"And for this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received from us the word of the message, even the word of God, ye accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God...." (1Thess.2:13). Paul declares here what he and others affirmed in other places (2Pet.1:20-21) and which many Christians assert today: the Bible has God as its source. But how can we be sure that such confident affirmations are true? There are many "witnesses" to call upon that will present good evidence of this contention, but there is none better to testify in this regard than Jesus Christ. Notice His testimony concerning the Old Testament section of our Bibles.

Jesus accepted the Old Testament historical events which involved the "miraculous." He spoke of the creation (Mk.13:19); the flood (Matt.24:37-39); the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and Lot's wife (Lk.17:29,32); the provision of manna (Jo.6:31-32); the brazen serpent (Jo.3:14); and Jonah being swallowed up by a great fish (Matt.12:39-41). No indication here that our Lord thought these events to be myths and fairy tales; He spoke with confidence that they had actually occurred.

Jesus cited Old Tesament prophets and their prophecies. The following statements indicate a belief that the words uttered by prophets centuries before would be fulfilled: "that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled" (Matt. 26:56); "all things that are written through the prophets shall be accomplished" (Lk.18:31). (See also Jo.5:39,46-47). He also cited specific prophets and their prophecies; two examples will suffice. David, who spoke one thousand years before Christ (Ps.41:9) was referrenced by Jesus (Jo.13:18), and Isaiah (6:9-10; 61:1, 750 years B.C.) was cited also (Matt.13:14-15; Lk. 4:16-21) as foretelling events that would come to pass in Jesus' day. Truly, Jesus believed "that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and the prophets concerning me." (Lk.24:44)

Jesus affirmed Old Testament inspiration. Our Lord said (Matt.22:31) that what was recorded in Ex.3:6 was "spoken unto you by God". And when He said "have you not read" (Matt. 19:4-5) (a reference to what Moses wrote) Jesus said that "he who made them from the beginning" said it (Gen.2:24). Men wrote it, but God revealed it; this is clearly the teaching of the Master.

Many religious people who deny most, if not all, of the Old Testament historical events which involve miracles, who ridicule the idea that men such as Daniel could have foretold the rise and fall of nations centuries before it happened, and belittle the notion that men wrote down what God spoke, will in the same breath talk of what a wonderful man and teacher Jesus was. But such cannot be. For if Jesus deliberately referenced and affirmed things to be true which He knew were not, then he is a liar and thus not a good man. And if he honestly believed these things to be so but had been deceived into believing they were, then He was a fool, and thus is not a reliable teacher. But if He is neither liar or fool and is truly a good man and teacher, then what he said in regard to the Old Testament must be accepted and this portion of the Bible truly is God's word.

We should think seriously before rejecting the prophets and their prophecies, their recounting of miraculous events and their confident affirmations of God directing their writing. Jesus said, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!" (Lk.24:25).