This blog will give a general introduction on the matter of INSPIRATION, as taken from the words of the Bible. I realize I wrote about this already. But this will be a very short blog, sort of like a ‘sound bite’.
I also realize that some will look down their noses on the idea of getting information about the value of a body of information from itself (circular reasoning). But the Bible is not an ordinary book, nor is it in the same category as any other book. Remember in one of our very first blogs, how we discussed GENERAL REVELATION vs. SPECIAL REVELATION? That’s what this is all about. Special Revelation is what sets the Bible apart from other books. That’s what INSPIRATION is all about. This is GOD’S BOOK, not man’s. So here’s what I have to say about INSPIRATION:
These 2 Bible verses directly relate to INSPIRATION:
- All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness … (2 Timothy 3:16)
- … for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. (2 Peter 1:21)
The key to the above verses is remembering that there was no New Testament in existence when those words were written. Those words ARE the NT! At least they were the NT in the making at that time. So those verses are talking exclusively about the Old Testament. Moreover, back when those words were penned, the OT was not yet compiled into what we have today. They had scrolls of various Bible books in the various synagogues, such as some of the Pentateuch (Torah), maybe Isaiah, some of the Writings, etc. Each synagogue had its own bank of scrolls. So when Jesus and his Apostles talked about Inspiration, they were talking about the Old Testament scriptures. That’s one reason why we CHRISTIANS should give the OLD TESTAMENT first interest over the NT, that is, for learning how YHWH ‘thinks’ about things (His view on things).
There are 2 other relevant verses on this subject:
- I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book … (Revelation 22:18) [I think John got that from the below OT book and applied it to his ‘vision’].
- Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it. (Deuteronomy 12:32)
You can see that #1 refers to Prophetic scriptures, while #2 refers to God’s law. I won’t comment any further, since the above Bible texts MEAN WHAT THEY SAY when taken at face value. All’s I can say is, what passes for Bible interpretation in the churches today leaves something to be desired!
Anyways, that’s what I would consider a basic ‘take’ on Inspiration of the Bible.
See you in the next blog …
Reality Bible 