A. The Bible claims inspiration. -
This does not prove anything in itself, but if a book was from God you
would expect it to say so.
2 Timothy 3:16 - "All Scripture
is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,"
2 Peter 1:20-21 "Knowing this
first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,
{21} for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God
spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit."
B. The Bible's indestructibility.
Many have tried to destroy the Bible, over and over, but it still
stands!
Matthew 24:35 - ""Heaven
and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass
away."
1 Peter 1:24-25 "because
"All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of
the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, {25} But the
word of the LORD endures forever." Now this is the word which by
the gospel was preached to you."
C. The Unity of the Bible.
"How could 40 writers, over a
period of 1600 years write 66 books in two large sections on so many
subjects and have no contradiction therein-if they wrote on their own
rather than inspired by God? Truly, the marvelous unity of the Bible
is one of the greatest marks of inspiration!" ( Pulpit Helps)
D. Its' higher code of living.
Look at the moral code of those who
are not affected by the Bible. "Do unto other, before they can do
to you." or, "Do unto others as they do to you." Then
look at the moral code of the Bible.
Matthew 7:12 -
""Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to
them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."
Romans 12:17-21
E. Its' prophetic accuracy.
Daniel 2:44 - ""And in the
days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which
shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other
people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and
it shall stand forever."
Luke 3:1 - "Now in the
fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being
governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip
tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias
tetrarch of Abilene,"
Daniel foretold, when reading the
passage in context, that a fourth empire would arise, and that during
that empire God would set up his kingdom on earth. This all took place
exactly as said.
We could also mention the prophecies
concerning the fall of Babylon, Nineveh, and Tyre and Sidon. But most
impressive is the dozens of detailed prophecies concerning the coming
messiah which were written hundreds of years before Jesus, yet were
completely fulfilled in his coming, life, death, and resurrection.
F. The impartial nature of the
Bible.
The sins of great Bible characters
are not glossed over, nor covered up. The are laid out for all to see.
Such men as David and Peter are held up as godly men, yet their
shortcoming are accurately set forth. What book of men would do such?
III. WHAT DO WE MEAN BY THE
INSPIRATION OF THE BIBLE?
A. The word Inspiration is used one
time in the New Testament. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 "All Scripture is
given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, {17} that
the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good
work."
The word comes from the Greek word,
theospneutos, which literally means, "God breathed. God
"breathed into" the minds of inspired men the truth that He
desired to have recorded.
B. What do we mean when we say that
the Scriptures are "God breathed?"
1. God guided the minds of the
writers so that they would not make mistakes in the recording of the
divine will.
2. This would imply that there
were no mistakes in the record. Where the Bible speaks in prophecy,
science, history, etc., it would be truthful.
3. Every word, correctly
translated from the original text, is God speaking to us.
4. What we have today is God's
Word.
C. Some other passages to consider.
1. 1 Corinthians 2:13- "These
things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but
which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with
spiritual."
2. 1 Corinthians 14:37- "If
anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him
acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the
commandments of the Lord."
3. John 14:26- ""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."
4. Mark 13:11- ""But
when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or
premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that
hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy
Spirit."
5. All these passage were either
spoken by, or promised to, and inspired man.
