Authenticity of the Bible

The authenticity or authority of Holy Writ is twofold on account of its twofold

authorship. First, the various books which make up the Bible are authentic

because they enjoy all the human authority that is naturally due to their

respective authors. Second, they possess a higher authenticity, because

invested with a Divine, supernatural authority through the Divine authorship which

makes them the inspired word of God. Biblical authenticity in its first sense must

naturally be considered in the articles on the several books of Sacred Scripture,

in its second sense, it springs from Biblical inspiration, for which see

INSPIRATION.

F.X.E. ALBERT

Transcribed by Joseph P. Thomas

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume II

Imprimatur. +John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York

The Catholic Encyclopedia: newadvent.org