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From
beginning to
end, the
Bible claims
to be the
word of God,
the
revelation
of His will
to man.
Paul wrote
to Timothy,
“All
scripture is
given by
inspiration
of God, and
is
profitable
for
doctrine,
for reproof,
for
correction,
for
instruction
in
righteousness”
(2 Timothy
3:16). The
word
“inspiration”
literally
means
“breathed
into by
God,” or
“God
breathed.”
This means
that the
Holy Spirit
exercised a
supernatural
influence
over the
Bible
writers so
that they
would
communicate
to man
exactly what
God wanted
communicated
to him.
Because of
this, the
Bible
writers
wrote
without
error in all
areas,
including
morality,
history, and
science.
Bible
inspiration
is not be
limited to
one area,
such as
morality or
doctrine.
Inspiration
prevents
errors of
fact (not
theories) in
history,
science, and
other areas.
The Bible
writers were
conscious
that they
were not
speaking of
their own
accord, but
were
speaking for
God. Peter
wrote,
“no prophecy
of the
scripture is
of any
private
interpretation.
For the
prophecy
came not in
old time by
the will of
man: but
holy men of
God spake as
they were
moved by the
Holy Ghost”
(2 Peter
1:20-21).
Samuel said,
“The
spirit of
the LORD
spake by me,
and his word
was in my
tongue”
(2 Samuel
23:2).
Jeremiah
said,
“the LORD
put forth
his hand,
and touched
my mouth.
And the LORD
said unto
me, Behold,
I have put
my words in
thy mouth”
(Jeremiah
1:9). Thus
the writers
claim
plenary
(full),
verbal (the
actual
words)
inspiration.
They spoke
the very
word that
God
commanded.
Jesus spoke
of the
written word
when He
said,
“Think not
that I am
come to
destroy the
law, or the
prophets: I
am not come
to destroy,
but to
fulfil. For
verily I say
unto you,
Till heaven
and earth
pass, one
jot or one
tittle shall
in no wise
pass from
the law,
till all be
fulfilled”
(Matthew
5:17-18).
Jesus
indicated
that even
the smallest
parts of the
letters of
the written
word had be
fulfilled.
Jesus could
not have
made such a
statement if
He had not
understood
that God
inspired the
very words
of
scripture,
not just
general
thoughts.
God did not
just dictate
the words of
scripture to
the Bible
writers,
however.
Each writer
under
inspiration
used his own
vocabulary
and style of
writing.
Thus Luke, a
physician,
used medical
terms in his
account of
the ministry
of Christ.
Inspiration
allowed each
writer to
avoid error,
even as he
used his own
vocabulary
and style.
This did not
make the
writers
incapable of
sinning, but
simply
protected
them from
error in
what they
wrote and
taught.
Even as an
apostle,
Peter erred
in his
treatment of
his Gentile
brethren
(Galatians
2:11-14).
The epistles
of Peter are
still
inspired and
authoritative,
however.
Foes have
claimed the
Bible is
full of
errors, but
the Bible
has stood
the test of
time, and no
one has ever
been able to
document any
contradiction
between the
Bible and
known fact.
This is
because the
Bible is not
the product
of human
reason, but
of the
inspiration
of God.
What Does the Inspiration of the Bible Mean?
by Bob Prichard
www.oxfordchurchofchrist.com |
