2b-Scripture
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Documents illustrating the authority of ScriptureHOLY WRIT
’All Scripture, inspired by God, is profitable to teach, to reprove, to correct, to instruct in justice’ 2 Timothy 3:16 Fathers of the Church ANASTASIUS OF ANTIOCH
’It is manifest that those things are not to be inquired into, which Scripture has passed over into silence. For the Holy Spirit has dispensed and administered to us all things which conduce to our profit’ Anagog. Contemp. in Hexem. lib 8 init.
ATHANASIUS
"...from the tokens of truth are more exact as drawn from Scripture, than from other sources..." De Decretis, 31
"The Holy and Inspired Scriptures are sufficient of themselves for the preaching of the Truth’ Contra Gentiles, 1:1
"These [canonical] books are the fountains of salvation, sothat he who thirsts may be satisfied with the oracles contained in them: in these alone the school of piety preaches the Gospel; let no man add to or take away from them." Festal Letters 39 "For they were spoken and written by God." De Incarnatione 56
"...the Scriptures...will learn from them more completely and clearly the exact detail of what we said" De Incarnatione 56 "Scripture is of all things most sufficient for us." Ad Epis Aeg 4 "Divine Scripture is sufficient above all things." De Synodis 6
ANTONY of EGYPT ’The Scriptures are enough for instruction." Vita S. Antoni 16
AUGUSTINE
’What more shall I teach you than what we read in the Apostle? For Holy Scripture fixes the rule for our doctrine, lest we dare to be wiser than we ought.’ De Bono Viduitatis 2 ’Let us therefore give in ... to the authority of the Holy Scriptures’ De Peccatorum 33 ’Let us search for the church in the sacred Scriptures’ Epis 105
’[H]e will find there in much greater abundance things that are to be found nowhere else, but can be learnt only in the wonderful sublimity and wonderful simplicity of the Scriptures’ De Doctr. Christ. 2,42,63
’It believes also the Holy Scriptures, old and new, which we call canonical, and which are the source of the faith by which the just lives...’ De Civ. Dei 19,18
BASIL
’The hearers taught in the Scriptures ought to test what is said by teachers and accept that which agrees with the Scriptures but reject what is foreign’ Moralia 72:1 CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA
’How can we prove and certify as true something which Sacred Scripture does not attest?’ Glaphyra on Genesis, PG 69,53c CYRIL of JERUSALEM
’In regard to the divine and holy mysteries of the faith, not the least part may be handed on without theHoly Scriptures. Do not be led astray by winning words and clever arguments. Even to me, who tell you these things, do not give ready belief, unless you receive from the Holy Scriptures the proof of the things which I announce. The salvation in which we believe is not proved from clever reasoning, but from the Holy Scriptures. Catechetical Lectures 4,17.
’Nothing must be taught without the Sacred Scriptures’ PG 33,476-7
CHRYSOSTOM
’Therefore I beg you all that you give up what appeals to this one or that one and that you address all these questions concerning these things to the Scriptures.’ Homily 13 on 2 Corinthians
’If anything is said without Scripture, the thinking of the hearers limps. But where the testimony proceeds from the divinely given Scripture, it confirms both the speech of the preacher and the soul of the hearer’ Commenting on Psalms 95:1-11
’But when Scripture wants to teach us something like that, it interprets itself and does not permit the hearer to err. I therefore beg and entreat that we close our ears to all these things and follow the canon of the Holy Scripture exactly’ Homily 13 on Genesis ’As a trusty door, Scripture shuts out heretics, securing us from error...’ Joann. 58
’Everything in the divine Scriptures is clear and straightforward; they inform us about all that is necessary’
Epis 2 ad Thess 3,4 GREGORY OF NYSSA
’Therefore let God-inspired Scripture decide between us; and on whichever side be found doctrines in harmony with the word of God, in favor of that side will be cast the vote of truth’ Ep. Ad Eustathius IRENAEUS(The Father of Tradition)
’[B]eing most properly assured that the Scriptures are indeed perfect, since they were spoken by the Word of God’ Against Heresies 2,28,2
’The apostles at that time first preached the Gospel but later by the will of God, they delivered it to us in the Scriptures, that it might be the foundation and pillar of our faith’ Against Heresies 3,1
’Since, therefore, the tradition from the apostles does thus exist in the Church, and is permanent among us, let us revert to the Scriptural proof furnished by those apostles who did also write the Gospel, in which they recorded the doctrine regarding God, pointing out that our Lord Jesus Christ is the truth, and that no lie is in Him’ Against Heresies 3,5,1
JEROME ’Ignorance of Scriptures is Ignorance of Christ’ In Is. Prologue
ORIGEN
’It is necessary to take the Holy Scriptures as witnesses; for our comments and statements without these witnesses are not trustworthy’ In Jerem 1,7
’For he knows that Scripture, as a whole, is God’s One Perfect and Complete Instrument, giving forth, to those who wish to learn its one saving music...’ In Matt. tom 2
TERTULLIAN "If it is nowhere written, then let it fear the woe which impends on all who add to or take away from the written word" Ad Hermogenes 22 ’It is right that His conduct be investigated according to the rule of Scripture’ Ad Marcion 3,17 THEOPHILUS OF ANTIOCH
’It would be acting according to demonic inspiration to followthe thinking of the human mind and to think there could be anything divine apart from the authority of the Scriptures’ Pascal Letter of 401 This text may downloaded and viewed for private reading only. This text may not be used by another Web site or published, electronically or otherwise, without the written permission of the copyright holder.
Joseph A. Gallegos © 1997 All Rights Reserved. The Inspired Scripture
"Look carefully into the Scriptures, which are the true utterances of the Holy Spirit." Clement of Rome[regn c91-c101],Letter to the Corinthians,45(A.D. 98),in ANF,I:17
"But when you hear the utterances of the prophets spoken as it were personally, you must not suppose that they are spoken by the inspired themselves, but by the Divine Word who moves them." Justin Martyr,First Apology,36(A.D. 155),in ANF,I:175
"We should leave things of that nature to God who created us, being most properly assured that the Scriptures are indeed perfect, since they were spoken by the Word of God and His Spirit; but we, inasmuch as we are inferior to, and later in existence than, the Word of God and His Spirit, are on that very account destitute of the knowledge of His mysteries." Irenaeus,Against Heresies,2,28:2(A.D. 180),in ANF,I:399 "Moreover, concerning the righteousness which the law enjoined, confirmatory utterances are found both with the prophets and in the Gospels, because they all spoke inspired by one Spirit of God." Theophilus,To Autolycus,3:12(A.D. 181),in ANF,II:114
"This teaching the apostle knows as truly divine. ’Thou, O Timothy,’ he says, ’from a child hast known the holy letters, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith that is in Christ Jesus.’ For truly holy are those letters that sanctify and deify; and the writings or volumes that consist of those holy letters and syllables, the same apostle consequently calls ’inspired of God, being profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished to every good work.’ " Clement of Alexandria,Exhortation to the Greeks,9,82:1(A.D. 200),in ANF,II:196
"What, then, is the Paraclete’s administrative office but this: the direction of discipline, the revelation of the Scriptures, the reformation of the intellect, the advancement toward the ’better things?’ " Tertullian,On the Veiling of Virgins,1:5(A.D. 213),in ANF,IV:27
"They have treated the Divine Scriptures recklessly and without fear. They have set aside the rule of ancient faith;... But how daring this offense is, it is not likely that they themselves are ignorant. For either they do not believe that the Divine Scriptures were spoken by the Holy Spirit, and thus are unbelievers, or else they think themselves wiser than the Holy Spirit, and in that case what else are they than demoniacs?"
Hippolytus of Rome,Against Artemon,Fragment in Eusebius’ EH 5,28:15,18(A.D. 230),in NPNF2,I:248
"Then, finally, that the Scriptures were written by the Spirit of God, and have a meaning, not such only as is apparent at first sight, but also another, which escapes the notice of most. For those (words) which are written are the forms of certain mysteries, and the images of divine things." Origen,Fundamental Doctrines,1,Preface:8(A.D. 230),in ANF,IV:241
"Reading and observing this, we certainly think that no one is to be restrained from the fruit of satisfaction, and the hope of peace, since we know, according to the faith of the divine Scriptures, God Himself being their author, and exhorting in them, both that sinners are brought back to repentance, and that pardon and mercy are not denied to penitents." Cyprian,To Antonianus,Epistle 51[55]:27(A.D. 252),in ANF,V:335
"For although the sacred and inspired Scriptures are sufficient to declare the truth,--while there are other works of our blessed teachers compiled for this purpose, if he meet with which a man will gain some knowledge of the interpretation of the Scriptures, and be able to learn what he wishes to know,--still, as we have not at present in our hands the compositions of our teachers, we must communicate in writing to you what we learned from them,--the faith, namely, of Christ the Saviour; lest any should hold cheap the doctrine taught among us, or think faith. in Christ unreasonable." Athanasius,Against the Heathen,1(A.D. 318),in NPNF2,IV:4
Now these the divinely-inspired Scriptures of both the Old and the New Testament teach us. For the God of the two Testaments is One, Who in the Old Testament foretold the Christ Who appeared in the New; Who by the Law and the Prophets led us to Christ’s school. For before faith came, we were kept in ward under the law, and, the law hath been our tutor to bring us unto Christ. And if ever thou hear any of the heretics speaking evil of the Law or the Prophets, answer in the sound of the Saviour’s voice, saying, Jesus came not to destroy the Law, but to fulfil it. Learn also diligently, and from the Church, what are the books of the Old Testament, and what those of the New." Cyril of Jerusalem,Catechetical Lectures,4:33(A.D. 350),in NPNF2,VII:26
"We however, who extend the accuracy of the Spirit to the merest stroke and tittle, will never admit the impious assertion that even the smallest matters were dealt with haphazard by those who have recorded them" Gregory of Nazianzen,Oration II:105(A.D. 362),in NPNF2,VII:225
"How can he who calls Scripture ’God-inspired,’ because it was written through the inspiration of the Spirit, use the language of one who insults and belittles Him?" Basil,On the Spirit,21(A.D. 375),in NPNF2,VIII:34
"How, then, does He not possess all that pertains to God, Who is named by priests in baptism with the Father and the Son, and is invoked in the oblations, is proclaimed by the Seraphim in heaven with the Father and the Son, dwells in the Saints with the Father and the Son, is poured upon the just, is given as the source of inspiration to the prophets? And for this reason in the divine Scripture all is called theopneustos because God inspires what the Spirit has spoken." Ambrose,On the Holy Spirit,3,16:112(A.D. 381),in NPNF2,X:151
"The Scripture, ’given by inspiration of God,’ as the Apostle calls it, is the Scripture of the Holy Spirit, and its intention is the profit of men. For ’every scripture,’ he says, ’is given by inspiration of God and is profitable’; and the profit is varied and multiform, as the Apostle says--’for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.’ " Gregory of Nyssa,Against Eunomius,7:1(A.D. 384),in NPNF2,V:192
"Knowing then these things, and collecting instances of the like kind from the inspired divine Scriptures (for it is possible to find many such examples in the case of various other persons) we deem that neither a difficulty arising from seasons or events, nor compulsion and force, nor the arbitrary authority of potentates furnish a sufficient excuse for us when we transgress." John Chrysostom,None can harm him who does not injure himself,(A.D. 406),in NPNF1,IX:283-4
"And if a man in searching the Scriptures endeavors to get at the intention of the author through whom the Holy Spirit spoke, whether he succeeds in this endeavor, or whether he draws a different meaning from the words, but one that is not opposed to sound doctrine, he is free from blame so long as he is supported by the testimony of some other passage of Scripture. For the author perhaps saw that this very meaning lay in the words which we are trying to interpret; and assuredly the Holy Spirit, who through him spoke these words, foresaw that this interpretation would occur to the reader, nay, made provision that it should occur to him, seeing that it too is founded on truth. For what more liberal and more fruitful provision could God have made in regard to the Sacred Scriptures than that the same words might be understood in several senses, all of which are sanctioned by the concurring testimony of other passages equally divine?" Augustine,Christian Instruction,3,27:38(A.D. 426),in
NPNF1,II:567
"By the grace of the spirit they dived into the depths of God-inspired scripture and both themselves perceived its mind, and made it plain to all that are willing to learn." Theodoret of Cyr,To the Monks,Epistle 151(A.D. 431),in NPNF2,III:332
"All Scripture, then, is ’given by inspiration of God and is also assuredly profitable.’ Wherefore to search the Scriptures is a work most fair and most profitable for souls. For just as the tree planted by the channels of waters, so also the soul watered by the divine Scripture is enriched and gives fruit in its season, viz. orthodox belief, and is adorned with evergreen leafage, I mean, actions pleasing to God. For through the Holy Scriptures we are trained to action that is pleasing to God, and untroubled contemplation." John Damascene,Orthodox Faith,17(A.D. 743),in NPNF2,IX:89 This text may downloaded and viewed for private reading only. This text may not be used by another Web site or published, electronically or otherwise, without the written permission of the copyright holder.
Joseph A. Gallegos © 2000 All Rights Reserved. Free From All Error
"Ye are fond of contention, brethren, and full of zeal aboutthings which do not pertain to salvation. Look carefully intothe Scriptures, which are the true utterances of the HolySpirit." Clement,To the Corinthians(A.D. 98),in ANF,I:17
"And Trypho said, ’Being shaken by so many Scriptures, I know not what to say about the Scripture which Isaiah writes, in which God says that He gives not His glory to another, speaking thus ’I am the Lord God; this is my name; my glorywill I not give to another, nor my virtues.’And I answered, ’If you spoke these words, Trypho, and then kept silence in simplicity and with no ill intent, neither repeating what goes before nor adding what comes after, you must be forgiven; but if[you have done so] because you imagined that you could throw doubt on the passage, in order that I might say the Scriptures contradicted each other, you have erred. But I shall not venture to suppose or to say such a thing; and if a Scripture which appears to be of such a kind be brought forward, and if there be a pretext[for saying] that it is contrary[to some other], since I am entirely convinced that no Scripture contradicts another, I shall admit rather that I do not understand what is recorded, and shall strive to persuade rather of the same opinion as myself."
Justin Martyr,Dialogue with Trypho,65(A.D. 155),in ANF,I:230
"If, however, we cannot discover explanations of all those things in Scripture which are made the subject of investigation, yet let us not on that account seek after any other God besides Him who really exists. For this is the very greatest impiety. We should leave things of that nature to God who created us, being most properly assured that the Scriptures are indeed perfect, since they were spoken by the Word of God and His Spirit; but we, inasmuch as we are inferior to, and later in existence than, the Word of God and His Spirit, are on that very account destitute of the knowledge of His mysteries." Irenaeus,Against Heresies,2,28:2(A.D. 180),in ANF,I:399
"It behoved, therefore, that he should the rather become a scholar of God in this matter of legislation, as he himself confessed that in no other way could he gain accurate information than by God’s teaching him through the law. And did not the poets Homer and Hesiod and Orpheus profess that they themselves had been instructed by Divine Providence? Moreover, it is said that among your writers there were prophets and prognosticators, and that those wrote accurately: who were informed by them. How much more, then, shall we know the truth who are instructed by the holy prophets, who were possessed by the Holy Spirit of God! On this account all the prophets spoke harmoniously and in agreement with one another, and foretold the things that would come to pass in all the world. For the very accomplishment of predicted and already consummated events should demonstrate to those who are fond of things are really true which they declared concerning the epochs and eras before the deluge: to wit, how the years have run on since the world was created until now, so as to manifest the ridiculous mendacity of your authors, and show that their statements are not true."
Theophilus of Antioch,To Autolycus,17(A.D. 181),in ANF,II:116
"Therefore they[the followers of Artemon’s heresy] have laid their hands boldly upon the Divine Scriptures, alleging that they have corrected them...But how daring this offense is, it is not likely that they themselves are ignorant. For either they do not believe that the Divine Scriptures were spoken by the Holy Spirit, and thus are unbelievers, or else they think themselves wiser than the Holy Spirit, and in that case what else are they than demoniacs?" Hippolytus of Rome,Fragment in Eusebius’ EH 5:28(A.D. 230),in NPNF2,I:248
"In the case I have supposed where the historians desire to teach us by an image what they have seen in their mind, their meaning would be found, if the four were wise, to exhibit no disagreement; and we must understand that with the four Evangelists it is not otherwise." Origen,Commentary on John,10:4(A.D. 232),in ANF,X:383
" ’Blessed are the peacemakers. ...’ To the man who is a peacemaker in either sense there is in the Divine oracles nothing crooked or perverse, for they are all plain to those who understand. And because to such an one there is nothing crooked or perverse, he sees therefore abundance of peace in all the Scriptures, even in those which seem to be at conflict, and in contradiction with one another."
Origen,Commentary on Matthew 2:1-23(A.D. 244),in ANF,X:413
"Now it is the opinion of some, that the Scriptures do not agree together, or that God, Who gave the commandment, is false. But there is no disagreement whatever, far from it, neither can the Father, Who is truth, lie; ’for it is bimpossible that God should lie,’ as Paul affirms. But all these things are plain to those who rightly consider them, and to those who receive with faith the writings of the law." Athanasius,To Rufinus,Epistle 19:3(A.D. 347),in NPNF2,IV:546
"And nothing of discrepancy will be found in Sacred Scripture, nor will there be found any statement in opposition to any other statement." Epiphanius,Panarion,70:7(A.D. 377),in JUR,II:75
"I am not, I repeat, so ignorant as to suppose that any of the Lord’s words is either in need of correction or is not divinely inspired." Jerome,To Marcellus,27:1(A.D. 385),in NPNF2,VI:44
"I have been reading also some writings, ascribed to you, on the Epistles of the Apostle Paul. In reading your exposition of the Epistle to the Galatians, that passage came to my hand in which the Apostle Peter is called back from a course of dangerous dissimulation. To find there the defence of falsehood undertaken, whether by you, a man of such weight, or by any author (if it is the writing of another), causes me, I must confess, great sorrow, until at least those things which decide my opinion in the matter are refuted, if indeed they admit of refutation. For it seems to me that most disastrous consequences must follow upon our believing that anything false is found in the sacred books: that is to say, that the men by whom the Scripture has been given to us, and committed to writing, did put down in these books anything false. It is one question whether it may be at any time the duty of a good man to deceive; but it is another question whether it can have been the duty of a writer of Holy Scripture to deceive: nay, it is not another question -- it is no question at all. For if you once admit into such a high sanctuary of authority ’one false statement as made in the way of duty,1 there will not be left a single sentence of those books which, if appearing to any one difficult in practice or hard to believe, may not by the same fatal rule be explained away, as a statement in which, intentionally, and under a sense of duty, the author declared what was not true." Augustine,To Jerome,Epistle 28,3:3(A.D. 395),in NPNF1,I:251-252
"For I confess to your Charity that I have learned to yield this respect and honour only to the canonical books of Scripture: of these alone do I most firmly believe that the authors were completely free from error. And if in these writings I am perplexed by anything which appears to me opposed to truth, I do not hesitate to suppose that either the Ms. is faulty, or the translator has not caught the meaning of what was said, or I myself have failed to understand it." Augustine,To Jerome,Epistle 82,1:3(A.D. 405),in NPNF1,I:350
"If we are perplexed by an apparent contradiction in Scripture, it is not allowable to say, The author of this book is mistaken; but either the manuscript is faulty, or the translation is wrong, or you have not understood." Augustine,Reply to Faustus the Manichean,11:5(A.D. 400),in NPNF1,IV:180 This text may downloaded and viewed for private reading only. This text may not be used by another Web site or published, electronically or otherwise, without the written permission of the copyright holder.
Joseph A. Gallegos © 1999 All Rights Reserved.