From Jesus to Scripture: How Christ Instituted the Bible

I. How Is the Bible Being Used?
Many churches treat the Bible 'top-down,' as the Word of (meaning from) God.
The academy tends to investigate its meaning 'then-and-now,' as the Word of (meaning about God in original cultural and historical contexts).
In college, did you experience 'whiplash' between these two?

Christian history shaped perceptions of the Bible's character, work, and power (so 'bibliology,' or doctrine of scripture). Different camps have foregrounded its relationship with ...

Catholics: ... the Church (so Holy Tradition).
Lutherans: ... the Law and (especially) the Gospel (so biblical criticism).
'Ana'baptists and disciple-making movements: ... disciples (so faithful, fruitful obedience).
Calvinists: ... the Holy Spirit (so authority, covenant, and internal witness).
Liberals and fundamentalists: the truth (so theological, historical, scientific [un]reliability).

Note the importance of historical context and moment for yielding each insight,

as well as danger that an insight can 'capture scripture' and constrict its use.

The Bible's specific relationships with Jesus Christ are also often overlooked, but clarifying.

They move 'every which way' in the richness of God's relationships and work.
This need not threaten other insights, and can help refresh them and release the Bible from their captivity.

II. Israel's Scripture: The Word from the Father
Israel generated and kept the writings of the Old Testament:

Torah: the 'gospel' of Israel's creation and freedom and its rules for enjoying them.
Prophets: the tragic story of Israel leaving God, along with warnings of the consequences and assurances that God would restore Israel nevertheless.
Writings: Israel's worship and contemplation of the God it was coming to know in this life, death, and bright distant future.

As Jesus' heritage, Israel's holy scriptures make him intelligible.
As Jesus' formation, they make him Jewish.
As Jesus' horizon, they define his mission as Israel's Messiah.
As Jesus' canon (rule), obedience to them is obedience to the Father (Matt 5:18).

III. Jesus' Scripture: The Word in the Son
Jesus never criticized nor set Israel's scriptures aside, but taught, confirmed, and fulfilled them:

His life, death, and resurrection were their content and goal
(Ps 2, Deut 8, Ps 22, Deut 32, Ps 110, Isa 53, and on and on).
His coming transforms Israel's scriptures into what the Church calls "Old Testament."

As Jesus' instrument, obedience to them is obedience to him.
Jesus' new words and deeds, not just his repeated ones, are also the Word of God (1 Cor 7:25).

His historically decisive ministry authorizes 'new testament.'

In sum, Jesus 'institutes' scripture as an outward sign of his grace:

Scripture points to Jesus as Lord and Messiah.

IV. The Church's Scripture: The Word by the Spirit
Jesus' power: Scripture is the Spirit at work in Jesus (Isa 61:1 in Luke 4:18).
Jesus' rule: Obedience to God's Word, written on our hearts, is obedience to the Spirit inspiring and writing them (2 Tim 3:16).
Jesus' community: In the Spirit, disciples speak Jesus' words for the Church (John 16:12-15, Matt 18:18-20; also John 20:22-23, Matt 10:19-20).
Jesus' tradition: Jesus Spirit-authorizes witnesses to spread the good news of his Kingdom, life, and traditions (Acts 1:8). His followers generate:

Gospels: Four biographies of our Jesus that center on his life, death, and resurrection, each with its own flavor and insight.
Acts and 'prophets': Luke keeps telling Jesus' story through the activities of his Spirit's Church. Revelation tells the story of the church's continuing struggles to stay faithful under pressure, and God's determination to see it through its trials in our world.
'Writings': Church correspondence, from letters of Paul and other leaders to a sermon (Hebrews), is 'inside information' on our community.

Jesus' confession: Disciples use Scripture to worship and serve Jesus as Lord (Acts 2:14-39, Phil 2:5-11).

V. The "Living and Active" Word of God
So scripture reflects the Father's character and will,

shares in the Son's ministry and truth, and
works in the Holy Spirit's power,
through Israel's and the Church's voices.

In these ways, the churches' claims listed above are appropriate:

The Bible is true as God is true, in ways that make us holy.

The Bible's canonicity honors that it norms all traditions (including itself).