JESUS CHRIST: GOD-MAN - Vital Christianity

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Moreover, they themselves were conscious of the danger of exaggeration and of the
charge that they were making the stories up, and they categorically denied this. As Peter says in
his second letter:
"We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power
and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
For we received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to
Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, 'This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I
am well pleased.' We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when
we were with Him on the sacred mountain. And we have the word of the
prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a
light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in
your hearts" (2 Pe 1:16-19).
We tend to suspect the testimonies and opinions of people who are going to gain from our
acceptance of them. These biblical writers, however, gained nothing but death and persecution
from the message they proclaimed. If they had been content to leave out parts of their message
such as Jesus' resurrection, they may well have been permitted to teach like other Jewish Rabbis
the lessons their Master had taught them. But their truthfulness is reinforced by the fact that they
suffered for the very things they proclaimed.
Authority
The writers of Scripture also claim absolute authority and perfection of their
writings (Dt 28:58-59; Isa 8:20; Gal 1:20; Rev 22:18-19). Such a claim can originate only in
blind conceit, wild fanaticism, sincere but wrong, or a profound conviction that they spoke as the
oracles of God.
We also see books of the Bible claiming that another book is written with absolute
authority (Jos 1:8; 8:31-32; Ezr 3:3; Ne 8:1; Da 9:1-2,11,13; Zec 7:12; Mal 4:4; Ac 1:16; 28:25;
1 Pe 1:10-11). Peter puts the writings of Paul on par with "the other Scriptures" (2 Pe 3:15-16).
This recognition of one book by another is an important indication of the unity of the Bible.
The Old Testament is declared by New Testament authors to be inspired and thus
authoritative (2 Ti 3:16; 2 Pe 1:20-21).
Jesus Himself regarded Scripture as divine and therefore authoritative. He states
emphatically concerning the Hebrew Scriptures:
"I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not
the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until
everything is accomplished" (Mt 5:18).