Clement of Rome, Letter to the Corinthians, chapter 45

You have studied the Holy Scriptures, which are true and inspired by the Holy Spirit. You know that nothing contrary to justice or truth has been written in them.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies, book 2, chapter 28

God Who created us, being most properly assured that the Scriptures are indeed perfect, since they were spoken by the Word of God and His Spirit.

John of Chrysostom

Let us then in everything believe God, and contradict Him in nothing, though what is said seem to be contrary to our thoughts and senses, but let His word be of higher authority than both our reasoning and sight. Thus let us do in the mysteries also, not looking at the thing set before us, but keeping in mind His sayings. For His word cannot deceive, but our senses are easily beguiled. His word has never failed, but our senses in most things go wrong.

Augustine, Letters (to Jerome), number 28

I think it is extremely dangerous to admit that anything in the Sacred Books should be a lie…If we once admit in that supreme authority even one polite lie, there will be nothing left of those books, because, whenever anyone finds something difficult to practice or hard to believe, he will follow this most dangerous precedent and explain it as the idea or practice of a lying author.

Augustine, Reply to Faustus the Manichaean, book 2, chapter 5

We are bound to receive as true whatever the canon shows to have been said by even one prophet, or apostle, or evangelist. Otherwise, not a single page will be left for the guidance of human fallibility, if contempt for the wholesome authority of the canonical books either puts an end to that authority altogether, or involves it in hopeless confusion.

Clement of Alexandria, Exhortation to the Heathen, chapter 9:82

I could adduce ten thousand Scriptures of which not ‘one tittle shall pass away’ without being fulfilled; for the mouth of the Lord the Holy Spirit has spoken these things.

Gregory Nazianzen

We however, who extend the accuracy of the Spirit to the merest stroke and tittle, will never admit the impious assertion that even the smallest matters were dealt with haphazardly by those who have recorded them, and have thus been borne in mind down to the present day.

Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho, chapter 65

But I shall not venture to suppose or to say such a things [that the Scriptures err]; and if a Scripture which appears to be of such a kind be brought forward, and if there be a pretext [for saying] that it is contrary [to some other] since I am entirely convinced that no Scripture contradicts another, I shall admit rather that I do not understand what is recorded, and shall strive to persuade those who imagine that the Scriptures are contradictory, to be rather of the same opinion as myself.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies, book 3, chapter 1

We have learned from none others the plan of our salvation, than from those through whom the Gospel has come down to us, which they did at one time proclaim in public, and, at a later period, by the will of God, handed down to us in the Scriptures, to be the ground and pillar of our faith…

Tertullian, Against Marcion, book 4, chapter 2

We lay it down as our first position, that the evangelical Testament has apostles for its authors, to whom was assigned by the Lord Himself this office of publishing the gospel…Of the apostles, therefore, John and Matthew first instill faith into us; while of apostolic men, Luke and Mark afterwards renew it.

Tags: church, scriptures, inspired, authority of god's word, church fathers