Lesson 2: The Authority of God's Word
"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching"
Why does biblical authority matter for evangelism? When we share the gospel, we're not sharing our opinions or human wisdom—we're proclaiming the authoritative Word of God.
This lesson will equip you to understand and communicate three crucial truths: Scripture's divine origin, its role as our final judge, and its complete sufficiency for all matters of faith and practice.
By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to speak with confidence about the Bible's authority and help others recognize why God's Word—not human tradition or modern philosophy—must be our ultimate standard for truth.
Divine Origin vs. Human Invention
1. According to 2 Peter 1:20-21, what is the true source of Scripture?
2 Peter 1:20-21 (ESV):
"Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."
"Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."
2. What does Jesus criticize in Mark 7:8?
Mark 7:8 (ESV):
"You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men."
"You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men."
God's Word as Judge vs. Human Opinion
3. What will judge humanity according to John 12:48?
John 12:48 (ESV):
"The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day."
"The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day."
4. Why can't natural human wisdom understand spiritual truth according to 1 Corinthians 2:14?
1 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV):
"The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned."
"The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned."
Scripture's Sufficiency vs. Extra-Biblical Revelations
5. What does 2 Timothy 3:16-17 teach about Scripture's completeness?
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV):
"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."
"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."
6. What strong warning does Paul give in Galatians 1:8?
Galatians 1:8 (ESV):
"But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed."
"But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed."
Unchanging Truth vs. Changing Culture
7. What does Jesus declare about His words in Matthew 24:35?
Matthew 24:35 (ESV):
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away."
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away."
8. How should we respond to worldly thinking according to Romans 12:2?
Romans 12:2 (ESV):
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."