What the Bible says about itself. . .
All Scripture is inspired. Inspiration is literally “God-breathed.” Inspiration in the biblical definition means that all the very words of Scripture were God-breathed.
This text emphasizes that divine inspiration applies to the whole original text of the Bible. It doesn’t say that all Scripture is equally important, but that it is equally inspired by God (cf. Judges 3:16 and John 3:16).
ALL SCRIPTURE IS INSPIRED
This text explains something of the “how” in divine revelation. It emphasizes the Holy Spirit’s superintending work over the human authors. Both the human and divine elements exist, but the divine is in control.
THE HOW OF INSPIRATION INCLUDED GOD AND MAN
3) Mark 7:8‑13
Christ endorsed
1) the fact that Moses authored the Pentateuch (first 5 books of OT) and
2) the divine inspiration of the Pentateuch.
As a corollary, the emphasis is once again, as in 2 Timothy 3:16‑17, on the written product as being divinely inspired and preserved (see Matthew 5:18).
THE PENTATEUCH IS INSPIRED
Christ endorsed the Prophets. In this case, Daniel is mentioned by name. Thus this becomes an important proof text since Daniel, more than any other book outside the Pentateuch, is ridiculed and rejected by liberal “scholarship.”
THE PROPHETS ARE INSPIRED
5) Mark 12:36
Christ endorsed the Psalms, in this case also attesting to David’s authorship.
THE POETIC BOOKS ARE INSPIRED
Christ endorsed the entire Old Testament (called the “Law and the Prophets” in this verse‑ see Matthew 5:17, 7:12, 11:13).
THE ENTIRE OLD TESTAMENT IS INSPIRED
7) Mark 13:31
Christ declared that his own words were eternal and infallible.
THE GOSPELS ARE INSPIRED
Christ declared that His teaching did not represent the sum of new revelation. He stated that the Holy Spirit would give further, complete truth to the Apostles. This verse teaches two things: (a) further revelation would be given to the Apostles, and (b) this revelation would be completed in the Apostles’ lifetimes, since Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would guide them into “all” truth. Correlate this passage with John 17:17, where Jesus, speaking to the Father, says, “Thy word is truth [aleithia, same word as 16:12‑13].”
FURTHER REVELATION WOULD FOLLOW THE GOSPELS
Paul taught that his teaching carried divine authority (see also 1 Cor 14:37).
THE LETTERS/EPISTLES ARE INSPIRED
10) 2 Peter 3:15‑16
Peter affirmed the inspiration of Paul’s letters, equating them with the “other Scriptures.” (The Greek word for “other” is loipos, meaning rest, further, remaining.)
THE LETTERS OF PAUL ARE INSPIRED