Why We Believe the Bible
John Piper argues that the Bible's authority is rooted in the Hebrew canon embraced by Jesus and the apostles, with the New Testament forming a divinely inspired, closed canon that completes God's revelation.
This sermon delves into the composition of the Bible, focusing on the canon and the exclusion of certain books like the Apocrypha. It explores the Jewish view of the canon, Jesus' perspective on Scripture, and the formation of the Hebrew canon. The sermon discusses the process of canonization in the early church, emphasizing the recognition rather than the creation of the New Testament canon. It also touches on the preservation of the biblical manuscripts, the role of text criticism, and the significance of affirming the inerrancy of the original manuscripts despite not having them.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Explanation of the Hebrew Bible canon and its 24 books
- Distinction between the Hebrew canon and the Apocrypha
- Jesus' use and assumption of the Hebrew canon
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II
- New Testament affirmation of Old Testament Scriptures
- Jesus' authoritative teaching and claims about Scripture
- The emergence of the New Testament canon
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III
- Role of apostles as authoritative spokesmen
- Doctrine of inspiration by the Holy Spirit
- The completed and closed nature of the New Testament canon
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IV
- Practical implications for church governance and doctrine
- The foundation of the church on apostles and prophets
- The importance of submitting to Scripture rather than adding to it
Key Quotes
“The Scriptures cannot be broken, he said to them, the Scriptures that they agreed on.” — John Piper
“Jesus said, 'Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.'” — John Piper
“Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you, appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” — John Piper
Application Points
- Trust in the Bible as the divinely inspired and authoritative Word of God.
- Build your faith and church life upon the foundation of the apostolic teaching and Scripture.
- Recognize the importance of submitting to the closed canon of Scripture rather than adding human traditions.