Michael Reeves

Now let's get some clarity here. What did the Reformers mean when they argued that the Scriptures authenticate themselves? They were going further than the claim that the Bible is the Word of God. They weren't simply arguing that the Bible claims it is the Word of God.

Now let's get some clarity here. What did the Reformers mean when they argued that the Scriptures authenticate themselves? They were going further than the claim that the Bible is the Word of God. They weren't simply arguing that the Bible claims it is the Word of God.

They weren't making what people often dismiss as a weak circular argument that we trust the Bible is the Word of God because it claims it is the Word of God. No, they meant the Bible proves itself to be what it claims to be, the Word of God. Here's how John Calvin put it. And this is from the beginning of Book 1 of Chapter 7 of the Institutes. He said, "...Scripture's authority..."

They weren't making what people often dismiss as a weak circular argument that we trust the Bible is the Word of God because it claims it is the Word of God. No, they meant the Bible proves itself to be what it claims to be, the Word of God. Here's how John Calvin put it. And this is from the beginning of Book 1 of Chapter 7 of the Institutes. He said, "...Scripture's authority..."

may be established as certain. And to banish all doubt, indeed, Scripture exhibits fully as clear evidence of its own truth as white and black things do of their color or sweet and bitter things do of their taste. The sacred Scriptures breathe something divine." Others in the Reformation tradition would use similar arguments.

may be established as certain. And to banish all doubt, indeed, Scripture exhibits fully as clear evidence of its own truth as white and black things do of their color or sweet and bitter things do of their taste. The sacred Scriptures breathe something divine." Others in the Reformation tradition would use similar arguments.

The Puritan John Owen argued, Scripture speaks of itself as a lamp and a light. 2 Peter 1, 19, and we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed to which you would do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Now, says Owen, only what is not light needs light to make it known. but he says light manifests itself.

The Puritan John Owen argued, Scripture speaks of itself as a lamp and a light. 2 Peter 1, 19, and we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed to which you would do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Now, says Owen, only what is not light needs light to make it known. but he says light manifests itself.

You don't need to shine light on light to know what it is. Light requires no other testimony for its evidence. It proves itself by what it is. And this belief was essential to the Reformation project. The reformers believed they could preach the scriptures to all because the Scriptures can be understood by all.

You don't need to shine light on light to know what it is. Light requires no other testimony for its evidence. It proves itself by what it is. And this belief was essential to the Reformation project. The reformers believed they could preach the scriptures to all because the Scriptures can be understood by all.

And they were no longer then the preserve of the educated elite, for God's Word brings its own enlightenment, for it is a lamp and a light. Now, of course, you could object, and people did, and say, well, if Scripture is so self-evidently the Word of God, why isn't everyone a Christian? Why doesn't everyone know the Bible is the Word of God? To which the answer is 2 Corinthians 4, verse 4.

And they were no longer then the preserve of the educated elite, for God's Word brings its own enlightenment, for it is a lamp and a light. Now, of course, you could object, and people did, and say, well, if Scripture is so self-evidently the Word of God, why isn't everyone a Christian? Why doesn't everyone know the Bible is the Word of God? To which the answer is 2 Corinthians 4, verse 4.

God of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ. And so, Calvin and others would speak of the need for the witness of the Spirit. Calvin wrote, even if Scripture wins reverence for itself by its own majesty, It seriously affects us only when it is sealed on our hearts through the Spirit.

God of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ. And so, Calvin and others would speak of the need for the witness of the Spirit. Calvin wrote, even if Scripture wins reverence for itself by its own majesty, It seriously affects us only when it is sealed on our hearts through the Spirit.

Now, it's important to understand what Calvin does and doesn't mean here. This throws many into a spin, those who want confidence in the Bible. By the witness of the Spirit, Calvin is not saying the Spirit gives people some additional information. that proves that the Bible is divine in origin. We're not waiting for some voice in our heads telling us, believe it, this is God's Word.

Now, it's important to understand what Calvin does and doesn't mean here. This throws many into a spin, those who want confidence in the Bible. By the witness of the Spirit, Calvin is not saying the Spirit gives people some additional information. that proves that the Bible is divine in origin. We're not waiting for some voice in our heads telling us, believe it, this is God's Word.

Rather, Calvin is describing an internal work whereby the Spirit removes our natural blindness to see what is already there. in Scripture for anyone with working eyes to see it. So the Spirit doesn't add to Scripture. He opens our eyes to see its self-evidencing light and divine quality. But why is this important? Well, Calvin got straight to the point when he addressed the issue for his day.

Rather, Calvin is describing an internal work whereby the Spirit removes our natural blindness to see what is already there. in Scripture for anyone with working eyes to see it. So the Spirit doesn't add to Scripture. He opens our eyes to see its self-evidencing light and divine quality. But why is this important? Well, Calvin got straight to the point when he addressed the issue for his day.

He said, it is a wicked falsehood that Scripture's credibility depends on the judgment of the church. Scripture, he said, has its authority from God, not from the church itself. Calvin saw if the Scriptures require something else to give them their authority, then that other thing becomes the supreme authority. And that was why self-authentication was important for the first Reformers.

He said, it is a wicked falsehood that Scripture's credibility depends on the judgment of the church. Scripture, he said, has its authority from God, not from the church itself. Calvin saw if the Scriptures require something else to give them their authority, then that other thing becomes the supreme authority. And that was why self-authentication was important for the first Reformers.