Inspiration
Men wrote the Bible. God wrote the Ten Commandments,
which are in the Bible. Men wrote the Bible, but that does not mean that the
Bible is only an old and even a unique religious document. We believe the Bible
to be the inspired Word of God. The Bible itself testifies abundantly of its
divine origin and authority. Two texts always have played an important role in
the doctrine of Scripture. I refer to 2
Timothy 3:16 and 2 Peter 1:21.
In 2 Timothy 3:16 we read: "All scripture is
given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness." The Greek word for inspiration
is "theopneustos", that means "breathed out by God". The
Bible is not just an inspiring book, but it is the inspired book of God. His
Spirit breathes out the words of the Bible.
God used men as his instruments to give us his
revelation. That is especially true of his revelation in its scriptural form.
Peter states in his second epistle: "For the prophecy came not in old time
by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy
Ghost." The writers of the Bible were in their writing, moved by the Holy
Spirit. Their thoughts were his thoughts and their words his words.
This does not mean that the biblical writers were
completely passive in what they thought and wrote. God has revealed himself in
diverse ways. God has used the complete personality of the biblical writers. He
made use of their research and several other activities. The result of all was
that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. The human instrumentality of
revelation and the divine origin are just two sides of one coin. In and through
the words written by men God has revealed himself to us.
The inspiration is a permanent and abiding feature of
the Scripture. The Bible is the voice of God. We read the Bible in the
attitude: "Speak, Lord, for thy servant hears"