Is the Bible inspired by a loving God? Some people believe that the Bible is myth or misogynistic or contains hate speech. Have they believed lies about the Bible? The phrase “thus says the Lord” is found over 400 times, so is the Bible an inspired document from a loving God?
There are many points of view: None of the Bible inspired, some of it inspired, it moves progressively into greater inspiration and, all of it is inspired? What point of view do you believe Paul had in writing to Timothy?
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16 NIV).
Some describe this as “plenary inspiration.” It contradicts the idea that the Bible is just the ideas of ignorant Bronze Age and Iron Age people. Is this inspiration for all times and all civilizations? This contradicts that view that not all the Bible is God’s word, but only “contains God’s word.” The phrase “all scripture” means the whole Bible is inspired by God.
As a side note, the word inspired does not technically make complete sense in English, because inspired also means breathed in. In Greek, the original language of the New Testament, the Bible is described as being expired, breathed out. But, that doesn’t make sense in English either, because colloquially expired also means dead. So, the NIV is actually one of the best translations of that concept, that the Bible is “God-breathed.”
Like Paul, the Apostle Peter taught something different to modern skeptics.
“Most important, you must know that no prophecy of scripture represents the prophet’s own understanding of things, because no prophecy ever came by human will. Instead, men and women led by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” (2 Peter 1:20-21 CEB)
Okay, but weren’t they just speaking of the Old Testament, the Hebrew Scriptures? Who’s to say that the New Testament also contains inspired writings?
“Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given to him, speaking of these things in all his letters. Some of his remarks are hard to understand, and people who are ignorant and whose faith is weak twist them to their own destruction, just as they do the other scriptures.” (2 Peter 3:15b-16 CEB)
So Peter claimed that Paul’s letters were scripture, and over time several other letters were included as sacred writings. Different branches of the Christian church accept a different number of books that make up an official canon of such writings. But, remarkably all Christian churches agree that the primary 66 books of the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, are sacred scripture.
“The Spirit shows what is true and will come and guide you into the full truth. The Spirit doesn’t speak on his own. He will tell you only what he has heard from me, and he will let you know what is going to happen.” (John 16:13 CEV)
Ultimately, the Holy Spirit must be our teacher. Any human teacher or church is limited, but God is not. Talk to Him. He will guide us into all truth.
Bible Self-Descriptions
Is it circular reasoning to use the Bible to prove the Bible? This is an argument from an ignorance of history. Long before the Bible was one book, its books were separate documents. The most reliable and trustworthy documents were collected together to become the Bible. What is illogical is to deny these documents and search for proof among those that were rejected as unreliable by ancient scholars.
Words like inerrant and infallible have been used to describe the Bible, and those words have meant different things at different times and places. However, most importantly the Bible contains descriptions of itself that indicate its inspiration. Let’s look at some of them.
Word of God
The phrase Word of God can mean a quote from God (1 Kings 12:22; 1 Chronicles 17:3), the Scriptures (Matthew 15:6; Mark 7:13; John 10:35), the Gospel message (Acts 6:7; 12:24; 13:5, 7, 44; Hebrews 13:7) or Jesus Himself (John 1:1-3, 14). The context explains how the phrase is used. Our purpose here is to focus on those times when phrases similar to the “word of God” or “the word of the Lord” refer to the Holy Scriptures.
“But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever I have that would help you has been given to God,” he is not to honor his father or mother.’ And by this you have invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition.” (Matthew 15:5-6 NASB cf. Mark 7:13)
Though this can also logically be translated as the “commandment of God” (KJV, NKJV, WEB), the Greek actually says “word” (ESV, NASB, NIV, NLT), meaning in this context, the sayings of God. It was not just the Pharisees and Scribes who broke the word of God for the sake of their traditions. Christian churches have done the same thing. The important thing to note is that the Ten Commandments are the word of God.
In the midst of a discussion about whether or not Jesus was God in the flesh, comes an interesting comment regarding the word of God and scripture.
“Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods” ’? If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?” (John 10:34-36 NKJV)
This idea of calling what God says, also what scripture says can be clearly seen in other passages.
“The Lord said to Abram, ‘Leave your land, your family, and your father’s household for the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation and will bless you. I will make your name respected, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, those who curse you I will curse; all the families of the earth will be blessed because of you.’” (Genesis 12:1-3 CEB)
“But when it saw ahead of time that God would make the Gentiles righteous on the basis of faith, scripture preached the gospel in advance to Abraham: All the Gentiles will be blessed in you.” (Galatians 3:8 CEB)
This is not unique. Notice two more verses where God speaking and scripture are equated.
“Then the Lord said to Moses… But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” (Exodus 9:13, 16 NIV)
“For Scripture says to Pharaoh: ‘I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.’” (Romans 9:17 NIV)
What the Bible says (Genesis 2:24), God says (Matthew 19:4-5). What David wrote (Psalm 2:1), God spoke through him (Acts 4:24-25), so it was the word of God.
Other Concepts
The Holy Writings which we call the Bible are also given many other names.
“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward.” (Psalm 19:7-11 NKJV)
Law, testimony, statutes, commandment, fear and judgment are all different facets of the word of God. Notice the descriptions accompanying those words: perfect, sure, right, pure, clean, true and righteous. Remarkable claims are made for the effectiveness of the Bible in people’s lives.
“For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we must answer.” (Hebrews 4:12-13 NASB)
Living, active, piercing, and judging our motives. This is a striking description. Will you have a change of heart and mind and believe the good news of God’s reign? You decide!
