Is the Bible the inspired word of God?

The vital importance of the inspiration of scripture cannot be emphasized enough. It is easy for the church to formulate doctrine if she has a definite and authoritative body of scripture to which to turn to. If the scriptures are however considered not authoritative and are to be corrected, edited and some parts rejected, the church would have a more difficult task in dealing with conflicting opinions concerning either the purpose of the church or the system of doctrine with which it is established. Christian denominations have differences in opinions in what the Bible teaches concerning matters like baptism, the Lord’s Supper, predestination, election, atonement, grace, perseverance, among others yet they all agree that the Bible is trustworthy, and that its pronouncements are final.  

The Bible is one book made up of sixty six books written by over forty writers over a period of 1600 years. The unity of the Bible can only be explained, in my opinion, on the ground of divine authorship.  The writers came from different backgrounds, some being kings and scholars with the best education of their day, while others were herdsmen and fishermen with no known formal education eradicating any illusion that the writers colluded to write the Bible. Yet only one type of doctrine and morality unfolds in their books. The marvelous “system” of truth begun by Moses in the book of Genesis is brought to completion by John in the book of Revelation.

            The importance of inspiration in relation to accuracy

The Bible assumes to speak concerning matters that are absolutely beyond human wisdom. It speaks of the nature and attributes of God, the origin and purpose of man, man’s fall into sin and his present helpless condition, the plan of salvation including Christ substitution life and death for us, the glories of heaven and the torment of hell. If it was a mere human reporting of divine things there would be more error both in regards to the words chosen to express the ideas and in the proportionate emphasis given the different parts of revelation based on man’s limited knowledge and wisdom. Certain thoughts are separately connected with particular words. It calls for the wordings to be exact or the thoughts conveyed will be defective. Often times the exact shade of meaning of the original words is of the utmost importance in deciding questions of doctrine and life.

Distinct Christianity is bound up with the Biblical doctrine of inspiration.  If this doctrine does not stand, we have nothing stable to stand on. This means that unless the Bible can be quoted as an inspired book its authority and usefulness for public preaching, comfort in sickness or death, and for instruction in every perplexity has been seriously impoverished. If it cannot be quoted as an inspired book its value as a weapon in controversy has been greatly weakened or entirely destroyed. The inspiration contended pertains to the original Hebrew and Greek words written by the Prophets and Apostles. If these are understood in their intended sense i.e. plain statements of facts, figures of speech, idioms and poetry, the Bible is without error from Genesis to revelation.

Infallibility is not claimed for the various version and translations. There may be errors in translations as each will vary with the individual translation.  The translations can only be considered accurate in so far as they reproduce the original inscriptions. It is important to take cognizant of the fact that some Hebrew and Greek words have no full equivalence to the English language, sometimes there may arise disagreement on the meaning of particular words even with the best of scholars. Further, the oldest manuscripts available are copies of copies of the original. However, the best of the Hebrew and Greek scholars agree that in probably “nine hundred and ninety nine cases out of a thousand” we have either “positive” or reasonable” assurance as to what the original words were. (Boettner, L, the inspiration of scripture).

The basis for claiming Inspiration

The primary reason for holding that the Bible is the inspired word of God comes from the writers own assertion that their message was inspired by God. The prophets used the word “thus says the Lord” many times reminding the people that they were not the author of the words. Paul in his epistle says “these things we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches” 1 Corinthians 2:13. Although the writers claim to speak with divine authority they never base that authority on their own human wisdom or dignity. On the contrary, they speak as the Lords messengers or witnesses. The prophet Ezekiel says, “---the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me---And He said to me:----I am sending you to them and you shall say to them ‘thus says the Lord God’” Ezekiel 2:2-4. Jeremiah also alludes to the “word of the Lord” coming to Him and the Lord saying “behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have this day set you over the nations and over kingdoms” Jeremiah 1:4, 10.

The writings themselves contain no contradictions or inconsistencies which would destroy their claims. They present the same plan of salvation and the same exalted moral principles with perfect harmony. Jesus disciples did not seem to understand the ministry of Jesus while He lived on earth. They appear to come into full revelation on the day of Pentecost after being baptized with the Holy Spirit. One could therefore say that God planned it in a way that Jesus was to fulfill the events of His life and have the inspired disciples explain them on His departure from the earth. In the Old Testament, the prophets always spoke after the anointing of the Holy Spirit had come upon them and only when the word of the Lord came upon them.

The book of Hosea starts with “the word of the Lord that came to Hosea the son of Beeri” Hosea 1:1. Amos uses the word “thus says the Lord” repeatedly to ensure that people understood these were not His words but God’s word.  Malachi talks of “the burden of the word of the Lord to Israel”. Malachi 1:1. It is to be remembered that a prophet is a “spokesman” by way of eminence speaking for God. The prophet does not chose himself but is chosen and called by God. He speaks or forbears to speak as the Lord gives him utterance. God warns of false prophets who attempt to speak what they have not been commissioned to speak. As for them God warns “any prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, ---that prophet shall die” Deuteronomy18:20. He also speaks of “foolish prophets who follow their own spirits and have seen nothing” Ezekiel 13: 3.

Jesus considered the Old Testament fully inspired and used it a lot to teach. In the gospel of John, Jesus talking to His critics affirms the unchanging ways of scripture. He refers to Psalms 82:6, where the Israelite rulers and Judges are referred to as “gods” and asks, “If He (God) called them ‘gods’, to whom the word of God came (and scripture cannot be broken)” why were they offended by Him claiming to be the son of God? John 10:35. Jesus was affirming the unchanging nature of the word of God and we can therefore trust it. Jesus further shows the continuity of the gospel when He says that He did not come to destroy the Law but to fulfill it, Mathew 5:17

 Jesus further affirms the continuity of scripture when He says “---till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled” Mathew 5:18.  In effect connecting His ministry to what was already established in the scriptures. When tempted by Satan, Jesus responds by quoting scripture saying “it is written” Luke 4:4-12 again showing the inspiration of the word. Before His ascension, Jesus brings revelations to His disciples on the authenticity of scriptures when he says “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning me”. Luke 24:44-45.

The apostles also quote the Old Testament with the utmost conviction that the words written therein are the words of God. In Hebrews 3:7, for example, the author quotes Psalm 95:7-11 and attributes the Psalm to the “Holy Spirit” even though the author of Psalm 95 does not mention God as the author of the Psalm.  In the book of Acts 4:24-25, the apostles attribute David’s words in Psalms 2:1-2 to God saying “Lord you are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of your servant David have said” even though David does not mention God as the author of the Psalm. 

The New Testament writers also claim inspiration for the words they wrote or uttered. Christ while warning the disciples of the persecution awaiting them encourages them not to worry of what to say when arrested because the Holy Spirit would give them utterances. In fact Mathew reports Jesus saying to the disciples that, “--- it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you” Mathew 10:19, 20. Luke in the book of Acts confirms this happening when he says the apostle spoke “as the Spirit gave them utterance” Acts 2:4. Jesus had promised the disciples that when the Spirit of truth comes, He shall guide them  into all truth, John 16:13. Paul convinced of the inspiration of scripture says “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 cursed”, Galatians 1:8. Consider also what he says in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 quoted above.

Peter adds his emphasis of scripture being inspired when he say “no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but by men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit”, 2 Peter 1:2-21.   Apostle John in concluding the prophecy in the book of revelation ends with a curse to the effect that “anyone” who “adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy God shall take away his part from the book of life” Revelation 22: 8-19

Of Alleged errors in scriptures

That the Bible contains some statements which at the present cannot be fully explained is admitted. There are a number of words and idioms in Hebrew and Greek which apparently appears only once in scripture. Sometimes scholars are not in full agreement as to the exact meanings of such words or idioms. Today, because of archeological discoveries most of the so called “Biblical errors” have been explained. It is also to be noted that the alleged errors have been on the most part trivial. None of them touch on matters of important doctrines or Historical events. Few, if any, it is suggested are “anything more than mistakes on the part of the copyists or translators” (Boettner, L. TIOS).

These are however minor discrepancies to deny the general doctrine of infallibility. Christ Himself said that “the scripture cannot be broken” John 10:35. The “errors” that are harped on by Bible critics pertain more to some discrepancies between reporting by different writers in light of understood History or a supposedly contradiction between different writers on certain matters.   For example there seems to be a contradiction between Acts 9:7 and Acts 22:9 in relation to Saul’s conversion. Acts 9:7 reports of men “hearing a voice but seeing no one” while Acts 22:9 states “those who were with me saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of him who spoke to me”. This to me is such a minor thing to warrant any focus on. The most important thing is that they all report or confirm that the event occurred. In a court of law there may be various witnesses to a particular event but they always seem to have a different recollection of the events. Their evidence is not negated as long it confirms the major facets of the event(s) or reasonably confirms the case.

Previously, the same critics scorned Luke’s statements in the book of Acts that the Island of Cyprus was ruled by a “pro –consul” Acts 13:7 and that Lysanias was a contemporary tetrarch with the Herodian rulers, Luke 3:1. Now archeological discovery has actually verified the truth in Luke’s statements vindicating the Bible leaving the critics with no leg to stand on. The other concern is how the stone covering Jesus tomb was rolled away. Mark, Luke, and John infer that human hands rolled the stone away while Mathew suggests that it was the results of an earthquake with an angel involved(Mathew 28:2). This again amount to a difference in reporting because they all confirm that indeed the stone was rolled away and Christ was resurrected on the morning that they all talk about.

Critics also claim that the reference to Jeremiah in Mathew 27:9 is an error since the words spoken of are actually found in Zechariah 11:12, 13. However, without contrary evidence, we have to believe that Jeremiah spoke these words even though reported by Zechariah. The only viable explanation is either Mathew had other books written by Jeremiah which are today lost to us, or Mathew wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and attributed the words to the original writer, and that would be Jeremiah. Another issue raised is the reporting on how Judas died. Mathew reports that Judas brought the money back to the priests and “threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and went and hanged himself”, Mathew 27:3-5. Luke in the book of Acts says that “this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity and falling head-long, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out” Acts 1:18. Without contrary evidence, one is bound to accept both witness statements. It seems like after Judas hanged himself, the priest used the same pieces of silver that he threw on the floor of the temple to buy burial land for him which land has remained “desolate” due to the curse on it. As regards his death, it is possible that after Judas hanged himself, he fell from the rope, and bust open due to the swelling that must have come over the body.  In any event this difference does not change the meaning or reality of Judas death after betraying Christ.

How then do we know that the Bible is the word of God?

The Holy Sprit within us convinces us and brings revelation and understanding. He bears witness with our spirit that the things that we are reading are true, Romans 8:16.   Paul says that the “natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned”, 1 Corinthians 2:14. It is also impossible for the unaided human reason to understand the deep things of the Spirit without the aid of the Holy Spirit. Paul discusses this issue when he says “---those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. --- The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then those who are in the flesh cannot please God”. Romans 8:5, 7

The late Dr. Benjamin B. Warfield, a systematic theologian and Greek scholar having examined the evidence on which the Bible critics base their arguments came to the conclusion that the evidence was worthless and declared “let it be observed that the proof of the authority of the scripture does not rest on previous proof of their inspiration. Even uninspired law is law. But when inspiration has once been shown to be fact, it comes mightily to the reinforcement of their authority” (Dr Warfield, B.B., The authority and inspiration of scripture). He concluded that the Bible from Genesis to Revelations is what it claims to be, “the very word of God”. Another scholar, the late Dr Robert D. Wilson, an ardent student of the Old Testament versed in a working knowledge of forty-five languages and dialects stated that for “forty five years continuously I have devoted myself to the study of the Old Testament in all its languages, in all its archeology, in all its translations, and so far as possible everything bearing upon its text and the History---The evidence in our possession has convinced me that ‘at sundry times and in divers manners, God spake unto our fathers through the prophets’ and that the Old Testament in Hebrew, beginning immediately inspired by God, has by singular care and providence been kept pure in all ages”. (Dr Wilson, D.R, A Science investigation of the Old Testament).

Up to today, there is no theory in the world to show that there is any other explanation for the origin and authority of the Bible other than it came from or was inspired by God. Critics have come up with explanations to countermand the inspiration of the Bible but such theories have only lasted for a while giving more credence that the only explanation for the origin and inspiration of the Bible is God. We reach the conclusion that the Bible is completely trustworthy as regards its factual, doctrinal, and ethical representations by first noting the claims which the Bible, makes for its own inspiration and trustworthiness. We follow this by testing the claims with facts given through Biblical criticism and exegesis.  The evidence that substantiate this claim like the high moral standards and spiritual level maintained throughout the Bible, the promised guidance of the Holy Spirit, the many prophecies made in certain age and fulfilled in details in later ages, the inherent unity of the book among others things in the absence of contrary evidence makes us conclude that the Bible is what it claims to be, a fully inspired word of God.