The Inspiration of the Bible (II)

As it relates to the Bible, what is meant by the word inspiration? How is the Bible divinely inspired? Inspiration is the supernatural influence of the Holy Spirit exerted on the original teachers and writers of the Scriptures, enabling them to speak or write the words that God wanted. Consequently, the inspired writers were not subject to errors, mistakes, or oversights. Whatever they wrote was completely true—whether historical facts, moral principles, or doctrinal truths.

However, inspiration was not simply mechanical. In inspiring their words, the Holy Spirit could still use the vocabulary, personality, and experiences of the writers. Each writer had his own style of writing. Their human feelings are expressed in the inspired words.

What does the Bible say about its inspiration?

All Scripture is inspired by God. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God…” (2 Timothy 3:16a). The word “scripture” originally meant a writing, a manuscript, a document. Does this mean that everything ever written is inspired by God? No! It refers specifically to the Holy Scriptures mentioned in verse 15. Paul reminded Timothy, “From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures… All Scripture is given by inspiration of God…” The ASV renders this, “Every scripture inspired of God…” This includes all the Holy Scriptures of the Old Testament, as well as those of the New Testament, which were being revealed to and recorded by the inspired writers of the first century.

The writers were moved by the Holy Spirit. “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.” (2 Peter 1:20-21) In other words, no prophecy of Scripture was privately interpreted by the writer, with his own interpretation being recorded. Rather, holy men spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

The writers used words given by the Holy Spirit. In reading 1 Corinthians 2:9-13, we notice these things:

1. What was not known in previous ages concerning all that we now have in Christ, “God has revealed them to us (the apostles) through His Spirit.” (vv. 9-10)

2. “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches…” (v.13)

Does this not plainly show that the very words spoken and written by these inspired men were words of inspiration?

The Holy Spirit revealed God’s will to the writers. In Ephesians 3:3-6 we learn:

1. Paul was writing what the Holy Spirit had revealed to the holy apostles and prophets. In previous ages these things had been a mystery (not then revealed or known).

2. The revealed mystery was this: “That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel.”

3. We can understand the mystery when we read what Paul wrote.