How We Got Our Bible, Part 1 – Inspiration

How We Got Our Bible

Part 1 – Inspiration

Grateful acknowledgement to Dr. Richard Keltner and Pastor Daryl Hilbert for some of the material upon which this study is based.

I.     INTRODUCTION

A.   How does one determine if the Bible we hold in our hands is really God's Word or not? How were these early writings compiled and on what basis? In addition, how do we know that the Bible we purchase from the shelf of a Christian bookstore is the same as when it was first penned? We will attempt to answer these questions in the following study.

B.   There are four major parts to the subject, "How We Got Our Bible." The first part is Inspiration, the second is Canonization, the third is Transmission, and the fourth is Translation. Inspiration is how God gave His Word to man. Canonization is how man collected God's Word. Transmission is how man transmitted that word to succeeding generations. Translation deals with how the scriptures are conveyed in our native tongues.

II.   DEFINITION OF INSPIRATION

A.   Inspiration is the first and most important part of this study. Furthermore, Canonization and Transmission are hinged upon Inspiration. Without Inspiration, not only would it be pointless to go on in our study, but the other two parts would not even exist. Inspiration, simply defined, tells us how God gave us His Word.

B.   The Webster's Dictionary defines inspiration this way concerning sacred revelation, a divine influence or action on a person believed to qualify him or her to receive and communicate sacred revelation.

C.   A better definition of Inspiration is found in the Scriptures, particularly in 2 Tim 3:16, where it says, All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.

D.   The word, "inspired," is the Greek word, theopneustos and literally means, “God-breathed” (theos - God & pneustos - spirit or breath). The idea is that the Scriptures have been God-breathed which means they originate from God and comprise His inerrant Word.

E.   Definitions for Inspiration are:

1.   The Bible is God's Word in the sense that it originates with Him and is authorized by Him. (Geisler and Nix, "General Introduction to The Bible", p.28)

2.   Inspiration (God-breathed), emphasizes the exhalation of God, hence, spiration would be more accurate since it emphasizes that Scripture is the product of the breath of God. The Scriptures are not something breathed into by God, rather, the Scriptures have been breathed out by God (Moody Handbook of Theology)

3.   Inspiration is God's superintending of human authors so that, using their own individual personalities, they composed and recorded without error in the words of the original autographs His revelation to man. (Ryrie, Basic Theology)

4.   We believe the Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally inspired; that it has truth without any admixture of error for its matter; and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man; the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions should be tried. (CBC Doctrinal Statement)

III.   EXTENT OF INSPIRATION

A.    To what extent are the Scriptures inspired? What books or what parts are inspired? The extent of inspiration reaches to every word of Scripture.

B.    Jesus taught us the extent of inspiration in Mat 5:18, For I assure you: Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass from the law until all things are accomplished. (HCSB)

C.   The extent of inspiration in Scripture is found in the "smallest letter." The smallest letter would represent the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet (yod or jot). The "smallest stroke" would be the little brush stroke, that resembles a horn (lit.), used to distinguish Hebrew letters.

D.   This verse teaches us that every word of the Bible is inspired and is attributed as God's Word. In fact, even the smallest letter will be fulfilled before heaven and earth disappear.

IV.    PROCEDURE OF INSPIRATION

A.    A question that is always raised is, "How can it be God's Word if men wrote it?"

B.    First of all, God indeed did write down His Word with His own finger. In Ex. 31:18, God inscribed the Ten Commandments on two tablets of stone by the "finger of God".

C.    Secondly, God also dictated the Scriptures to Moses when God said, "Write these words down" (Ex. 34:27).

D.    The two examples teach us that the finished product of Scripture is equivalent to God's Word. However, the procedure of inspiration is a little different than the last two examples though the outcome is the same.

E.    Through the process of inspiration, the Scriptures were written by the use of the writer's own personality and circumstances, yet he was guided by the Holy Spirit.

F.    2 Pet. 1:20-21 teaches us how the Scriptures are God's Word even though He used human agents:  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For prophecy cam not in olden times by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

G.   Men of God (prophets and apostles) were moved by the Holy Spirit to speak and write (Rom 1:2) God's Word.

H.   The word "moved" (pheromenoi - present passive participle -lit. "being carried along"), was used in regards to ships that were moved and carried by the gusts of wind. In the same way, the "holy men of God" were mysteriously prompted and moved to write God's Word, while at the same time maintaining their personalities and circumstances. The final result was the inerrant, and infallible Word of God (cp. 2Pe 3:15-16).

V.       AUTHORSHIP OF INSPIRATION

A.   One passage that is very important when discussing the authorship of Inspiration is 1 Thess. 2:13. This verse calls Scripture the "word of God": For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.

B.   There are three interesting points in this verse. First of all, the Thessalonians were receptive to Paul's message from the Scriptures as the Word of God. Some people do not receive the Bible as God's Word; they view the Bible as any other ordinary book with contradictions and errors.

C.   Secondly, the Thessalonians did not accept the Scriptures as the "word of men." In other words, even though it was written by men, they believed God watched over the writing of His Word. The finished product was not man's thoughts, but rather God's thoughts and very words. Paul confirmed that in reality (alethos - truthfully), it actually is the Word of God.

D.   Thirdly, Paul says that it is God's Word that is, "at work in you who believe." The Word of God alone is "living and active" (Heb. 4:12; Eph. 6:17b; John 15:7). Certainly some of the writings of men inspire us, but it is only God's Word that is inspired (God-breathed). In addition, it is only God's Word that changes our lives completely, giving us life through the message of Christ's death on the cross (Jn 5:24; 6:68; Rom 10:17).

VI.    CONCLUSION

A.   Since inspiration is the most important part to the subject, "How We Got Our Bible", we must have an undeniable faith that the Bible is God's Word. Not only is it imperative for this study, but it is preeminently paramount for the Christian Faith.

B.   Take away inspiration out of the Bible and you are only a small step away from denying Christ's death for sinful man. Take away Christ's death for sinful man, and you take away the only name under heaven given to men by which he must be saved.