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What does it mean that the Bible is inspired?



    
    

Clarify Share Report Asked July 01 2013 Mini Anonymous (via GotQuestions)

Community answers are sorted based on votes. The higher the vote, the further up an answer is.

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Eced7a1f c81d 42f4 95ea 9d5719dce241 Singapore Moses Supporter Messenger of God, CEO in IT industry, Astronaut, Scientist
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 2 Tim 3:16

The Greek word theopneustos (G2315) is used to refer it is God- breathed. It is that special influence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of holy men which qualified and enabled them to make an infallible record of divine truth concerning the will of God to man.

The purpose of inspiration is to secure truth and unity in record, not sameness of words or statements. Revelation discovers new truth; inspiration superintends the communicating and recording of that truth. We have examples of inspiration without revelation (Lk. 1:1- 4); of inspiration including revelation (Rev. 1:1, 11); of inspiration without illumination (1Pet. 1:11 1Cor. 14:13- 19); and of revelation and inspiration including illumination (1Cor. 2:12- 16 14:30).

We find lies of Satan and men; false doctrines; and many sins listed in Scripture. Inspiration simply guarantees that these lies were actually told; these fallacies were taught by certain men; and that these crimes were committed, but it does not make these lies and fallacies the truth or place God's sanction upon the crimes. One must find out whether Satan, evil men, or God is speaking in Scripture. God is not responsible for what others have said just because He causes what they did say to be recorded by inspiration. All God guarantees is that these things were said and done as they are recorded. Only what God says or teaches is truth which He requires men to obey.

Degrees of Inspiration: 

1. Some parts of Scripture give the exact words of God (Ex. 32: 16; Dt. 5: 4, 24; Mt. 3: 17) 

2. Some words were put into the mouths of the speakers who spoke as the Spirit inspired them (Ex. 4: 12; Num. 23: 5; Ezek. 2: 7; 3: 10- 11 Acts 3: 21) 

3. Some words were written as the Spirit moved men (Ex. 34: 27; 2Pet. 1: 21) 

4. In some parts of Scripture it was left up to the writers to choose their own words to relate truth by the inspiration and guidance of the Spirit (Dan. 12: 8- 9 Lk. 1: 1- 4 Jn. 20: 30- 31 Acts 1: 1- 2)

The Spirit used the faculties and abilities of the writers to record things, past, present, and future. He gave direct revelations, guided them to choose records of men, and superintended the writers in all their work until we now have a perfect and infallible record of the origin and destiny of all creation.

July 06 2014 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


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Shea S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries
When people speak of the Bible as inspired, they are referring to the fact that God divinely influenced the human authors of the Scriptures in such a way that what they wrote was the very Word of G...

July 01 2013 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


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9aa51e4b447252291b959c696fb96539 400x400 Jeremiah Kaaya Supporter Pastor at Springs of Power Church, Teacher by professional
To say that the Bible is inspired means that the Bible has a divine origin. It is right from within God Himself. It is God breathed. On that account therefore, it should be incumbent on us to follow what it commands us no matter how hard it is to fulfill. In the Bible, God speaks to us. I have encountered many Christians who are seeking God's literal voice and face. Such shouldn't be, for in the Bible, God speaks to us. The Bible is therefore undoubtedly God's own word.

For there are so many amazing stories in the Bible, quite hard to believe by human understanding, but on account that the Bible is inspired, we go on to believe just what the Bible says. Numerous cases in view of this are, among which are the following; when the donkey spoke to Balaam (Numbers 22:28), when the waters of the red sea parted (Exodus 14:21), when manna came from heaven (Exodus 16), when water came out of the rock (Numbers 20:11), when Joshua instructed the sun to stop (Joshua 10:13), when the waters of the river Jordan parted (Joshua 3:8), how Jesus walked on water (Matthew 14:22-33), how Jesus died and rose again (Mark 15:33-34), (Mark 16:9) and how all nature obeys God at His word. All such stories should have been taken to be mythical if the Bible had never been inspired. Yet many people believe them even when they don't take the Bible for a guide.

But it is also amazing how God used men from different walks of life to pass on His word to so many, among whom are the following; the fishermen, the elites and the illiterate, the rich and the poor. Yet all they wrote is weighed equally and on that account, we believe it all for the word of God. Non of it is treated in a special or a non special way. For in the Bible, how the word written by Peter the fisherman inspires me is the same way how the word written by Luke the doctor inspires me. Why is it so? For whether written by Peter the fisherman or Luke the doctor, both of them had the same source of it; God Himself. Had it not been from the same source, which only source is God, the various books of the Bible would have been read on account of the status of the person who would have written it, just as how many matters are handled in our literal world.

World over, many people believe that God is the only unbiased Judge. Everybody therefore will wait on what God has to say on a range of issues. This is the very reason why world over, no matter how atheist it is, every constitution of any one single government has a bit to do with what is written in the Bible. For because the Bible is widely believed to be the infallible word of God, everybody believes that when we refer to it, we will have gotten the view of God Himself. This is further confirmation that much as many may stand in opposition of it, many have failed to find an alternative to which they can reliably refer besides the Bible. Many are simply in self denial, but the word of God remains to stand. As years pass on, the Bible is continuously being proven to be the undisputed infallible word of God, yet very many other writings are getting dis proven because they lack any depth in them.


In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Paul says of it 16 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works". Direct meaning of this is that the word of God shapes us, not only for the service of God to others, but equally for our preparation for us to meet our God at the end of our earthly lives. For we accept it to shape us because we reliably do believe it is the infallible word of God.

2 Peter 1:21 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost". Whoever wrote or said anything in the Bible, he did so on God's own instruction. The Bible is God inspired!

August 22 2014 1 response Vote Up Share Report


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Mini John Appelt Supporter
When one says the Bible is inspired, they are referring to II Timothy 3:16, which many versions read, “all Scripture is given by inspiration.” It is literally, “all Scripture is God-breathed (Greek, “theopneustos”) …” 

The words “God-breathed” do not tell specifically how the Bible was given. The variety of styles shows it was not dictated, although there were a few passages such as Jeremiah 30:2, Revelation 2:1-3:22, 14:13, 19:9. 

God had writers with their different backgrounds, personalities, and abilities, write what He wanted them to write as II Peter 1:21. It has been aptly illustrated as the rider of a racehorse gently using the reins to spur on the horse. The rider knows its temperament, and he works with it. In like manner, God breathed on the writers, as Jesus did with His disciples, John 20:22. He gives wisdom and His Spirit teaches, I Corinthians 2:13, II Peter 3:15. 

“God-breathed” also indicates the quality of the Scriptures as the truth, without error. It is as God is. Also, when the writers wrote, they made no mistakes in any details – the Scriptures are true and trustworthy.

“God-breathed” further extends to present copies and translations. II Timothy 3:16 says, “all scripture IS inspired,” not “all scripture WAS inspired.” When Paul wrote this, there were no originals, “autographs,” but only copies, “apographs” of the Old Testament (and possibly portions of the New Testament). Yet, they were called Scriptures and if all Scripture is inspired, it includes copies. Timothy had known the Scriptures, II Timothy 3:15. Portions of Isaiah, read by Jesus in the synagogue, Luke 4:16-21, and by Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch, Acts 8:26-35, are said to be Scriptures. 

These copies of Scriptures were believed to be as pertinent and powerful as originally written, Luke 24:27, 32, 45, John 2:22, 5:39, Romans 15:4, I Timothy 4:13, James 2:8. Kings were to make copies of the law, Deuteronomy 17:18-19, which means every copy was inspired to read and heed. Copies circulated among the churches were all equally inspired, Galatians 1:2, Colossians 4:16, James 1:1, I Thessalonians 5:27, I Peter 1:1. New Testament writers used the Old Testament Scriptures for defense of their writings.

The Bibles of today (except those by cults) are the inspired Word of God. Translations are words transferred into another language, also carrying on the process of reproducing and spreading the Word of God. They have the same level of inspiration as the original manuscripts. 

But one may say there are mistakes. There are. When manuscripts were copied, errors were made. The differences are called variants, but they are few, not affecting any major doctrine. Also, different Bible versions reflect different translation philosophies, so that there are likely mistakes, but a person can confidently read the Bible in his own language, in one of many versions, and be saved, taught, encouraged, corrected, and edified, II Timothy 3:16-17. 

The Bible is the God-breathed book. All Scriptures are the true, pure, inspired, life-giving (Genesis 2:7) Word of God, Psalm 19:7-9, John 17:17.

May 28 2023 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


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