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The Inspiration of Scripture

P Harding, Newton Stewart

What is Inspiration?

The answer to this question is clear in the Scriptures. It is the power of the Spirit of God in the writers of the Bible imparting to them the divine message, and enabling them to express accurately that message in their writings, for "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (2 Pet 1.21). The Holy Spirit controlled the writers of the Bible so that it is absolutely accurate, authoritative, and trustworthy. Thus the Holy Scriptures are living.

However, while the writers were moved by the Spirit they remained thinking, willing, and self-conscious, resulting in their particular mannerisms and styles being clearly seen in their writings. The divine influence is primary and the human secondary. Thus what they wrote cannot be looked upon as their own product but as the pure Word of God.

The Claim to Inspiration

The claims of the Bible to be the inspired word of God are absolute - "All scripture is given by inspiration of God" (2 Tim 3.16) - the Bible is vibrant with the breath of God speaking to all who will hear and obey. The writers themselves claim inspiration for their writings or for the writings of another - e.g. "And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord" (Ex 24.4); "The word of the Lord came…" (Jer 1.4; Hosea 1.1; Joel 1.1; Micah 1.1; Zeph 1.1; Haggai 1.1; Zech 1.1); "The word of the Lord came expressly unto Ezekiel" (Ezek 1.3); "the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas" (Acts 1.16). Peter, by linking the epistles of Paul with other Scriptures, claimed for them divine inspiration (2 Pet 3.15-16). The claim of verbal inspiration is unequivocal - e.g. "Write...words" (Ex 34.27; Jer 30.2); "I have put my words in thy mouth" (Is 51.16; 59.21; Jer 1.9); "thou shalt speak my words unto them" (Ezek 2.7; 3.4); "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth" (1 Cor 2.13); "And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful" (Rev 21.5). The Lord Jesus Christ again and again testified to the inspiration of the Scriptures referring to them as the word of God (Mk 7.13; Lk 4.4; Jn 10.35), claiming for them absolute authority and unerring accuracy - e.g. "David himself said by the Holy Ghost" (Mk 12.36); "the scriptures must be fulfilled" (Mk 14.49); "it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one title of the law to fail" (Lk 16.17); "all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me" (Lk 24.44); "the scripture cannot be broken" (Jn 10.35). The Lord rebukes the Pharisees for their hypocrisy and corrects the error of the Sadducees by the use of the Scriptures (Mt 15.3-9; 22.29-32). Christ and the Bible stand together as the Living Word and the written Word of God.

The Proof of Inspiration

Internal Evidence. The New Testament gives unanswerable testimony to the divine inspiration of the Old Testament by the fulfilment of its prophecies - e.g. "thus it is written by the prophet" (Mt 2.5); "that the scripture might be fulfilled" (Jn 19.24,28,36-37). The prophecies concerning the Messiah in themselves reveal the accuracy of the Scriptures as to the circumstances and place of His birth (Is 7.14 - Mt 1.22-23; Micah 5.2 - Mt 2.5-6); the nature of His ministry and rejection by the nation (Is 42.1-4 - Mt 12.17-20; Is 61.1-2 - Lk 4.18-19; Jn 1.10-11); His betrayal and death by crucifixion (Ps 41.9 - Jn13.18; Ps 22.1,16 - Mt 27.35,46); His burial and resurrection (Is 53.9 - Mt 27.57-60; Ps 16.10 - Acts 13.34-37) - all were foretold in terms that cannot be disputed and all were fulfilled perfectly. The prophecies of the Bible are infallible and each one has or will be fulfilled as predicted. The verbal inspiration of the Bible is also established by stress being placed on a tense or word used – e.g. the writer of Hebrews 12.27 establishes the fact of future judgment by quoting the words, "yet once more" from Haggai 2.6; the Lord Jesus proves the truth of resurrection by reminding the Sadducees of the tense God used when speaking to Moses: "I am (not was) the God of Abraham..." (Ex 3.6; Mt 22.32); in Galatians 3.16 the Apostle Paul proves that justification is by faith in Christ alone, apart from the law, by drawing attention to a singular word (seed not seeds - Gen 13.14-15; 17.8). Here then is clear proof that the Bible is indeed the Word of God, and that men should take heed to its teachings.

Its History. About forty persons from different walks of life and over a period of at least 1,600 years were used in the writing of the Bible. The book of Job is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, of books in existence today but even the last book of the Bible to be written is almost 2,000 years old. At one time scholarly men (so called) ridiculed the claim that writing was in existence in the day of Moses, but archaeological discovery has proved that writing was present even earlier, the fact of which is indicated in Job 19.23. Since the Bible is an ancient book there is ample evidence for its genuineness. Most of the classical writings of men are readily accepted on the grounds of a few existing manuscripts yet there are in existence over 3,000 manuscripts of the New Testament alone apart from the many quotations found in the writings of Christian leaders from AD 100 onwards. Internal evidence abounds as to times and countries, rulers and offices, places and persons, circumstances and conditions - all of which prove the accuracy of the Bible. Over and over the critic has been silenced regarding such by further archaeological discoveries. Down through the centuries the enemies of the Bible have sought to destroy it, infidels have scoffed at it, and critics have sought to undermine it yet the Bible remains as ever for it is "the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever" (1 Pet 1.23). No book has been translated into so many languages and dialects, for it is the Word of God to all nations. Its message is for all men, at all times, whatever their background, nationality, language, culture or standing (Mt 28.18-20; Mk 16.15; Lk 2.10). However ancient, the Bible has a voice for us today - its divine teachings as to moral and spiritual conditions are timeless and we do well to take heed of them.

Its Harmony. Although the Bible consists of 66 books written by some 40 different persons over approximately 1,600 years, there is a wonderful oneness, and so it is referred to as the volume of the Book (Ps 40.7; Heb 10.7) and the Scripture (Dan 10.21; Jn 10.35; 2 Pet 1.20). It is also called the Scriptures (Mt 21.42; Mk 12.24; Acts 17.2,11) for each part has the same characteristic as the whole and has its unique message. Each part is essential to the whole Bible and each part corresponds with the rest, unfolding the ways and will of God. The orderly progress of doctrine is clear evidence of God, in His own time, unfolding the wonderful story of redemption. It is so profound that its teachings cannot be exhausted (Job 11.7; Rom 11.33), and yet its message is so simple that a child can understand and accept it (Mk 10.14-15). Such is its structure that its message is an enigma and foolishness to the wise of this world, because it cannot be grasped by human intellect (1 Cor 2.14), yet it is revealed to "childlike faith" (Mt 11.25-26; 1 Cor 1.18-21). There is a diversity within its pages as to style and literature (allegory, law, lyric, parable, poetry, prose etc.) but all contribute to one harmonious volume with one theme running throughout its pages. This wonderful harmony can never be explained apart from the fact that there was one mind behind the writing of the Bible. This in itself proves its divine inspiration.

Its Contents. There is one main theme in the Bible - Christ and the work of redemption. This theme is developed progressively and so the whole Bible is necessary to understand fully the greatness of Christ and His redemptive work. The Old Testament Scriptures tell how God created man; how man rebelled against Him, falling into sin; of God's promise to him; how God took one man (Abraham) and one nation (Israel); of the deliverance of Israel from the bondage of Egypt; of the giving of the law; of Israel's journeyings through the wilderness to the promised land; of their history from their entrance into the land until their captivity; of the many prophecies concerning the promised Messiah and His coming Kingdom. Throughout these Scriptures many pictures and illustrations, besides the prophecies, are given of the coming of Christ, of His redemptive work and of His glories. In the Gospels, what were but pictures and illustrations concerning the Messiah become facts, and prophecies are fulfilled, all proving the Lord Jesus Christ to be the promised Messiah, the Son of God, the Saviour who gave His life a ransom for all (1 Tim 2.5-6) and who rose triumphant from the dead. The rest of the New Testament tells of the spread of the Gospel message and of the doctrine of Christ and His redemptive work. The last book of the Bible unfolds the end results of the wonderful redemptive work of Christ for those who believe and the eternal doom for those who despise that work by rejecting Christ. Thus one harmonious theme can be traced through the whole of the Bible, unfolding the fall of man and God's great provision for him in the Person and work of His Son (Jn 3.16).

Its Transparency. No attempt is made to avoid the truth in its pages however unpalatable it may be. Unlike human productions which so often assume, suggest and suppose, the Bible asserts, states and speaks with authority. It does not entertain the reasoning, opinions or theories of men but demands from men unqualified acceptance of its statements and unhesitating obedience to its commands. It plainly states the origin of sin (Rom 5.12), the deceitfulness of man's heart (Jer 17.9), the ruin and guilt of humanity (Rom 3.19, 22-23), and the inability of man to fit himself for heaven (Rom 5.6). It not only reveals the wickedness of the ungodly but also unfolds the sin and failure of the chosen people and servants of God. It never covers over the true facts or seeks to flatter any, which is a clear proof that it is not the product of mere men. It shines uncompromisingly into hearts and consciences exposing sins of every kind and bringing about conviction by the truth it states. It not only brings conviction and the blessing of salvation to all who accept its truth, it also produces holiness in the lives of all who receive and practise its teaching. It is a Holy Book and sinful men hate, ridicule and reject it because it condemns their way and manner of life. The plain and accurate statements of the Bible on true scientific matters (not speculative science), long before the comparatively recent discoveries of scientists, prove its divine inspiration - e,g, light apart from the sun (Gen 1.3); the significance of blood to physical life (Lev 17.11); the earth being in space (Job 26.7); the cycle relative to rain (Job 36.27-29); the motion of light (Job 38.19 - the way not the place); the global shape of the earth (Prov 8.27; Is 40.22); the wind circuits of the world (Eccl 1.6).

Concluded.

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