BIBLIOLOGY #3
The Doctrine of Scripture
The Inspiration of Scripture
Dr. Russell K. Tardo
III. THE INSPIRATION OF SCRIPTURE
A. The Recording of Spiritual Truth:
There are five fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith, namely:
1. The doctrine of the Virgin Birth or the Deity of Christ;
2. The substitionary blood atonement;
3. The divine inspiration of the Scriptures;
4. The bodily resurrection; and,
5. The literal personal return of Christ.
B. The Divine Inspiration of the Scriptures:
This is the doctrine that the Bible is God’s Word. A common error of some is that it contains God’s Word. Beware of that error! The Bible is not the product of man’s imagination or man’s philosophies. It is not the product of man at all. The author is not man, but God.
The word inspiration, by Scriptural definition, means that divine influence of the Holy Spirit upon writers of the Scriptures whereby their writings are made verbally infallible. Their writings were the very words of God Himself. Inspiration of the Scriptures has to do with accurately recording the truth and deals with the origin of the Scriptures.
There are some instances where the English translation is inadequate to describe what is really said and meant in the Greek, for example:
But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. [Job 32:8]
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. [2 Tim. 3:16]
The phrase, given by inspiration of God , is actually one word in the Greek meaning all Scripture is God-breathed.
As borne out in this verse, the scriptures never emphasize man’s place in writing the scriptures.
By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
[Ps. 33:6]
Only God’s role is emphasized. The Bible as God’s Word is infallible. God breathed out of His mouth His Word. That Word is what we have today- the Bible, not because of man’s genius, but because God actually breathed out the Word and saw to it that it was preserved throughout the centuries.
Other passages declare that the Scriptures did not come by the will of man. Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
But 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. [Matt. 4:4]
20Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. [1 Pe. 1:20-21]
Also, Luke did not come by his book by revelation, but by talking to eyewitnesses and others who saw and were actually with Jesus during his ministry.
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets.
[Heb. 1:1]
Here we are told that God spake by the prophets, indicating they infallibly wrote what God spoke.
I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. [Deut. 18:18]
As seen in the following verses, men are not necessarily inspired, but it is their writings that are inspired by God.
7The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. 8The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. [Ps. 19:7-9]
But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets. [Acts 24:14]
Inspiration is verbal (words are the result). The quality of infallibility, inherence and divine authority -- the words of scripture are the very words of God. Inspiration is plenary, a Latin word meaning full, total, complete in all aspects. Plenary inspiration means that every part of Scripture is inspired by God, every jot, title. [Scripture References: Ps. 119:140-160; Deut. 28 and Romans 13.]
