One thing must be emphatically stated. The New Testament books did not become authoritative for the Church because they were formally included in a canonical list; on the contrary, the Church included them in her canon because she already regarded them as divinely inspired, recognizing their innate worth and generally apostolic authority, direct or indirect.
F. F. BruceThe evidence for our New Testament writings is ever so much greater than the evidence for many writings of classical authors, the authenticity of which no one dreams of questioning. And if the New Testament were a collection of secular writings, their authenticity would generally be regarded as beyond all doubt.
F. F. BruceThere is no body of ancient literature in the world which enjoys such a wealth of good textual attestation as the New Testament.
F. F. BruceWhere love is the compelling power, there is no sense of strain or conflict or bondage in doing what is right: the man or woman who is compelled by Jesus’ love and empowered by His Spirit does the will of God from the heart.
F. F. BrucePersistence in prayer for someone whom we don't like, however much it goes against the grain to begin with, brings about a remarkable change in attitude.
F. F. BruceThe variant readings about which any doubt remains among textual critics of the New Testament affect no material question of historic fact or of Christian faith and practice
F. F. BruceAnd if the New Testament were a collection of secular writings, their authenticity would generally be regarded as beyond all doubt
F. F. BruceGod bestows His blessings without discrimination. The followers of Jesus are children of God, and they should manifest the family likeness by doing good to all, even to those who deserve the opposite.
F. F. BruceAny part of the human body can only be explained in reference to the whole body. And any part of the Bible can only be properly explained in reference to the whole Bible.
F. F. BruceSome writers may toy with the fancy of a ‘Christ-myth,’ but they do not do so on the ground of historical evidence. The historicity of Christ is as axiomatic for an unbiased historian as the historicity of Julius Caesar. It is not historians who propagate the ‘Christ-myth’ theories.
F. F. BruceWhatever else may be thought of the evidence from early Jewish and Gentile writers it does at least establish, for those who refuse the witness of Christian writings, the historical character of Jesus Himself.
F. F. Bruce