Why Can God Logically Claim in Scripture that Scripture Is God’s Word

And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. (1 Thessalonians 2:13)

Today’s big question: why can God logically claim in Scripture that Scripture is God's Word

When the Thessalonians received the Word of God, they recognized it as the actual Word of God and not as the word of men. In the gospels, Jesus constantly recognized Scripture as God’s Word (e.g., Luke 22:37). We can see many other examples of God claiming through Scripture that it is indeed the Word of God.

We can call Scripture the “Word of God” because “all Scripture is breathed out by God” (2 Timothy 3:16)—He gave us His Word, literally “breathed out” through men. In other words, when the truth is revealed to us from Scripture, it is from God.

Think of it this way: when someone tells me they had a dream, and I ask them for proof, is it logical for them to respond, “Because I said so”? That would be circular reasoning (i.e., begging the question fallacy—using oneself to prove oneself), right?

Why then does God use this same method for proving that Scripture is, in fact, His Word? This is not a logical fallacy, and the reason is simple: the person who had the dream is the authority on the subject of his own dream—not some other arbitrarily chosen person (then it would be a viscous circular argument, which is a fallacy).

With regard to Scripture, only God can verify His Word, because He is the ultimate authority and supreme Creator of everything (John 19:11; Colossians 1:15–20)—there is no higher authority. Many times, when fallible people attempt to verify their own claims, it is illogical because they are not a valid authority on the subject, which is why we must go to other sources to verify one’s claim. In confirming whether Scripture is the Word of God or not, whose word would you rather trust: man’s word—which is constantly changing—or God’s Word, which never changes?

Recognizing God’s valid, logical claim helps us to trust His Word and be able to give a defense for the faith that is in us, as 1 Peter 3:15 commands. The next time someone asks you how you know Scripture is God’s Word, tell them it is because He said so and let them know why we can trust Him! If God did not reveal Scripture, then it would be merely words of men, and thus untrustworthy. But thankfully, as 1 Thessalonians 2:13 states, it really is the Word of God!

Today’s big idea: we can trust God’s claim that Scripture is, in fact, His Word.

What to pray: thank God that Scripture is God’s Word and not just words of men.