The Bible’s Authority: Why It Matters

By James Williams

Most of us don’t like authority. We don’t like to be told what to do or how to do it. Yet, whether we like it or not, authority is a part of life. We live and work under authority. We have bosses, shareholders, administrations, and others for whom we work. We all answer to someone.

For Christians, we believe that the highest authority in our lives is God. The only way we can know God is through His Word. If God is our authority, and He has given us His Word, then that Word is authoritative in our lives.

Does the Bible Claim to Be Authoritative?

As Protestant Christians, we hold to the doctrine of Sola Scriptura, or Scripture Alone as the final authority. But does the Bible make this claim? Did Jesus believe Scripture was authoritative?

We must begin by looking at the doctrine of inspiration, which means that the Scriptures are a divine product breathed out by God. As Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains in Great Doctrines of the Christian Life, inspiration means that Scripture is “God-breathed.” This means that the Bible was given by verbal inspiration—the idea that the particular words have been given by God. While each human author used their own language and style, it was God who kept them free from error and used them to write exactly what He intended.

It can be difficult to understand how God inspires Scripture while also using the personality and style of human authors. Lloyd-Jones uses a helpful illustration of a man riding on horseback from one place to another:

Today he rides one horse, then tomorrow he takes the same journey on a different horse. The horse he rides today is high-spirited, full of verve and of power. The horse he will ride tomorrow is rather older and has become tired and lethargic. Now in both instances, the man riding the horse goes to and from the same places, but the particular way in which the two horses carry him may be altogether different… The mannerisms—the style, as it were—vary tremendously, but both horses are guided and controlled by the same rider, and the result is the same (pp. 24–25).

So, while penned by human authors using their own style, the Bible’s true Author is God Himself. This is why the Bible is referred to as “Scripture,” which means holy writings. It is not an ordinary book. It is also called the “Word of God,” which only makes sense if the words were given by God.

There are several places where Scripture claims to be inspired. The most well-known example is 2 Timothy 3:16:

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Additional biblical evidence includes:

David recognizes his own inspiration (2 Samuel 23:2).
Peter recognizes Paul’s writings as Scripture (2 Peter 3:15–16).
Scripture is written by the Holy Spirit through men (2 Peter 1:20–21).
Paul identifies his words as from God (1 Corinthians 14:37–38).
The apostles affirm Old Testament inspiration (Acts 1:16; 4:24–25; 13:35).
Paul’s argument from “seed” rather than “seeds” (Galatians 3:16).
Jesus affirms the authority of the Old Testament (Mark 12:35–37; Matthew 19:3–6).
Jesus declares, “Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35).
Jesus quotes Genesis as authoritative history (Matthew 19:4).
Jesus teaches that Scripture points to Him (Luke 24:44).
Jesus rebukes ignorance of Scripture (Mark 12:24).

Why Does It Matter?

Understanding that the Bible is inspired by God is critical because if it is not inspired by God, then it has no authority. If the Bible is simply a collection of human thoughts and opinions, then I can pick and choose what I like and leave out the rest.

If the Bible is not God’s Word—if it was written by man alone—then it cannot be trusted, and we do not have to follow it. If the Bible is God’s Word, then we can trust it and know that we are accountable to it.

This means I trust the Bible over my experience, reason, and opinion. Too often, we see the Bible’s authority being questioned, even among conservative evangelicals:

“Well, I don’t think God is really like that.”
“In my experience, that’s not true.”

In those moments, we are putting our thoughts and experiences above God’s Word.

Where will you place your trust?

Your thoughts, opinions, or experiences?
Your image of God that you have created?
Or God’s revelation of Himself in His holy Word?

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean that the Bible is “inspired”?
It means the Scriptures are “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16). Though written by human authors, God guided them so that the result was His perfect Word, free from error.

Did Jesus view the Old Testament as authoritative?
Yes. Jesus repeatedly cited the Old Testament as the Word of God, taught its authority (John 10:35), and emphasized that it pointed to Him (Luke 24:44).

Why does the authority of the Bible matter today?
Because if the Bible is God’s Word, we are accountable to it. It is our final authority—not our experiences, feelings, or opinions.

What happens if we reject the Bible’s authority?
If Scripture is seen as merely human opinion, it loses binding authority, and truth becomes subjective—leading to spiritual confusion and compromise.

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