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F15 reasoning: Authority and truthfulness of Scripture

Reasoning steps: Authority and truthfulness of Scripture

Verdicts: F15 · Authority and truthfulness of Scripture. Method: conventions, scoring and proximity eras. Scripture is the primary measure; fathers are weighed by era (Era I to c. 150 = 1.0, II = 0.8, III = 0.6, IV = 0.4).

F15.1: Is Scripture God’s inspired and truthful word?

Step F15.1.1: Scripture

2 Tim 3:16 (θεόπνευστος); 2 Pet 1:21 (men ‘carried along by the Holy Spirit’); John 10:35 (‘Scripture cannot be broken’); Matt 5:18.

Step F15.1.2: Patristic evidence

Clement (Era I): ’the Scriptures, which are the true utterances of the Holy Spirit’. Irenaeus: ’the Scriptures are indeed perfect, since they were spoken by the Word of God and His Spirit’. Augustine: the canonical authors ‘were completely free from error’. Sources: clement-of-rome-f15-s1 · irenaeus-f15-s1 · augustine-f15-s1.

Step F15.1.3: Weighing decision

Unanimous from Era I. Verdict: consensus.

  • Confidence: High.

Step F15.1.4: Source-proximity weighing

  • Scripture (benchmark): Scripture is God-breathed (2 Tim 3:16) and ‘cannot be broken’ (John 10:35). (Scripture confidence: high)
  • Assessment: Scripture and Era I agree; all nine confess it in their classic texts.

F15.2: Is the Old Testament Christian Scripture (against Marcion)?

Step F15.2.1: Scripture

Luke 24:27, 44 (Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms speak of Christ); Rom 15:4; 2 Tim 3:15–16 (the ‘sacred writings’ Timothy knew from childhood are God-breathed); Matt 5:17.

Step F15.2.2: Patristic evidence

Irenaeus (Era II) against Marcion: ‘one and the same householder produced both covenants, the Word of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, who spoke with both Abraham and Moses’. Sources: irenaeus-f15-s2.

Step F15.2.3: Weighing decision

Unanimous among the orthodox; Marcion’s rejection was condemned. Verdict: consensus.

  • Confidence: High.

Step F15.2.4: Source-proximity weighing

  • Scripture (benchmark): Jesus and Paul treat the Old Testament as Scripture about Christ (Luke 24:27; 2 Tim 3:15–16). (Scripture confidence: high)
  • Assessment: Scripture and Era II agree; all nine receive both Testaments.

Post-750 development by tradition

Catholic

Confesses Scripture as God’s word; see S07 for its relation to tradition.

  • F15.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Trent IV and Vatican I (Dei Filius 2): the books ‘have God for their author’.
  • F15.2 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Trent IV (both Testaments, ‘one God … author of both’).

Orthodox

Confesses Scripture as God’s word; see S07 for its relation to tradition.

  • F15.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Dositheus 2: the Scriptures are ‘God-taught’, to be believed ’not otherwise than as the Catholic Church has interpreted’ (verified).
  • F15.2 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Dositheus 2 and its canon (verified wording of 2).

Oriental Orthodox

Confesses Scripture as God’s word; see S07 for its relation to tradition.

  • F15.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Armenian creed: the Spirit ‘spoke in the law and the prophets and the Gospel’ (verified).
  • F15.2 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Armenian canon.

Lutheran

Confesses Scripture as God’s word; see S07 for its relation to tradition.

  • F15.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): FC Epitome, Rule and Norm: ’the only rule and norm’.
  • F15.2 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): FC Epitome, Rule and Norm: ‘prophetic and apostolic Scriptures’.

Anglican

Confesses Scripture as God’s word; see S07 for its relation to tradition.

  • F15.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Art. VI: ‘Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation’.
  • F15.2 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Art. VII: ‘The Old Testament is not contrary to the New’.

Presbyterian

Confesses Scripture as God’s word; see S07 for its relation to tradition.

  • F15.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): WCF I.4: Scripture’s authority depends ‘wholly upon God (who is truth itself) the author thereof’.
  • F15.2 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): WCF I.2.

Reformed Baptist

Confesses Scripture as God’s word; see S07 for its relation to tradition.

  • F15.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): 1689 1.1: ’the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule’.
  • F15.2 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): 1689 1.2.

General Baptist

Confesses Scripture as God’s word; see S07 for its relation to tradition.

  • F15.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Orthodox Creed 37: Scripture’s authority ‘only upon the Authority of God’ (OCR-verified).
  • F15.2 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Orthodox Creed 37 (verified).

Anabaptist

Confesses Scripture as God’s word; see S07 for its relation to tradition.

  • F15.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Dordrecht V: the New Testament as Christ’s testament, with the OT (verified heading).
  • F15.2 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Dordrecht V (verified heading); Menno cites both Testaments.