5 Things You Should Know About the Bible as the Word of God

By S. Wilson

1.) Importance of Inspiration of Scriptures

When Christians say that the Bible (or the Scriptures) is inspired they mean that that it was God-breathed and it is the complete expression of His mind alone.  The Bible is God’s self-revelation through the agency of the Holy Spirit.  God’s Word is perfect and pure, Pr 30:5 “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.” Psalm 12:6; 18:30; 19:7-8, 119:140; 2Samuel 22:3. Not only does the Bible claim inspiration for itself, these 66 books, written by 40 men over a period of 2,500 years are in perfect agreement – a feat which would be humanly impossible if the Bible were not inspired.  It would stand to reason that men who do not want to retain a knowledge of God (Romans 1: 28) would seek to devise ways to discredit this doctrine of inspiration.  For more discussion on how these books became part of the Bible, see our article on the canon.

2.) Verbal Plenary Inspiration.

When Christians speak of verbal plenary inspiration they mean that every word of the scripture is inspired (verbal) and every word of the Bible is equally inspired (plenary).  Because of these two facts we may say that the Bible is infallible and fully inerrant in its original autographs. [This is why readers want to exercise care when choosing a modern translation of the Bible.  See our article on Bible translations.]  All scripture, then, is accurately and equally inspired and is infallible as to truth and is final as to divine authority.   Matthew 10:19-20.Exodus 4:12; Jeremiah 1:7; Mark 13:11-13; Lu 12:11; 21:14-15, 2 Samuel 23:2; Acts 4:8; 6:10; 2Timothy 4:17.

3.) Dual Authorship  

The Bible is truly God’s Word written through the agency of men. The Scriptures are the complete expression of God who chose certain men to write down His awesome Word. He did not give men free range to write what they chose. 2 Peter 1:21 says “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” The word moved, in this verse, has the connotation of being borne-along as in being carried. Chafer offers some clarification for this term, “The human authors are carried along to the destination by God, much as a boat will carry its passenger to its ultimate destination. Although passengers on a boat have some human freedoms and can move freely within the boat they surely and inevitably are carried to the destination of the boat itself.” This does not give a full explanation, but does shed some light on the subject. There are also examples recorded in the Bible where God spoke directly and those words were recorded by the men.

4.) What the Bible says about the Word of God

The Word of God attests to its own inspiration. 2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness….”  The term “inspiration of God” is the Greek word theopneustos -meaning that Scripture is God breathed. It’s the outworking of God’s Message. The Scriptures also state strongly that certain men were empowered to write the Word of God. Isa 59:21 "As for Me," says the LORD, this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants' descendants, says the LORD, from this time and forevermore." Psalm. 110:1, Acts 4:25, Matthew 1:22, 2:15, Hebrews 3:7, Psalm 95:7, Hebrews 10:15, Jeremiah 31:33,34, Exodus 4: 10-12, Jeremiah 1:4-9.

5.) What Christ says about the Bible

When Christ spoke of the Scriptures, He spoke with authority, placing His entire confidence in them.  Matthew 5:18 declares that neither “jot nor tittle” (small particulates in the Hebrew language) will be left unfulfilled.  Christ engaged the Pharisees on this subject, reminding them of their own belief that the scriptures could not be broken.   Christ gave unqualified support to the inspiration of the Old Testament scriptures, always giving honor to them. (Mark 14:49; John 13:28; 17:12; 12:14: Mark 9:12-13).  Speaking of Jesus, Luke it says “And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” John 5:39 records, "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.”  These verses strike to the heart of the whole issue of inspiration. To deny the inspiration of scriptures is to deny the authenticity of the words and message of Jesus Christ. Matthew 4,7,10; 11:10; 19:4; 21:13,42: 22:29, 26:31,56.  Consider the suggestion of the Lord Jesus and search the scriptures for yourself!  Begin with John’s gospel in the New Testament. 

Sources:

Systematic Theology, VoI I, Bibliology and Theology, Chafer, Lewis Sperry, Dallas Theological Seminary.