11) How do we know, from
the Bible alone, that the individual books of the New Testament are inspired,
even when they make no claim to be inspired?
God tells us. As sola scriptura is the principle God's Word is Supreme, His
authenticating His Word to us doesn't violate the principle of sola scriptura.
Ps 25:8-9
8 Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he
teach sinners in the way.
9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his
way.
Ps 25:12
12 What man is he that feareth
the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that
he shall choose.
Isa 54:13
13 And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD;
and great shall be the peace of thy children.
Jer 31:33-34
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel;
After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my
law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their
God, and they shall be my people.
34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour,
and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me,
from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith
the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no
more.
John 6:45
45 It is written in the prophets, And they
shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath
learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
John 16:13-14
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he
will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but
whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew
you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
1 Cor 2:10-12
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the
spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of
God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is
of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Eph 1:17
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto
you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
The following text is especially relevant to this discussion. John is combating
spurious revelation which deceived some to become false prophets (1 John
4:1ff). John clearly says our anointing of the Holy Spirit authenticates His
revelation, distinguishing it from the spurious, so that the elect "know
all things" of this nature then occurring, and won't be deceived. He also
noted an objective characteristic of spurious revelation, it lies, therefore its not of the truth, i.e., God.
I Jn 2:20-21
20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye
know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
I Jn 2:27
27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth
in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no
lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I
know them, and they follow me:
All these scriptures infallibly testify God teaches His children through His authenticated
Word. The experience is described in scripture thusly:
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than
any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing
asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of
the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The divine witness is so powerful men speak of
scripture being "self-authenticating." Of course that is inaccurate,
it is God who authenticates His Word as we hear or read it.
__________________
The times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth
all men every where to repent:
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the
door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.-kjv