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Bibliology - The Inspiration of God's Word
- THE DEFINITION OF INSPIRATION
- Biblical Usage
- The enlightenment of God which can give man understanding (Job 32:8But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
See All...) - The method by which God gives Scripture to man (2 Timothy 3:16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
See All...) - Basic Meaning
- Inspiration means “a breathing in” (cp. respiration )
- Greek word: Theopneustos means “God-breathed”
- Theological Definitions
- Common definition: the operation of the divine Spirit which renders a speaker or writer infallible in the communication of truth. This definition is biblically incorrect.
- Definition for this course: the act of God by which He made every word of Scripture completely without error and completely what He wanted.
- Scriptural Principles of Inspiration
- The inspiration of scripture (2 Timothy 3:14-17 [14] But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
[15] And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
[16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
[17] That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
See All...; esp. verse 16) - Inspiration refers to scripture; not men
- Inspiration refers to all scripture
- Inspiration makes all scripture profitable
- The moving of holy men (2 Peter 1:16-21 [16] For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
[17] For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
[18] And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
[19] We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
[20] Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
[21] 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.
See All...) - They spoke not of their own will
- They spoke by the moving of the Holy Ghost
- Inspiration and moving are not to be confused. The scripture is inspired; the men were moved. This means they had no ultimate control over what they wrote but were moved, manipulated and controlled by God.
- The words of the Holy Ghost (1 Corinthians 2:7-16 [7] But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
[8] Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
[9] But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
[10] But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
[11] For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
[12] 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.
[13] 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.
[14] But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
[15] But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
[16] For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
See All...; esp. verse 13) - Given in the words which the Holy Ghost taught
- NOTE: the medium of God’s message to mankind is words
- CONCLUSION: the authority for these words is the Holy Ghost
- This is verified throughout scripture (Mark 12:36For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.
See All...; Acts 1:16Men 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.
See All...; Acts 28:25And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,
See All...; Hebrews 3:7Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,
See All...) - The unity of the scripture
- The scripture cannot be broken (John 10:35If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
See All...) - No scripture can be discarded
- Every scripture is connected to every other scripture
- Scripture must be compared with scripture (1 Corinthians 2:13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
See All...; Isaiah 28:10For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
See All...,13) - NOTE: We cannot understand completely any single verse in the Bible unless we understand completely every other verse in the Bible. This is why we find the riches of God’s word unfathomable. Each new truth becomes the basis for several more truths. This also helps to explain why it is so important that every verse of scripture be exactly what God wants it to be.
- THE METHOD OF INSPIRATION
- Human Theories
- The Intuition Theory – that inspiration sprang from a high level of natural insight into truth
- The Illumination Theory – that inspiration resulted from an intensifying of religious perception
- The Dynamic Theory – that God guided the authors of scripture so that they were inerrant in spiritual matters while using their own style
- The Dictation Theory – that God so controlled the writers of the scriptures that they were no more than passive instruments in the hand of God
- Scriptural Teaching
- Control over the words
- Words which the Holy Ghost teaches (1 Corinthians 2:13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
See All...) - What the Holy Ghost said (Mark 12:36For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.
See All...; Acts 1:16Men 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.
See All...; Acts 28:25And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,
See All...; Hebrews 3:7Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,
See All...) - Control over the human authors
- With the mouth (Exodus 4:10-12 [10] And Moses said unto the LORD, O my LORD, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.
[11] And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?
[12] Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.
See All...) - Who wrote the words (Exodus 34:1And the LORD said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest.
See All...,27-28) - The Spirit speaking by man (2 Samuel 23:2The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.
See All...) - Putting words in the mouth (Jeremiah 1:6-9 [6] Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
[7] But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
[8] Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.
[9] Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.
See All...) - NOTE: When God moved the men, He certainly used their special circumstances, knowledge and even style of writing. He was not required to do so. He certainly could have had the human author use a word which he did not understand but the evidence is that He did not significantly alter the individual author’s writing style or experience. Why? Perhaps the explanation is found in looking on the human authors as tools that God uses for His own purpose. One could dig a hole in the ground with a mattock, a pick or a shovel. Although the one digging the hole does the work and he chooses which tool he will use, the hole will bear some of the marks of that tool. Or consider the game of chess. The player chooses what piece he will move and where he will move it, yet he moves it according to the rules of the game for that piece. Of course, God can change the rules if He wishes, yet His normal practice seems to be to move the pieces according to the given characteristics and limitations of that piece.
- THE EXTENT OF INSPIRATION
- The Word is Inspired
- Tried (Psalm 18:30As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
See All...) - Settled (Psalm 119:89For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
See All...) - Pure (Psalm 119:140Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.
See All...) - Inspired (2 Timothy 3:16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
See All...) - The Words are Inspired
- Every word is pure (Proverbs 30:4-6 [4] Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?
[5] Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
[6] Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
See All...) - The words are pure (Psalm 12:6-7 [6] The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
[7] Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
See All...) - Pure
- Tried
- Preserved
- The words of the Holy Ghost (1 Corinthians 2:13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
See All...) - The Letters are Inspired
- Seed and seeds (Galatians 3:16Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
See All...; Genesis 22:18And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
See All...) - Book and books (Revelation 20:12-15 [12] And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
[13] And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
[14] And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
[15] And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
See All...) - The Punctuation is Inspired (Matthew 5:18For 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.
See All...) - Jot – the Hebrew Yod (Psalm 119:73Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.
See All...) - Tittle – a hornlike projection on some letters
- Compare verses 9 and 81 of Psalm 119
- Compare verses 25 and 153 of Psalm 119
- NOTE: Importance of punctuation to doctrine
- To teach the Second Coming (Hebrews 10:12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
See All...) –“for ever, sat down” - To oppose soul sleep (Luke 23:43And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
See All...) –“unto thee, To day” - The Italicized Words are Inspired
- Italicized words are used when there is no equivalent Hebrew or Greek word in the text for the English word but the English word must be used in order to way the same thing which is said in the Hebrew of Greek. Word for word translation is not possible because:
- Some Hebrew and Greek words must be translated with 2 or more English words
- Sometimes 2 or more Hebrew or Greek words may be correctly translated with only one English word
- Words may need to be included in order to maintain correct grammar
- Words or phrases may have an understood meaning in Hebrew or Greek which cannot be correctly understood in a word for word translation
- English idioms or phraseology may be required to correctly translate from Hebrew or Greek
- Syntax, grammatical structure and word order are often very different from one language to another
- A number of Old Testament italicized words are quoted in the New Testament without the italics
- Compare Exodus 3:6Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
See All... ( am ) with Matthew 22:32I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
See All... - Compare Deuteronomy 8:3And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
See All... ( word ) with Matthew 4:4But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
See All... - Compare Deuteronomy 30:14But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
See All... ( is ) with Romans 10:8But 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;
See All... - Compare Psalm 16:8I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
See All... ( he is ) with Acts 2:25For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
See All... - Compare Psalm 82:6I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
See All... ( are ) with John 10:34Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
See All... - Compare Psalm 118:22The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
See All... ( which ) with Matthew 21:42Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
See All... - Compare Psalm 118:23This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
See All... ( is ) with Matthew 21:42Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
See All... - Conclusions concerning italicized words
- They are absolutely necessary for proper understanding in the English text
- They are divinely placed and are therefore as much a part of the inspired text as the words which are not italicized
- Italicized words are quoted by Christ (Matthew 21:42Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
See All...; Matthew 22:32I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
See All...; etc.), Peter (Acts 2:25For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
See All...) and Paul (Romans 10:8But 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;
See All...) - Italicized words are sometimes critical to the correct doctrinal understanding of the passage (Matthew 4:4But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
See All...; Matthew 22:32I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
See All...) - Italicized words demonstrate the following:
- The absolute honesty of the KJB translators
- The feel of the original languages
- Italicized words are also the inspired words of God