THE BIBLE IS INSPIRED

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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is denied by many, while others have modified their beliefs in it to merely a book of ideas and suggestions that are outdated.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.

 

 

 

 

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