[T]hese verses are representative of a number in which Jesus appeals to the authority of the Scriptures. Many claim that in these types of passages Jesus is clearly arguing for the inspiration of the whole Bible. This, in reference to this passage, Warfield states that the point to recognise if Jesus’ defense in the form of an appeal to Scripture, and how Jesus makes this appeal: Jesus appeals to “the Law” and then quotes from the Psalms (Ps 82:6). Warfield believes that this is tantamount to calling Scripture and Law synonyms. Then, by stating that Scripture cannot be broken, Jesus drives home the point of ultimate authority of the Scriptures. There is no doubt that Jesus here is arguing with the Jews from a common view of the authority of Scripture. The question that begs an answer, however, is, What dos the text say about inspiration? The concern of the text is not to state a position on inspiration. Rather, Jesus is drawing from a mutual respect for the authority of the Hebrew Scriptures. Why that authority exists is not discussed. But the issue of the state of the canon in Jesus’ time notwithstanding, another general comment should be made. Nowhere in this passage (or any of the others that this text represents) is there an appeal to the inspiration of the Bible. But since some make the link between inspiration and authority when Jesus appeals to the authority of Scripture, the connection to inspiration becomes second nature, and any argument for authority becomes an argument for inspiration. I think this link is contextually incorrect.
Craig D. Allert, A High View of
Scripture? The Authority of the Bible and the Formation of the New Testament
Canon (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker, 2007), 158-59
