BIBLICAL INSPIRATION
OF THE BIBLE

A) INTRODUCTION.

B) WHAT THE BIBLE CLAIMS.

C) BIBLICAL INSPIRATION.

D) FROM MY FAVORITE BIBLE COMMENTATOR.

 

 

A) INTRODUCTION

 

 

BIBLICAL ACCURACY

 

FACT 1) The Bible has been proven to be 100% accurate in every aspect that It is and can be tested from.  That in-and-of-itself should be enough to have people put their faith in It.

 

FACT 2) Every prophecy of the Bible that has happened in history (predicted before-hand Biblically) has turned out to be 100% accurate.

 

FACT 3) Every historical event (that can be verified) that is listed in the Bible has been challenged repeatedly and with 100% accuracy has been confirmed to be correct.

 

FACT 4) Most common-sense people would realize that sine the Bible, or any other source, has been 100% accurate up to their point in history, therefore the next prediction from that source would be considered to be 100% accurate.  And especially the Bible’s future predictions, since we have over 5,000 years of accurate predictions (prophecies).  No other source has been 100% correct for any period over a year (or as much as 100 years).

 

 

B) WHAT THE BIBLE CLAIMS

 

 

Satan in the beginning asked, “Yea, hath God said,” Genesis 3:1.  I would like to answer that accusing accusation with, the Bible records 43 times, “God said;” 16 times (versions of) “God hath spoken;” 13 times, “God spake;” 6 times (versions of), “God hath pronounced;” 5 times, “God speaketh;” 1 time, “God moved them;” etcetera.

 

The Bible Claims To Be WRITTEN FOR FUTURE READERS:  Psalm 102:18:  “This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.”

 

The Bible Claims To GUIDE ONES PATH:  Psalm 119:105:  “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

 

The Bible Claims To Be Able To Give LIGHT and UNDERSTANDING:  Psalm 119:130:  “The entrance of Thy Words giveth light; It giveth understanding unto the simple.”

 

The Bible Claims To Be TRUE Since Its Beginning Even Until Forever:  Psalm 119:160:  “Thy Word is true from the beginning: and every one of Thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.”

 

The Bible Claims That EVERY WORD OF GOD IS PURE:  Proverbs 30:5:  “Every Word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him.”

 

The Bible Claims To Be SPOKEN BY GOD:  Jeremiah 30:2:  “Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the Words that I have spoken unto thee in a Book.”

 

The Bible Claims To Be SPOKEN Then WRITTEN By God:  Matthew 22:31:  “have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying.”

 

The Bible Claims That The Bible is the POWER OF GOD:  Mark 12:24:  “And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the Scriptures, neither the power of God?”

 

The Bible Claims to BE TRUE:  John 17:17:  “Sanctify them through Thy truth:  Thy Word is truth.”

 

The Bible Claims That The JEWISH NATION WAS GIVEN The Scriptures:  Romans 3:1-2:  “[1] What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? [2] Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.”

 

The Bible Claims To Be WRITTEN FOR OUR LEARNING, PATIENCE, AND COMFORT:  Romans 15:4:  “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”

 

The Bible Claims To Have Been PREACHED Unto Abraham In Order For All To Be BLESSED BY IT:  Galatians 3:8:  “And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the Gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.”

 

The Bible Claims To Be INSPIRED By God; Able To MAKE THEE WISE UNTO SALVATION; PERFECT, And GIVEN TO GOOD WORKS:  Second Timothy 3:15-17:  “[15] And that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. [16] All Scripture {Old Testament & New Testament that was given at that time} is given by inspiration of God. [17] That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

 

The Greek word used here for “given by inspiration of God” is, “theopneustos,” which literally means, “God Breathed.”

 

For “God Breathed,” see also Second Samuel 23:1-2; Jeremiah 29:11; Daniel 10:21; Matthew 21:42; 22:31; 26:54; Mark 12:24 & 36; 15:28; Luke 4:21; John 2:22; 7:38 & 42; 10:35; 13:18; 17:12; 19:24 & 28 & 36 & 37; 20:9; Acts 1:16; 8:35; 28:25; Romans 3:2; 4:3; 9:17; 10:11; 11:2; 15:4; Galatians 3:8 & 22; 4:30; First Timothy 5:18; Hebrews 3:7; 4:12; James 2:8; 4:5; First Peter 2:6.

 

The Bible Claims To Have NOT BEEN A MADE UP FAIRY TALE:  Second Peter 1:16:  “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.”

 

The Bible Claims To Be WRITTEN By God Through Holy Men:  Second Peter 1:19-21:  “(19) We have also a more sure Word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: (20) Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. (21)  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man:  but holy men of God spake as they weremoved by the Holy Ghost.”

 

The Bible Claims To Be Able To REACH ONES HEART:  Hebrews 4:12:  “For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

 

The Bible Claims To Be HARD TO BE UNDERSTOOD By Those Who Fight Its Instruction:  Second Peter 3:16:  “As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.”

 

 

C) BIBLICAL INSPIRTION

 

 

Many Bible Students will take you to Second Timothy 3:16, when attempting to show that the Bible is the very Word of God.  In this passage we find the phrase:  “given by inspiration of God.”  From 1SM:21 we read:  “It is not the Words of the Bible that are inspired, but the men that were inspired.  Inspiration acts not on the man’s words or his expressions but on the man himself, who, under the influence of the Holy Ghost, is imbued with [Godly] thoughts.  But the Words receive the impress of the individual mind.  The Divine mind is diffused.  The Divine Mind and Will is combined with the human mind and will; thus the utterances of the man are the Word of God.”

 

As mentioned above, the phrase, “given by inspiration of God,” literally means, “God Breathed,” and becomes all conclusive for many Christians.  However, most realize that they need more backing than just this one Scripture.  Therefore, along with the Second Timothy 3:16 Scripture, they will take you to Second Peter 1:21:  “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.”

 

These Scriptures are fine in and of themselves, but which Scriptures are Paul and Peter and the Holy Spirit specifically talking about?  If one is honest, one would have to conclude that they are speaking of the Old Testament Scriptures only (at that time).  Therefore, we need more conclusive evidence that the entire Bible is “God Breathed” in order to include the New Testament in our study of the (entire) Bible as being inspired.

 

In Matthew 19:4, we have this statement from our Lord:  “Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning.”  Notice this rare statement of our Lord, Who usually makes statements like, “It is written,” Matthew 4:4 & 7 & 10; Luke 4:8; etcetera.  Instead of saying “Scripture says,” Jesus attributes God as being the Author of this statement, even though it was written by Moses.  Thus, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,” Second Timothy 3:16.

 

Also, in a twist, Paul, when writing to the Romans, in Romans 9:17, states that “Scripture saith unto Pharaoh.”  We all know that it was Moses or Aaron who was speaking to Pharaoh.  Thus, what Paul is pointing out could also be stated as, “God saith unto Pharaoh,” meaning, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,” Second Timothy 3:16.

 

Consequently, in Galatians 3:8, “Scripture” is accredited as being “God” speaking to Abraham.  And in Acts 4:24-25, God is denoted as the One speaking through the mouth of King David.  And the same is ascribed in Acts 13:32-35.  Thus, setting up the New Testament as “God Breathed.”

 

Consequently, besides Second Timothy 3:16, mentioned above, we can go to First Corinthians 2:13 & First Thessalonians 2:13, to confirm that the New Testament can be included in the “God Breathed” concept:  “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”  “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”

 

And just in case you need MORE support for the inspiration of the Old Testament, here is Second Samuel 23:2:  “The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and His Word was in my tongue.”  This indicates that inspiration not only imparted thoughts, but also that we can be ensured that the Written Word was accurately conveying the thoughts of God.  There are places where we find our Lord speaking directly to Prophets of old; such as Second Samuel 23:1-2 (mentioned above) and other numerous places.  Here are just a few if you need them:  Exodus 24:4; Numbers 16:28; Deuteronomy 18:18; Joshua 14:6; First Kings 13:1; 17:24; Jeremiah 1:9.

 

God also told many of His prophets to WRITE DOWN in a BOOK His Words, which is why we have our Bible today.  Examples are:  Exodus 17:14; 24:4; Isaiah 8:1; Jeremiah 30:2; 36:2; Daniel 12:4; Habakkuk 2:2; Revelation 1:11 & 19; 21:5.

 

And the reason our Lord had these things written down is found in Romans 15:4:  “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”  Along with First Corinthians 10:11:  “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples:  and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”

 

However, there is one writing that God did not trust anyone else to write down -- The Ten Commandments (Exo. 31:18; 32:16; 34:1; Deu. 4:13; 9:10; 10:2-4).

 

“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My Words shall not pass away.”  Matthew 24:35.

 

 

D) FROM MY FAVORITE BIBLE COMMENTATOR

 

 

“Some look to us gravely and say, ‘Don’t you think there might have been some mistake in the copyist or in the translators?’  This is all probable, and the mind that is so narrow that it will hesitate and stumble over this possibility or probability would be just as ready to stumble over the mysteries of the Inspired Word, because their feeble minds cannot see through the purposes of God.  Yes, they would just as easily stumble over plain facts that the common mind will accept, and discern the Divine, and to which God’s utterance is plain and beautiful, full of marrow and fatness.  All the mistakes will not cause trouble to one soul, or cause any feet to stumble, that would not manufacture difficulties from the plainest revealed truth.”  1SM:16.

 

“God has been pleased to communicate His truth to the world by human agencies, and He Himself, by His Holy Spirit, qualified men and enabled them to do His work.  He guided the mind in the selection of what to speak and what to write.  The treasure was entrusted to earthen vessels, yet it is, none the less, from Heaven.  The testimony is conveyed through the imperfect expression of human language, yet it is the testimony of God; and the obedient, believing child of God beholds in it the glory of a Divine power, full of grace and truth.”  1SM:26.

 

“There is not always perfect order or apparent unity in the Scriptures.  The miracles of Christ are not given in exact order, but are given just as the circumstances occurred, which called for this Divine revealing of the power of Christ. The truths of the Bible are as pearls hidden.  They must be searched, dug out by painstaking effort.  Those who take only a surface view of the Scriptures will, with their superficial knowledge, which they think is very deep, talk of the contradictions of the Bible, and question the authority of the Scriptures.  But those whose hearts are in harmony with truth and duty will search the Scriptures with a heart prepared to receive Divine impressions.  The illuminated soul sees a spiritual unity, one grand golden thread running through the whole, but it requires patience, thought, and prayer to trace out the precious golden thread.  Sharp contentions over the Bible have led to investigation and revealed the precious jewels of truth.  Many tears have been shed, many prayers offered, that the Lord would open the understanding to His Word.”  1SM:20; 7BC:945.

 

“The Word of the Living God is not merely written, but spoken.  The Bible is God's voice speaking to us, just as surely as though we could hear it with our ears.  If we realized this, with what awe would we open God’s Word, and with what earnestness would we search Its precepts!  The reading and contemplation of the Scriptures would be regarded as an audience with the Infinite One.”  6T:393.

 

“The Bible is written by inspired men, but it is not God’s mode of thought and expression.  It is that of humanity.  God, as a writer, is not represented.  Men will often say such an expression is not like God.  But God has not put Himself in words, in logic, in rhetoric, on trial in the Bible.  The writers of the Bible were God’s penmen, not His pen.  Look at the different writers.  It is not the words of the Bible that are inspired, but the men that were inspired.  Inspiration acts not on the man’s words or his expressions but on the man himself, who, under the influence of the Holy Ghost, is imbued with thoughts.  But the words receive the impress of the individual mind.  The Divine mind is diffused.  The Divine mind and Will is combined with the human mind and will; thus the utterances of the man are the Word of God.”  Manuscript 24, 1886 (written in Europe in 1886); 1SM:21; 7BC:945-946.

 

“The Bible points to God as its Author; yet It was written by human hands; and in the varied style of Its different Books It presents the characteristics of the several writers.  The truths revealed are all ‘given by inspiration of God’ (2 Tim. 3:16); yet they are expressed in the words of men.  The Infinite One by His Holy Spirit had shed light into the minds and hearts of His servants.  He has given dreams and visions, symbols and figures; and those to whom the truth was thus revealed, have themselves embodied the thought in human language.”  RH, August 30, 1906; GC: Intro v.3; GCB, June 2, 1913; 1SM:25.