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-18-
God Hath Spoken
Chapter 4
THE INSPIRATION OF SCRIPTURE
In II Timothy chapter 3, verses 16 and 17, we read, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."
There is a great deal that can be found in these two verses. First of all, latent in this passage is an application for the proper discipline of our children. God gave us the Scriptures that we might be disciplined to receive doctrine, i.e. teaching, reproof, i.e. scolding, correction to lead us in the way we ought to go, and instruction in righteousness. We ought not to simply scold our children, but we ought to teach them the way in which they ought to go.
Something else evident here is the fact that God gave us the Scriptures so that "the man of God may be perfect," i.e. complete, "throughly furnished unto all good works." Third, when the apostle Paul says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God," he is speaking of "plenary verbal inspiration." The term "plenary" means "every;" and the word "verbal" means "word." Therefore, by the term "plenary verbal" inspiration we mean that every word is inspired. Any inspiration that is more than complete and total is not needed, and any inspiration that is less than complete makes the Bible worthless. This is a very serious issue, for the Bible is under greater attack today than it has ever been.
Several years ago, I knew a woman who claimed to be "blue blood." If she was a horse we would call her a thoroughbred. She married a retired British naval commander, and when they would visit abroad, my wife and I would stay in their home.
One day when I was visiting, I found Mr. H. reading The New English Bible. I remarked that it is important to know something about the writers of the books we read, for "all that glitters is not gold," and not all authors are good men. This is true as well of translators. "For instance," I said as I opened the volume to the text before us, "Every Scripture that is inspired by God is profitable...." I then walked to a bookcase and took his copy of The Authorized Version, better known as The King James Version and turned to the same passage: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable...."
"Sir, what is wrong with the first version?" I asked. Evidently, his wife had been listening for at that instant she entered the room and exclaimed, "Why the first version implies that some of the Bible is not inspired!"
Under the guise of pretended scholarship, unbelievers have wormed their way into our seminaries and into our pulpits. If a man does not believe the Bible is in fact the very Word of God, he is not a believer with a difference of opinion: he is, in fact, an unbeliever. He is not a Christian. It does not matter the theological schools he attended, nor the degrees he displays; the man does not know the Lord.
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God." For this reason alone, it is profitable unto men—"profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."
The Scriptures are deserving of our trust; they are worthy to be trusted. In II Peter chapter 1, beginning at verse 16, Peter makes a defense of his calling, and not of his calling only, but also the calling of all the apostles, for he says, "We have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty."
Peter lays on the line the integrity, and therefore the veracity of all the apostles. Those who would deny what Peter is saying must accuse all the apostles of lying, for Peter says "we were eyewitnesses of his majesty"; and then he proceeds to give the occasion when they were eyewitnesses of the majesty of Christ.
"For He [i.e. the Lord Jesus] received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with Him in the holy mount" (II Pet. 1:17-18). The apostles not only saw the majesty of Christ, but they heard with their own ears from heaven above, from "the excellent glory."
Peter saw the Lord Jesus transfigured on the mount. He, along with James and John, heard the voice of the Almighty in heaven confirming the identity of His Son. Now note verse 19: "We have also a more sure word of prophecy [we have something that according to the testimony of Peter is more trustworthy than what you see with your eyes, or hear with your ears]; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts."
What can be more trustworthy than what we see with our eyes, or hear with our ears? Note verse 20. "Knowing this first [i.e. this is of primary importance], that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation." We may title the Gospel, "The Gospel according to Matthew," or "The Gospel according to John;" however, we are not to infer from this that the Gospel is according to their opinion. Their opinion is no better than our own. "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved [i.e. borne along, or carried along] by the Holy Ghost." This is what is known as "inspiration."
The Word of God is worthy of our trust. There are various evidences that confirm the fact that the Bible is indeed the very Word of God. There is Historical evidence, Internal evidence, and Experimental evidence to prove it.