What does it mean that the Bible was inspired?
Q: "What does it mean that the Bible is 'inspired' (as it claims)?"
our A:
Just as an employer would delegate work to his/her
employees, God delegated writing to various people
over the course of history, to record His
interaction with people, so that His message of
salvation could be known throughout the earth.
Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible,
recording what happened in that time period.
Isaiah recorded what God told him to say to the
Israelites. Jeremiah recorded all the events of
speaking to the Israelites and their reaction to
his messages. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John wrote
down details of Jesus' life and words. And so on.
In all there are 40 different writers, over a huge
time period (1500 years), from different
geographical settings. Yet, their description of
God and their message about how we can know God is
the same.
Inspired literally means God-breathed, or from
God's Spirit. God was completely involved. It was
like the collaborative work of two writers (God
being the primary author, then each of the human
authors). God guided them regarding what to say,
write, include.
And in many cases, even though God
was working through them, their own unique
writing styles and emphases are apparent. For
example, the writers of the gospels (recording
Jesus' life and words) were Matthew, Mark, Luke
and John. They all gave an account of what Jesus
did and said, yet each emphasized different
things. John spent more time recording what Jesus
said about His deity. Matthew and Luke spent more
time on the circumstances around Jesus' birth.
Mark gave only a quick summary of Jesus' life.
Here are a few places in the Bible that clearly
show the human authors were being guided by God as
to what to write:
Then the Lord said to Moses, "Write down these
words, for in accordance with these words I have
made a covenant with you and with Israel." (Exodus
34:27)
In the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king
of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the
Lord: "Take a scroll and write on it all the words
I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah and
all the other nations from the time I began
speaking to you in the reign of Josiah till now."
(Jeremiah 36:1-2)
"Go now, write it on a tablet for them, inscribe
it on a scroll, that for the days to come it may
be an everlasting witness." (Isaiah 30:8)
When I saw him [Jesus], I fell at his feet as
though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me
and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and
the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and
behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold
the keys of death and Hades. Write, therefore,
what you have seen, what is now and what will take
place later." (Revelation 1:17-19)
Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the
things that have been fulfilled among us...
Therefore, since I myself have carefully
investigated everything from the beginning, it
seemed good also to me to write an orderly account
for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you
may know the certainty of the things you have been
taught. (Luke 1:1-4)
Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the
presence of his disciples, which are not recorded
in this book. But these are written that you may
believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that by believing you may have life in his
name. (John 20:30-31)
...you have known the holy Scriptures, which are
able to make you wise for salvation through faith
in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed
[God-inspired] and is useful for teaching,
rebuking, correcting and training in
righteousness, so that the man of God may be
thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2Timothy
3:15-17)
You must understand this, that no prophecy of
scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation,
because no prophecy ever came by the impulse of
man, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from
God. (2Peter 1:20-21)
He [Jesus] said to them, "How foolish you are, and
how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets
have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer
these things and then enter his glory?" And
beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he
explained to them what was said in all the
Scriptures concerning himself. (Luke 24:25-27)
He [Jesus] said to them, "This is what I told you
while I was still with you: Everything must be
fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of
Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." Then he
opened their minds so they could understand the
Scriptures. (Luke 24:44-45)
You might also find the following information useful:
Why You Can Believe the Bible.
To beginning reading the Bible, click here.
Email this page to a friend
How to begin a relationship with God
