The Doctrine of the Bible - Inspiration

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

B. Various Scriptures on Inspiration.

The Bible Itself strongly claims it’s writings are from God. Note the following:

1. No Old Testament Scripture was thought up by the Prophet himself.

2Pe 1:19  And in the written word of prophecy we have something more permanent; to which you do well to pay attention--as to a lamp shining in a dimly-lighted place--until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

2Pe 1:20  But, above all, remember that no prophecy in Scripture will be found to have come from the prophet's own prompting;

2. All Old Testament Scriptures were given by the Holy Spirit as He moved upon men.

2Pe 1:21  for never did any prophecy come by human will, but men sent by God spoke as they were impelled (moved upon) by the Holy Spirit.

3. The Spirit Breathed Inspiration was given in many different ways.

Heb 1:1  God, who in ancient days spoke to our forefathers in many distinct messages and by various methods through the Prophets,

Heb 1:2  has at the end of these days spoken to us through a Son, who is the pre-destined Lord of the universe, and through whom He made the Ages.

Barnes Notes: And in divers manners -  - πολυτρόπως  polutropōs. In many ways. It was not all in one mode. He had employed various methods in communicating his will. At one time it was by direct communication, at another by dreams, at another by visions, etc. In regard to the various methods which God employed to communicate his will, see Introduction to Isaiah, section 7. In contradistinction from these, God had now spoken by his Son. He had addressed us in one uniform manner. It was not by dreams, or visions; it was a direct communication from him. The word used here, also, occurs nowhere else in the New Testament.

4. Once it was given, this inspired writing:

a. Could not be broken or shaken down. Joh 10:35  If those to whom God's word was addressed are called gods (and the Scripture cannot be annulled),WNT ;  cannot be nullified; Murdock;

(and the scripture cannot be broken), ASV

Barnes :The scripture cannot be broken - See Mat_5:19. The authority of the Scripture is final; it cannot be set aside.

b. Is exact in all details.

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. WNT

c. Would  abide forever.

1Pe 1:25  BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD REMAINS FOR EVER." And that means the Message which has been proclaimed among you in the Good News. WNT

5, The OT Writers did not always understand the nature of everything they wrote about.

Luk 10:23  And He turned towards His disciples and said to them apart, "Blessed are the eyes which see what you see!

Luk 10:24  For I tell you that many Prophets and kings have desired to see the things you see, and have not seen them, and to hear the things you hear, and have not heard them."

1Pe 1:10  There were Prophets who earnestly inquired about that salvation, and closely searched into it--even those who spoke beforehand of the grace which was to come to you.

1Pe 1:11  They were eager to know the time which the Spirit of Christ within them kept indicating, or the characteristics of that time, when they solemnly made known beforehand the sufferings that were to come upon Christ and the glories which would follow.

1Pe 1:12  To them it was revealed that they were serving not themselves but you, when they foretold the very things which have now been openly declared to you by those who, having been taught by the Holy Spirit which had been sent from Heaven, brought you the Good News. Angels long to stoop and look into these things.

a. They did not completely understand Christ’s Sufferings.

b. They did understand that these mysteries would be clearer to a generation other than theirs.

6. The four Gospels were given by Divine Inspiration.

2Pe 3:1  My dear friends, this is the second letter I have written to encourage you to do some honest thinking. I don't want you to forget

2Pe 3:2  what God's prophets said would happen. You must never forget what the holy prophets taught in the past. And you must remember what the apostles told you our Lord and Saviour has commanded us to do.

7. Paul believed His writings were inspired by God.

1Co 2:4  When I talked with you or preached, I didn't try to prove anything by sounding wise. I simply let God's Spirit show his power.

1Co 15:3  I told you the most important part of the message exactly as it was told to me. That part is: Christ died for our sins, as the Scriptures say.

1Co 15:4  He was buried, and three days later he was raised to life, as the Scriptures say.

1Th 2:13  And for this further reason we render unceasing thanks to God, that when you received God's Message from our lips, it was as no mere message from men that you embraced it, but as--what it really is--God's Message, which also does its work in the hearts of you who believe.

1Th 4:15  For this we declare to you on the Lord's own authority--that we who are alive and continue on earth until the Coming of the Lord, shall certainly not forestall those who shall have previously passed away.

8. Paul used the Holy Spirit’s Words to explain the Holy Spirit’s facts.

1Co 2:13  Of these we speak--not in language which man's wisdom teaches us, but in that which the Spirit teaches--adapting, as we do, spiritual words to spiritual truths.

9. All Paul’s Writings were received by special revelation from Christ.

Gal 1:11  For I must tell you, brethren, that the Good News which was proclaimed by me is not such as man approves of.

Gal 1:12  For, in fact, it was not from man that I received or learnt it, but by a revelation from Jesus Christ.

10. Peter believed Paul's Writings were inspired by God.

2Pe 3:15  And always regard the patient forbearance of our Lord as salvation, as our dear brother Paul also has written to you in virtue of the wisdom granted to him.

2Pe 3:16  That is what he says in all his letters, when speaking in them of these things. In those letters there are some statements hard to understand, which ill-taught and unprincipled people pervert, just as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own ruin.