All Scripture Is Given By Inspiration Of God?

wise seeker

Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame." 1 Peter 2:6

Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation-as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. 2 Peter 3:14-16

When Apostle Paul and Peter were talking about the Holy Scriptures in their epistles, it is a fact that they were talking about the Old Testament and not the New Testament which had not been canonized yet! Peter referred to Paul’s writing as epistles, not scriptures, and that men twist the rest of Scriptures. The fact that Paul wrote about the Old Testament or Scriptures and stated an important truth cannot be used to validate that Paul’s epistles are also scriptures because Paul cannot be a witness for himself. Others must be witnesses to the fact that Paul’s epistles are scriptures and one witness, such a Peter, whose meaning of his words are not clear, cannot be used to establish a very important supposition. Yet God’s word is unchanging:

Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart. And we have such trust through Christ toward God. 2 Corinthians 3:1-4

“But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for 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 complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:14-17.

And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:20-21

All those who are born again and filled with the Spirit of God are an epistle of Christ, ministered by others, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart. So Paul’s epistles to specific church are not unique nor outstanding nor are they to be used as a general prescription to make general doctrines. Rather we are all to be dependent on the Holy Spirit who created us to be epistles, empowered Paul to write his epistles and empowers us to do the same!

"What does the Bible is inspired mean?" is a question theologians and bible scholars have debated for centuries. The problem lies in what we know experientially by human reason apart from divine revelation. As Christians, we look to the Scriptures for truth and understanding, but always with dependence on the Holy Spirit and not our own reasoning and intellect.

Some believe that God dictated to the individual writers what they should say, but that His Holy Spirit so guided and controlled the writers that what they wrote was true and was the particular truth that God wanted to be communicated to His people. God allowed the writers to use their own intellects, language, and style, but when they wrote, His Holy Spirit supernaturally kept their writing free from error and rendered it the exact truth which God wanted conveyed down through the ages. The Bible thus becomes a unit, parts of which cannot be cut off without irreparable injury to the whole.

Most fundamental Christians believe in “Divine plenary Verbal Inspiration” of scriptures. "Plenary" means full and complete, "ALL scripture" (2 Timothy 3:16). that is all scripture that can be called "scripture", critically careful to include minute details. "Verbal" means that the very words of the scripture were given to the writers, and not just the ideas they convey. The writers were not left to choose the words. At the same time God did not destroy or ignore their different personalities. The writings of Paul may differ in style from the writings of John or James. However the Almighty God who created the heavens and the earth with the words of his mouth gave his words through men, using their individual personalities and traits without changing the doctrine or the truth that these are the very words that proceedeth out of his mouth. "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4)

The expression "Thus saith the Lord" or "The Lord spake saying" and similar phrases occur some 560 times in the Pentateuch, some 300 times in the historical and poetic books, 1200 times in the prophets and 24 times alone in Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament. But Apostle Paul never used in his epistles the phrase “thus says the Lord” especially when talking about that women are not allowed to speak or will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control? (1 Timothy 2:11-15)

For the record, Jesus Christ never wrote anything down, nor did he ask his followers to record his teachings. His words are spirit and life. Spirit can only infuse spirit. Life can only infuse life. The Master’s teaching cannot be contained on the pages of a book. That is why Apostle John wrote “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”

Life, abundant Life, comes through knowing and trusting in the name of Jesus who is called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Other great teachers left behind books to replace the living voice, to guide and help their bereft followers. But the Jesus Christ did not do this, because he has not left us. He is always with us, and his living voice guides and counsels us through the person of the Holy Spirit. Yes, His followers recorded his teachings after his ascension as a help to those who cannot yet perceive his living presence. Yes, the scriptures reveal the truth about God! They reveal much to us about the life and teachings of Jesus and about the nature of God’s love.

God the Spirit is the true author of the Bible, but this does not mean that every word, taken on its own, is holy or inspired. It is not the words in themselves, but rather the meaning that is inspired. The language used by those who wrote the books of the Bible was the language of everyday, not the language of spirit. Only when we make direct contact with the author, that is, with God the Spirit, can the meaning become clear. Just as many do not understand Jesus, so they can not understand his words and their faith is dependent on the words of others. But faith must be fixed on the living God or else irreverence and sin will rule; they will lead to doubt and ultimately destroy all faith.

Whoever sincerely seeks truth with an open heart will find it revealed in the Jesus Christ. We do not need knowledge of Hebrew or Greek, but we do need to be united with the Spirit. This Spirit guided the prophets and followers who recorded his words and this spirit alone can reveal their true meaning to us. The language of the Jesus Christ is spiritual, and we can only understand its meaning if we are awake in spirit. We do not need to know or understand anything about theological questions or criticisms. Indeed, a child can most readily grasp the Master’s teaching, for the child is still united with the spiritual world from which it came. But those who possess wisdom that is only of this world can never understand, for the Spirit of God is not in them. God’s word is unchanging:

Then Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. "And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. "I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. "And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him-the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. "For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. "And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak." John 12:44-50

Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me. "These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. John 14:23-26

As a result of the Holy Spirit teaching, guidance and empowering we will have had the life of Christ fully formed in us (Galatians. 4:19). We will be transformed by the renewing of our mind (Rom. 12:1-2). We have the fullness of God in our experience. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are at home in us (John 14:20-23; 2 Cor. 6:16-7:1). We are living the "normal Christian life" as our brother, Jesus Christ of Nazareth lived (1 John 2:6). God’s word is unchanging:

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed- always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you. And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. 1 Corinthians 4:7-14

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20