B. Biblical Claims

TWO KEY BIBLICAL TEXTS

There are two key scriptures which highlight the biblical claim for the inspiration of the Bible. Together they explain the means and extent of inspiration. The first scripture was written by the apostle Paul and explains that the extent of Inspiration is “all Scripture”.

“….from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. {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 Timothy 3:15-17)

Here the apostle tells us that all scripture is inspired by God. The English word “Inspired” here translates a Greek word which literally means God-breathed. We also learn that these God-breathed writings were given that we might have the spiritual wisdom that leads to salvation, what is profitable for growing in the faith, and for being equipped for service to God and others.

The second verse was written by the apostle Peter who explains the means by which God has spoken through His word. He states that no prophecy of Scripture was the result of a purely human endeavor, but they were made by men who were moved by the Holy Spirit enabling them to speak from God.

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. (2 Peter 1:20-21)

Therefore, based on these two verses, and all that they bring to light, we may make the following statement which joins all these things together.

“All the sacred writings, that is the Old and New Testament Scriptures are inspired by God, the authors having been moved by God’s Spirit to write what is necessary to give the knowledge of salvation and adequately equip God’s people in all things pertaining to their spiritual life”.

OLD TESTAMENT

In the Old Testament, we see many cases where the authors of scripture are directed by God to write what has been committed to them. The following representative examples will illustrate this point.

In the book of Exodus, a short time after the Israelites were delivered from slavery in Egypt, on a number of occasions God called Moses up to Mount Sinai to give Moses the Law that would govern the people. In the first meeting, we read how God spoke to Moses who then went and spoke directly to the people.

Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself. Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.” So Moses came and called the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which the LORD had commanded him. All the people answered together and said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do!” And Moses brought back the words of the people to the LORD. (Exodus 19:3-8)

Moses met with the Lord on a number of occasions after this as recorded in the book of Exodus continuing to receive God’s Law. Then in chapter 24 we read that Moses wrote down all the God had spoken to the people.

Then He said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and seventy of the elders of Israel, and you shall worship at a distance. 2 Moses alone, however, shall come near to the LORD, but they shall not come near, nor shall the people come up with him.” Then Moses came and recounted to the people all the words of the LORD and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words which the LORD has spoken we will do!” Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. Then he arose early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. (Exodus 24:1-4)

In a similar way at the end of the book of Numbers we read that all the laws and commandments that had previously given and recorded in writing were what God had commanded through His prophet Moses.

“These are the commandments and the ordinances which the LORD commanded to the sons of Israel through Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan opposite Jericho.” (Numbers 36:13)

Again, in the book of Deuteronomy we find Moses warning the people to take heed to what he had previously been written because he had given them the commandments of God.

“And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I am teaching you to perform, in order that you may live and go in and take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. {2} “You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.” “See, I have taught you statutes and judgments just as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do thus in the land where you are entering to possess it. (Deuteronomy 4:1-2; 5)

In the books of the prophets the references to God as the source of the information recorded is abundant. Phrases such as “Thus says the lord” are found hundreds if not thousands of times throughout the biblical text. Three example from the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel will be provided to illustrate the point.

“The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, concerning Judah and Jerusalem which he saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. {2} Listen, O heavens, and hear, O earth; For the LORD speaks…….” (Isaiah 1:1-2)

“The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, {2} to whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah ………{4} Now the word of the LORD came to me saying, {5} “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:1-5)

Then He said to me, “Son of man, I am sending you to the sons of Israel, to a rebellious people who have rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day. {4} “And I am sending you to them who are stubborn and obstinate children; and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ (Ezekiel 2:3-4)

THE NEW TESTAMENT

We have previously learned of how Jesus chose the Apostles to be His messengers to bring God’s truth to the world. By way of review the following verses again illustrate the fact that the Apostles embraced this mission and regarded what they wrote to be the words and commands of God.

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.(2 Corinthians 5:20)

“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 Thessalonians 2:13)

“This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, {2} that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.” (2 Peter 3:1-2)