Article 5 is stated this way:
We receive all these books and these only as holy and canonical, for the regulating, founding, and establishing of our faith.
And we believe without a doubt all things contained in them--not so much because the church receives and approves them as such but above all because the Holy Spirit testifies in our hearts that they are from God and also because they prove themselves to be from God.
For even the blind themselves are able to see that the things predicted in them do happen.
This article in the Belgic Confession is said and known to be the "most Calvinistic" article; meaning that it is the most likely something that the Reformer John Calvin would have written or said; which he has done in many different places.
I have been asked the questions like the following by many people,
"How can we know that the Bible/Scripture is authoritative?"
"Where does it get its authority from?"
And maybe you have asked this question as well.
"Where does the authority of the Bible come from?"
"How do we know that these books in Article 4 are true, authoritative Word of God?"
As I am sure Guido de Bres was asked this and as he is writing this; he probably was anticipating this question also. Therefore, he writes a defense of the authority of Scripture in this article.
In the first paragraph; Guido states that these books are for the "regulating, founding and establishing of our faith." This basically means exactly what 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says:
"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."
What this passage from Paul to the young Timothy and what Guido means by these words is that the Bible is our source of God's revealed words to us--to all of humanity. And these revealed words from God are helpful to us for teaching us, for rebuking us, for correcting us and for training us in righteousness. These are all necessary for the purpose of (key words in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 "so that") the man/woman of God may be competent or prepared and equipped for every good work that God has planned out for them today in advance (see Ephesians 2:10).
In the second paragraph Guido states three distinct things (bad word) that have proved them to be the true Words of God.
And notice the first part, his great confidence he has, "And we believe without a doubt..." Therefore, we too, as Christians living in the 21st century can have this same confidence as Guido had in this truth.
First, the church has testified to the Scriptures truth as the Word of God. They have received them as such and approves them as the true Word of God.
Secondly, and the most important as Guido states, "but above all because the Holy Spirit testifies in our hearts that they are from God..." The Holy Spirit works in our hearts to acknowledge the truth and authority that is found in the Word of God.
And thirdly, the Scriptures themselves prove themselves to be true and from God as 2 Timothy 3:16-17 stated for us.
And then in the last paragraph Guido gives a reason why they testify themselves to be true. This is known as the "Argument from Prophesy". I won't go into details about this too much, but the Old Testament prophesies in the Bible all have come true today in Christ and those that are not fully fulfilled will be fully fulfilled when Christ comes to this earth again.
"For even the blind themselves are able to see the things predicted in them do happen."
Basically Guido is saying, "Hey dummy, wake up, there is something going on here that you don't need eyes to see." We don't need physical eyes, we need spiritual eyes. And the Holy Spirit provides them for us as He works in our hearts, minds and souls.
Praise be to God for His revealed Word to us!
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