The Bible Doctrine of Inspiration

1. Read: 2 Timothy 3:14-17. “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 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.”

2. About the Text:

1) In contrast to evil men and seducers (v.13), Paul exhorts Timothy to continue in the things

i. He has learned.

ii. He has been assured of.

iii. Whereof he knows the source

iv. The Holy Scriptures.

v. Things that make him wise unto salvation.

2) These things were given by inspiration of God–they were God-breathed.

3) These things are authoritative.

4) They are ALL authoritative.

5) They were given for instruction.

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. If the Bible is inspired, then there must be evidence of its inspiration.

2. We would expect the following:

i. That it would be 100% accurate in all things scientific.

ii. That it would not contradict itself; God is the author of all truth and cannot contradict himself.

iii. That it would contain a united message throughout.

iv. That it would be written to all men to address their relationship with God.

v. That it would contain a lofty standard of morality.

vi. That it would contain certain things that only God could know.

1) Prophecy

2) Revelation of God’s nature

vii. That it would be confirmed by miracles.

1) Mark 16:20 “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.”

2) Hebrews 2:4 “God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?”

1. The words are God-breathed.

i. They literally came from God.

ii. He breathed out His Spirit upon the apostles so that they could speak God’s words.

iii. This is the significance of John 20:22 “And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.”

2. They are therefore authoritative and we must respect them to be pleasing to God. Jesus said in John 12:48 “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”

3. They give us everything we need to know to live our life. Titus 2:11, 12 “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.”

1. God communicated through his Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:10-13 “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.”

2. The Spirit gave the words to the apostles and prophets through words. 1 Corinthians 2:12,13 “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but (in words) which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual (words)”

3. The apostles and prophets, in turn, shared this information with the uninspired. Ephesians 3:3-5 “How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;”

4. 2 Peter 1:19-21 “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; 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: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation (origination). 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.”

1. Paul said to Timothy that “All scripture” was given by inspiration.

2. Jesus regarding both the law and the prophets as inspired of God.

i. Matthew 22:40 “On these two commandments hang all the law and prophets.”

ii. Luke 24:44 “And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.”

3. Jesus said: “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.” (John 16:13).

4. The apostles were guided into all truth. They revealed all truth. We have what they revealed. Everything we have from them is truth–all of it!

1. Inspired like Shakespeare–just a good work.

i. The atheist, infidel, and modernist would have us believe this.

ii. If it is just a product of men, then why should we accept it?

iii. Jesus said, there is none that is good except one–God! (Mark 10:17,18).

iv. If the Bible REALLY is a GOOD book, then it must have come from God.

v. If it did not come from God, then it can’t be a good book.

2. Partly inspired, but not fully.

i. Those who do not like parts of the Bible would have us accept this.

ii. Example of Jehoiakim who took the prophesy of Jeremiah and cut it up and then threw it in the fire (Jeremiah 36:23).

iii. Which part? What do we accept and what do we reject?

iv. By what standard do we say this part is inspired, but this part is not?

v. This principle is reflected by both Paul and James:

1) James says that if you are guilty in part of the law, you are guilty in all of it (James 2:10).

2) Paul wrote that those who are debtor’s to part of the law are debtors to all of the law (Galatians 5:3).

vi. The scriptures stand as a unit. They are either ALL inspired or not at all.

3. The thought is inspired, but not each individual word.

i. The idea here is that God gave the prophet a great idea, but did not inspire the individual words that they wrote.

ii. Again, who determines what the original idea was?

iii. How can you have an idea without words to express that idea?

iv. What if the prophet understood the idea, but wrote it down wrong?

v. Where is the assurance that we actually have God’s message in this?

1. We have looked tonight at the Bible doctrine of inspiration.

i. The evidence of inspiration–that we can expect from God’s word certain things that show it to be inspired.

ii. Inspiration is authoritative.

iii. Inspiration reveals God’s thoughts to man in an accurate way.

iv. All of the Bible is inspired.

v. Some misunderstandings regarding inspiration.

2. Invitation