Introduction.
We have discussed the various ways God used to speak His Word to Man and communicate His Message
Man has heard the message and now with Inspiration we see how He will react.
What is Involved in transferring the Voice of God into the Vocabulary of man ?
The Word, Inspiration, occurs only once in the New Testament.
2Ti 3:16 Every Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for convincing, for correction of error, and for instruction in right doing;
The Greek word for Inspired is, Theopneustos meaning literally “God Breathed”
A. Various Theories of Inspiration
1. The Natural Theory.
This says that the Bible Writers were inspired in the same sense as William Shakespeare was inspired. In other words, that the spark of Divine Inspiration that is supposedly in all men simply burned a little brighter in the hearts of the Bible writers. This theory is totally rejected by the Apostle Peter in 2Pe 1:20 But, above all, remember that no prophecy in Scripture will be found to have come from the prophet's own prompting; WNT
2Pe 1:21 for never did any prophecy come by human will, but men sent by God spoke as they were impelled by the Holy Spirit.WNT
{2Pe 1:20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of private interpretation.}
Barnes Notes: on private Interpretation.
It would be easy to show that some of these opinions are absurd, and that none of them are sustained by the fair interpretation of the language used, and by the drift of the passage. The more correct interpretation, as it seems to me, is that which supposes that the apostle teaches that the truths which the prophets communicated were not originated by themselves; were not of their own suggestion or invention; were not their own opinions, but were of higher origin, and were imparted by God; and according to this the passage may be explained, “knowing this as a point of first importance when you approach the prophecies, or always bearing this in mind, that it is a great principle in regard to the prophets, that what they communicated “was not of their own disclosure;” that is, was not revealed or originated by them.”
2. The mechanical theory.
It says that God coldly and mechanically dictated the Bible as an office manager would dictate an impersonal letter to his secretary. It should ne noted here that the Bible is the Story of Divine Love and God is anything but mechanical or cold concerning His Subject.
The Holy Spirit never transgressed the limits of the writer’s vocabulary. Thus the Educated Paul uses many of the “85c” words while the less educated John employs more of the “25c words Both are equally inspired by God.
Hodge says “ The Church has never held what has been stigmatized as the mechanical theory of Inspiration. The Sacred Writers were not just machines. Their self-consciousness was not suspended; nor were their intellectual powers superceded. Holy men spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. It was men not machines; not unconscious instruments, but living, thinking, willing minds, whom the Spirit used as His organs….. The Sacred Writers impressed their peculiarities on their several productions as plainly as they were the subjects of no ordinary influence” Willmington p.790
3. The Content or Concept Theory.
-That only the main thought of a paragraph or chapter is inspired. This is refuted by many Biblical Passages.
Mat 5:18 Solemnly I tell you that until Heaven and earth pass away, not one iota or smallest detail will pass away from the Law until all has taken place.
2Sa 23:1 Now these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse saith, And the man who was raised on high saith, The anointed of the God of Jacob, And the sweet psalmist of Israel:
2Sa 23:2 The Spirit of Jehovah spake by me, And his word was upon my tongue.
4. The Partial Theory.
-only certain parts of the Bible are inspired. This is the position of liberal Theologians who cheerfully acept those portions which deal with love and brotherhood, but who quickly reject the passages dealing with sin,righteousness, and future judgment. But heaven and hell are like up, and down. You can’t have one without the other.
Paul refutes the Partial Theory in :2Ti 3:16 Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness:
5. The spiritual-rule-only Theory.
This says that the Bible may be regarded as our infallible rule in faith and practice only in all matters of religious, ethical, and spiritual value, but not in other matters of historical and scientific matters. This is pious nonsense.
Any preacher whose scientific and historical statements are open to question can certainly not be trusted in matters of moral and spiritual pronouncements. This theory is refuted by : Joh 3:12 If I told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you heavenly things?
6. The Plenary - Verbal Inspiration Theory.
Meaning : - that all (plenary), the very words (verbal) of the Bible are inspired by God. This view alone is the Correct one.
2Ti 3:16 Every Scripture passage is inspired by God. All of them are useful for teaching, pointing out errors, correcting people, and training them for a life that has God's approval.
2Ti 3:17 They equip God's servants so that they are completely prepared to do good things. GW
1Co 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. MKJV
Joh 17:8 For I have given to them the Words which You gave Me, and they have received them and have known surely that I came out from You. And they have believed that You sent Me.
Joh 6:63 It is the Spirit that makes alive, the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit and are life. MKJV
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