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The Bible claims to be the “inspired writings” of God but what does inspiration mean? Who were inspired to write? What were they inspired to write? What was the Lord Jesus Christ’s attitude to these writings? How accurate are the Bible’s writings? Is there any general evidence in the Bible which proves its uniqueness and Divine inspiration? What was the attitude of the christians in the NT to these writings? What should be our attitude these writings? Are these writings now complete or can they be added to?
What Does Inspiration Mean?
Some will say that Shakespeare was “inspired” to write his plays, Tennyson his poetry, Handel his music. This is true as it originated in the minds and emotions of the writers themselves. However with the Bible the writings claim another and a far deeper dimension in that they are inspired of God as written in 2 Timothy chapter (c)3 verse (v)16, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God (literal Greek “Divinely breathed in”), and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, correction in righteousness.” (King James version)
There are three occasions in the Bible when God directly wrote on physical things: Exodus c31 v18 and c32 v16 when He wrote on tables of stone and gave them to Moses, John c8 v6, 8 when the Lord Jesus “stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground”, and on the same principle with Daniel c5 v23-28 when “then was part of the hand sent from Him (God) and this writing was written.” Apart from that how were the writings inspired? Given by inspiration of God means Divinely breathed. When the Bible was “inspired” it was more than just something coming from within a person. It was God giving His mind to the minds of those who would write them down as they were given them. ‘When God breathed into man in Genesis c2 He distinguished him from every other creature. When God breathed out the scripture He distinguished it from every other book. As a man’s breath is in his words so God’s breath is in His words’ (Jack Hunter).
The writers were themselves inspired because 2 Peter c1 v20-21 says, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation. For prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved (margin borne along) by the Holy Ghost.” The writings themselves are inspired, see 2 Timothy c3 v16. The inspirations of God are seen in various places e.g. 2 Samuel c23 v2 “The Spirit of the Lord spake by me and His word was in my tongue.” Jeremiah c1 v7, 9 “Whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak … behold, I have put My words in thy mouth.”
Acts c1 v16 “The Holy Spirit by the mouth of David spoke concerning Judas.”
If the Bible is not inspired of God it has no more value than the writings of men. However as it is inspired of Him it comes to us with all the authority, wisdom, love and holiness of God.
Who Were Inspired To Write?
2 Peter c1 v21 says, “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.” The Bible, made up of the Old Testament (OT) and New Testament (NT), was written during one thousand six hundred years by more than forty writers. Their occupations varied tremendously: national leaders, e.g. Moses, King Solomon; high government officials e.g. Daniel; shepherds and herdsmen e.g. Amos and David who later became king; a tax collector i.e. Matthew; fishermen e.g. Peter and John; a doctor i.e. Luke; an intellectual who previously had been very religious i.e. Paul and a number of others whose occupations are not given. The character of these people were that they had faith in the living God to save them from their sin through the Lord Jesus Christ, whether they looked forward or back to the time of Christ. They generally lived as holy people and were men prepared of God for the purpose. They did not decide to write their own ideas but were moved by Someone from heaven i.e. the God the Holy Spirit (see 2 Peter c1 v20-21), to write the words of God. The word for “moved” according to Mr Vine in his Expository Dictionary of NT Words means ‘to bear or carry, signifying that they were ‘borne along’ by the Holy Spirit’s power, not acting according to their own wills, or simply expressing their own thoughts but expressing the mind of God in words provided by Him.’ An example of this is in 1 Corinthians c14 v 37, “If any man think himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.”
What Were They Inspired To Write?
2 Timothy c3 v16 says “All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof (meaning to convict), for correction (meaning restoration to a right state), for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect (margin complete), throughly furnished unto good works.” God in His own power gave His thoughts and words to the minds of those who would write them down as they were given them. This would be without their own additions or subtractions because ” All scripture is given by inspiration of God …” and “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.” The writers realised that these thoughts were from the all-knowing, only wise, loving and almighty God and so were far greater than their own. These writings form the Bible (which in the Bible are called “the Scriptures”). 2 Timothy ch3 ver16 says “all scripture”, not just some, and so all the writings of the Bible are inspired not just some parts. This verse was also written by a man, the apostle Paul, with life’s experience behind him and who was facing death at the time of writing it (see 2 Timothy c4 v6-7) both of which would produce a sense of reality in him.
How were they Inspired to Write?
‘Moved, means “borne along” and is used in Acts c27v15&17 when the ship was moved by the wind. These man raised their sails to God, i.e. committed their lives to be subject to God in His truth and will, and the Holy Spirit filled them. But were these men were not just like computers. In reading the Bible you find that there is a Divine side and a human side. Each servant: kept his own style, wrote from his own situation, had their own knowledge of facts and maybe some had written material or verbal accounts available to them. Nevertheless God was over it all.
To what extent were they inspired? Were they given the thoughts and then left to express them themselves? Scriptures reveals that the words were given to them. The Lord Jesus said in John c17v8 “For I have given unto them the words which Thou Gavest Me; …” and in John c7v16 “Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not Mine, but His that sent Me.” So to convey the message the words were imparted to them. See also John c14v25-26.’ (Richard Catchpole)
‘The record of the Lord’s life was not left to the memories of the disciples but the Holy Spirit would bring it to their memory. See also John c16v13 “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” “Guiding them into all truth,” would speak of the epistles and “showing them things to come,” would speak of the Revelation.’ (Richard Catchpole)
“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth , but which the Holy Spirit teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” (1 Corinthians c2v13)
‘This is conveying truth not with human wisdom i.e. Human logic, reasoning or philosophy but with words given by the Holy Spirit. Comparing has the idea of combining spiritual things with spiritual. The Holy Spirit revealed the truth and then gave them the words to write it.’ (Richard Catchpole)
What Was The Lord Jesus Christ’s Attitude To These Writings?
The Lord Jesus Christ’s comments show His view of the inspiration and unchangeability of the Bible and should be testimony enough even if no other evidence existed. It has been counted that there are some tw0 hundred references in the Gospels which make clear His view of the OT. He saw the books as having both human authors and a Divine author so that, for example, one of the commands that Moses gave, as quoted in Mark c7 v8-13, the Lord stated was the word of God.
In Matthew c19 v4-5 the Lord quotes what Moses had written in Genesis c2 v24 as being what God said, “And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?” The Lord Jesus also said in Mark c10 v5-6 “And Jesus answered and said unto them … But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.” So the Lord Jesus believed in the creation.
Luke c17 v26-27 “And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe (otherwise called Noah) entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.” So the Lord Jesus believed in the flood.
John c5 v39 The Lord said, “Search the scriptures (or if you like “Ye search the scriptures”) for in them ye think ye have eternal life: but they are they that testify of Me.” Of course at that time the NT writings had not yet been written and so the Lord showed that you cannot separate Him from the OT and He also referred to it as the following verses show.
Luke c24 v44 “… that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets and in the psalms concerning Me.” The Jews would see this description as taking account of all the OT. For another reference, after the Lord had risen from the dead, see Luke c24 v25-27.
The Lord said in John c5 v46-7 “For had ye believed Moses ye would have believed Me: for he wrote of Me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe My words?” Therefore when it came to faith the Lord was pleased to put the writings of Moses alongside His words.
Never does Christ state or infer that there was ever a misconception in the OT. As Christ was so inseparably associated with the OT, and because He spake of Himself as the truth (see John c14 v6), He could not have omitted to notice an error in the OT had there been one there. Therefore these OT writings were used, honoured and obeyed by the Lord and that which He commended to His hearers both as testifying of Himself and that which must be fulfilled.
How Accurate Are The Bible’s Writings?
Some will say that the Bible is not the Word of God but that it contains the Word of God. They continue that it is partly the Word of God and partly the word of man. The facts do not matter but what counts is the message or teaching. If the message inspires you then it is inspired of God and if it doesn’t then it is not. But who is knowledgeable and discerning enough to decide what is true or false? Who decides what is valuable or to be ignored? How can you differentiate between the facts and the teaching? This results in human reasoning deciding whether some part is Divinely inspired or of man. As people are subject to changing circumstances, attitudes and mood swings the same passage that may inspire them today may not in a few years time. This just leaves the trustworthiness of the Bible to the unreliability people’s differing opinions. However the accuracy of the Bible is seen in the following:
1.1 Galatians c3 v16 says, “Now to Abraham and to his seed were the promises made. He saith not, “And to seeds”, as of many; but as of one, “And to thy seed”, which is Christ.” This refers to Genesis c12 v1-3, 7 and c17 v1-8 (mainly v7-8). Therefore the letters and words of the Bible are inspired.
1.2 The Lord said in Matthew c5 v18, “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.” The OT was originally written virtually all in Hebrew, with a very small part in Aramaic, and the NT was originally written all in Greek. According to J Thayer in his Greek-English Lexicon of the NT a “jot” is ‘the smallest of all Hebrew letters: hence equivalent to the minutest part.’ Thayer also says that the “tittle” is ‘a little horn; extremity, apex, point … of the little lines or projections, by which the Hebrew letters in other aspects similar, differ from each other. (Indicates differences between similar letters).’ This shows again that the letters are inspired.
2. The Lord Jesus referred to when God spoke to Moses in Exodus ch3 ver6 and said in Matthew ch22 ver31, “But as touching the resurrection from the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, ‘I am (not I was) the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead but of the living.” Therefore the tenses in the Bible are inspired.
3. In Matthew c4 v1-11 the Lord Jesus Christ answered the devil’s temptations by saying “it is written” and using a quotation from the OT. So this infers that the sentences of the Bible are inspired.
4. The Lord said in John c5 v46-47 “For had ye believed Moses ye would have believed Me: for he wrote of Me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe My words?” Consequently the Lord infers that the OT writings are inspired.
5. The Lord said in John c10 v35 “The Scripture cannot be broken.” So the Bible cannot destroyed, nor lose the power or force of its words, nor be unfulfilled.
Therefore all the words of the Bible are accurate which gives us confidence to read it.
Some say that people who believe the Bible is the Word of God put the Bible in the place of the Lord. Their authority is not the Bible but the Lord Himself. This sounds impressive but how do such people know the Lord? What do people know about the Lord apart from the Bible? Where did or do they find Him? How do they know that what they have experienced about Him is not the figment of their own imagination or the result of an abnormal psychological state? Not only is the basis of that knowledgeable questionable but also the certainty of the Lord’s authority and how we can come in the practical possession of it is as well. The only way that we can know the Lord out of heaven is through the book that has been accurately inspired out of heaven.
How Reliable Are the Writings?
‘For contradictions we appeal to fairness. We must begin by giving the author the benefit of the doubt. ‘This is the rule in other literature, and we ask that it also be a rule here. We find so often that people want to employ a different set of rules when it comes to examining the Bible, and to this we immediately object. What is a contradiction? The law on non-contradiction, which is the basis of all logical thinking, states that a thing cannot be both a and non-a at the same time. In other words, it cannot be both raining and not raining at the same time. If one can demonstrate a violation of this principle from Scripture, then and only then can he prove a contraction. For example, if the Bible said – which it does not – that Jesus died by crucifixion both at Jerusalem and Nazareth at the same time, this would be a provable error.’ (Answers To Tough Questions p 12 – Josh McDowell and Don Stewart)
‘When facing possible contradictions, it is of the highest importance to remember that two statements may differ from each other without being contradictory. Some fail to make a distinction between a contradiction and a difference. For example, the case of the blind men at Jericho. Matthew relates how two blind men met Jesus, while both Mark and Luke mention only one. However, neither of these statements denies the other, but rather they are complementary.
Suppose you talk to the mayor of your city and the chief of police at the city hall. Later you say to friend that you talked to the mayor and to another friend that you talked to both of them. If they compare notes there might seem to be a contradiction. This would be true if you had said to the first friend that you talked only to the mayor, you would have contradiction. However the statements that you made were different, but not contradictory. Likewise, many of the Biblical statements fall into this category. Many think that they have found errors in passages that they have not correctly read.’ (Answers To Tough Questions p 12-13 – Josh McDowell and Don Stewart)
‘Sometimes two passages appear to be contradictory because the translation is not as accurate as to could be. A knowledge of the original languages of the Bible can immediately solve these difficulties, for both Greek and Hebrew – as all languages – have their peculiarities that make them difficult to render into English or any other language. A classic example concerns the accounts of Paul’s conversion as recorded in Acts.’ (Answers To Tough Questions p 13-14 – Josh McDowell and Don Stewart)
‘It must be stressed that when a possible explanation is given to a Bible difficulty, it is unreasonable to state that the passage contains a demonstrable error. Some difficulties in Scripture result from our inadequate knowledge about the circumstances, and do not necessarily involve an error. These only prove that we are ignorant of the background. As historical and archaeological study proceed, new light is being shed on difficult portions of Scripture and many supposed “errors” have disappeared with the new understanding. We need a wait-and-see attitude on some problems.’
The Biblical idea of God is a Person who:
A Is All-knowing ([1] Psalm 147v5 “Great is our Lord, and of great power: His understanding is infinite.” [2] Hebrews c4v13 “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his {God’s see v12} sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” ),
B Is All-powerful ([1] Romans c1v20 “For the invisible things {i.e. His eternal power and Godhead} of him {God see v19} from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they {people generally see v18} are without excuse:” [2] Revelation c1v8 “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”)
C Is everywhere ( or Omnipresent) (Psalm 139v7-8 “Whither shall I flee from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, b ehold, thou art there.” {Genesis c1 & c2 show that God is and that He is separate and distinct from His creation})
D Cannot lie (Titus c1v2 “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;”),
E Is Truth ([1] Psalm 19v9 “The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgements of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.” [2] Ephesians c4v21 “If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:”
[3] John c14v6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” [4] John c17v3 {the Lord Jesus is speaking – v1} “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”)
F Is Incorruptible (Romans c1v23 “And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.” and so we feel that when His word is properly understood, will not contradict itself’) (Answers To Tough Questions p 14-15 – Josh McDowell and Don Stewart).
God is also:
G Holy (1 Peter c1v16 “Because it is written “Be ye holy; for I am holy.”)
H Love (1 John c4v16 “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”)
Is There Any General Evidence In The Bible Which Proves Its Uniqueness And Divine Inspiration?
There are a number of arguments from within the Bible itself which emphasises its own Divine inspiration with it’s own authority:
1. Attention is drawn to the majesty of God Who speaks, discloses and reveals Himself in the Bible. Man is incapable of producing anything like this.
2. The truthfulness of the Bible with its honesty in the way in which its facts are so constantly confirmed within itself and by secular history.
3. When reading the Bible you are impressed by its infinities, immensity’s and the everlasting truths. The philosophies of mankind and even the highest insights of the most inspired of people are all small and insignificant in comparison to the Bible.
4. The perfections of the teachings and commandments which are true to life and especially when they are put in their historical background.
5. The clear and brief manner of speech in the Bible. Often we are verbose but in the Bible great and profound teachings are given sometimes in very short space.
6. There is a remarkable unity between the OT and NT and agreement between all its books. In the Bible there are sixty six books which, as previously stated, were written during one thousand six hundred years by more than forty writers and yet when taken in their context they are marked by unity. As Dr Martin Lloyd-Jones said, ‘It (the unity) is something which cannot be explained away except in these terms, that the Scriptures are the Word of God from beginning to end, all inclusive and in their entirety.’
7. The power of the Bible to move the hearts of people. Often history shows people who were previously ignorant of the Bible have read it and through believing it their lives have been powerfully changed for the good.
8. The way that despite the centuries of opposition and attacks not only is the Bible still the world’s best seller but also has maintained its truthfulness unchanged.
What Was The Attitude Of The Christians In The NT To These Writings?
When, in the Acts, the Lord Jesus Christ was preached by the christians to the Jews, who knew the OT, they referred often to the OT e.g. chs 2-4 and ch 7. The essential part of this preaching was to prove that the Lord Jesus was the fulfilment of the OT promises e.g. Acts c18 v28 “For he (Apollos) mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.”
Also in the NT the writers often quoted from the OT to prove that the Lord Jesus was the fulfilment of the OT and concerning other matters e.g. Matthew c1 v22-23, Mark c15 v27-28, John c15 v24-25, Romans cs3, 9-11, the book of Hebrews, 1 and 2 Peter.
We have further evidence of Peter’s faith in the OT when, in the mount of transfiguration, after describing the occasion of hearing God’s voice which affirmed the Lord Jesus Christ he says in 2 Peter c1 v19, “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 …”. The apostle Peter says in effect there is your evidence and authority. In verse 7 he says that the apostles had not followed cunningly devised fables. He follows with his personal witness to what he and the other two disciples had seen on the mount of transfiguration. Then he says ‘that they need not rely on their word and witness but can go back and read something more sure i.e. their OT prophecies.’ (Dr Martin Lloyd-Jones) His readers could see then how all these have been fulfilled in detail by the Lord Jesus Christ. That again shows that the apostles that they believed in the inspiration of the OT.
What Should Be Our Attitude These Writings?
We do not need to be inspired in the same way as the writers of the Bible to understand the Bible for the inspiration of the writers was unique to themselves (2 Peter c1 v21). They were giving what God wanted to be written. What we need to do is to first believe what we read. Nevertheless to understand the truth of God we need the help of the Holy Spirit as 1 Corinthians c2 v12, which was written to believers, who had trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour says, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which of God; that we might know the things which are freely given of God.” The Bible is foolishness to the unbeliever because 1 Corinthians c2 v14 says, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
It is important when concerned with the understanding and authority of the Scriptures that we take the Bible as a whole and consider the details in the light of the whole rather than the other way round. It is possible to start with details and become so involved them that we miss the main trains of thought. It is also important that we consider everything in its context as quite often the context affects the meaning of the passage or verse. As someone has said ‘a text out of context is a pretext.’
As God is holy the Bible was only given out of a pure motive. As God is love the Bible was given to be a blessing to people.
Are These Writings Now Complete Or Can They Be Added To?
Is the Bible intended to be a complete guide and authority for teaching and practise throughout the age of the church’s existence on earth? Or is the Bible inspired of God but not the final revelation and so has the church the right to give additional teaching and guidance that has the same authority as the Bible?
Jude v3 says “… the faith that was once delivered unto the saints.” The “faith” here is the teachings that God has given for believers to believe and practise. “Once” does not mean once upon a time but the Greek word means “once for all”. Consequently it was not God’s intention for it to be added to or modified. To attempt to adjust the Bible or add to it is to question the perfect work of the Holy Spirit and to think that human beings know better than God Who has complete knowledge and understanding of everything (Psalm 147v5 “Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.”) and is only wise (Jude c1v25 “To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”). There are at least three warnings given to Israel in the OT about tampering with God’s Word: i.e. Deuteronomy c4 v2, c12 v32 and Proverbs c30 v5-6 and one in the NT in Revelation c22 v18-19.
The last reference is concerned in the first place with the book of the Revelation but as in chs2 – 3 God speaks to the seven churches about their teaching and behaviour it therefore, by inference, covers the whole of the NT. However taking the four warnings together they forbid any attempt to extend or take away from any of the contents of the Bible.
In 1 Timothy c1 v3 Paul instructs Timothy “… that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine”. So the danger of adjusting or adding to the inspired Word of God was there in the NT times. Such adjustments or additions would only decrease the truths of God and take from the realities of life. In 2 Timothy c1 v13 and c2 v2 Paul instructs Timothy to “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” and “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able teach others also.” The charge to Timothy was to maintain the great truths of God and not to produce more ideas. He was also to commit these good things to faithful men that they might do the same thing, i.e. be able to teach others also.
2 Timothy c3 v16-17 says “All scripture is given by inspiration of God … that the man of God may be perfect (margin complete), throughly furnished unto all good works.” As the Scriptures make a man of God complete and furnished completely for every good work the divine origin of the Bible with its authority and finality is again emphasised. Since a man of God by this means was therefore made complete and completely furnished no additional teaching is required and any taking away of that teaching would only mar the completeness that God has designed.
In 2 Timothy c3 v14 Timothy is urged to, “Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned …” and in 1 Timothy c6 v20-21, “O Timothy, keep that which was committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: which some professing have erred concerning the faith.” Grace be with thee. Amen.”
So the Bible is inspired of God. It reveals the great mind and actions of the great and eternal God both in their immensity and intensity. It is God’s Word which has and will continue to stand the test above all other writings and minds with their changing thoughts. As it is God’s Bible He is interested in preserving it as well as abundantly blessing all those who are humble and believe His words.