Reference: Inspiration
American
That supernatural influence exerted on the minds of the sacred writers by the Spirit of God, in virtue of which they unerringly declared his will. Whether what they wrote was previously familiar to their own knowledge, or, as in many cases it must have been, an immediate revelation from heaven; whether his influence in any given case was dictation, suggestion, or superintendence; and however clearly we may trace in their writings the peculiar character, style, mental endowments, and circumstances of each; yet the whole of the Bible was written under the unerring guidance of the Holy Ghost, 2Ti 3:16.
Christ everywhere treats the Old Testament Scripture as infallibly true, and of divine authority-the word of God. To the New Testament writers inspiration was promised, Mt 10:19-20; Joh 14:26; 16:13; and they wrote and prophesied under its direction, 1Co 2:10-13; 14:37; Ga 1:12; 2Pe 1:21; 3:15; Re 1:1,10-19.
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But when they deliver you up, be not anxious as to how or What ye shall speak; for it will be given you in that hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you.
but the Comforter, the Holy Spirit which the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things which I have said to you.
But when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak from himself, but whatever he shall hear, that he will speak; and he will tell you the things to come.
For God hath revealed them to us by his Spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knoweth the things of a man, but the spirit of the man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no one but the Spirit of God. read more. But we did not receive the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that have been given to us by the grace of God; which things we also speak, not in words taught by mans wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, connecting what is spiritual l with what is spiritual.
If any one thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him know surely that the directions I am writing to you are the Lords;
for I did not receive it from man nor was I taught it by any man, but it was revealed to me by Jesus Christ.
All Scripture is inspired by God, and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for discipline in righteousness;
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show to his servants what must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant John;
I was in the Spirit on the Lords day; and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying: What thou seest, write in a book, and send it to the seven churches; to Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamus, and to Thyatira, and to Sardes, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea. read more. And I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me; and having turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks, and in the midst of the candlesticks one like to a son of man, clothed with a garment reaching down to the feet, and girded at the breasts with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white as white wool, as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; and his feet were like fine brass, as if burning in a furnace; and his voice was as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars; and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword; and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead; and he laid his right hand on me, saying, Fear not; I am the first and the last, and he that liveth; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore; and I have the keys of death and the underworld. Write therefore the things which thou sawest, and the things which are, and the things which shall be after these;
Easton
that extraordinary or supernatural divine influence vouchsafed to those who wrote the Holy Scriptures, rendering their writings infallible. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God" (R.V., "Every scripture inspired of God"), 2Ti 3:16. This is true of all the "sacred writings," not in the sense of their being works of genius or of supernatural insight, but as "theopneustic," i.e., "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 testimony of the sacred writers themselves abundantly demonstrates this truth; and if they are infallible as teachers of doctrine, then the doctrine of plenary inspiration must be accepted. There are no errors in the Bible as it came from God, none have been proved to exist. Difficulties and phenomena we cannot explain are not errors. All these books of the Old and New Testaments are inspired. We do not say that they contain, but that they are, the Word of God. The gift of inspiration rendered the writers the organs of God, for the infallible communication of his mind and will, in the very manner and words in which it was originally given.
As to the nature of inspiration we have no information. This only we know, it rendered the writers infallible. They were all equally inspired, and are all equally infallible. The inspiration of the sacred writers did not change their characters. They retained all their individual peculiarities as thinkers or writers. (See Bible; Word of God.)
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All Scripture is inspired by God, and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for discipline in righteousness;
Fausets
The supernatural action of the Holy Spirit on the mind of the sacred writers whereby the Scriptures were not merely their own but the word of God. Scripture not merely contains but is the word of God. As the whole Godhead was joined to the whole manhood, and became the Incarnate Word, so the written word is at once perfectly divine and perfectly human; infallibly authoritative because it is the word of God, intelligible because in the language of men. If it were not human we should not understand it; if it were not divine it would not be an unerring guide. The term "scriptures" is attached to them exclusively in the word of God itself, as having an authority no other writings have (Joh 5:39; 10:34-36). They are called "the oracles of God" (Ro 3:2), i.e. divine utterances.
If Scripture were not plenarily and verbally sanctioned by God, its practical utility as a sure guide in all questions directly or indirectly affecting doctrine and practice would be materially impaired, for what means would there be of distinguishing the false in it from the true? Inspiration does not divest the writers of their several individualities of style, just as the inspired teachers in the early church were not passive machines in prophesying (1Co 14:32). "Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty" (2Co 3:17). Their will became one with God's will; His Spirit acted on their spirit, so that their individuality had free play in the sphere of His inspiration. As to religious truths the collective Scriptures have unity of authorship; as to other matters their authorship is palpably as manifold as the writers. The variety is human, the unity divine. If the four evangelists were mere machines narrating the same events in the same order and words, they would cease to be independent witnesses. Their very discrepancies (only seeming ones) disprove collusion.
The solutions proposed in Harmonies, being necessarily conjectural, may or may not be the true ones; but they at least prove that the differences are not irreconcilable and would be cleared up if we knew all the facts. They test our faith, whether on reasonable evidence we will unreservedly believe His word in spite of some difficulties, designedly permitted for our probation. The slight variations in the Decalogue between Exodus 20 and its repetition Deuteronomy 5, and in Psalm 18 compared with 2 Samuel 22, in Psalm 14 compared with Psalm 53, and in New Testament quotations of Old Testament, (sometimes from Septuagint which varies from Hebrew, sometimes from neither in every word), all prove the Spirit-produced independence of the sacred writers who under divine guidance and sanction presented on different occasions the same substantial truths under different aspects, the one complementing the other.
One or two instances occur where the errors of transcribers cause a real discrepancy (2Ki 8:26, compared with 2Ch 22:2). A perpetual miracle alone could have prevented such very exceptional and palpable copyists' mistakes. But in seeming discrepancies, as between the accounts of the same event in different Gospels, each account presents some fresh aspect of divine truth; none containing the whole, but all together presenting the complete exhibition of the truth. Origen profoundly says: "in revelation as in nature we see a self concealing, self revealing God, who makes Himself known only to those who earnestly seek Him; in both we find stimulants to faith and occasions for unbelief." The assaults of adversaries on seemingly weak points have resulted in the eliciting of beautiful and delicate harmonies unperceived before; the gospel defenses have been proved the more impregnable, and the things meant to injure "have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel."
When once it is admitted that the New Testament writers were neither fanatics nor enthusiasts, (and infidelity has never yet produced a satisfactory theory to show them to have been either,) their miracles and their divine commission must also be admitted, for they expressly claim these. Thus, Paul (1Co 14:37), "if any man think himself a prophet, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord." And not only the things but the words; (1Co 2:13) "we speak not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Spirit teacheth." The "discerning of spirits" was one of the miraculous gifts in the apostolic churches. His appeal on the ground of miracles (1Co 2:4) which are taken for granted as notorious rather than asserted, (the incidental mention being a clear mark of truth because it excludes suspicion of design,) and to persons whose miraculous discernment of spirits enabled them to test such claims, is the strongest proof of the divine authority of his writings.
Peter (2Pe 3:16) classes Paul's epistles with "the other Scriptures"; therefore whatever inspiration is in the latter is in the former also. That inspiration excludes error from Scripture words, so far as these affect doctrine and morals, appears from Ps 12:6, "the words of the Lord are pure words, as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times." As our Lord promised the disciples His Holy Spirit, to teach them how and what they should say before magistrates (Mt 10:19-20), much more did the Spirit "abiding" with the church "for ever" (Joh 14:16) secure for the written word, the only surviving infallible oracle, the inspiration of the manner as well as the matter. So (Joh 16:13) "the Spirit of truth will guide you into all (the) truth," namely, not truth in general but Christian truth.
Also (Joh 14:26) "the Holy Spirit shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you." "He shall testify of Me" (Joh 15:26) "He will show you things to come ... He shall receive of Mine and shall show it unto you" (Joh 16:13-14). Paul (2Ti 3:16) declares that no part of the written word is uninspired, but "ALL" (literally, "every scripture," i.e. every portion) is "profitable" for the ends of a revelation, "doctrine, reproof (conjuting error: the two comprehending speculative divinity; then follows practical), correction (setting one right, 1Co 10:1-10), instruction (disciplinary training: De 13:5; 1Co 5:13) in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works"; as it makes him "perfect" it must be perfect itself.
Some parts were immediately communicated by God, and are called "apocalypse" or "revelation," as that to John, and to Paul (2Co 12:1; Ro 16:25). Others, as the historical parts, are matter of human testimony. But inspiration was as much needed to write known facts authoritatively as to communicate new truths; else why should certain facts be selected and others be passed by? Inspired prohibition is as miraculous as inspired utterance. Had the evangelists been left to themselves, they doubtless would have given many details of Jesus' early life which our curiosity would have desired, but which divine wisdom withheld, in order to concentrate all our attention on Christ's ministry and death. The historical parts are quoted by Paul as God's "law," because they have His sanction and contain covert lessons of God's truth and His principles of governing the world and the church (Ga 4:21).
Considering the vast amount of Mariolatry and idolatry which subsequently sprang up, the hand of God is marked in the absence from the Gospel histories of aught to countenance these errors. Sacred history is like "a dial in which the shadow, as well as the light, informs us" (Trench). The Spirit was needed to qualify the writers for giving what they have given, a condensed yet full and clear portraiture of Messiah, calculated to affect all hearts in every nation, and to sow in them seeds of faith, hope, and love. The minor details, such as Paul's direction to Timothy to "bring his cloth and parchments," and to" drink a little wine for his stomach's sake and his infirmities," are vivid touches which give life and nature to the picture, making us realize the circumstances and personality of the apostle and his disciple, and have their place in the inspired record, as each leaf has in the
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For truly do I say to you, Not till heaven and earth pass away, shall one jot or one tittle pass from the Law, till all be fulfilled.
But when they deliver you up, be not anxious as to how or What ye shall speak; for it will be given you in that hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you.
For I came to set a man at variance with his father, and a daughter with her mother, and a bride with her motherinlaw;
Truly do I say to you, Among those born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist. But he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
And he answering said, Have ye not read, that he who made them at the beginning, made them male and female?
"I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob"? He is not a God of the dead, but of the living.
He saith to them, How then doth David in the Spirit call him lord? saying,
Ye search the Scriptures, because ye yourselves think that in them ye have everlasting life; and it is they which testify of me;
Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your Law, "I said, ye are gods"? If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came, and the Scripture cannot be made void,
If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came, and the Scripture cannot be made void, say ye of him whom the Father sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest, because I said, I am the Son of God?
nor do ye consider that it is expedient for us that one man die for the people, and not the whole nation perish.
and I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Comforter, that he may be with you for ever;
but the Comforter, the Holy Spirit which the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things which I have said to you.
When the Comforter is come, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he will bear witness of me.
But when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak from himself, but whatever he shall hear, that he will speak; and he will tell you the things to come.
But when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak from himself, but whatever he shall hear, that he will speak; and he will tell you the things to come. He will glorify me, for he will receive of what is mine, and will tell it to you.
Brethren, it was necessary that this scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through the mouth of David spoke before concerning Judas, who became guide to those who took Jesus.
And suddenly there came out of heaven a sound, as of a rushing mighty wind; and it filled the whole house where they were sitting;
but this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel,
For David saith concerning him, "I saw the Lord always before me; because he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved. Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue exulted; moreover also, my flesh shall dwell in hope; read more. because thou wilt not abandon my soul to the underworld, nor wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption. Thou didst make known to me the ways of life; thou wilt make me full of joy with thy countenance." Brethren, I may speak to you with freedom of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is among us to this day. Being then a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn to him with an oath that he would set one sprung from his loins upon his throne, he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that neither was he abandoned to the underworld, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, he hath poured forth this, which ye both see and hear.
But God thus fulfilled what he had before announced by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer.
whom heaven indeed must receive until the times of a restoration of all things; of which times God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from the days of old.
who by the mouth of thy servant David said, "Why did the heathen rage, and the peoples meditate vain things?
Great, every way. In the first place, because they were entrusted with the oracles of God.
Now to him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which for eternal ages was unrevealed, but is now made manifest, and through the writings of the prophets, by the command of the everlasting God, is made known to all the nations to bring them to obedience to the faith,
and my speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit, and of power;
which things we also speak, not in words taught by mans wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, connecting what is spiritual l with what is spiritual.
Defraud not one another, except by agreement for a time, that ye may have a season for prayer; and be together again, that Satan may not tempt you through your incontinence. But I say this by way of permission, not command.
But to those who are married it is my command, yet not mine, but the Lords: Let not the wife separate herself from her husband,
But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she be satisfied to dwell with him, let him not put her away; and if a wife hath an unbelieving husband, and he be satisfied to dwell with her, let her not put her husband away. read more. For the unbelieving husband hath been made holy by his wife, and the unbelieving wife hath been made holy by the brother; otherwise were your children unclean, but, as it is, they are holy. But if the unbelieving separateth himself, let him separate himself; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God hath called you to be in peace.
Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord; but I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. I think, then, that it is well, on account of the impending distress, for a man to remain as he is. read more. Art thou bound to a wife, seek not to be loosed from her; art thou loosed from a wife, do not seek for one. But if thou hast married, thou hast committed no sin; and if a virgin hath married, she hath committed no sin. Such, however, will have trouble in the flesh, which I desire to spare you. But this I say, brethren, the time that remaineth is short; that both they that have wives may be as though they had none; and they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; and they that use this world as not abusing it; for the outward condition of this world is passing away; and I would have you free from anxious cares. He that is unmarried careth about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; but he that is married careth about the things of the world, how to please his wife. There is a difference also between a wife and a virgin; the unmarried woman careth about the things of the Lord, to be holy, both in body and in spirit; but she that is married careth about the things of the world, how to please her husband. And this I say for your own profit; not to cast a noose over you, but with a view to what is becoming, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. But if any one thinketh that he behaveth improperly in respect to his virgin [daughter], if she pass the flower of her age [without being married], and if it must be so, let him do what he will, he committeth no sin; let them marry. But if any one is settled in his purpose, and is under no necessity, but is free to act as he will, and hath determined in his heart to keep his own virgin daughter [unmarried], he doeth well. So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; and he that doth not give her in marriage doeth better.
For I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and were all baptized to Moses in the cloud and in the sea, read more. and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank of the spiritual rock that accompanied them; and the rock was Christ; but with most of them God was not well pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness. Now these things were warnings for us, in order that we should not lust after evil things, as they lusted. And do not ye become idolaters, as some of them did; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to sport." Nor let us commit fornication, as some of them did, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them tempted, and were destroyed by the serpents. And do not ye murmur, as some of them murmured, and perished by the Destroyer.
And of the prophets let two or three speak, and let the others judge;
And spirits of prophets are subject to prophets;
And spirits of prophets are subject to prophets;
If any one thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him know surely that the directions I am writing to you are the Lords;
For we write no other things to you, than what ye read or even acknowledge. And I trust ye will acknowledge even to the end,
For we are not as the many, who adulterate the word of God; but as from sincerity, but as from God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.
Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
It is indeed not expedient for me to boast; I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who towards you is not weak, but is mighty among you.
But I assure you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not after man; for I did not receive it from man nor was I taught it by any man, but it was revealed to me by Jesus Christ.
But the promises were made to Abraham and "to his offspring." He doth not say, "and to offsprings," as speaking of many, but, as speaking of one, "and to thy offspring," which is Christ.
Tell me, ye that desire to be under the Law, do ye not hear the Law?
that by revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I wrote before in few words,
which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it hath now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and ye are made full in him, who is the head of all principality and power;
All Scripture is inspired by God, and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for discipline in righteousness;
thou didst put all things in subjection under his feet." For in that he put all things in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him.
For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one; for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren;
Let us then fear, since a promise is still left us of entering into his rest, lest any one of you should appear to fail of obtaining it. For to us were glad tidings addressed, as well as to them; but the word which was heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. read more. For we who believed enter into the rest, as he hath said: "So I swore in my wrath, they shall not enter into my rest;" although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he hath spoken in a certain place of the seventh day thus: "And God rested on the seventh day from all his works;" and in this place again: "They shall not enter into my rest." Since then it still remaineth for some to enter into it, and they to whom the glad tidings of it were first brought did not enter in because of disobedience, he again appointeth a certain day, "Today"saying in David so long a time after, as hath before been said"Today, if ye hear his voice, harden not your hearts." For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not after this be speaking of another day. There remaineth therefore a sabbathrest to the people of God. For he that hath entered into his rest, hath himself rested from his works, as God did from his own. Let us then strive to enter into that rest, that no one may fall, as a like example of disobedience.
searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them signified, when it testified beforehand the sufferings to come upon Christ, and the glories that were to follow;
knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture cometh from private interpretation. For prophecy never came by the will of man; but moved by the Holy Spirit, men spoke from God.
as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things; in which things are some that are hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as also the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
and if any one shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written of in this book.
Hastings
The subject comprises the doctrine of inspiration in the Bible, and the doctrine of the inspiration of the Bible, together with what forms the transition from the one to the other, the account given of the prophetic consciousness, and the teaching of the NT about the OT.
1. The agent of inspiration is the Holy Spirit (see p. 360) or Spirit of God, who is active in Creation (Ge 1:2; Ps 104:30), is imparted to man that the dust may become living soul (Ge 2:7), is the source of exceptional powers of body (Jg 6:34; 14:6,19) or skill (Ex 35:31); but is pre-eminently manifest in prophecy (wh. see). The NT doctrine of the presence and power of the Spirit of God in the renewed life of the believer is anticipated in the OT, inasmuch as to the Spirit's operations are attributed wisdom (Job 32:8; 1Ki 3:28; De 34:9), courage (Jg 13:25; 14:6), penitence, moral strength, and purity (Ne 9:20; Ps 51:11; Isa 63:10; Eze 36:26; Zec 12:10). The promise of the Spirit by Christ to His disciples was fulfilled when He Himself after the Resurrection breathed on them, and said, 'Receive ye the Holy Ghost' (Joh 20:22), and after His Ascension the Spirit descended on the Church with the outward signs of the wind and fire (Ac 2:2-3). The Christian life as such is an inspired life, but the operation of the Spirit is represented in the NT in two forms; there are the extraordinary gifts (charisms)
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All things were delivered to me by my Father; and no one knoweth the Son but the Father; nor doth any one know the Father, but the Son, and he to whom it is the will of the Son to reveal him.
He saith to them, How then doth David in the Spirit call him lord? saying,
And he said to them, O dull of apprehension, and slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken!
but the Comforter, the Holy Spirit which the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things which I have said to you.
But when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak from himself, but whatever he shall hear, that he will speak; and he will tell you the things to come.
And having said this, he breathed on them, and saith to them, Receive the Holy Spirit.
And suddenly there came out of heaven a sound, as of a rushing mighty wind; and it filled the whole house where they were sitting; and there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributing themselves; and one sat upon each of them.
Having then gifts which dither according to the grace which hath been bestowed upon us, if we have prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith; or if service, let us attend to the service; he that teacheth, let him attend to teaching; read more. or he that exhorteth, to exhortation; he that giveth, let him do it with liberality; he that presideth over others, with diligence; he that doeth deeds of mercy, with cheerfulness.
God appointed some in the church to be, in the first place, apostles, in the second place, prophets, in the third place, teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, those of helping and of governing, divers kinds of tongues. Are all apostles?
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, temperance; against such things as these there is no law.
All Scripture is inspired by God, and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for discipline in righteousness;
For prophecy never came by the will of man; but moved by the Holy Spirit, men spoke from God.
Morish
Though this word occurs in the Bible but once in reference to the scriptures, yet the one statement in which it is found is important and full of deep meaning: "Every scripture is divinely inspired literally, 'God-breathed', and is profitable for teaching, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be complete, fully fitted to every good work." 2Ti 3:16-17. This places all scripture on one basis as to inspiration, whether it be historical, doctrinal, or prophetic. We learn by this passage that not simply the persons who wrote were inspired, but the writings themselves are divinely inspired. Cf. 2Pe 1:21.
All writings are composed of words, and if these writings are inspired, the words are inspired. This is what is commonly called 'verbal inspiration.' Other passages speak of the importance of 'words:' Peter said, "To whom shall we go? thou hast the words (??????) of eternal life," Joh 6:68: and we find those words in the Gospels. When it was a question of Gentiles being brought into blessing without being circumcised, James in his address appealed to the 'words' of the prophets. Ac 15:15. Paul in writing to the Corinthian saints said, "Which things also we speak, not in the 'words' (?????) which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth." 1Co 2:13. The Holy Spirit taught Paul what words to use. The whole of scripture forms the word of God, and both in the O.T. and in the N.T. we read of 'the words of God.' 1Ch 25:5; Ezr 9:4; Ps 107:11; Joh 3:34; 8:47; Re 17:17. Neither must His word be added to, or taken from. De 4:2; 12:32; Re 22:18-19.
The above passages should carry conviction to simple souls that every scripture is God-inspired. As nothing less than this is worthy of God, so nothing less than this would meet the need of man. Amid the many uncertain things around him he needs words upon which his faith can be based, and in the inspired scriptures he has them. The Lord Jesus said, "The words (??????) that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life." Joh 6:63. He had the words of eternal life; and, through the grace of God, many a soul has found them to be such, and has no more doubt of the plenary inspiration of scripture than of the existence of God Himself.
It may be noted that scripture records the sayings of wicked men, and of Satan himself. It need scarcely be said that it is not the sayings but the records of them that are inspired. Paul also, when writing on the question of marriage, makes a distinction between what he wrote as his judgement, and what he wrote as commandments of the Lord. "I speak this by permission," he says; and again, "I give my judgement." 1Co 7:6,10,12,25. He was inspired to record his spiritual judgement and to point out that it was not a command.
Some have a difficulty as to what has been called the human element in inspiration. If the words of scripture are inspired, it has been asked, how is it that the style of the writer is so manifest? John's style, for instance, being clearly distinguishable from that of Paul. The simple answer is that it is as if one used, so to speak, different kinds of pens to write with. God made the mind of man as well as his body, and was surely able to use the mind of each of the writers He employed, and yet cause him to write exactly what He wished. God took possession of the mind of man to declare His own purposes with regard to man.
Further, it has been asserted that the doctrine of verbal inspiration is valueless, because of diversities in the Greek manuscripts, which in some places prevent any one from determining what are the words God caused to be written. But this does not in any way touch the question of inspiration, which is, that the words written were inspired by God. Whether we have a correct copy is quite another question. The variations in the Greek manuscripts do not affect any one of the fundamental doctrines of Christianity, and only in a few places are the words doubtful.
Another objection to the value of verbal inspiration is that most persons read scripture in a translation, the words of which cannot, it is alleged, be said to be inspired. But if the translation conveys exactly the same meaning as in the original, the words can be said to be inspired: for instance, the words 'God is love,' may surely be said to be the same as ? ???? ????? ?????, or Deus caritas est, Dieu est amour, or Dio ? carit?, to those who can read them. It may be that the translations from which the above are taken cannot in all places be said to be the same as the Greek; but this only shows the great importance of each having a correct translation in his vernacular tongue. And it must not be forgotten that the Lord Himself and those who wrote the New Testament often quoted the Septuagint, which is a translation from the Hebrew; and they quoted it as scripture.
Nothing can exceed the importance of having true thoughts of the inspiration of scripture. As no human author would allow his amanuensis to write what he did not mean, so surely what is called the word of God is God's own production, though given through the instrumentality of man. Though there were many writers, separated by thousands of years, there is a divine unity in the whole, showing plainly that one and only one could have been its Author. That One can only have been the Almighty
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For he whom God sent speaketh the words of God; for he giveth not the Spirit by measure.
It is the spirit which maketh alive; the flesh profiteth nothing. The words which I have spoken to you are spirit, and are life.
Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast words of everlasting life;
He that is of God heareth Gods words; for this cause ye do not hear, because ye are not of God.
And with this agree the words of the Prophets, as it is written:
which things we also speak, not in words taught by mans wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, connecting what is spiritual l with what is spiritual.
But to those who are married it is my command, yet not mine, but the Lords: Let not the wife separate herself from her husband,
But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she be satisfied to dwell with him, let him not put her away;
Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord; but I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
All Scripture is inspired by God, and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for discipline in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto every good work.
For prophecy never came by the will of man; but moved by the Holy Spirit, men spoke from God.
For God hath put in their hearts to do his will, and to form one purpose, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
I testify to every one that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any one shall add to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if any one shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written of in this book.
Smith
Inspiration.
Dr. Knapp given as the definition of inspiration, "an extra-ordinary divine agency upon teachers while giving instruction, whether oral or written, by which they were taught what and how they should write or speak." Without deciding on any of the various theories of inspiration, the general doctrine of Christians is that the Bible is so inspired by God that it is the infallible guide of men, and is perfectly trustworthy in all its parts, as given by God.
Watsons
INSPIRATION, the conveying of certain extraordinary and supernatural notices or thoughts into the soul; or it denotes any supernatural influence of God upon the mind of a rational creature, whereby he is formed to a degree of intellectual improvement, to which he could not have attained in his present circumstances in a natural way. In the first and highest sense, the prophets, evangelists, and Apostles are said to have spoken and written by divine inspiration. This inspiration of the Old Testament Scriptures is so expressly attested by our Lord and his Apostles, that among those who receive them as a divine revelation the only question relates to the inspiration of the New Testament. On this subject it has been well observed:
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But when they deliver you up, be not anxious as to how or What ye shall speak; for it will be given you in that hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you.
Go, and make all nations my disciples, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit;
Go, and make all nations my disciples, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; teaching them to observe all things, whatever I have commanded you. And, lo! I am with you always, unto the end of the world.
And he appointed twelve to be with him, and whom he might send forth to preach,
He that believeth and is baptized will be saved; but he that doth not believe will be condemned.
Inasmuch as many have undertaken to arrange a narrative of those things which are fully believed among us, even as they were delivered to us by those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and became ministers of the word, read more. it seemed good to me also, having accurately traced up all things from the first, to write to thee a connected account, most excellent Theophilus, that thou mightst know the exact truth with regard to those things in which thou wast instructed.
He that hearkeneth to you, hearkeneth to me; and he that rejecteth you, rejecteth me; but he that rejecteth me, rejecteth him that sent me.
For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries will not be able to withstand or gainsay.
and I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Comforter, that he may be with you for ever; the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot receive, because it doth not behold it, nor know it; ye know it, because it abideth with you, and will be in you.
but the Comforter, the Holy Spirit which the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things which I have said to you.
This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.
I have yet many things to say to you, but ye cannot bear them now. But when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak from himself, but whatever he shall hear, that he will speak; and he will tell you the things to come.
Yet not for these alone do I pray, but also for those who believe in me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me and I in thee, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that thou didst send me.
Many other signs did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these have been written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God, and that believing ye may have life in his name.
This is the disciple who testifieth of these things, and hath written these things; and we know that his testimony is true.
Brethren, it was necessary that this scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through the mouth of David spoke before concerning Judas, who became guide to those who took Jesus.
who by the mouth of thy servant David said, "Why did the heathen rage, and the peoples meditate vain things?
And as I was going to Damascus on this business, with authority and a commission from the chief priests, at midday, on the road, O king, I saw a light from heaven above the brightness of the sun, shining around me and those who were journeying with me. read more. And when we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking to me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the goads. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest. But arise and stand upon thy feet; for I have appeared to thee for this purpose, to prepare thee as a minister and a witness both of the things which thou sawest, and of those on account of which I will appear to thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the gentiles, to whom I send thee, to open their eyes that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among the sanctified, by faith in me.
So, disagreeing with one another, they took their departure, after Paul had spoken one word: Well did the Holy Spirit speak through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers,
For God hath revealed them to us by his Spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things, even the depths of God.
But we did not receive the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that have been given to us by the grace of God; which things we also speak, not in words taught by mans wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, connecting what is spiritual l with what is spiritual.
If any one thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him know surely that the directions I am writing to you are the Lords;
Paul, an apostle, not from men, nor through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead,
for I did not receive it from man nor was I taught it by any man, but it was revealed to me by Jesus Christ.
But when it pleased him who set me apart from my very birth, and called me through his grace, to reveal his Son within me, that I might publish the glad tidings of him among the gentiles, immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood, read more. neither did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;
Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, salute you.
And when the letter hath been read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that ye likewise read the letter from Laodicea.
And for this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received the word of God which ye heard from us, ye received it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also is powerfully working in you that believe.
All Scripture is inspired by God, and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for discipline in righteousness;
searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them signified, when it testified beforehand the sufferings to come upon Christ, and the glories that were to follow;
For prophecy never came by the will of man; but moved by the Holy Spirit, men spoke from God.
that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of the Lord and Saviour by your apostles;
and account the longsuffering of our Lord salvation; as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you,
We are of God; he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth us not. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show to his servants what must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant John;
I was in the Spirit on the Lords day; and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying: What thou seest, write in a book, and send it to the seven churches; to Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamus, and to Thyatira, and to Sardes, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea. read more. And I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me; and having turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks, and in the midst of the candlesticks one like to a son of man, clothed with a garment reaching down to the feet, and girded at the breasts with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white as white wool, as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; and his feet were like fine brass, as if burning in a furnace; and his voice was as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars; and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword; and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead; and he laid his right hand on me, saying, Fear not; I am the first and the last, and he that liveth; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore; and I have the keys of death and the underworld. Write therefore the things which thou sawest, and the things which are, and the things which shall be after these;
And the wall of the city had twelve foundationstones, and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.