Second Timothy 3:16-17 reads, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (NKJV). Scripture could not any more plainly teach that the Word of God is inspired – literally “God-breathed.” I read the other day where someone said, “Well the Bible is inspired. It contains within it words from God.” The whole point of his article was that he did not believe in the inerrancy of the Scriptures and the significance of being the words from God.
Notice again, 2 Peter 1:20-21, which says, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” The NJKV footnotes “interpretation” as meaning “origin.” In other words, the Scriptures are not the result of the private musings of the human penmen. Instead, the Holy Spirit moved them. Some object that this says “prophecy” and therefore does not apply to all the Scriptures. The fact is that while prophets did foretell future events from time to time, their main purpose was to present the will of God. That could include foretelling the future, but that is not all it includes.
Further, listen to what Paul said, specifically about his writing, but applicable to all inspired writers. “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Corinthians 2:13). The ESV includes in its footnotes on the last word “spiritual” – “interpreting spiritual truths in spiritual language.” The NASB translates it, “Combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.”
The expression “the word of the Lord” is found about 498 times in the Bible, 103 times just in Jeremiah. The claim that what is being written and spoken is from God, including God’s approval of even the words spoken, is emphatically shown.
Note what Peter says about Paul’s writings in 2 Peter 3:15-16. “And consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation – as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.” Peter called Paul’s writings “Scriptures.” That means that the passages we have noted are Scripture and that they are inspired.
We often use the terms “plenary, verbal inspiration.” The dictionary defines “plenary” as “unconditional, unlimited, unrestricted, unqualified, absolute.” The inspiration of the Scriptures is complete or total. Regarding “verbal,” inspiration of Scripture involves even the words. God used each penman’s own personality and individuality, while making sure every word was accurate. It was not dictation; it was supervision! Inspiration, as already noted, means “God-Breathed.” The Bible is the Word of God. It does not just contain the Word of God as some people contend.
The bottom line is that without the solid foundation of the Word of God, there is no basis for faith (Romans 10:17). “Whatsoever was written aforetime was written for our learning…” (Romans 15:4). The Word of God is “written” – not stories just passed down orally from generation to generation. Jesus dealt with Satan with “It is written.” In Psalms 119:11, the Psalmist clearly spoke of the written word; he declared, “Your Word I have hid in my heart that I may not sin against you.” The Lord has revealed His will to us through the written word. We must study it and handle it appropriately (2 Timothy 2:15).
The revealed Scriptures are “that which is perfect” (1 Corinthians 13:10) and the “unity of the faith” (Ephesians 4:13), which replaced the miraculous with a superior form, the inspired and inerrant recorded Scriptures. Paul said, “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ” (Galatians 1:6-10). The major reason to reject the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible is because men want to follow their own “gospel” that is more popular. Thereby, they can feel unencumbered by the will of God. They want to pick and choose what they like and ignore what they don’t like. They want to please themselves, not God.
[Editor’s Note: “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). There is no satisfactory answer to that question. ~ Louis Rushmore, Editor]
