wind

But how did this divine communication actually happen? How did God’s words come to us through human authors? Peter answers this question in 2 Peter 1:20-21:

“Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

Here’s what Peter is telling us: Scripture didn’t originate from human interpretation or human will. The phrase “carried along” (pheromenoi) is the same word used to describe a ship carried by the wind. The ship maintains its structure and characteristics, but its direction and movement are determined by an external force.

This is the beautiful doctrine of dual authorship. The human authors of Scripture retained their personalities, vocabularies, and historical contexts. When you read Paul’s letters, they sound like Paul. When you read John’s Gospel, it reflects John’s perspective. But behind and through these human authors, the Holy Spirit was guiding and directing their words.

You see, this explains why we can trust Scripture’s reliability. It’s not just human testimony about God—it’s God’s own testimony about himself, delivered through human instruments. The Spirit who knows the mind of God perfectly has communicated divine truth through human language we can understand.

This is why Peter emphasizes that “prophecy never had its origin in the human will.” The initiative for Scripture came from God, not from human decision or insight. The prophets and apostles didn’t wake up one morning and decide to write Scripture. God moved them to write exactly what he wanted preserved for his people.

What does this mean for us? It means we can approach Scripture with confidence. We’re not reading mere human opinions about spiritual matters. We’re reading the very words that God wanted us to have, delivered through the process of divine inspiration.

Every Jot and Tittle Preserved

But just how precise is this divine communication? How carefully has God preserved his Word? Jesus himself answers this question in Matthew 5:18:

“For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”

When Jesus speaks of “the smallest letter,” he’s referring to the Hebrew letter yod—the tiniest letter in the Hebrew alphabet. And “the least stroke of a pen” refers to the small marks that distinguish similar Hebrew letters. These are the details that scribes paid meticulous attention to when copying manuscripts.

Here’s the thing: Jesus is establishing a hierarchy of permanence. He’s saying that heaven and earth may pass away, but God’s Word will not. Scripture is more permanent than the physical universe itself. If every jot and tittle matters to God, then he must ensure their preservation.

This teaches us that God’s care for Scripture extends beyond original composition to ongoing preservation. The same God who breathed out his Word also watches over its transmission through history. This doesn’t mean every copy is perfect, but it means God has preserved his Word with such care that we can trust what we hold in our hands today.

You see, this level of precision matters because it affects how we approach Scripture. We can’t treat God’s Word casually, picking and choosing what we like. Every word carries divine authority. Every detail has been preserved by God’s providential care.

This is why we study Scripture carefully, paying attention to context, grammar, and original meaning. This is why we compare Scripture with Scripture, allowing clearer passages to illuminate more difficult ones. This is why we approach God’s Word with reverence and humility, recognizing that we’re handling the very words of God.

The Spirit’s Promise of All Truth

But how do we know that Scripture is complete? How do we know we have all the revelation God intended to give? Jesus provides the answer in John 16:12-13:

“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 the truth.”

Jesus spoke these words to his apostles on the night before his crucifixion. He was preparing them for their role as foundational witnesses and recipients of revelation for the church. The promise of guidance “into all the truth” provides the theological foundation for the completion of the biblical canon through apostolic ministry.

This wasn’t a promise for every believer throughout history, but specifically for the apostles who would receive and record the revelation needed for the church. And that’s exactly what happened. The apostles and their associates gave us the New Testament, completing the revelation that began in the Old Testament.

So what does this mean for us? It means Scripture is sufficient. We have “all the truth” necessary for faith and practice. We don’t need additional revelation beyond what God has already given us in his written Word.

Living Under the Authority of God’s Word

Here’s what we’ve learned this morning: Scripture deserves our ultimate trust because it originates from God himself (theopneustos), was transmitted through Spirit-guided human authors (pheromenoi), and has been preserved with divine precision down to the smallest details. This is why our church constitution declares: “We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally inspired Word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible and God-breathed.”

But understanding Scripture’s nature is only the beginning. The question is: How will this truth change the way we live?

First, approach Scripture with reverence. When you open your Bible, remember that you’re reading the very words that God breathed out for your spiritual growth. This isn’t just another book—it’s divine communication deserving our careful attention and humble submission.

Second, trust Scripture’s sufficiency. You don’t need additional revelation beyond what God has already given you. Scripture provides everything necessary for spiritual growth, moral guidance, and effective ministry. When you face difficult decisions or challenging circumstances, turn to God’s Word with confidence that it contains the wisdom you need.

Third, submit to Scripture’s authority. Because Scripture originates from God, it has the right to govern our beliefs and behavior. This means allowing God’s Word to shape our thinking rather than forcing our thinking onto God’s Word. It means obeying even when obedience is costly or countercultural.

Fourth, study Scripture carefully. Since every word matters to God, every word should matter to us. Develop the discipline of regular Bible study. Learn to observe what the text actually says, interpret it in its proper context, and apply its truths to your daily life.

Fifth, share Scripture confidently. Because God’s Word carries divine authority, we can share it with confidence. We don’t need to apologize for biblical truth or water down its claims. Scripture has the power to accomplish God’s purposes in people’s lives.

As we begin this new chapter together at Paris Bible Church, let’s commit ourselves to being people of the Book. Let’s allow God’s Word to shape our worship, guide our decisions, and transform our lives. Let’s trust that the same God who breathed out Scripture will use it to accomplish his purposes in and through us.

The foundation has been laid. Everything we believe and practice as a church flows from this fundamental truth: the Holy Scriptures are the verbally inspired, inerrant, infallible Word of God—our final authority for faith and life.