Section 1: Scripture is Superior to All Human Wisdom.
Unless the testimony of the Spirit is established in a person's heart, all of the proofs we can think of for the superiority and truthfulness of scripture are useless. However, if that testimony is there, these 'proofs' "become very useful aids." Once we have that testimony, we can wonder in amazement that "that the sublime mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven came to be expressed largely in mean and lowly words, lest, if they had been adorned with more shining eloquence, the impious would scoffingly have claimed that its power is in the realm of eloquence alone." But this is not the case. Instead faith is not founded human wisdom, but God's power alone. "For truth is cleared of all doubt when, not sustained by external props, it serves as its own support."
Calvin then goes on to say that even the most eloquent of the human authors cannot move us in the way that the holy Scriptures move us, for the Scriptures penetrate so deeply into our hearts, that mere eloquence is as nothing compared to it. "Consequently, "it is easy to see that the Sacred Scriptures, which so far surpass all gifts and graces of human endeavor, breathe something divine."
Section 2: Not Style But Content is Decisive.
In the Scriptures themselves there exists great difference in styles and eloquence. But what is not different is content. All of Scripture shows the majesty of the Spirit who inspired it.
Section 3: The Great Antiquity of Scripture.
Here Calvin argues that "the very antiquity of Scripture has no slight weight." For no other religious writings come from such an early time as do the writings of Moses--and Moses did not make up anything new, but passed down the truth of God which he had from previous generations.
Section 4: The Truthfulness of Scripture Show by Moses' Example.
Here Calvin uses the argument that Moses (among other authors of Scripture) does not elevate himself above others, but simply states the truth no matter how poorly it may reflect on him or on his family. He is of the tribe of Levi, and he records the infamies that Levi commits and how Levi an Simeon are not well-blessed by their father Jacob. Moses does not try to make things better for himself or his family, but simply states the truth he is given.
Section 5: Miracles Strengthen the Authority of God's Messengers.
Continuing to stick with Moses, Calvin speaks of the many miracles which were performed by him to support his authority and words. These miracles, Calvin argues, cannot be denied as fabrications, since Moses is writing his words for the people of Israel, who were with him at the time. These people could easily have denied that the miracles ever happened if Moses was making them up, but they don't. Moses is speaking to eye-witnesses, how could he make it up?
Section 6: Moses' Miracles are Uncontestable.
Here Calvin continues the same line of reasoning. Not only could the people have denied any fabrication of these miracle-stories, but Moses himself could never have performed such miracles by the "magic arts." First of all, such a thing was forbidden (Ex. 7:11, 9:11), punished by stoning to death (Lev. 20:6). Second, how could Moses have actually performed such magic as the manna from heaven, which was exactly enough for everyone and spoiled if too much was taken, except on the Sabbath? And how could he have escaped the fury of those people who rose up against him i by how own power? "The outcome plainly bears out that in this way his doctrine was sanctioned for all time."
Section 7: Prophecies That Are Fulfilled Contrary to All Human Expectation.
And what do we do with those prophecies that, humanly speaking, we cannot see being fulfilled? Calvin points to the fact that in Jacob's blessing of Judah he mentions the scepter. 400 years after this blessing, there is no mention of a scepter, as the people become slaves in Egypt. And when a king finally does come, he is from Benjamin (Saul). And when the king comes from Judah, who could expect him to arise from a lowly shepherding family, the youngest of 7 brothers (David)? From this example and others, it is clear, Calvin writes, that Moses "spoke by divine inspiration."
Section 8: God Has Confirmed the Prophetic Word.
This carries through, Calvin argues, in the rest of the prophets. He focuses on Isaiah's prophecy concerning Cyrus, who would defeat the Babylonian empire and allow the Jews to return to the Promised Land, prophesying 100 years before Cyrus was born. Calvin also points to Jeremiah and Daniel in the same way.
Section 9: The Transmission of the Law Is To Be Trusted.
"The law of Moses was wonderfully preserved by heavenly providence rather than by human effort." If it was to be preserved by human effort, it would have been lost many times over. Even in the time of Josiah when the book of the Law was found in the Temple, it was not totally forgotten, but memories of it remained. For the sacred writings were passed down from generation to generation, from hand to hand.
Section 10: God Has Marvellously Preserved the Law and the Prophets.
Even when God's enemy desires to destroy Scripture, it is not lost. Calvin points to the time of the Maccabees, when a king ruled who oppressed the Jews. This king demanded that all copies of the scriptures be destroyed, but at least some were preserved, for "in what workshop could they have been fabricated so quickly?" For as soon as these persecutions were over, the books reappeared. Thus the Lord himself has taken great care that his Word is preserved. Even when knowledge of the Hebrew language was rare, he caused the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament to be published, thus preserving it for more generations.
Section 11: Simplicity and Heavenly Character and Authority of the New Testament.
When we come to the New Testament, we notice the difference between the gospels: Matthew, Mark and Luke have a very different style than does John. But this does not mean that Matthew, Mark, and Luke do not know what they are talking about, but, Calvin argues, "they are discussing heavenly mysteries above human capacity." Even when we consider that men like Matthew, a tax collector, Peter and John, fishermen, and Paul, a great persecutor of Christians, are now included in the Scriptures by their writings must have been led by the Spirit. Calvin writes: "The truth cries out openly that these men who, previously contemptible among common folk, suddenly began to discourse so gloriously of the heavenly mysteries must have been instructed by the Spirit."
Section 12: Unvarying Testimony of the Church to the Scripture.
Another proof of the Scripture's credibility, Calvin argues, lies in the fact that "age after age agreed to obey it steadfastly and harmoniously." And this even in oppression and attacks from Satan. "Indeed, there has scarcely ever been either a sophist or rhetorician of superior ability who did not try his power against it; yet all were unsuccessful." By this very fact it is proved divine, since no human power can work against it.
Section 13: Martyrs Died Firmly for Scripture Doctrine.
We can also, Calvin says here, point to the blood of godly men who have died because of the Scriptures. Having received it, they did not shrink back from death rather than deny its truth.
There are other reasons and arguments for the credibility of Scripture, Calvin concludes, but none of these are strong enough to prove Scripture true if it is not founded upon the inward testimony of the Holy Spirit. "Augustine therefore justly warns that godliness and peace of mind ought to come first if a man is to understand anything of such great matters."
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Reflection: It is telling that Calvin begins and ends this chapter by stating that the truth of Scripture can only be known by the testimony of the Holy Spirit. Without such testimony, no argument will succeed in proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Scriptures are God's Holy Word. You can argue with an unbeliever as long as you want, but if the Holy Spirit does not turn his heart, your words will have no effect but to turn him further away.
I am reminded of a conversation I had with a classmate early on in my university days. She could not understand why I was a Christian, following the words in some old book written by men a long time ago. When I tried to convince her that, while it may have been written by men, it was inspired by God, she could not understand it. She was thoroughly convinced that it must have errors in it, because men wrote it. Nothing I said could convince her, nothing she said could convince me. We were coming at it from two totally different perspectives: one of belief and one of unbelief, and the divide between them is far too wide for us to cross ourselves.
How thankful I am that the Spirit has so worked in me that I can see the truth of Scripture, stand firm in the doctrine of God, and submit myself to the Lord's will, following his path. Otherwise I would be like a wave tossed about by the winds.
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