Inspired Word

In Christianity people are supposed to use the Holy Scriptures, containing the Torah, the Law of God, the Lyrical Writings and the Prophets, making up for the Old Testament; the Gospels, The History of the beginning of the church or Acts of the apostles and the Letters of the apostles or Epistles, making up the New Testament.

Lots of people consider or wonder if those writings are not just, teachings from ordinary men.
At first, it appears a reasonable comment to say it are writings of men which make up the Bible. But when we come to examine the writings found in the Bible, we discover that they are in a totally different category from the foundation documents of major religions of the world which are founded upon the writings of men.

Religious writings in the world

 

Cover of The Teachings of Buddha

Buddhism is founded upon the teachings of Buddha, who lived in India in the 6th Century BCE. It was some centuries later that his adherents made him a god.

Hinduism, originating in ancient Vedism about 1500 BCE, evolved through Brahmanism into early Hinduism in the 2nd Century BCE, revering the gods Vishnu and Shiva.

Confucianism arose from Chinese moral philosophy, which was systematized by Confucius in the 5th century BCE. Confucius himself became an object of worship in the 1st Century CE.

In each of these religions the worship of the god arose centuries after the promulgation of the original principles.

The Muslim religion is in a different category. Muhammad lived in the 7th Century and could neither read nor write. His companions wrote down scraps of the Qur’an from what Muhammad had remembered. The scraps were collected together some time after his death.

All these widespread religions claiming millions of adherents, are based upon the original
pronouncements of men. Despite all their subsequent philosophical refinements, they have
originated in the human mind.

In fact they are so different to the Jewish and Christian writing and manifest such remarkable characteristics that the question arises, Who is really responsible for them?

Men actually writing down Words from Somebody Else

Men did the actual writing, but whose was the thinking that lies behind all of them?

The more the writings of the Bible are studied, the more convinced one becomes that there must have been a Mind behind it all, different from and greater than the mind of men. One 19th Century student, after such an examination, came to the striking conclusion that the Bible is not “such as men would have written if they could, nor could have written if they would” (Henry Rogers, The Superhuman Origin of the Bible, 1872).

46 is the earliest (nearly) complete manuscript of the Epistles written by Paul in the new testament. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Let us then take a careful look at the Bible and note its special characteristics. We shall find them so exceptional as to make the Bible unique in the world – a book in fact that we cannot ignore.
There is one important principle to observe in our quest: we must note what the Bible writers say about themselves and their message, and be very wary of what has  subsequently been said about them. It is very common today for people to say, “Well, we live in a more enlightened age and we know better”. This common error arises from relying alone on human judgement. We shall find good reason seriously to question that  assumption.

The Inspired Word

There is one common affirmation, found in all the writers of the books of the Bible: it is that they were not writing their own words, but the words and thoughts of the God of gods.

1. And God will speak all these words, saying,
2. I am Jehovah thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of servants.
3. There shall be no other God to thee to my face.
4. Thou shalt not make to thee a carved image, and every appearance that is in the heavens above, and that is in the earth beneath, and that is in the water under the earth.
5. Thou shalt not worship to them, and thou shalt not serve them: for I am Jehovah thy God, a jealous God, striking the iniquity of the fathers upon the sons to the third and to the fourth, to them hating me;
(Exod 20:1-5, SLT)

7. Thus said the Lord Jehovah, It shall not stand, and it shall not be.
(Isa 7:7, SLT)

9. And Jehovah will stretch forth his hand and touch upon my mouth: and Jehovah will say to me, Behold, I gave my words into thy mouth.
(Jer 1:9, SLT)
1. And these the last words of David. The declaration of David, son of Jesse, and the declaration of the man raised up for the Messiah of the God of Jacob, and the sweet songs of Israel.
2. The Spirit of Jehovah spake in me, and his word upon my tongue.
3. The God of Israel said to me, the Rock of Israel spake a parable upon the just man: a parable to fear God.
(2Sam 23:1-3, SLT)

“The LORD said unto Moses, write these words …” This becomes the keynote for all subsequent writers. The prophets of Israel all proclaim, “Thus said the LORD . . .” “The word of the LORD came unto me saying …”

The Nazarene Jew Jeshua, from the tribe of king David, better known today as Lord Jesus Christ (whose “Old Testament” was the same as ours, as we know from details given by Josephus in the 1st Century CE) acknowledged the authority of “the law and the prophets“; he used them constantly in his preaching, as did his apostles after him.

Jesus never claimed to be God nor that his words would be his own words. Though he let people know he was like minded and in unity with the Creator of heaven and earth, who was and is greater than him.

7. If ye had known me, ye had also known my Father: and from now ye know, and have seen him.
8. Philip says to him, Lord, show us the Father, and it suffices us.
9. Jesus says, to him, So long time am I with you, and hast thou not known me, Philip? he having seen me has seen the Father; and how sayest thou, Show us the Father?
10. Believest thou not that I in the Father, and the Father is in me? the words which I speak to you, I speak not of myself: and the Father remaining in me does the works.
11. Believe ye me that I in the Father, and the Father in me: and if not, for these works believe me.
12. Truly, truly, I say to you, He believing in me, the works which I do shall he do also; and greater than these shall he do; for I go to my Father.
13. And whatever ye ask in my name, this will I do, that the Father might be honoured by the Son.
14. If ye ask anything in my name, I will do.
(John 14:7-14, SLT)

26. But the Intercessor, the Holy Spirit, which the Father will send in my name, the same shall teach you all things, and he shall remind you of all things which I spake to you.
27. Peace I leave to you, my peace I give to you: not as the world gives, give I to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be timid.
28. Ye have heard that I said to you, I retire, and I am coming to you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice because I said, I go to the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
29. And now have I told you before it shall be, that when it should be, ye might believe.
30. I will no more speak much with you: for the ruler of this world comes, and has nothing in me.
31. But that the world might know that I love the Father, and as the Father commanded me, so I do. Arise ye, let us go thence.
(John 14:26-31, SLT)

17. And Jesus answered, My Father works till now, and I work.
18. For this therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, for not only did he loose the sabbath, but also he called God his own Father, making himself equal to God.
19. Then answered Jesus and said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, The Son can of himself do nothing, except what he sees the Father doing: for whatever he should do, also these does the Son likewise.
20. For the Father loves the Son, and shows him all which himself does: and he will show him greater than these, that ye might wonder.
21. For as the Father arouses the dead, and makes alive; so also the Son makes alive whom he will.
(John 5:17-21, SLT)

Jesus explained the old writings. He tried to let people see clear and let them understand those words which were written down by men under the inspiration of his Holy Father, the Only One God.

Folio 4v of the Rabbula Gospels showing the canon tables, harmonization of the four gospels, with marginal miniatures. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

So there has arisen the principle that the writings of the Bible are the inspired word of God, not produced by the will of man but by the will of God (2 Peter 1:21). The apostle Paul wrote that all Scripture is “Godbreathed” (2 Timothy 3:16). The breath of God in them is His very thoughts and His mind.

16. For not having followed ingeniously contrived fictions, we made known to you the power and presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, but having been spectators of his majesty.
17. For having received from God the Father honour and glory, and such a voice brought to him from the magnificent glory, This is my dearly beloved Son, in whom I was contented.
18. And this voice brought from heaven we heard, being with him in the holy mountain.
19. And we have the prophetic word more firm; which holding to, ye do well, as to a light shining in a dusty place, even till the day shine through, and the morning star spring up in your hearts: 20. Knowing this first, that every prophecy of the writing is not of private solution.
21. For prophecy was not once brought by the will of man: but holy men of God spake, being moved by the Holy Spirit.
(2Pet 1:16-21, SLT)

14. And remain thou in what things thou hast learned and hast been convinced of, knowing of whom thou hast learned; 15. And that from infancy thou hast known the holy letters, able to render thee wise to salvation by faith which in Christ Jesus.
16. All writing divinely inspired, and profitable for doctrine, for refutation, for correction, for instruction in justice: 17. That the man of God might be perfect, finished for every good work.
(2Tim 3:14-17, SLT)

20. And he send Jesus Christ, before proclaimed to you,
21. Whom heaven must truly receive till time of restoration of all which God spake by the mouth of all his holy prophets from forever.
22. For Moses truly said to the fathers, That a prophet shall the Lord your God raise up to you from your brethren, like me; him shall ye hear according to all whatever he speak to you.
23. And it shall be, whoever hears not that prophet, shall be destroyed from the people.
24. And all the prophets from Samuel, and those in order, as many as spake, also announced beforehand these days.
(Acts 3:20-24, SLT)

 

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Preceding article: Many Books, yet One

A study Bible. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Next: Testimony to Bible Truth

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Find also to read:

1. Bible Word of God, inspired and infallible
2. Bible basic intro
3. The Word of God in print
4. Who Wrote the Bible?
5. No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation
6. The Bible: God’s Word or pious myth?
7. Bible Word from God
8. Scripture Word from God
9. Why believing the Bible
10. Unsure about relevance Bible
11. The Importance Of Scripture
12. The importance of Reading the Scriptures
13. Plain necessary food of the Gospel
14. Fear of God reason to return to Holy Scriptures
15. Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #3 Voice of God #1 Creator and His Prophets
16. Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #3 Voice of God #2 Instructions and Laws
17. Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #3 Voice of God #3 A voice to be taken Seriously
18. Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #3 Voice of God #4 Words in Scripture
19. Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #3 Voice of God #5 To meditate and Transform
20. Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #3 Voice of God #6 Words to feed and communicate
21. God of gods
22. A god between many gods
23. Prophets making excuses
24. For the Will of Him who is greater than Jesus

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