The Inspired Word of God, Committed to Writing.

In the first place the term 'Scripture' described the sacred books of the Jews, the five books of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms, which we know as the Old Testament. Jesus frequently appealed to the authority of the 'Scriptures' when he was in contention with the Jewish leaders (for example see Matthew 21:42; 22:29).

Paul assures us that these Scriptures are inspired by God (see 2 Timothy 3:16) and Peter includes the letters of Paul as inspired Scripture: "Our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him…which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction." (2 Peter 3:15-16).

The Revelation is a message from Christ himself after his ascension to heaven.

The early church was satisfied that the Gospels and letters we now have in the New Testament are the work of devout men who were fully inspired by God.

(See also BIBLE; INSPIRATION).