by Dr. Gregg R. Allison

As the one who speaks does not and cannot lie (Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18), Scripture as the Word of God is wholly true in everything that it affirms. Indeed, Jesus echoes prayerfully to the Father, “Your word is truth” (John 17:17). The church has always believed that Scripture—all of it—is true, without any error. 

Tragically, a growing number of Christians today seem to be abandoning this essential characteristic of the Bible. To take one example: Sojourn Church, at which I am an elder, is preaching through the book of Genesis. A few of our people are questioning the truthfulness of its early chapters because the narratives seem to be full of myths—these stories can’t be true! 

But here are four problem with this view: First, a mythological approach does not do justice to the narratives themselves, which seek to locate the characters and events of the stories in space and time (e.g., the location of the Garden of Eden in conjunction with specific rivers, Genesis 2:10–14; the description of the bricks and mortar for the tower of Babel, Genesis 11:1–9), presenting those stories as real space-time historical events in which God is the major player/protagonist. 

Second, the mythological approach weakens if not ruins the metanarrative of Scripture—creation, fall, redemption, consummation—by viewing the opening two elements (creation and fall) as symbolic or mythological. This view is hardly a solid foundation for our Christian hope of redemption and consummation. 

Third, the mythological approach wreaks havoc with a major biblical theme of the lineage of the Messiah that starts with the promise of Genesis 3:15’s seed of the woman Eve, moves to Seth then Noah then Abraham then Isaac and so forth. By removing or discounting the initial and foundational ancestors, this approach destroys the genealogy of Jesus as Messiah (see Luke 3:23–38).

Fourth, the mythological approach comes under great pressure when examined in light of Jesus’ view of these early narratives, because he references Adam and Eve and God’s creation of them (Matthew 19:3–5), Noah and the flood (Matthew 24:37–39), and Moses’s writing of the Pentateuch (Matthew 19:7; Luke 24:44; John 5:45–47). 

Building on the last point, if you are wrestling with this issue, let me challenge you to carefully consider Jesus’ view of Scripture, a wonderful study that underscores its inspiration, truthfulness, clarity, and authority. Then, ask yourself, If I call Jesus “Lord,” why would I not fully embrace my Lord’s view of Scripture? The issue becomes one of Lordship, which is what the issue should be. This is not to discount honest questioning, but you will ultimately need to come to a position of submission to King Jesus on this matter. 

Authority to Command and Prohibit

Indeed, with God as its divine author, Scripture as the Word of God possesses divine authority to command what we are to believe, do, and be, and to prohibit what we are to avoid. Certainly, other authorities exist within the realm of human endeavor. Within the spheres of the family, the government, one’s profession, and the church, authorities such as parents, lawmakers and civil laws, employers and professional codes of ethics, and elders enjoy a circumscribed authority. That which Scripture possesses, then, is not sole authority but ultimate authority, and that because it is the Word of God who rules over all. It is to be heeded in all things as unto the Lord himself (1 Thess 4:1–2). 

This authoritative Scripture is also powerful, effectively producing the result designed by God. As the Lord through the prophet Isaiah promised,

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10–11).

Take stock in how God’s voice through Scripture has rescued you from eternal condemnation, transformed your character, redirected your purpose in life, remade your marriage and/or friendships, and the like, and be thankful!

See Dr. Allison live at Mars Hill Downtown on February 4

from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm as he gives a lecture entitled, “The Bible: How We Got It and Why You Should Trust It.”

And buy Dr. Allison’s new book, Historical Theology: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine.