One of the reasons there is so much religious
division today is a lack of respect for God’s Word. The inspiration of
the Bible is denied by many, while others have modified their beliefs in
it to merely a book of ideas and suggestions that are outdated. In this
article we will note that the Bible is inspired, complete and as
applicable today as it was when it was written.
The word inspiration means, "a divine influence
or action on a person held to qualify him to receive and communicate
sacred revelation." (Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary) The
Greek word used in the New Testament for inspired (2 Tim. 3:16) is from
two words: God and breath. Thus is means "God breathed", or
when one speaks by inspiration, he is speaking as if it were God Himself
delivering the message. Thus when the writers of the Bible penned their
letters, they were directly guided by God. They presented not only the
ideas that God intended, but also selected the words God intended for
them to use. Thus an understanding of what they wrote is just as
relevant today as it was when it was written.
If the Bible is respected at all, this must be true,
for it reveals these things to be the case. 2 Timothy 3:16 -17 says,
"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 complete, thoroughly equipped
for every good work." This verse tells us that all writings that we
have through inspiration, are profitable for us, and they will make us
complete, that is tells us EVERYTHING we need to know.
The Bible claims to be inspired.
The Old Testament continually claimed inspiration.
Continually, we read sayings such as, "Says the Lord,..." . It
is recorded more than 200 times, (Isa.52:4, Ezek.3:11; Amos 5:3). Jesus
taught that the Old Testament was inspired, "Do not think that I
came to destroy the Law or the Prophets, I did not come to destroy but
to fulfill. For assuredly I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away,
one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is
fulfilled." (Matthew 5:17-18). Peter spoke of its inspiration in 2
Pet. 1:20-21, "knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is
of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of
man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy
Spirit." Here he pointed to the guidance of the various writers.
The New Testament also claims to be inspired.
Consider, 1 John 1:5, " This is the message which we have heard
from Him and declare to you...". James referred to the word of God
saying, "But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and
continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work,
this one will be blessed in what he does." (Jas. 1:25). Paul
challenged the church at Corinth saying, "If anyone thinks himself
to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which
I write to you are the commandments of the Lord." (1 Cor. 14:37).
To Timothy he wrote, "If anyone teaches otherwise and does not
consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and
to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing
nothing..." (1 Tim.6:3-4). Many more examples could be given,
including numerous passages that refer to the word of God (Heb.10:30,
Rev.1:8, Heb.4:12, etc.). Thus the Bible claims inspiration.
The writers claim inspiration
As Jesus was speaking to His apostles He told them,
"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them
now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you
into all truth; ..." (John 16:13). Paul warned the Galatians,
"I marvel that you are turning away so soon ...to a different
gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and
want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from
heaven, preach any other gospel to you than we have preached to you, let
him be accursed..." Gal. 1:6-9. In verse 12, He notes, "For I
neither received it (the gospel he preached) from man, not was I taught
it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ."
In 1 Corinthians 2:12-13, Paul said, "Now we
have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from
God, that we might know the things that I have been freely given to us
by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom
teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things
with spiritual." Since the writers claimed inspiration, if their
word proved true (and it did), then their work was also inspired.
The uniqueness of the Bible also demands
inspiration
When we consider that the Bible was written over a
period of 1600 years, by more than 40 writers, on three different
continents, at different times, in three different languages, yet
without contradiction, it demands inspiration (Design demands a
designer). Realizing that it has been published in more languages than
any other book, has a wider circulation than any other book, has
survived persecutions and attempts to destroy it for nearly 2000 years,
it demands inspiration. Finally, when we consider it relevance, even
today, millenniums after it’s completion, it cries for inspiration.
Yes the Bible is inspired and should be respected as such.