zaterdag 28 september 2013

The authority of Scripture 3

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"