The foundation of the Christian faith has been a topic of much debate and discussion throughout church history. At the core of this debate is the relationship between Jesus Christ and the Bible. Are Christians to build their faith primarily on Jesus or on the Bible? Is one more foundational than the other? This article will examine what the Bible itself has to say about this important question.
The Centrality of Jesus Christ
There can be no doubt that Jesus Christ is absolutely central to the Christian faith. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). The apostle Peter proclaimed, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). The book of Hebrews calls Jesus “the founder and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). From these and many other verses, it is clear that Jesus is the only way to salvation, the object of our faith, and the one in whom our faith rests.
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). He claimed to be the exclusive revelation of God, the One who makes God known to humanity (John 1:18). The apostle Paul wrote that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ (Colossians 2:3). A relationship with Christ is the ultimate aim of Christian discipleship. Knowing Christ is far more valuable than anything else (Philippians 3:8). Faith in Christ brings eternal life (John 3:16). Without Christ, there is no Christianity.
In addition to His words, Jesus’ perfect life, sacrificial death on the cross for sin, and resurrection from the dead are at the very heart of the gospel message. Jesus is the only Savior and Lord. He is the long-awaited Messiah and fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. The good news of Christianity centers on the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the one Mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5). So in terms of the foundation of faith, Jesus occupies a place of utmost importance and centrality.
The Role of the Bible
Yet, while Jesus is the foundation of faith in the sense of being the object of faith, what is the foundation for our knowledge about Jesus? How do we gain access to the events of His life, death, and resurrection? How do we know Jesus’ teachings and promises? The answer, of course, is Scripture. The Bible is the sole authoritative written revelation of God that teaches us about Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul told Timothy, “From childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15). The Bible is the divinely inspired means by which we are made wise for salvation.
In the Bible we find the incarnation of Jesus foretold (Isaiah 7:14). We learn of His virgin birth (Luke 1:26-35). We read predictions of His suffering and death on the cross (Psalm 22, Isaiah 53). Descriptions of His resurrection are given (Psalm 16:10, Luke 24:1-8). Jesus’ own words, parables, and discourses are recorded in the Gospels. The epistles unpack the theological significance of His life and work. From Genesis to Revelation, the Scriptures point to Christ.
So while the object of saving faith is Jesus, the foundation for knowledge about Jesus is Scripture. The Bible is the basis for our understanding of the gospel. It is the primary source document that teaches us about Christ’s life and work. God’s plan of redemption centered in His Son unfolds across its pages. In this sense, Scripture provides the foundation for the Christian faith because it gives us access to the saving truth about Jesus.
Jesus’ View of Scripture
Importantly, Jesus Himself demonstrated the highest view of Scripture and lived in perfect accordance with it. He said, “Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). He spoke of the Bible’s abiding authority when He said “until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished” (Matthew 5:18). Jesus rebuked those who “make void the word of God” by their religious traditions (Mark 7:13). He employed Scripture to refute Satan’s temptations (Matthew 4:1-11). Jesus regularly appealed to the Old Testament to validate His messianic identity (Luke 4:18-21). He declared that the Scriptures testify about Him (John 5:39). Jesus clearly saw the Old Testament as the flawless, authoritative Word of God that pointed to Himself as the fulfillment of its messianic promises.
Jesus also promised His disciples that the Holy Spirit would bring His teachings to their remembrance and guide them into all truth (John 14:26, 16:13). He ensured that His apostles were equipped and authorized to be His proxy representatives who, under inspiration, gave us the permanently recorded New Testament Scripture (Matthew 18:18, John 20:21-23, Acts 1:8). So while Jesus is the cornerstone of the Christian faith, He established Scripture as the church’s doctrinal foundation (Ephesians 2:20).
Scripture’s Self-Attestation
The Bible presents itself as the inspired, inerrant Word of God. Paul said, “All Scripture is breathed out by God” (2 Timothy 3:16). Peter wrote that “no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). Paul indicated that his teachings were “not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and power” (1 Corinthians 2:4). The prophets and apostles spoke and wrote God’s revelation through the Spirit’s supernatural influence.
Scripture claims absolute divine authority. The psalmist declared God’s words to be “firmly fixed in the heavens” (Psalm 119:89). Isaiah asserted that “the grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever” (Isaiah 40:8). Jesus said “heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (Matthew 24:35). The Bible presents itself, from cover to cover, as the unerring word of the Almighty God. As such, it demands our unwavering trust and obedience.
The supreme authority and trustworthiness of Scripture is based on the fact that God cannot lie or speak falsely (Numbers 23:19, Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:18). His flawless character guarantees the infallibility of His revealed Word. So Scripture is the Spirit-inspired, self-attesting foundation for divine truth claims, especially those centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ. As the word of God, the Bible is the believers’ final authority for doctrine and practice.
The Mutual Dependence of Scripture and Jesus
While Jesus and Scripture occupy distinct roles in the foundation of faith, they bear a reciprocal relationship to one another. Our only access to the saving gospel comes through the revelation of Scripture. As Paul argues in Romans 10, faith in Christ requires hearing the word of Christ through those who proclaim it in the power of the Spirit (Romans 10:14-17). Scripture is the Spirit’s instrumental means in the justification and sanctification of God’s elect (John 17:17, 2 Thessalonians 2:13). So while the object of saving faith is Christ, the foundation that brings us to faith in Him is Scripture.
Yet Scripture’s authority derives from the fact that it is Christ’s authoritative revelation. The Bible is “the word of Christ” (Colossians 3:16). The risen Savior instructed His disciples from the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms on the Emmaus road (Luke 24:27). Jesus said people are condemned if they do not believe Moses’ writings about Him (John 5:46-47). So the Bible draws its authority from its divine Author, the Lord Jesus. Scripture has power because it bears witness to Christ.
This mutual dependence underscores the profound unity between Scripture and the Son of God. Jesus fulfills the Scripture, which in turn attests to Him. The written word and the Living Word are perfectly complementary. We come to the Scripture to know Christ, and Scripture authenticates itself by revealing Christ. He is the subject of its prophecies and patterns. The Bible is not an end in itself but faithfully points to Jesus. Likewise, we only know of Jesus on the authority of Scripture’s infallible record. He and the Bible exist in an inseparable relationship.
Practical Implications
This understanding of the relationship between Jesus and Scripture is vital for the life of the church. It protects us from error and helps us build our theology and practice on proper foundations. Here are some key implications for ministry:
- We must rely on Scripture alone as our authority for faith and doctrine. While tradition, experience, and reason can serve as tools, only the Bible stands as God’s inerrant Word.
- Our interpretation of any passage must align with Jesus’ teachings. He is the infallible guide to Scripture’s true meaning. We interpret Scripture in light of Scripture, looking to Christ as the central focus.
- Preaching and evangelism must declare the biblical gospel of salvation conditioned on faith in Jesus alone. He must be at the heart of our message.
- Believers’ spiritual growth and obedience find their source in God’s Word through the Spirit. Scripture nourishes, trains, and equips Christians.
- All practices of Christian worship and church polity must align with biblical teaching.
- Jesus must always remain the living cornerstone and heartbeat of the church’s faith.
In summary, the foundation of the Christian faith requires holding Christ and Scripture together in proper biblical balance. The two stand in beautiful, reciprocal interdependence. We come to Jesus through Scripture, and Scripture takes us to Him. The Bible is the Spirit-inspired authority that attests to Jesus, in whom our faith rests. Both Jesus and Scripture have essential, mutually reinforcing roles as the foundations of Christianity.