The Sufficiency of Scripture

Posted by Wade Lowrey on Aug 14, 2009 in Theology |

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The Sufficiency of Scripture

Christians here a phrase thrown around a lot but perhaps are unsure of what it completely means. What does the preacher or teacher mean when he uses the phrase ‘the sufficiency of Scripture’? It is an old doctrine of the church but what exactly does it mean and what is the importance of the doctrine. In a general sense it is a statement that means that the Bible contains ‘all the complete and special’ revelation that I need for faith and life. The primary text used for this doctrinal teaching comes from the second letter of Paul to Timothy.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The phrase God-breathed is a literal translation where we get the word inspired. The words of Scripture are literally ‘breathed by God’ through the people who wrote them down. As a result, all Scriptures are complete and without error. The word complete that is used means ‘able to meet all demands and perfect’.

Paul goes on to share that Scriptures are to be used for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training so that the Christian is ‘throoughly equipped’ for every good work. Thus Paul is clearly stating that by studying the scriptures we become adequately equipped. The word for ‘equipped’ means completely furnished and thoroughly prepared. The Bible is sufficient for all teaching and thus daily living. Since the Bible is complete and all sufficient that means no outside source is needed.

1. The Bible is substantially sufficient.

This means that everything I need to believe is all found and only found in Scripture. All my beliefs start and end here. From understanding the nature of God to the problem of evil in the world is all answered in God’s direct revelation to us in Scripture. Any beliefs that I have that are outside of Scripture have not been revealed by God and thus are not of God.

2. The Bible is authoritatively sufficient.

This means that the Bible is also its own source for interpretation. Scripture interprets Scripture and all of Scripture must be used for proper interpretation. The Bible is able to interpret itself and reveal what it means all on its own. I do not need Catholic Church, a Watchtower magazine, or a cultic preacher who only allows you to understand the Scripture the way he interprets it. The Bible itself is its source for its interpretation. No outside source has authority or obligation to tell you what the Bible ‘really means’. The Bible is clear that it alone is the only source and ‘all we need’ to know and establish spiritual truth.

3. The Bible is eternally sufficient.

We do not need any more special revelation from God. The doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture teaches that we do not need any more special, inerrant words from God. The Bible shares with us the ‘perfect standard’ by which we judge all other knowledge. The Bible does not contain ‘all the knowledge’ there is to know. It does not teach me how to fly a plane or the specifics on how to sail a boat. It does not teach me how to perform open-heart surgery or how to ground lightning. But all truth is God’s truth and all knowledge stands under the judgement of Scripture.

I have shared somewhat on the doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture. I have not gone into the role the Holy Spirit plays in conjunction with the power of God’s living Word. I wrote this because I just want to live a life that by the mercy and grace of God matches the very breathe of His Word. I do not want to add to Scripture, rely on some outside authority to tell me what it means or to even rely on somebody else or something else for guidance, permission, or understanding of God’s plan for my life. The Scriptures are either sufficient or they are not. If they are not sufficient in your life I do pray that they become that for your life. May we know the meaning well of ‘Sola Scriptura’.

Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.

4 Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.

For His Glory,

- Wade Lowrey

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