OF HOLY SCRIPTURE
Thoughts on the Second London Baptist Confession
Chapter 1: Of Holy Scripture
Part 1
By Brian Pendleton
“All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness,
so that the man of God may be equipped, having been thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
- 2Timothy 3:16–17 (LSB)
Read Chapter 1 of the 2LBC Paragraph 1
The Savoy Declaration and the Westminster Confession of Faith begin their confessions with general revelation: “Although the light of nature...” While the 2LBC has the same language as those confessions it adds a line before it and begins with special revelation, specifically the Bible, “The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving Knowledge, Faith and Obedience...” Let us look at each one of these descriptions given of the Bible.
The first remark that the Confession makes about the Bible is that it is the ‘only sufficient... rule’. The Scriptures are adequate to equip the Christian for every good work (2 Timothy 3:17). The doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture is expanded in paragraph six: “The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down or necessarily contained in the Holy Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelation of the Spirit, or traditions of men.” The Bible is competent to give us the knowledge and direction we need for doctrine and devotion, for belief and behavior, for faith and practice.
Secondly the confession mentions that the Bible is the only, ‘certain... rule’. What the Scriptures say about who God is and what He requires of us is true. We can know for sure that the teachings concerning redemption contained it is pages are accurate. The Bible is the certain rule on how we are to live Holy lives and who the Holy One is. We can trust the Scriptures.
Thirdly the confession states that the Bible is the ‘infallible rule’. What does that mean? R.C. Sproul defined infallible as “cannot err”. Historically the word “infallible” was interchangeable with the word “inerrant”, which means “does not err”. The Scriptures are without error because they are the very Word of God. God is truth and cannot lie. The Scriptures were breathed out by God (2 Timothy 3:16), therefore they are without error.
The first paragraph of chapter one of the 2LBC addresses the necessity of Scripture. How necessary is the Bible? Why isn’t general revelation enough for a saving knowledge God etc? While somethings can be know about God from creation and providence [like God’s Wisdom, Goodness, & Power (Psalm 19:1, Romans 1:20)], those things which are necessary for salvation can only be made known through special revelation.
Abraham, we are told was, justified by faith (Romans 4:3). How was that so? It was because he “believed God”. Believed what? Something learned from looking at the birds and the stars? No, he believed the promises God made to Him. God spoke to Abraham the Gospel (Gal 3:8). B.B. Warfield said special revelation, “. . is addressed to a special class of sinners, to whom God would make know His salvation.” (See B.B. Warfield article on Revelation). Abraham would not have known the Good News apart from God revealing it to him.
God’s special revelation was revealed to His people in many different ways. Sometimes He spoke to His people through prophets, other times through visions, and sometimes ‘face to face’. Those ways have now ceased (Hebrews 1:1-2), thus making, “...the Holy Scriptures to be most necessary...”. God’s Word was put into writing and His truth, which is necessary for our salvation, is contained in its pages. The Bible is necessary for: knowledge of the gospel, maintaining spiritual life and certain knowledge of God’s will.