Why Do People Say The Holy Bible Is God’s Inspired Revelation?
Posted: Wednesday, February 22, 2012
by Joel Hendon
http://hebronics.org/index.html
In answer to the title question, there are several strong reasons for accepting the Holy Bible as truly inspired of God. Perhaps the easiest answer is that the writers claim that it is. Also, there is much misunderstanding as to what inspired means and meant as written by the authors of the books of the bible. Some think inspired is to be taken as, for instance, a writer of nature might see a beautiful sunset and be inspired to sit down and write about it. That is one use of the word but is not that which the biblical writers meant. We can know that because of the meanings of the Greek, Aramaic or Arabic languages from whence it came.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16 KJV)
This is true of all the biblical writings, not in the sense of their being works of genius, but as theopneustic, (breathed into by God) in such a sense that the writers were supernaturally guided to express exactly what God intended them to express as a revelation of his mind and will. The Greek word theopneustic literally means the breath of God. The other claims of this inspiration uses the same if from the Greek, or if from the Arabic or Aramaic, the equivalent term.
And these passages speaking of inspiration, are not the only ones which prove they are inspired. Most of the writings do not use the term at all but are replete with words implying the same thing, such as, “And God said” or “hear the word of the Lord”. So there is no question whatsoever that they claim to be words from God through his inspired writers.
In fact, phrases such as "Thus saith the Lord," or "The word of the Lord came to me," are found literally dozens of times even in one book, hundreds in all of he Old Testament.
Other skeptics say that the bible was written for the people of the time they were written and not for future generations. There are a number of the early writings which were, indeed written for the times then at hand (such as Noah’s command to build the ark). And the Law given the Jews through Moses and which forms the majority of the Old Testament writings, were only for the Jews and to be for them throughout their generations, which ended at the Destruction of Jerusalem. But, they were still recorded and preserved for us, for our learning!
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. (Romans 15:4 KJV)
If we did not have the Old Testament writings, the New Testament, which we are required to obey, would be virtually impossible to understand. But when studied together, we are able to learn what is meant in may instances, where we otherwise might not.
Under the Law given through Moses, they were written down and taught to purposely try and keep the Israelites from departing from God. And today, we can learn the severity and certainty of punishment when God’s commands are broken, changed or bypassed. And, the law then, although given to Moses for the people in the desert of Sinai, was also intended for their progeny until the coming of Jesus the messiah.
Future kings of Israel were to have a copy of the law that they might keep them and do them, departing neither to right nor left as is recorded in Deuteronomy 17:18-20. That did not do it’s job many times and they strayed far from God which finally cost them their freedom and their lands which God had promised Abraham and had helped them take the lands.
Then, when Jesus was born, grew to adulthood and began his ministry, he and his apostles lived under the Law of Moses and respected it. They even criticized the Jews for their abuse and neglect of the law. Only after his death and the arrival of the Holy Spirit on the first Pentecost after his resurrection, did the Lord’s church, his called out, come into being. The apostles were endowed with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit which guided them into all truth (John 16:13) and brought to their remembrance all things whatsoever Jesus had said unto them. (John 14:26) The first gospel sermons were preached by those inspired apostles and over three thousand souls were added that day to Jesus’ church, or kingdom.
From that day forward, Jesus’ perfect law of liberty was in effect and the Law of Moses had been nailed to his cross. But the reading of it is still highly valuable for our understanding. The Apostles, in their writings, often referred to the Old Testament scripture and used it to prove points, acknowledging that it was, in it’s day, God’s recorded word.
This article only shows how much the writers, and others, claimed and insisted that all scripture was the inspired words of God Himself. There are a number of other factors which prove that fact also.
Our conclusion is that, the Holy Bible is the inspired word of God, infallible and absolute. It also claims to be truth, and if God’s word, it has to be truth. If not, then our faith in an omniscient God is in vain, the bible is not worth the paper on which it was printed and Jesus was an imposter. I accept it as the infallible truths from the one God of the universe.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Why do you use the King James version when it was specificaly translated with the pupose to emphasize regal as oppose to parlimentary authority by the Stewarts? Do you agree with the Wesminster Confession statements about the Bible?I do not use it all the time, I refer to others quite often but I like the way it reads. Plus, it and the American Standard are the most accurately translated. I was raised on the KJV and simply trust it more and have investigated the slight mistranslations quite thoroughly. I have never read or studied the Wesminster Confession.
I realize that the KJV translators were under some stress because of the King, but with the number involved and the charge they had received, caused them to do a pretty good job.Jack, I have now read the first 12 chapters of the Westminster Confession and I can assure you that there is much of it which I do not agree with. Some of it is accurate, but much is far from being as the scriptures read. I find no reason to read the other 21 chapters.
The WORD is a living breathing document, because you can use scripture as Christ did to counter the devil's attacks. I've used scripture for decades and I have seen miracles on a regular basis, and thwarted some vicious attacks.
Now, with that said...too many people think the King James Bible is the only one. The original Greek and Hebrew have been translated closest to the original texts in the New International Version, although most versions are relatively accurate as to meaning. I like the NIV, but I love the poetic flow of the KJV too.
Most Christians are not understanding of just what 'God's Word' really is or means. One thought should alert them "The Word was God"....etc.
Thanks for a great article, and your ministry.Thank you elle, for your kind comment. I d not rely on the King James Version. Where ever ther is any question in my mind or that comes up, I check a number of versions. I own four versions and I think about all of them are available online, which I use frequently. I have a little more confidence in trhe KJV, NKJV, ASV and NASV than mlost of the others.
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