Scripture's Role in Defining God's Character Compared to Non-Biblical Examples
Scripture functions as the authoritative record of God's self-disclosure, establishing the standard by which Christians understand divine character. The New Testament consistently refers to "Scripture" as that "definite collection of sacred books, regarded as given by inspiration of God," which perpetuates God's revealed will in written form [2]. This collection is described as "given by inspiration of God" and "by inspiration of the Holy Spirit" [3], making it qualitatively distinct from other religious or philosophical texts that claim to describe deity.
The Biblical Foundation for God's Character
The Scriptures themselves present God's character as the normative standard for holiness and moral perfection. Leviticus 19:2 and 1 Peter 1:15-16 establish "the character of God, the standard of" holiness that believers are commanded to reflect [1]. This creates a circular but coherent epistemology: Scripture reveals God's character, and God's character validates Scripture's authority. The text does not argue for God's existence or defend his attributes through external proofs; rather, "the existence of God is taken for granted in the Bible" [4], with his nature disclosed through direct revelation rather than comparative analysis.
Christ himself sanctioned this exclusive authority by "appealing to" Scripture [3] and teaching "out of" it [3]. John 5:39 records Jesus directing his hearers to "search the scriptures" because they testify of him, positioning Scripture as the charter that identifies him as "the appointed Dispenser" of eternal life [6]. As "the Word" (Logos), Christ is "the revealer of God" whose "office is to make God known" [5], creating an inseparable link between the written word and the incarnate Word.
Scripture's Self-Authenticating Authority
The doctrine of inspiration establishes Scripture's unique status. Second Timothy 3:16 affirms that "every Scripture" in "its every part" is God-breathed [7], a claim never extended to non-biblical religious texts within the Christian tradition. This self-authenticating quality means Scripture does not derive its authority from external validation—whether philosophical argument, ecclesiastical decree, or comparative religion. The text is "called the Word," "Word of God," "Word of truth," and "Scripture of truth" [3], titles that assert its direct divine origin rather than its superiority over competing texts.
Where non-biblical sources might describe divine attributes through human observation or speculation, Scripture presents itself as God's own testimony about himself, making comparison categorically different rather than merely a matter of degree.
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Holiness — Commanded -- Le 11:45; 20:7; Eph 5:8; Col 3:12; Ro 12:1. Christ Desires for his people. -- Joh 17:17. Effects, in his people. -- Eph 5:25-27. An example of. -- Heb 7:26; 1Pe 2:21,22. The character of God, the standard of -- Le 19:2; 1Pe 1:15,16; Eph 5:1. The character of Christ, the standard of -- Ro 8:29; 1Jo 2:6; Php 2:5. The gospel the way of -- Isa 35:8. Necessary to God's worship -- Ps 24:3,4. None shall see God without -- Eph 5:5; Heb 12:14. Saints Elected to. -- Ro 8:29; Eph 1:4. Called to. -- 1Th 4:7; 2Ti 1:9. New created in. -- Eph 4:24. Possess. ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Scripture — Invariably in the New Testament denotes that definite collection of sacred books, regarded as given by inspiration of God, which we usually call the Old Testament (2 Tim. 3:15, 16; John 20:9; Gal. 3:22; 2 Pet. 1:20). It was God's purpose thus to perpetuate his revealed will. From time to time he raised up men to commit to writing in an infallible record the revelation he gave. The "Scripture," or collection of sacred writings, was thus enlarged from time to time as God saw necessary. We have now a completed "Scripture," consisting of the Old and New Testa”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Scriptures, The — Given by inspiration of God -- 2Ti 3:16. Given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit -- Ac 1:16; Heb 3:7; 2Pe 1:21. Christ sanctioned, by appealing to them -- Mt 4:4; Mr 12:10; Joh 7:42. Christ taught out of -- Lu 24:27. Are called the Word. -- Jas 1:21-23; 1Pe 2:2. Word of God. -- Lu 11:28; Heb 4:12. Word of Christ. -- Col 3:16. Word of truth. -- Jas 1:18. Holy Scriptures. -- Ro 1:2; 2Ti 3:15. Scripture of truth. -- Da 10:21. Book. -- Ps 40:7; Re 22:19. Book of the Lord. -- Isa 34:16. Book of the law. -- Ne 8:3; Ga 3:10. Law of the Lord. -- Ps 1:2; Isa”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: God — (A.S. and Dutch God; Dan. Gud; Ger. Gott), the name of the Divine Being. It is the rendering (1) of the Hebrew 'El, from a word meaning to be strong; (2) of 'Eloah_, plural _'Elohim. The singular form, Eloah, is used only in poetry. The plural form is more commonly used in all parts of the Bible, The Hebrew word Jehovah (q.v.), the only other word generally employed to denote the Supreme Being, is uniformly rendered in the Authorized Version by "LORD," printed in small capitals. The existence of God is taken for granted in the Bible. There is nowhere any argume”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Word, The — (Gr. Logos), one of the titles of our Lord, found only in the writings of John (John 1:1-14; 1 John 1:1; Rev. 19:13). As such, Christ is the revealer of God. His office is to make God known. "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him" (John 1:18). This title designates the divine nature of Christ. As the Word, he "was in the beginning" and "became flesh." "The Word was with God " and "was God," and was the Creator of all things (comp. Ps. 33: 6; 107:20; 119:89; 147:18; Isa. 40:8).”
- John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on John 5:39: Search the scriptures, &c.--"In the Scriptures ye find your charter of eternal life; go search them then, and you will find that I am the Great Burden of their testimony; yet ye will not come to Me for that life eternal which you profess to find there, and of which they tell you I am the appointed Dispenser." (Compare Act 17:11-12). How touching and gracious are these last words! Observe here (1) The honor which Christ gives to the Scriptures, as a record which all have a right and are bound to search--the reverse of which the Church of Rome teaches; (2)”
- 2 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Timothy 3:16: All scripture--Greek, "Every Scripture," that is, Scripture in its every part. However, English Version is sustained, though the Greek article be wanting, by the technical use of the term "Scripture" being so well known as not to need the article (compare Greek, Eph 3:15; Eph 2:21). The Greek is never used of writings in general, but only of the sacred Scriptures. The position of the two Greek adjectives closely united by "and," forbids our taking the one as an epithet, the other as predicated and translated as ALFORD and ELLICOTT. "Every Scripture ”