3. God Speaks By Inspiration
The actual word ‘inspiration’ is found only once in the New Testament, when Paul in 2 Timothy 3:16 explicitly states, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God” or more literally “is God-breathed.” The word ‘inspiration’ is in fact, not a good translation. The original Greek word says that God ‘breathed out’ his Word. Divine inspiration naturally proceeds from divine revelation. We looked at revelation last week.
While through revelation God speaks to humanity, it is by inspiration that God works the pen, ergo ensuring that the message is God breathed and written correctly. This process of inspiration has several theories attached to it. One theory called the content theory, suggests that the author was given the main idea by God, but God allowed the writer to choose his own words.
Another is the natural theory. This is where the Biblical writers were inspired in the same sense Shakespeare was inspired, but that doesn’t agree with the ‘God-breathed’ word.
It is quite apparent that God did not suppress the writers’ personalities. For example, the writing style of John is clearly different from that of Peter or indeed that of Paul. The differences in writing style and in vocabulary of different authors are easily seen.
However, Jesus implied clearly that God chose the very letters of the words when he said that not one stroke of the pen would pass from the law (Matthew 5:17-19). From this we can infer that God inspires all the words of the Bible. God wanted to communicate to ordinary people, therefore he used ordinary people to write and produce the Bible.
In response to temptation by satan, Jesus said that humanity is to live by God-inspired words. (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10) Writers in the Bible, such as Peter, knew their writings were being guided by God (1 Peter 1:10–12; 2 Peter 1:19, 20; 3:15, 16).
Inspiration, is only guaranteed in the original manuscripts which were written in Hebrew, Greek or Aramaic. It is not, however much some people protest, guaranteed in any translation of the Bible.
Sermon - Song of Solomon 5v9-6v9 - He is the Best of the Best
Sermon - Song of Solomon 2v3-14 - Life Under the Apple Tree
Exploring the Bible - 46. Old Testament - Song of Solomon
Faith - Bible Thought - WISE
Peace - Bible Thought - WISE
Sanctification - Bible Thought - WISE
Idolatry - Bible Thought - WISE
Temptation - Bible Thought - WISE
Sin - Bible Thought - WISE
Meek - Bible Thought - WISE
Adoption - Bible Thought - WISE
Holy Communion - Bible Thought - WISE
Pulp Theology 38 - Glimpses Into Leviticus
Christ - Bible Thought - WISE
Forgiveness - Bible Thought - WISE
Perseverance - Bible Thought - WISE
Resurrection - Bible Thought - WISE
Holiness - Bible Thought - WISE
Salvation - Bible Thought - WISE
Repentance - Bible Thought - WISE
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