How can John 10:34 deepen our trust in the Bible's inerrancy? The Setting in the Temple - Jesus is confronting hostile religious leaders during the Feast of Dedication (John 10:22–24). - They accuse Him of blasphemy for claiming oneness with the Father (v. 30, 33). - Into this high-stakes moment, He quotes Psalm 82:6: “Jesus answered them, ‘Is it not written in your Law: “I have said you are gods”?’ ” (John 10:34). Jesus Anchors His Defense on a Single Phrase - He does not appeal to His miracles, logic, or popularity—He turns to Scripture. - One word—“gods”—carries His entire argument (v. 35). - By resting His defense on such a small textual detail, Jesus demonstrates absolute confidence that every word of Scripture is exact and trustworthy. “The Scripture Cannot Be Broken” (John 10:35) - “Cannot be broken” means Scripture is unbreakable, unalterable, and fully binding. - If even one word could fail, Jesus’ argument would collapse. - He assumes the written text of Psalm 82 is preserved accurately centuries after it was penned. Jesus’ View of the Old Testament Validates Inerrancy - Matthew 5:18—“Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke of a pen will by any means disappear from the Law.” - Luke 24:44—He fulfills “everything written” in the Law, Prophets, and Psalms. - John 17:17—“Your word is truth.” These statements reveal Jesus’ unwavering conviction that Scripture is accurate down to its minutest details. Logical Flow from John 10:34 to Inerrancy 1. Jesus treats the written Word as God’s voice. 2. God’s voice cannot err (Numbers 23:19; Titus 1:2). 3. Therefore the written Word, as preserved, is without error. Implications for Today - Confidence in Textual Precision • Because Jesus trusted every jot and tittle, we can rely on the exact wording we hold in our hands. - Assurance of Doctrinal Stability • The truths we derive—about salvation, morality, prophecy—stand on an unbreakable foundation. - Motivation for Careful Study • If Jesus built an argument on one noun, our careful attention to grammar, context, and word choice honors His example. - Encouragement in Cultural Pushback • When society challenges biblical authority, Christ’s own high view undergirds our peaceful yet firm response. Walking Out This Confidence - Read daily with the settled conviction that God speaks without error. - Memorize passages, trusting their exact wording has divine precision. - Share Scripture boldly, knowing it carries inherent power and reliability (Isaiah 55:11; Hebrews 4:12). John 10:34 is more than a clever rebuttal; it is a window into Jesus’ doctrine of Scripture. Because He anchored eternal truth on a single Old Testament word, we can rest assured that the entire Bible is, indeed, inerrant. |
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