A body of divinity by Thomas Watson (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read 2. The Scriptures.
To discuss the question Watson answers several questions of his own:
(i) How does it appear that the Scriptures have a divine authority stamped upon them?;
(ii) Are all the books in the Bible of the same divine authority?;
(iii) Why are the Scriptures called canonical?;
(iv) Are the Scriptures a complete rule?;
(v) What is the main scope and end of Scripture?;
(vi) Who should have the power of interpreting Scripture?.
Then Watson gives us some uses of the doctrine. If all Scripture is of divine inspiration then:
(i) see the wonderful goodness of God, who, besides the light of nature, has committed to us the sacred Scriptures;
(ii) it reproves the papists, Antinomians, enthusiasts, slighters of Scripture, abusers of Scripture;
(iii) be exhorted to study, prize, believe, love, conform, contend, be thankful for and adore the Scripture.
I appreciated the encouragement to be thankful for the Scriptures: 'What a mercy is it that God has not only acquainted us what his will is, but that he has made it known by writing! In the old times God revealed his mind by visions, but the Word written is a surer way of knowing God’s mind. 2 Pet 1:18. ‘This voice which came from heaven we heard, we have also a more sure word of prophecy.’ The devil is God’s ape, and he can transform himself into an angel of light; he can deceive with false revelations; as I have heard of one who had, as he thought, a revelation from God to sacrifice his child, as Abraham had; whereupon, following this impulse of the devil, he killed his child. Thus Satan deceives people with delusion, instead of divine revelations; therefore we are to be thankful to God for revealing his mind to us by writing. We are not left in doubtful suspense that we should not know what to believe, but we have an infallible rule to go by. The Scripture is our pole-star to direct us to heaven, it shows us every step we are to take; when we go wrong, it instructs us; when we go right, it comforts us; and it is matter of thankfulness, that the Scriptures are made intelligible, by being translated.'
What a privilege it is to have the word of God!
Next week's reading
Read 1. The being of God.
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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