The DaVinci Myth vs. The Gospel Truth - Online Christian Library

THE GOSPEL TRUTH
THE APOSTLES AND THE SCRIPTURES
The apostles also proclaimed their belief in
Scripture. Paul described the Scriptures as the “oracles of
God” (Romans 3:2). Hebrews 4:12 speaks of Scripture as
a powerful weapon: “For the Word of God is living and
powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing
even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints
and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and
intents of the heart.”
Writing to Timothy, Paul gave the clearest and most
comprehensive definition of Scripture found in the
Bible: “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, thoroughly equipped for every good work”
(2 Timothy 3:16,17).
The early Church held the apostles in such high
esteem that no book found its way into the canon of
Scripture unless it was penned by an apostle (including
Paul, who was called late in the process) or was the direct
by-product of an apostle’s input (such as Mark, which is
widely believed to have received tremendous input from
Peter). In the year 200 A.D. or thereabouts, the North
African Christian Tertullian wrote, “We Christians are
forbidden to introduce anything on our own authority,
or to choose what someone else introduces on his own
authority. Our authorities are the Lord’s apostles, and
they in their turn choose to introduce nothing on their
own authority. They faithfully passed on to the nations
the teaching which they had received from Christ.” 96
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