Does the text of the New Testament have the same authority as those of the Old Testament scriptures?

As we examine the words of Jesus in John 16:12-15, we see that He personally authenticates the words that were written in the New Testament as equal to those of the Old Testament.

I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.  ~John 16:12-15

Verse 12, Jesus states that He still has many things to tell us that have yet to be revealed.

Verse 13, Jesus promised that He would complete His revelation to the world after He sends the Holy Spirit to “guide us into all truth.”

Jesus outlined the key elements of New Testament revelation in three parts. The New Testament are scriptures equal to those of the Old Testament; specifically in their historical authentication, doctrinal interpretation, and prophetic significance.

One: The things written in the New Testament are intended as historical. Jesus said: “I will bring all things to your remembrance:”

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.  ~John 14:26

Two: Jesus intended a doctrinal interpretation of the words that are written in the New Testament historical facts that are recorded:

Verse 14:26, “I will teach you all things,” by the things these men write.

Three: Jesus intended that the words written by those who penned the New Testament would be understood as prophetic:

Verse 16:13 “I will tell you things to come.”

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.  ~John 16:13

Jesus chose men to receive the words He would give the world and to personally witness to the world these revelations of Jesus, Matthew 28:19, John 15:27, 16:13. Acts 1:8, and 9:15-17.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.  ~Matthew 28:19-20

And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.  ~John 15:27

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. ~Acts 1:8

 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” 17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”  ~Acts 9:15-17

Jesus authenticates the words of these men when they were speaking for Him by the Holy Spirit, as having the same authority as His own words, Matthew 10:14-15; Luke 10:16; John. 13:20; 15:20; 17:20

And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!  ~Matthew 10:14-15

He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.  ~Luke 10:16

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.  ~John 13:20

Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.  ~John 15:20

I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word.  ~John 17:20

Paul, in writing his own words, understood that Jesus was giving Him authority to record things on His behalf, equal to all other scripture.

If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.  ~1 Corinthians 14:37

This includes controversial doctrine such as the Rapture of the church. Paul asserted his authority to reveal the removal of the church before the wrath of the Tribulation as coming directly from Jesus.

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.  !1 Thessalonians 4:15-17

It is clear that Jesus knew ahead of time that the words and revelations that are recorded in the New Testament would be preserved for every generation.

I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word.  ~John 17:20

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. ~Acts 1:8

Jesus also confirmed that there would be certain men who were chosen by Him who were not a part of the original Apostles, like Paul, Luke and Mark, who are also prophets, that Jesus chose to write and preserve the words He would give them.

And Jesus Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.   ~Ephesians 4:11-12

…how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets.  ~Ephesians 3:3-5

Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 26 but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith— 27 to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen  ~Romans 16:25-27

Jesus authenticated the words of these men who penned the New Testament as authentic, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and equal in authority to the scriptures of the Old Testament. Paul later commented on this facts when he wrote to Timothy and confirmed the authority of the New Testament.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.  ~2 Timothy 3:16-17

The Inspiration Of The Entire Bible

People who do not believe the Bible is truly the word of God because it was written by men, are ignorant of the power of God. Consider the technology, intelligence, and power that was required to preserve the entire universe as God created and ordered it to have the capacity to support man when He created us on the earth. It is certain that God is able to not only speak His word to men who have set themselves apart for Him, but also to protect and preserve His word over the course of history.

If we think that God, with all His power, cannot ensure that the words we have today in our Bible are corrupted or lack the truth of His word, they do not understand who God is.

We see throughout the Old Testament that the men who were writing the words that God instructed, were certain that their inspiration to write these words, came directly from God. While writing, God did not impede that personal intelligence, individuality, literary style, or personal feelings of the writers of the Bible. God supernaturally directed the writing of Scripture so that these men recorded with perfect accuracy God’s revelation of Himself to mankind.

The Writers Of The Old Testament:

The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me: ‘He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.  ~2 Samuel 23:2-3Is. 59:21;

Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me:
“Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.  ~Jeremiah 1:9

The Writers Of The New Testament:

For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.  ~Matthew 5:18

Jesus demonstrated the congruity between the scriptures of the Old Testament and those of the New Testament. Quoting the words of David as scripture and confirming these words with the text of Matthew 22:42-43, as the fulfillments of David’s prophecy—both the words of God, working together to show the fulfillments of the Messianic Prophecies of Jesus.

“What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” They said to Him, “The Son of David.” He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying: “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool’ ”?  ~Matthew 22:42-44

We see how both the Old and New Testaments are confirmed as the word of God and their source of authorship as God, by the impossibility of a prediction being made hundreds of thousands of years before, and fulfilled by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In 2013, after completing a forty year study in these prophecies, I wrote a treatise on these Prophecies of the Messiah and published it with Amazon. No person who sees the prophecies that were written, with their New Testament fulfillments will continue to doubt that God intended both as evidence of His existence, and Jesus as the One True Messiah.

Categories: Robert Clifton Robinson