The Baptist Confession of Faith
Of The Holy Scriptures
Chapter 1 Paragraph 4
29 March 2026
The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, depends not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God (who is truth itself), the author thereof; therefore it is to be received because it is the Word of God.
This afternoon we are addressing one of the shortest of the paragraphs in the opening chapter on the Holy Scriptures. As we are working our way through this opening chapter, one of the things that we initially addressed was considering the fact that the first chapter is about the Bible and not explicitly about God. But what we're going to be drawing out, especially as we deal with the paragraphs now in this middle section of the chapter, is to see just how connected and together these two central primary and foundational focuses are, the Bible and God. So, we're going to read just this very short paragraph and then consider some of the key points from this before we go to our discussion. So, Chapter 1 Paragraph 4 says:
The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, depends not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God (who is truth itself), the author thereof; therefore it is to be received because it is the Word of God.
Let me begin by reading from 1 Peter 1:21 which states, who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. So, this is the central focus upon the Gospel, and we consider also the significance of the weight of these words contained throughout every part and portion of the Holy Scriptures. And as we think about this hope that we have in the Word of God. What is the basis upon which we have this hope? Well, it's because we consider the Holy Scriptures to be authoritative. So, in this paragraph that we've looked at, it begins by talking of the authority of the Holy Scripture. And so, when we come to opening up the Word of God, we come recognizing that this is something that is central to our lives. And one of the key reasons why is found actually in what is contained in the brackets of the paragraph that we read. When it says about God, it declares, who is truth itself?
So, it's saying of God, God is truth itself. Now just stop and think and dwell on the magnitude of those words. Because when we consider the attributes of God, the very teaching which is revealed about who God is, one of the things that we need to understand very quickly as we begin with studying the doctrine of God, the attributes of God, is that He is not a comparable standard by which we check and verify with another standard. So, if when we come to the Scriptures, you're presented with some of the usual criticisms and push backs about the Bible. So, the Bible's often scrutinized in a critical way. So, some may come out with comments like, oh there are many contradictions in the Bible. Or some will say, oh well the Old and the New Testament are very different. I like the New Testament God, not the Old Testament. And some will say, well, surely you don't believe all of the Bible is literal, that kind of thing.
Now the first thing that we need to be clear about, not just for the sake of apologetics with the unbeliever, but in who and what we're standing upon as we come to the Scriptures is, it is the definable standard of truth. It's not that we're going to find another source over there and that will be able to help to verify this. There's something that can be said by this group, even by this church, and this can help us to be clearer about this truth. What we are considering, even from what's in the brackets, it's because this is God's Word and God is truth itself. So, that's what you declare, that's what you stand upon as the Christian. God is truth. He is the definition of truth. He sets the standard of truth. And so other things, other truths are set upon that standard, not the other way around.
And so, when it comes to the Bible, this is why we begin there, because we're beginning with this is God's Word. So, God and His Word, this is truth. This is our standard. And this is important to dwell on, which is what our confession does through the paragraphs of this opening chapter. Now this point of God is truth is something that we see in different parts of the Scriptures. For example, in Isaiah 65:16, it repeats that our God is the God of truth.
Jesus Christ declares He is the way, the truth, and the life. So, Jesus is the truth, and the Holy Spirit is described as the Spirit of truth. John 14:17. And He declares what is true as we see in Isaiah 45:19 at the end, when it says, I the Lord speak the truth, I declare what is right.
Now brothers and sisters, as we're sitting here this afternoon, do you sit here knowing that what is before you is truth? Because God has declared it, and so therefore you know it is true. Because if we understand this is the Bible, therefore it's true, because God is truth, that is the all-encompassing and entire authority upon your life. And this is where we draw out in even more depth and clarity regarding the doctrine of God. Because how we know God, the God who is truth and the God of the Bible, is because He has decreed, He has chosen that the way He reveals Himself is in this written and inspired Word. That's why, key reason why we read the Bible, why we would place such a central emphasis on it, because it is the Word of God and it is truth because God is truth. And we know that this God is the God whose existence is like no other. Because He has created all things, He has power and dominion over all things, He knows all things, He is the endpoint of all things, He is the God for whom 1 Samuel 2:2 says, He is like no other.
And so, the authority, the truth of who He is, the truth of what He reveals is where everything stops and rests upon. There isn't a higher power, there isn't a rival power, there is no one, no other God, no other holy or religious text with which we defer to get a second opinion. God is it. This is the absolute authority. This is the absolute truth. This is how he has decreed it. And we need to press and press and press upon this point. Because we know, even in our own lives, how often in our thoughts, in our attitude, in our practice, the authority of Scripture is something that we often and sometimes even intentionally will willingly neglect, or we will seek to modify in some way, or to suit a perspective that we may have. And so, as we come to consider the weight, the significance, the power, the authority of the Holy Scriptures, this is key and central.
Now, as we just go on to work through the rest of this paragraph, it begins by saying the authority of the Holy Scripture, it then says, for which it ought to be believed. So, we're thinking now about why the Scriptures ought to be believed. And the declaration and revelation of who God is and the fact that God is truth, that is sufficient. That is sufficient. That's what this paragraph is saying. Because it is God who has revealed and inspired this word and because He is truth, that is sufficient and that is why you ought to believe it.
And so, the questions of authenticity of the Scriptures and even translations as the chapter goes on to address, these are not issues that should in any way make us question whether it's authoritative or whether it's true. These are good subjects to dig into, but this should not in any way leave the Scriptures, the truth, up for grabs in our mind. Similarly, and this is likely something you've dwelled upon, but let's establish this here - if there is something in the Scriptures, therefore, that you do not understand. If there's something in the Scriptures that you think, oh that doesn't seem to make sense, or maybe even you read something and think, this seems to be somewhat contradictory. We can therefore be absolutely clear and certain without any doubt or confusion that the problem rests with us and not with God and His Word. And this must be clarified. Any problems, any issues, any challenges, any difficulties, whatever they may be with the Holy Scriptures and this is not a problem with the Holy Scriptures because it is the Word of God and this is God's Word and God is truth. That is what this paragraph is declaring.
Now one other thing that we need to think about based on what's in this paragraph and certainly something to discuss. In the paragraph it goes on to say, for which it ought to believe, and then it says, depends not upon the testimony, not upon the testimony of any man or church, and then but wholly upon God who is truth itself, the author thereof, therefore it is to be received because it is the word of God. You'll notice this clause here, depends not upon the testimony of any man, or church.
Now in the context and time in which this was written, this was a very important thing to have in writing right at the beginning of the confession being penned. Because what do we find throughout church history, and especially leading up to the time of the Reformation? We see a reversal of authority. A reversal of authority. Hence why the paragraph going on says that it depends not upon the testimony of any man or church. Because at that time the established church, which was the Roman Catholic Church, had historically set itself up as the authority by which the Scriptures were to be derived. And they often would hijack early church history to this end where they would say, well we're the authority and we're where it started. One such claim reads as this from the Roman Catholic Church, “the men and women closest to the apostles did not see the Bible as a standalone authority”. Let me repeat this, this is what they claim, “the men and the women closest to the apostles apparently did not see the Bible as a standalone authority”. Now, quotes like that should create within you by the grace of God a sense of desire to dig more into early church history and you'll very quickly see, it won't take you long to see how ridiculous that claim is if you actually were to read what the early church fathers actually wrote and how there are some key doctrines which are claimed to be, oh they're Calvinistic, they're not biblical, but you see these so-called Calvinistic as a separate thing doctrines found in the Bible and they're being upheld by the early church.
And so, this is important to stress because what then happens is that the church, Roman Catholic Church as it was growing, begins to take an authoritative stance over the Scriptures even though they'll quote Scripture to define how they should function. But ultimately what this does when you have the church placing itself in such a place is it takes the place of God. Now brothers and sisters, as we rightly identify, the Church of Jesus Christ has a profound authority, but that authority is derived from Scripture. If it's the other way around, then where does the Church get its authority from? Well, the answer is from man. And that's is idolatry and it becomes very quickly a lie. God is truth, His Word is truth, and it reveals the truth of who God is, of who we are, of what the Gospel is, what the church is. It reveals truth because it is truth. And this is why the Scriptures are that authority by which things like, important things like, the church, can then know who and what she is and how she is to function. And so, our dependence is not upon any man or any tradition, but as the paragraph goes on, holy upon God who is truth itself, the author thereof.
The Bible speaks of the character of God, it reveals the character of God, and it is emphatically different from any other human writings. This is why we don't seek man's opinion, even if it's someone who is saying, well I'm clergyman, I'm a priest, I'm a pope. Immaterial. That is never the authority over this authority, which is to be received as it ends in the paragraph because it's the Word of God. It doesn't depend on any other testimony, any other rival authority, any false gods or other religious texts, it is to be received because it is the Word of God. And that's what makes it the absolute authority in our lives. And this is why the Word of God should terrify the heart of sinful man, because it is the Word which cuts through joint and marrow, Hebrews 4:12-13, and it is also the word by which souls are fed and nourished. So, we receive it and we do so as Christians gladly and with rejoicing. Because we know this afternoon as we open up our Bibles in a time of discussion, we know tomorrow morning as we open up our Bibles for a time of personal or family devotion, this is truth because it is God's Word, because God is truth. Let's pray together.
Heavenly Father, we pray that our hearts would be stirred every time we open the Word of God. May we come with that readiness, that expectation, that desire to be hungry for and to devour the Holy Scriptures, that we would receive it as the absolute authority, the foundation, the way by which we live our lives because it is the Word of God and you, God, our truth. Thank you, dear Father. for this wondrous, mighty, spectacular reality which is revealed in these holy scriptures by which we exalt and praise your holy name. For it's in Jesus' name that we pray. Amen.
STUDY QUESTIONS
1. What is the basis for trusting that the Bible is authoritative?
2. Unpack the problems if the church is the authority over the Bible.
3. Discuss the important distinction between 'having the truth' and 'being the truth'.
4. Read Psalm 33:4-5. Why is God's 'work' inseparable with God’s Word?
5. Read John 14:6. What does Jesus mean when he says He is ‘the truth’? Why is this crucial in relation to our understanding and belief in the Gospel?
6. Read John 17:7. What does this verse mean?