Harold Lindsell: Quote from The Battle for the Bible

[The following is a quote from the opening paragraph of Harold Lindsell's book, The Battle for the Bible. The bold print is my emphasis, not that of the original author.]

THE BASIC QUESTION

Of all the doctrine the doctrines connected with the Christian faith, none is more important than the one that has to do with the basis of our religious knowledge.  For anyone who professes the Christian faith the root question is:  From where do I get my knowledge on which my faith is based?  The answers to this question are varied of course, but for the Christian at least it always comes full circle to the Bible.  When all has been said and done, the only true and dependable source for Christianity lies in the book we call the Bible.  This is the presupposition from which I start this discussion.

Harold Lindsell.  The Battle for the Bible.  (Grand Rapids:  Zondervan, 1976).  P. 17.




Westminster Larger Catechism:


Question 1

What is the chief and highest end of man?
Man’ s chief and highest end is to glorify God, (Rom. 11:36, Cor. 10:31) and fully to enjoy him forever. (Ps. 73:24–28, John 17:21–23)


Question 2

How doth it appear that there is a God?
The very light of nature in man, and the works of God, declare plainly that there is a God; (Rom. 1:19–20, Ps. 19:1–3, Acts 17:28) but his word and Spirit only do sufficiently and effectually reveal him unto men for their salvation. (1 Cor. 2:9–10, 2 Tim. 3:15–17, Isa. 59:21)


Question 3

What is the word of God?
The holy scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the word of God, (2 Tim. 3:16, 2 Pet. 1:19–21) the only rule of faith and obedience. (Eph. 2:20, Rev. 22:18–19, Isa. 8 :20, Luke 16:29,31, Gal. 1:8–9, 2 Tim. 3:15–16)


Question 4

How doth it appear that the scriptures are of the word of God?
The scriptures manifest themselves to be the word of God, by their majesty (Hos. 8:12, 1 Cor. 2:6–7,13, Ps. 119:18,129) and purity; (Ps. 12:6, Ps. 119:140) by the consent of all the parts, (Acts 10:43, Acts 26:22) and the scope of the whole, which is to give all glory to God; (Rom. 3:19,27) by their light and power to convince and convert sinners, to comfort and build up believers unto salvation: (Acts 18:28, Heb. 4:12, James 1:18, Ps. 19:7–9, Rom. 15:4, Acts 20:32) but the Spirit of God bearing witness by and with the scriptures in the heart of man, is alone able fully to persuade it that they are the very word of God. (John 16:13–14, 1 John 2:20,27, John 20:31)


Question 5

What do the scriptures principally teach?
The scriptures principally teach, what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man. (2 Tim. 1:13)


WHAT MAN OUGHT TO BELIEVE CONCERNING GOD

Question 6

What do the scriptures make known of God?
The scriptures make known what God is, (Heb. 11:6) the persons in the Godhead, (1 John 5:7) his decrees, (Acts 15:14–15,18) and the execution of his decrees. (Acts 4:27–28)


The Westminster Larger Catechism: With Scripture Proofs. (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1996).


[See also: The Battle For The Bible, by Prof. Herman C. Hanko.]