Do you realize what you have on the pages of your Bible? As you hold it in your hand, you are holding the only divinely inspired book on earth. When you read the words, you are reading the very words of God. What an awesome thought! Yet, Bibles are so common in our society—with the average Christian family having several available for study, and additional ones that can be bought for a few dollars each—its inspiration often loses its significance in the thinking of many.
What is meant in describing the Bible as being inspired?
There are three general views of inspiration:
-
The Bible is of human authorship. This view holds that it contains many mistakes and contradictions, and is inspired in the same sense that the writings of Shakespeare, Milton, Tennyson, etc. were inspired.
-
The Bible is partially human and partially divine. According to this view, it contains some truth and some error. This concept is that the Bible is not the Word of God, but only contains the Word of God; that it is neither completely trustworthy, nor completely untrustworthy.
-
The Bible is fully and completely the inerrant, infallible, and inspired Word of God.
The subject of inspiration is very important. In fact, it is of eternal importance. If the Bible was written by uninspired men who wrote what they wanted to write, then the Bible is just another good book that can improve one’s life, and each individual decides whether he will accept or reject it. On the other hand, if the Bible was written by men who were directed by the Holy Spirit, and every word was as God wanted it to be, then it is man’s only guide to salvation and to heaven.
The Bible contains sixty-six books. They were written by about forty different men who lived at different times in history over a period of some sixteen hundred years. They came from various backgrounds and vocations: herdsmen, kings, priests, prophets, judges, preachers, fishermen, a military general, a physician, a tax collector, and a tentmaker. They wrote in cities, deserts, tents, prisons, and palaces—in times of war and in times of peace. Yet, the Bible has one central theme that runs from Genesis to Revelation: the salvation and hope of mankind that comes through Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
The Old Testament points the reader to the coming of Christ and the cross. The New Testament declares His coming and the Kingdom He established.
The Bible is infallible. It is perfect and flawless because the Holy Spirit, its author, is infallible, perfect, and flawless. Everything it says is true, whatever the subject may be—whether it be origins, history, science, characters, places, or salvation. It is inerrant, accurate in every detail. It is complete, not needing human addition or modification. It came to man through divine inspiration.
“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.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
0 Comments