INTRODUCTION

In this lesson concerning the inspiration of the Bible we will discuss three views as to what inspiration means and examine two areas of supporting evidence showing the scriptures to be the inspired Word of God. In two future lessons we will examine four additional areas of supporting evidence.

THREE VIEWS OF INSPIRATION

ONE: Universal Inspiration

Einstein, Michelangelo, and Beethoven have all been inspired. Some liberal scholars feel that this is the type of inspiration the Bible writers possessed.

This definition does not really cover the idea of inspiration: God-given genius, maybe; exceptional talent, absolutely; Biblical inspiration, not hardly.

TWO: Partial Inspiration

The scholars who hold this view say that the principles and ideals that the Bible set forth are God-given, but the historic facts, doctrines, rules and regulations were the ideas of the writers themselves. This theory leaves it up to man to sort out the good from the bad, something that man has done a poor job of on his own through the years.

THREE: Full Inspiration

In this view we find the gospel writers using their own personalities and styles to write down exactly what God, through the Holy Spirit, guided them to write.

In 2 Pet. 1:20,21, Peter states the case for full inspiration. Add to this the statement of Paul in I Cor. 2:12-13, and we see that the Bible writers themselves believed in full inspiration.

It is obvious from the different styles of writing that the individual's personality, background and vocabularies were used. Therefore we used the word "guided" instead of "dictated" when discussing how the books were written.

In his book, The Inspiration and Authority of the Bible, Dr. Benjamin Warfield wrote:

"Inspiration is, therefore, usually defined as a supernatural influence exerted on the sacred writers by the Spirit of God, by virtue of which their writings are given Divine trustworthiness."

AREAS OF SUPPORTING EVIDENCE

There are six major areas of supporting evidence that show that the Scriptures are the fully inspired Word of God. They are:

• The Scriptures claim to be inspired.
• The influence of the Bible.
• The unusual style of the Scriptures.
• The unity of the Scriptures.
• The fulfilled prophecies of the Scriptures.
• The scientific foreknowledge of the Bible.

In this lesson we will examine areas one and two.

ONE: The Scriptural Claim of Inspiration

As we have seen in 2 Pet. 1:20-21 and 1 Cot. 2:12-13, the writers claim to be inspired.

But who are these writers that claim this God-breathed gift? In most instances they were unlearned and ignorant, untrained and uneducated. Despite their lack of formal training, they confidently affirm to be speaking from and for God.

How did such men produce the finished product we have before us today? How did they become aware of these great truths, if God did not inform them? Dr. Henry Thiessen in his book, Introduction to the New Testament, put it this way:

How could uninspired man write a book that commands all duty, forbids all sin, including the sin of hypocrisy and lying, denounces all human merit as insufficient for salvation, holds out as man's only hope faith in atoning death, physical resurrection, and present intercession of Christ, and condemn to hell for all eternity all who reject this one way of salvation and persist in sin?

TWO: The Influence of the Bible.

Mt. 7:16 states a principle of truth as does James 3:11,12. What is this truth? The Bible lifts whoever it touches to a higher plane. Through its study better husbands and wives; fathers and mothers; sons and daughters; employees and employers have come forth.

Could a continuous influence of good come from a hoax, a fabrication? The law of cause and effect tells us that the good effects seen from true Bible followers could only come from a good, true source.

Many institutions and governments have used principles set forth in the Bible to establish themselves in this world. Without the influence that the Bible has had for good, our world would indeed be a tragic place in which to live.

CONCLUSION

Do any of our trained writers of today express themselves any better than the writers of the Bible? This in itself is an evidence of their inspiration. Add to this their claim of inspiration as well as the positive influence their writings have had, and the source of their inspiration becomes clearly indicated. The Bible could not be a hoax and still have integrity and usefulness some 2000 years after its completion.