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The Divine Inspiration of Scripture Bobby Long 1737-805 Thursday, April 05, 2007

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. (2 Tim. 3:16). The word for inspiration is taken from the Greek word theopneustos which literally means, Breathed of God. What a grand picture these words give us of the Bible. From the very mouth of God, came our scriptures.

Gods providential hand in the lives of men enabling them to accurately record the revelation of God as inspired by Holy Spirit can be seen over and over again in scripture. We see this in the lives of Moses, David, and Solomon. We can contrast in Isaiah as a literary masterpiece to the simple writings of Amos. Both just as inspired, both a revelation of God, but each with a flare of their own, but never out from under the supervisory care of Holy Spirit. Henry gives a working definition of inspiration when he writes, "Inspiration is a supernatural influence upon the divinely chosen prophets and apostles whereby the Spirit of God assures the truth and trustworthiness of their oral and written proclamation."1

Before continuing, a brief definition of terms would be beneficial. Much confusion can happen when terminology is misused and misunderstood. Some of the terms employed when discussing inspiration is; 1) Revelation, 2) Inspiration, 3) Authority, 4) Inerrancy, and 5) Illumination.

1)

Revelation is an uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been previously

wholly hidden or only obscurely seen.2 Men did not find God; God chose to make Himself known to man. The Bible is Gods revelation to man against the backdrop of history. In John, we read, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (Jhn. 1:1). Later in that same chapter we find that the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the

Father,) full of grace and truth. (Jhn. 1:14). In these statements, we see that the Bible is not just revelation written down, but it is the actual revelation. Thiessen defines revelation as, "Revelation is that act of God whereby he discloses himself or communicates truth to the mind; whereby he makes manifest to His creatures that which could not be known in any other way. The revelation may occur in a single, instantaneous act, or it may extend over a long period of time; and this communication of Himself and his truth may be perceived by the human mind in varying degrees of fullness"3 When we read the Bible, we are viewing God in written form; thus, the harsh warnings we find in the Word about adding to or taking away from the scripture.

2) Holy Spirit is the source of inspiration, just as God is whats being revealed. All scripture is inspired by the Holy Spirit. One of the main purposes of Holy Spirit is to testify of Jesus Christ as Lord and God. This testimony is true and perfect. Jesus being God in the flesh was testifying of Himself through the third person of the trinity, namely; Holy Spirit. This is true of all the "sacred writings," not in the sense of their being works of genius or of supernatural insight, but as "theopneustic," i.e., "breathed into by God" in such a sense that the writers were supernaturally guided to express exactly what God intended them to express as a revelation of his mind and will.4 The nature of inspiration remains a mysterious miracle. One thing that conservative Christianity can say is that however the nature, this inspiration rendered the writings infallible and without error. Sproul says that, Inspiration is the process whereby God breathed out His word.5

3) Authority is a word that is directly related to inspiration just as Revelation. Authority carries the meaning of absolute power and freedom of will. Exousia is the Greek form of the word used in the New Testament which gives the idea of not only freedom but legal rights. Revelation by the authority of God is divine, true, and perfect. Although absolute authority is Gods, we find that God gives authority to men over their wives, man over nature, and parents over their children. All spiritual authority flows from the holder of all authority which is God. It is by the authority of God that revelation from God has power.

We hold the Bible as inspired by the Holy Spirit as the revelation of God. If true, then all authority must rest with scripture. This is the view of the writers of the New Testament and the early church fathers. As time went on, the church began to view tradition on an equal footing as scripture. During this time period, if the Pope declared something as being ex cathedra or from the throne, then it was declared just as inspired as the Bible. It was this thinking that was the fuel for the reformation and a return to the Bible as the only source of Authority. Butler sums up where Biblical authority lies when he says that, It is the uniform witness of the Bible that all authority is located in God. People possess authority only as the Lord gives it (Romans 13:1). Religious authority derives from the authority of the Father, as that authority is revealed in the Son, manifested by the Holy Spirit, and given in and through the Bible to the church and the world.6 4) Inerrancy is another term closely associated with inspiration. This means Without error, non-errant. In Christianity, inerrancy states that the Bible, in its original documents, is without error regarding facts, names, dates, and any other revealed information. Inerrancy does not extend to the copies of the biblical manuscripts.7 God cannot lie. The Bible, being the Word made flesh, must exhibit the same character and traits as God. Therefore, all scripture is a true testimony whether it is historical facts, places, times, Kings, or Jesus Himself. The Bible chronicles the story of God working in the lives of man for the redemption of all, through His Son, Jesus Christ.

5) Illumination is next. This word means enlightened, like turning a light on in a dark room. What was once hidden or cloaked in darkness can now be seen. John calls Jesus the light of world. The psalmist calls the Word a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. It is by this illumination that we find the will and the ways of God. Some Biblical writers, especially in the Old Testament, didnt understand the significance of what they were writing. They did realize that it was revelation, but full understanding was sometimes hidden from them. They had divine revelation without illumination. The same can be said with inspiration. Divine inspiration can occur without illumination. Divine revelation can happen with out divine illumination. But, it takes divine revelation to insight divine inspiration because inspiration without divine revelation is a product of man and not God. The same can be said of

illumination. Illumination of scripture can only be brought about by a revelation of God through the Spirit of God. The insight Peter had of Jesus being the Christ, the Son of the living God was attributed by Jesus as being from God and not from his own intellect. The awesome privilege we have as New Testament believers is that God has mandated the Holy Spirit to illumine the scriptures to hungry believers when they ask. It is by the Holy Spirit that we have understanding of the Word and the will of God in our lives. As A.A. Hodge says of illumination, It never leads to the knowledge of new truth, but only to the personal discernment of the spiritual beauty and power of truth already revealed in the Scriptures.8

Means of Inspiration Inspiration comes in many different forms. God chose the method of revelation, God chose who He was going to use as the instrument of communication, and He signed His name to the work as His own. In a sense, God still reveals himself today through His creation so that no man is without excuse. However, revelation that leads to the inspiring of scripture is close.

Objective revelation of inspiration is the first method reviewed. This is when God speaks and what is written is word for word, sometimes without illumination and with no prior experience needed. We see this particularly in God giving the law to Moses; And God spake all these words, saying, (Ex. 20:1). The Old Testament explicitly states 3,808 times that it is conveying the express words of God.9 God also dictated the exact dimensions and detail of the tabernacle to Moses. When Moses returned with the second set of commandments, he also returned with a detailed schematic of the tabernacle which was laid out by God Himself. An account of this type of inspiration can be seen in Daniel when he gives the discourse on the seventy weeks and when the exact day that Jesus would ride into Jerusalem as King. In Revelation we see John being told to Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: (Rev. 17:1) This type of inspiration can happen without illumination. Subjective revelation is the flip side of objective revelation. This is where God so providentially moves in revelation, and illumination that the writers communicate, without

error both doctrine and truth. In the Pauline epistles we see a brilliant mind captivated by Gods illumination and revelation and communicating to us exactly what God would have us know. These writers were not ignorant of their position and the fact that their writings were scripture and sent from God. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught [it], but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. (Gal. 1:12) Peter acknowledges Pauls writing as God breathes as we read, And account [that] the longsuffering of our Lord [is] salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all [his] epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as [they do] also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. (2 Peter 3:15, 16) Supernatural visions are a method God uses in inspiration. God sometimes gave visions without the interpretation. A good example of this is the vision of John and the book of Revelation. John recounts a vision of heaven and of the very throne room of God. Isaiah sees the Lord seated on the throne with the train of His robe filling the temple in chapter 6 verse 1. This train is symbolic of importance and significance. In Genesis 28:2, Jacob saw a vision of angels descending and ascending on a ladder up to heaven. Gabriel interprets Daniels dreams in Daniel 8:15-17. This is particularly interesting because Gabriel had to interpret the dreams for Daniel. Therefore, we can assume that Daniel was initially given the revelation without illumination.

In other times, these supernatural visions were implored to encourage the people for a specific task as is the case with Zachariah and the several visions he records. After the return from Babylon, several visions were given to Zachariah to encourage the completion of the temple.

In Zechariah 1: 1-17 we find the vision of the horses. In this vision the angel of the Lord has to explain what they are to Zechariah. Zechariah learns that the Lord has returned to Jerusalem and the house of the Lord will be built again. Next, in verses 18-21, we have the visions of the horns and the carpenters. Again, Zechariahs vision was explained by the angel as being the peoples that the Lord allowed to scatter Israel, Judah, and Jerusalem. The

carpenters were going to be the ones that cast out the Gentiles from the land. In chapter 2: 15 the measuring line mentioned in 1:16 is stretched out to measure Jerusalem. Zechariah is told that Jerusalem will one day not need walls because the Lord will be her wall and the glory of the Lord will be in her midst. Chapter 3:1-10 finds Zechariah looking at Joshua the high priest found in filthy garments, but given clean ones. The Branch of the Lord is also prophesied to come. Here it seems that Zechariah is listening to a conversation, but not engaged in that conversation. The angel that talked with Zechariah came to him again in chapter 4:1-14 and walked with him asking him about the lamp stands and olive trees that he saw. Zechariah again had to ask the meaning of the bowls, candlesticks, trees, pipes, and lamps. The angels stated that these instruments were the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel exclaiming the house of the Lord will be finished not by power or might but by the spirit of the Lord.

Passive writing was implored at other times. As with the prophets, the visions they recorded came without they receiving the full scope of what they were seeing. Peter expounds on this when he says, Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: (1Peter 1:10) Peter is saying that the prophets searched diligently for answers as to what they were prophesying about, but the reality of Jesus would not be revealed until after their death.

Inspiration through illumination is when God allows men to fully understand a revelation that has been communicated and apply it to a situation. Thus is the case in Acts where Peter stood up among the disciples and explained the revelation given to David: 16: Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. 17: For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. (Acts 1:1617). In instances such as the historical books, we see Gods hand directing the writers in such a way as to record, without error, historical facts, places, events, and situations exactly as God intended. Luke is a prime example of not only God directing Luke to the people and places

he needed to go to get the accurate account of the history of the church, but we see the providence of God in raising up and training Luke for such a task.

However the method of inspiration, the beauty of the mystery remains. The fact that God would chose to reveal Himself to man is amazing. Simmons puts it like this: we may say that the process of inspiration consisted of such means and influences as it pleased God to employ, according to the circumstances, in order to give us a divine, complete, and infallible revelation of all religious truth we need during this life.10 Inadequate Theories of Inspiration The key word is the heading of this section is theories. Many have put forth their best efforts to describe and accurately illustrate the supernatural means by which God has chosen to completely and fully illustrate His character and persons in the language and vocabulary of man. A theory is only good until it is proven wrong. As theories are tested against the known attributes and character of God, some are quickly proven inadequate.

The Natural inspiration theory is the first of these. It states that any and every person who brings forth an idea, concept, or writing that in beneficial to man is just as inspired as any other Biblical writers. In this formula, Spurgeons writings would be just as inspired as Pauls. Or worse yet, Hemmingways writings would be seen a peer of Lukes.

Paul attributes his works not to human intellect or to his own cunning, but to God. There is no divine aspect to natural inspiration. For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. (1 Thess. 2:13) An attempt to promote natural inspiration would be reduce the supernatural work of God to a product of mans own thinking. It was Satans pride that caused his expulsion from heaven and mans pride and desire to be like God that caused the fall. It would seem only fitting that man would try to attribute a divine work to himself seeing that is the ultimate goal of a sinful heart. Natural inspiration exposes the scripture to an onslaught of manipulation and

exploitation that would be nothing less than criminal. Man, in and of himself, can not create the divine.

It is not man that is responsible for inspiring himself in the sense of writing divine scripture, but God. Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; (Eph.3:5)

The Dynamic Theory of inspiration says that the Bible is only inspired in parts and in other parts it is not. In other words, some of the Bible is God breathed and others are just discourses of man. Naturally, quarrels and debates over which are and are not scripture rage on in these circles.

Supporter of this theory point to the 2 Timothy 3:16: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: In the original Greek, there is no is. Thus the two interpretations read: [All scripture is given by inspiration] or [All scripture inspired by God is profitable] The first example appears in such translations as the AV, RSV, NASB, and NIV. The later example shows up in the translations of Douay, ASV, and NEB.

The problem with dynamic inspiration, or the Bible just containing the Word of God, lies in determining what is and is not inspired. Man is not subject to the oracles of man; the blind leading the blind in other words. Man is subject to the Words of his Creator. How convenient would it be for man to pick and chose the parts that should be obeyed and those should not. The Bible is Gods revelation to man; the very written form of Jesus Christ. Thus says the Lord is recorded over 400 times in the Old Testament. God shares His glory with no one, why would He allow His redemptive story to be corrupted by sinful mans own prose?

Next is the theory that the thoughts not the words were inspired. The proposition put forth in this theory is that Holy Spirit is the author of the thoughts, then these divine thoughts were written in the writers own words and style. The problem is the filter. In this theory the

divine is filtered through the fallen. The divine level of inspiration ends at the thought and is then left to man to communicate as best he can. I can remember a game we played where several people would sit in a circle and one person would whisper a sentence to the one beside them. They could only say the sentence once. Then the person receiving the message would turn to the person beside them and repeat the message as best he could remember it. This would go on until the message return to the originator of the message. By the time the message returned to the originator, it was so distorted and skewed that the original meaning was lost. There are over eight hundred thousand inspired words in the Bible. There is no other possible or plausible explanation other than divine inspiration of both thought and word that could explain how these sixty-six books penned by over forty authors over sixteen hundred or so years could have a message that is perfectly consistent

The last inadequate theory is the dictation theory. In this theory the writers wrote the words much like a secretary would take dictation from an employer. Just as God dictated the Ten Commandment to Moses, He also dictated, word for word, to all the writers of scripture.

This theory is flawed on many levels and has never been upheld by any serious scholar. Packard writes, "This dictation theory is a man of straw. It is safe to say that no Protestant theologian, from the reformation till now, has held it; and certainly modern Evangelicals do not hold it."11

The human element pours from scripture as with Paul as he asks Timothy to please bring him his coat or when he writes the church at Rome as to his desire to see them. Munhall writes this concerning the human element of scripture; such a theory [of mechanical dictation] is nowhere taught in the Scriptures. Indeed, the obvious fact that the individual characteristics of the writers were in no way changed or destroyed disproves such a theory."12 To remove the human element from scripture would be to purposefully abandon a flavor of the Bible that God went to great lengths to secure for our own good.

The Biblical Doctrine of Inspiration Divine Supervision Gods Sovereign activity is evident in preparing the writers of his Word through their lives and experiences, as well as their vocabulary, to write exactly what he wanted writing. In this was God was able to fully combine the Divine and the human to produce his word to man.13 This doctrine upholds all that is divine and all that is human about the Bible while at the same time, not subjecting the scripture to error due to the oversight of the Holy Spirit. In this theory, the writers only contribution is form, not content. Warfields explanation of the doctrine goes like this: ..in the case of the production of Scripture by the conjoint action of human and Divine factors, the human factors have acted as human factors, and have left their mark on the product as such, and yet cannot have fallen into that error which we say it is human to fall into, because they have not acted apart from the Divine factors, by themselves, but only under their unerring guidance.14 God is the author and nothing was written by man that did not filter through Holy Spirit. In other theories the divine was filtered through the sinful. In the 1st century, the use of an amanuensis was common place. These were skilled writers that would travel with people and write as they would speak. These secretaries were used to fill out the content of a letter, and then after the author proofed it, made the necessary changes, the letter was signed by the originator of the letter. Some of Pauls letters were written by his own hand and others he dictated to an amanuensis. Were these dictated letters any less scripture? No, because they were proofed by Paul and he signed his name to it. Paul would not sign his name to what he knew was scripture without being at peace with the Holy Spirit as to what was written.

The Proofs of Inspiration The proof of inspiration can come from an examination of the character God and the character and claims of the Bible itself. The best commentary on the Bible is the Bible. By looking at and studying the character of God and His Word, we can see the nature of inspiration.

The Character of God The Bible teaches many things about God. It tells us that He is eternal; Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. (Ps. 90:2) He is infinite; But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?(1Kings 8:27), and sovereign; Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: (Is. 46:10). Gods sovereignty assures us that the right people were chosen at the right time to write exactly what God wanted communicated to us. As God looked through time, He rose up individuals for His good pleasure and will.

His omnipotent power as seen when God asks, Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? (Jer. 32.27) God is all powerful. Being so, God surely has the ability to keep the writers called to tell the story of the eternal God free from error.

Gods omniscient character says that He cannot learn because he knows everything already. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. (Ps. 147:5) Therefore, there is no fact that can escape His mind. Under power of the Holy Spirit, the writers of the Bible are sure to be free from error in stating any fact concerning any subject described in the Bible.

God is unchangeable; Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. (Heb. 13:8), Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:17). The God of the Old Testament is the God of New Testament and is perfectly consistent. By this we can be sure that there will be no contradictions in facts and stories. This does not prohibit the writers from accenting certain idiosyncrasies of the same event that other writers would not. In doing so, there is a richness that is achieved that is unequalled.

God is a righteous judge; So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. (Rom. 14:12), perfectly just; The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving

iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. (Num. 14:18), and purely holy; Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. (Is. 6:2). The angel covered his face because of the holiness of God, his feet signifying humility and with his wings he flew in acts of service. These attributes can guarantee that the word of God has been

perfectly transmitted from God through Revelation, and the writings meticulously overseen by the Holy Spirit. God is perfect, therefore any representation of Him, from Him, will be perfect and without blemish. John says the Word was God. The Word is perfect and perfectly preserved just as God would have it.

A.W. Pink writes this concerning the character of God and the inspiration of scriptures, No man, and no number of men, ever invented such a God as this. Ransack the libraries of the ancient, examine the musings of the mystics, study the religions of the heathen and nothing will be found which can for a moment be compared with the sublime and exalted description of Gods character which is furnished by the Bible.15 The Character and Claims of the Bible All the attributes of God can be applied to scripture as well. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1) The Word is God in written form. Therefore, there is no injustice in applying what we know of God to His Word. Seeing as how an examination of the character of God has been established, this section will dwell on the claims of the Bible.

Sproul states that, The Bible is called the Word of God because of its claim, believed by the church, that the human writers did not merely write their own opinions, but that their words were inspired by God.16 Sproul is not saying that the men took dictation from God but that the result was just as perfect as if they had. Time and again, the writers made sure that the reader understood their words were by the power of the Holy Spirit. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (1Cr 2:13) The writers understood that the words of men carry no eternal value. It is the Word of God that is sharper that any two edged

sword, and has the power to save. For the biblical authors claimed that God is the source of the very words of Scripture, since He supernaturally superintended the very process by which the human, using their own vocabulary and style, recorded God's message.17

In the Old Testament, God spoke through the mouths of the prophets. Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. (Eze 3:17) A watchman was someone alert to God. This person was to sound the alarm if enemies were approaching. The prophets were not in the running for a popularity contest. Many did so with great anguish in their hearts for their people and their generation. Many would rather hear lies that the truth. That this [is] a rebellious people, lying children, children [that] will not hear the law of the LORD: [10] Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: (Isa 30:9-10)

The prophets of the Old Testament were sure in there testimony. The soundness of mind and security in the fact that their words were from the Lord prompted them to speak with boldness and power. But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin. (Mic 3:8)

Jesus lends credibility to the inspiration of the entirety of the Old Testament when He says, Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. [18] For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. [19] Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matt. 5:17-19) There are many other instances where the writers attributed the writings to inspiration from God. For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received [it] not [as] the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. (1Th 2:13)

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Peter: 21). The Bible is not the product of mans own intellect or by his own design. It is purely divine that sixty-six book penned by over forty authors could have such continuity in thought and purpose. Although literary flare is glaringly evident, we can rest assured that the God of the universe was in control from beginning to end. The Bible is as indestructible as God mainly because it carries with it all the attributes of God and His Son Jesus.

The Verbal Inspiration of Scripture Verbal inspiration of scripture says that the writers were not inspired but the scripture itself was inspired. It states that the very words of scripture were inspired. In essence, it says that only the original manuscripts can only viewed as inspired and not any successive copies. There can be no guarantee of flawless reproductions of the original. It is of great value that through textual criticism, we can rest assured that the Greek and Hebrew text we have before us today is virtually the same as the original.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (1 Cor. 2: 12-13) The verbal inspiration of scripture says that inspiration is not only plenary (or covers the entirety of scripture) but is inspired down to the very words written under the supervision of the Holy Spirit.

Some of the objections to the verbal inspiration of scripture can be summarized under the following: 1. Quotations of ignorance or error 2. In science and history 3. In miracle and prophesy 4. In quoting and interpreting the Old Testament 5. In morals and religion An example of quotations of ignorance and/or error would be when the companions of Job made errors in their summary of why Job had fallen under such extreme conditions.

However there is no error here. Scripture is relating what was said. It would be error if the scripture asserted that the companions said something that they really did not. It must be said that scripture relates things that man has done and said that are contrary to what God had planned for man. Solomon had one thousand wives and concubines but Gods best was for marriage to be between one man and one woman. Just because Solomon had one thousand wives and the Bible records it, doesnt mean that God ordains it.

Another example is in Acts 23:5 when Paul states that he did not know that Ananias was high priest. Some would point to this as being a quotation of ignorance. There is no question of inspiration here; it is simply an admission of ignorance on Pauls part.

Some point to errors that are contradictory to science and history as a disproof of the verbal inspiration of scripture. Even though the Bible is not a science book or a history book, since God is the author and creator of all that we observe in science and history, we can expect that whatever subjects the Bible touches must be true. Case in point would be the Bible referring to the rising and setting of the sun. We know that the sun doesnt rise and does not set. However, we do know that the literary quality of the Bible would not dispose itself of referring to appearance. Not to mention the fact those scientists today even refer to the sun setting and rising as a point of reference.

Archeology has uncovered civilizations, places, Kings, and coinage that were once thought to be myth, but now have been substantiated as true historical data. Dr. Unger says, Old Testament archaeology has rediscovered whole nations, resurrected important peoples, and in a most astonishing manner filled in historical gaps, adding immeasurably to the knowledge of biblical backgrounds.18 Miracles and prophecy is another point of contention raised against verbal inspiration of scripture, but when examined closely, these disappear as well. To say that some of the miracles did not occur or could not have physically happened is to deny Christ Himself. To accept some and deny others is not a logical conclusion. The acceptance of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead should give any prudent individual the ability to accept all the

miracles of Jesus. One has significantly larger problems with inspiration if the resurrection of Jesus is denied.

Just because a prophecy has not occurred yet does not automatically make if false. Just statistical in deniability when taking into account the hundreds of Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled in Jesus would leave this argument helpless. Many portions of Daniel and Revelation have yet to take place. I review of the undeniable accuracy of scripture as it relates to prophecy would lead one to the rest of prophecy that has not yet occurred will one day happen.

Quoting and interpreting the Old Testament is used when refuting the verbal inspiration of scripture. The premise of the argument states that if a passage of the Old Testament is quoted in the New Testament, these quotes should be verbatim otherwise they are false. Hence, a false quotation or interpretation ends in the proposition that the very words could not have been inspired due to false quotes. A review of these passages will show there is no real difficulty.

As with the section below, Paul makes use of his knowledge of an Old Testament text when trying to convey or to bring home a point. He does not in any way state categorically that this was a direct quotation. 12: It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? 13: Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? 14: But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. (Duet. 30: 12-14) 6: But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 7: Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 8: But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; (Rom. 10: 6-8)

Below, we see Matthew shedding additional insight into the passage of Hosea. Just because Matthew expounds an additional meaning of the passage in Hosea doesnt negate his use of the scripture. Not to mention the fact that Matthew under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit would be more apt to interpret scripture that anyone. 1: When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. (Hos. 11:1) 15: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. (Matt. 2:15)

Matthew is giving credit to Jeremiah as the originator of the prophecy while quoting from the Zechariah which came later. 13: And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto 9: Then was fulfilled that which was spoken the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD. (Zech. 11:13) by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; (Matt. 27:9)

If we hold the supernatural authorship of Bible as true then who are we to deny Him the ability to use the Old Testament text in any way He sees fit to communicate to us.

So called errors in morals and religion are seemingly contradictory to scripture is also used to speak against verbal inspiration. As stated earlier, the Bible records men of God performing acts that are against morality such as adultery, drunkenness, polygamy, and so on. One must understand that just because the Bible records them as historical facts does not incite the approval of God or His seal of approval on their actions. What it does show is that God is merciful and the men and women that God uses are human with frailties and flaws just like men and women of today.

Some would point to evil acts as being sanctioned by scripture such as in the story of Samson. However, a closer reading of the story will reveal that Samsons attitude and actions were not endorsed by rather his faith and courage. Just as Rahabs faith was revered and not her lifestyle.

Some practices of men are seen to be ratified such in the case of divorce. However, Paul states that Moses allowed divorce because of the hardness of the peoples hearts not because it was Gods best for the individual.

In summary, the mystery of inspiration shall continue to reside with God. The process by which the divine interacts with the human is not only remarkable and astounding, but wonderful. The absolute truth of scripture pertains to the entirety of scripture or it applies to none of it. The Bible is totally the Word of God or it is not. Inspiration applies to all or it none.

BIBLIOGRAPHY PAGE
1

Henry, Carl F. H., God, Revelation and Authority, vol. 4, The God Who Speaks and Shows (Waco, TX: Word Books, 1979), 129. http://net.bible.org/dictionary.php?word=Revelation Thiessen, Henry C., Lectures in Systematic Theology, Chapter II, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 1992 Edition, p.7 http://net.bible.org/dictionary.php?word=Inspiration

Sproul., R.C. Essential Truths Of The Christian Faith. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton Illinois. Copyright 1992 by R. C. Sproul. Part 1. Sect. 4. Pg. 26

Butler, Trent C. Editor.. "Entry for 'AUTHORITY'". "Holman Bible Dictionary". http://www.studylight.org/dic/hbd/view.cgi?number=T566>. 1991.
7

http://www.carm.org/dictionary/dic_i-k.htm#Inerrancy

Hodge, A.A., Outlines of Theology ch. 4. sect. 5. extracted from http://homepage.mac.com/shanerosenthal/reformationink/aahinsp.htm Pache, Ren., The Inspiration and Authority of Scripture., (Chicago: Moody Press, 1969), 81.

10

Simmons, T.P. Systematic Study of the Bible A Logical Arrangement and A Diligent Treatment of Gods Holy Word. Ch. 3. Sect. 4. Extracted online at http://www.pbministries.org/Theology/Simmons/chapter03.htm
11

Packer, J.I., Fundamentalism and The Word of God. London: London Inter Varsity Fellowship, 1958, pg. 79. Munhall, L.M., "The Inspiration of the Bible," The Fundamentals, Vol. 2. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1988, pg.

12

56.
13

http://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/article_inspiration.html

Warfield, Benjamin Breckinridge. Inspiration. Article " Inspiration," from The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, James Orr General Editor, v. 3, pp. 1473-1483. Pub. Chicago, 1915, by The Howard-Severance Co.
15
16

14

Pink, Aurthor W., The Divine Inspiration of the Bible., Ch. 4, pg. 13.

Sproul., R.C. Essential Truths Of The Christian Faith. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton Illinois. Copyright 1992 by R. C. Sproul. Part 1. Sect. 4. Pg. 29 Pink, Aurthor W., The Divine Inspiration of the Bible., Ch. 13, pg. 46. Unger, Dr. Merrill. Archaeology and the Old Testament, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1954, p.15.

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QUESTION AND ANSWER PAGE Q1)______________________ is an uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen. A1) Revelation Q2) A2) Q3) A3) Q4) A4) Q5) Q5) Q6) A6) Q7) A7) Q8) A8) Q9) A9) What is the source of all inspired scripture? The Holy Spirit of God. Butler says that the uniform witness of the Bible is that all _______________ is located in God. Authority. What is Divine Authority? Divine Authority is Gods strictly unique freedom to do as He desires. This theory of inspiration says that every person who brings forth an idea, concept, or writing that in beneficial to man is just as inspired as any other Biblical writers. Natural Theory What theory of inspiration says that the Bible is only inspired in parts and in other parts it is not? The Dynamic Theory In this theory the writers wrote the words much like a secretary would take dictation from an employer. Dictation Theory In this theory, the divine level of inspiration ends at the thought and is then left to man to communicate as best he can. Thoughts only are inspired. What is the best commentary on the Bible? The Bible

Q10) What assures us that the right people were chosen at the right time to write exactly what God wanted communicated to us? A10) Gods sovereignty Q11) Who wrote, No man, and no number of men, ever invented such a God as this. A11) Pink, Aurthor W., The Divine Inspiration of the Bible., Ch. 4, pg. 13. Q12) This type of inspiration says that the writers were not inspired but the scripture itself was inspired. A12) Verbal inspiration

Q13) What are the 5 main classifications of objections to verbal inspiration? A13) 1. Quotations of ignorance or error 2. In science and history 3. In miracle and prophesy 4. In quoting and interpreting the Old Testament 5. In morals and religion Q14) Jobs companions misinterpreting the cause of Jobs afflictions is an example some state as a ___________________________. A14) Quotation of error. Q15) How do some answer the fact that the Bible cites instances of immorality proving that it is not verbally inspired? A15) Just because the Bible states a historical fact doesnt mean it condones the act. Q16) What is the Biblical view of inspiration? A16) Divine Supervision Q17) What is a characteristic of Divine Supervision? A17) God was able to fully combine the Divine and the human to produce his word to man. Q18) In the Dynamic Theory of inspiration, who determines what portions are inspired? A18) Man Q19) What is wrong with the thoughts being inspired and not the words? A19) In this case, inspiration stops with the thought and man is left to interpret and communicate the divine by his own intellect. The divine is filtered through the fallen. Q20) Where can the answer to inspiration be found? A20) The answer is with God.