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The Inspiration of Scripture

By Mark E. Larson

Introduction: Do You Really Believe the Bible to Be the Word of God?

1 Thess 2:13 (NASB) And for this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received from us the word of God's message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.

Do you really believe the Bible to be the word of God?

A. Many people today do not, including the “religious” and those who profess to be Christians.

1. More and more people are viewing the Bible as the mere writings of men and as a result are rejecting its message.

2. More and more Bible “scholars” and theologians are actually denying that the Bible is an inspired book.

3. Many preachers today, especially of the denominational churches, no longer believe in the inspiration of Scripture and do not view it as our perfect guide for modern day living.

What about you? Do you view the Bible as merely the words of men? Or have you fully accepted it, every book, chapter, and verse, for what it really is, the word of God?

B. Many professed Jews and Christians claim to believe the Bible is God’s word,

yet in actuality have very little faith in the inspiration of Scripture.

1. This stems from a lack of knowledge on what it means for the Scriptures to come from the inspiration of God.

What exactly does it mean to believe in the inspiration of the Scriptures?How exactly does inspiration work?

To what degree did the authors of the Bible get to express their own thoughts, feelings, and opinions?

            C. How we view the Bible and its inspiration is an extremely important matter, for the way we view it will determine how seriously we take heed to what it says.

I. Defining the Words “Scripture” and “Inspired.” 

            A. “Scripture” (i.e. a writing) stands for the law, the word of God.

                        1. Scripture literally means “a writing.”

                        2. Jesus defines that which is written or Scripture to stand for the law or     

God’s word (John 10:34-35).

John 10:34-35 (NASB) 34 Jesus answered them, "Has it not been written in your Law, 'I said, you are gods'? 35 "If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken),

                                    a. The Scriptures or God’s law cannot be broken, meaning it still   stands or endures through the test of time.

                                    b. A person cannot literally break the law, but he might choose to disobey it or violate it.

                        3. At the time of Christ, the Scriptures specifically stood for the writings

                        of the law of Moses, the prophets and the psalms (Luke 24:44-45).

Luke 24:44-45 (NASB) 44 Now He said to them, "These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."  45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,

                        4. When Paul wrote “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God”

                        (2 Tim. 3:16), he was referring to the Old Testament Scriptures

                        (since the New Testament had not been completely written yet).

            B. “Inspired” (theopneustes) means “God (theo)- breathed (pneo).”

                        1. All Scripture is God inspired or “God breathed” (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

2 Tim 3:16-17 (NASB) 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

                        2. God Himself “breathed through” the Bible writers that spoke for Him.

                        3. The breath of God is parallel to the word of God (Ps. 33:6).

Ps 33:6 (NASB) By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host.

                                    a. It was by His expressed will or Word that God created all things (Rev. 4:11).

4. Knowing, therefore, that the Scriptures are God breathed, we come to appreciate even more the great power of the word of God! (Rom. 1:16).

II. The God-Breathed Word of the Prophets.

            A. The prophet is a “mouth” of the Lord.

1. The actual words of God are placed in the prophet’s mouth.

a. Not merely an idea placed in his mind! (Deut. 18:17-19).

Deut 18:17-19 (NASB) 17 "And the LORD said to me, 'They have spoken well. 18'I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. 19'And it shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him.

                        2. The words spoken were not chosen by the speaker, but by God Himself!

                        3. Knowing that the words are chosen by God gives every page of

                        Scripture much more weight and significance!

            B. A person was a prophet not because of who he was, but because he was chosen by God to speak the word of the Lord (Amos 7:14-15).

Amos 7:14-15 (NASB) 14 Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah, "I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet; for I am a herdsman and a grower of sycamore figs. 15 "But the LORD took me from following the flock and the LORD said to me, 'Go prophesy to My people Israel.'

                        1. A person did not become a prophet because of their bloodline, heritage,

                        popularity, politics, or traditions, but because he was chosen by God!

            C. The prophets spoke not for the people, but for the Lord.

                        1. A prophet of the people will preach according to the desires of the

                        people (Micah 2:11; cf. 2 Tim. 4:3).

Mic 2:11 (NASB) "If a man walking after wind and falsehood had told lies and said,

'I will speak out to you concerning wine and liquor,' He would be spokesman to this people.

Mic 2:11 (NLT) Suppose a prophet full of lies were to say to you, "I'll preach to you the joys of wine and drink!" That's just the kind of prophet you would like! – cf. 2 Tim. 4:3

2. The true prophet of God does not speak from himself or for the people, but for God by the power of the Spirit of the Lord (Micah 3:8).

Mic 3:8 (NASB) On the other hand I am filled with power — with the Spirit of the LORD —  and with justice and courage to make known to Jacob his rebellious act, even to Israel his sin.

                                    a. Prophets will speak only God’s word and not the will of the

                                    people or that which is merely  popular and appealing to man.

III. The God-Breathed Words of Christ.

            A. Words given by God (John 7:16-18).

1. Jesus never made the claim that what He preached was original to Him, but He always pointed to the Father as the source of His words.

John 7:16-18 (NASB) 16 Jesus therefore answered them, and said, "My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 "If any man is willing to do His will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak from Myself. 18 "He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

                                    a. Jesus declared that His teaching was not His own, but from God,

                                    giving Him the credit, the glory for the powerful words He spoke.

                        2. If a person desires to do God’s will, he can know that the teaching -

                        Christ’s teaching comes from God Himself (v. 17).

                        3. The message itself is the best evidence of all that the Bible is the word  of God.

                                    a. By examining the teaching of Christ, one can determine if it is

                                    from God or man (this is true for he entire Bible as well).

                                    b. This is true of any writing, that by examining its contents, one

                                    may determine whether it is of divine origin or not.

                        4. In contrast, teachings of men seek to glorify men instead of God (v. 18).

            B. The very words Jesus spoke came directly from God (John 8:28; 12:48-50;

            14:23-24; 17:8, 14).

John 8:28 (NASB) Jesus therefore said, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me.

IV. The Holy Spirit’s Work in Inspiration.

            A. The Holy Spirit guided the apostles into all the truth, not by words of His own,

            but by the words of Christ which came from God (John 16:13; cf. 14:26).

John 16:13 (NASB) "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.

            B. The apostles spoke the words the Spirit directed them to speak (Acts 2:1-4).

Acts 2:4 (NASB) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.

                        1. The Spirit did not give the apostles only the thoughts and then they  had to choose the words.

                        2. The apostles spoke the very words God wanted them to speak as the Spirit gave them utterance (v. 4).

                        3. Liberal brethren deny that every word the apostles preached or wrote down as Scripture was chosen by God Himself.

a. Thus, they reject much of God’s word – The pattern or example for Christianity that is found in the New Testament.

Examples: (1) Worship (2) Organization (3) Church work (4) Standards of fellowship

                        4. Yet, every word preached was words chosen by God to speak!

                                    a. Therefore, every direct statement, example, and necessary  inference we must take seriously!

            C. Peter and Paul’s testimony shows that what the apostles preached by the      Holy Spirit was God’s Word.

                        1. It was by the Holy Spirit sent from Heaven that the apostles preached the gospel (1 Pet. 1:10-12).

1 Peter 1:12 (NASB) It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven —  things into which angels long to look.

                                    a. Peter, an apostle inspired by the Spirit, declared that what he wrote stood for “the true grace of God” (1 Pet. 5:12).

                        2. The apostles never preached their own wisdom or the wisdom of men,

                        but only the exact words taught by the Spirit (1 Cor. 2:6-13).

1 Cor 2:12-13 (NASB) 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.

                        3. Paul emphasized that the gospel he preached came by revelation of

                        Jesus Christ (Gal. 1:11-12).

                        4. The mystery of Christ was revealed to the apostles and prophets by the

                        Spirit (Eph. 3:5).

V. Let Us Recognize the Bible as “Scripture” or the Words of God!

            A. Paul believed that what he spoke was the word of God; Do you? (1 Thes 2:13)

1 Thess 2:13 (NASB) And for this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received from us the word of God's message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.

                        1. Sometimes in the letters Paul wrote, he wrote in a very personal way

                        describing his own struggles, circumstances, needs, and friendships.

                                    a. Yet, in doing so, he used only the words that God gave him!

                        2. When writing about the role of women, the organization of the church,

                        or the sin of homosexuality, etc. Paul wrote God’s words, not his own.

3. If you truly believe in the inspiration of the Scriptures, you will perform the good works of God in your life!

            B. Peter acknowledged Paul’s writings as Scripture; Do you? (2 Pet. 3:15-16).

2 Peter 3:15-16 (NASB) 15 and regard the patience of our Lord to be salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, 16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

                        1. The letters of Paul are not the mere letters of a man, but Scripture!

                                    a. Scripture, meaning the law of God or God’s word.

                        2. By recognizing the Bible as Holy Scripture, we will not twist it,

                        distort it, or shun it, but we will respect it and follow it carefully.

            C. The Bible is God’s Word, not the will of men, so let us take heed to what it   says! (2 Pet. 1:19-21).

2 Peter1:19-21 (NASB) 19 And so we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. 20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

1. Thankfully, man’s opinions or personal interpretations are not involved in prophecy or the writing of Scripture.

2. Each Bible writer wrote exactly what God wanted them to write, the exact words He desired as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

                        3. Knowing then that the Bible is purely and solely from the mind of God

                        ought to stir up each one of us to render obedience to it.

Conclusion: The Inspiration of the Scriptures Gives Us the Confident Assurance that the Bible Is God’s Will for Us Today.

Drawing Near to God