The Inspiration
of the
Holy Scriptures
Any discussion on the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures
must include both the Old and New Testaments. The apostle Paul declares that
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of
God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy
3:16-17). He probably had in mind the Old Testament writings - “because that
unto them [the Jews] were committed the oracles of God” (Romans 3:2), but it
is certain that various New Testament writings were in circulation at that time
and were viewed as inspired and authoritative, for as Peter remarks concerning
Paul’s letters, “And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is
salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given
unto him hath written unto you; 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” (2 Peter 3:15-16).
Both the plenary and verbal inspiration of the Word of God
is in view by the apostles, and it is such inspiration that Christians accept.
Plenary Inspiration means that every book, chapter, and verse of the Bible comes
directly from God. Verbal Inspiration explains that both the text and the themes
contained in Scripture are divinely inspired by God.
The word “inspired” (theopneustos - a technical term for
the Holy Spirit’s supernatural guidance of those men who received special
revelation to write) actually comes from two Greek words “theos” (God), and
“pneo” (to breathe). Therefore, the Scriptural use of the word means
“God-breathed”. The Scriptures originated with God. He is the Author, man is
simply a secondary author. Man’s part was to transmit what he had received
from God. God is an intelligent Being and capable of communicating with man.
Through this we can understand that the Bible is the very Word of God from His
own mouth. “God-breathed” is an important way of looking at the Bible, for
just as man exhales his own breathe (not someone else’s or someone for him) so
too God speaks His own words in Scripture. For this reason we can say that the
Bible is the product of God.
Such inspiration means that the Scriptures are faithful,
trustworthy, and without error or contradiction, “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: Knowing this first, that 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 1:19-21).
Any supposed error must lie with man’s faulty understanding of the text. In
all doctrines, teachings, history, and revelations God’s Word is inerrant and
infallible, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall
not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it
shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).
The Old Testament writers were conscious of the fact that
they were speaking or writing God’s Word, “The spirit of the LORD spake by
me, and His word was in my tongue” (2 Samuel 23:2). Throughout the Scriptures
we find the expression “Thus saith the Lord” as the prophet or man of God
begins to address his listeners with a word from Heaven. His inspiration to
speak or write came from God through visions, dreams, angelic visitations or by
audible words. Such a communication from God guarantees the absolute
truthfulness of what is declared or written; this is the idea behind divine
inspiration.
The Lord Jesus Christ believed that the Scriptures are the
inspired Word of God even to the smallest written detail, “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 5:18). He quoted from such
Biblical characters as Moses, David and Isaiah, “And He said unto them, These
are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things
must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets,
and in the psalms, concerning me” (Luke 24:44). Jesus also made it plain that
His own words were received from His Father so therefore are absolute truth,
“Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The
Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things
soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise … I can of mine own self do
nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgement is just; because I seek not mine
own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. If I bear witness of
myself, my witness is not true … My doctrine is not mine, but His that sent me
… I have many things to say and to judge of you: but He that sent me is true;
and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him” (John 5:19,
30-31; 7:16; 8:26). He spoke of the fact that the Holy Spirit would inspire
others in the revelation of the truth, “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 show you things
to come … And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter,
that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world
cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him;
for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you … But when the Comforter is
come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which
proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear
witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning” (John 16:13;
14:16-17; 15:26-27).
This inspiration does not come through a man’s personal
thoughts or intelligence. Though the writers seem to have been free to use their
own style, culture, and personality, they were in fact moved upon by the Holy
Spirit. The Spirit of God implanted the words or the desire to write in their
hearts and minds. At times the man may have decided to record certain events, as
is the case with Moses in Exodus 24:12; 31:8; 32:16, yet even this is through
the direct inspiration of God. The topic, words, and reasons for writing began
in the mind and will of God before He gradually passed them down to His human
authors. It should be noted that this is nothing like the automatic writing
practised in the occult or spiritism. This is the reason why we can claim that
what these men of God wrote is free from error and contradiction, “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);
“Knowing this first, that 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);
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of
God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 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” (1
Corinthians 2:12-13).
It was God’s will to communicate His wisdom and truth to
mankind, since left by himself it is impossible for man to find the truth.
Without God’s direct intervention we would never have His word in spoken or
written form. There are no other writings that have ever been inspired by God in
the same way as the Holy Bible. We may say that God inspired John Bunyan to
write The Pilgrim’s Progress, but such inspiration would lay solely with the
topic rather than the very words themselves. It would be heretical even to
suggest that such a work was God’s authorative or inspired Word.
The Holy Scriptures alone are inspired by God for they are the
direct word from His throne. It alone has the power (through the power of
God’s Spirit) to inspire our hearts to salvation, faith, prayer, and worship.
By such inspiration the Scriptures can guide us in both faith and practice.
Gary J. Hall