Breathed out By God
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Inspiration
Inspiration
recap of last week: General Revelation
2 Timothy 3:10–17 (ESV)
You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Greek word theopnustos: “Inspired by God”
Lexham Survey of Theology (The Bible’s Inspiration)
Inspiration is a divine action that creates an identity between a human word and a divine word.The term “inspired” is found only once in the English Bible, in 2 Timothy 3:16. In that passage it translates a Greek term that, etymologically, means “breathed out by God.” The idea would probably be better expressed as “expired” rather than “inspired.” To breathe out words is to speak them. So to say that a prophecy or a book (as in 2 Timothy 3:16) is “inspired” means that it is God’s very speech, that the words in question are the word of God.Although the Bible does not use the terms “inspired” or “inspiration” very often, it refers in other language to many words, given to human speakers and writers by God, that function as divine utterances. Scripture refers in this way to the original document of the Ten Commandments, to the words of true prophets, to the speech of Jesus, and to the preaching and writing of the apostles.
Westminister confession, after listing the books of the canon of scripture, says: All which are given by inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life.
And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
So men do not produce their own prophecy. When we get to the lesson on Canon, we will discuss those who today say that they have a “word from the Lord” or that God has told them to say something.
Plenary Inspiration
Plenary Inspiration
What is verbal plenary inspiration?
What is verbal plenary inspiration?
The following is an article from https://www.gotquestions.org/verbal-plenary-inspiration.html
The Bible is God’s Word to humanity. It was written by human authors, but God prompted and guided them to write what they did. Every word, word form, and word placement found in the Bible’s original manuscripts was divinely and intentionally written. This is the orthodox view of the church and is known as verbal plenary inspiration.
Inspiration, the quality of being “God-breathed,” refers to the fact that God supernaturally guided the authors of the Bible to write exactly what He wanted to communicate. Everything in Scripture is there because that’s what God desired to say to humanity. The extent of that inspiration is defined by the dual terms verbal and plenary. Verbal means that every word of Scripture is God-breathed. Every single word, not just the ideas behind the words, is in the Bible because God wanted it there. The word plenary means “complete or full”; when used to describe the inspiration of God’s Word, plenary means that all parts of the Bible are equally of divine origin and equally authoritative.
The apostle Paul implicitly taught the verbal plenary inspiration of the Word of God. In Galatians 3:16, he wrote, “The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say ‘and to seeds,’ meaning many people, but ‘and to your seed,’ meaning one person, who is Christ.” Paul used the number of the noun—the fact that Moses wrote a singular word, not a plural—as the basis for his argument that Christ fulfills the covenant. This supports verbal inspiration. In Romans 15:4 Paul wrote that “everything that was written in the past was written to teach us” and in 2 Timothy 3:16 that “all Scripture is God-breathed.” Everything and all are words that support the doctrine of plenary inspiration.
Second Peter 1:21 says, “For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” This passage reveals how God led human authors to write Scripture. Men wrote as they were “carried along” or “moved” (KJV) by the Holy Spirit. What we read in the Bible is indeed God’s words to us. According to Jesus, even the smallest letter within a word and the slightest pen stroke within a letter are God’s design and will be fulfilled (Matthew 5:18).
The term verbal plenary inspiration should not be taken to mean that the words in the Bible themselves are “holy.” The Greek word halas (“salt” in Matthew 5:13) is not “holy” simply because it’s found in the Bible. Other, non-inspired writings also contain the word halas, and their use of the word does not make them special. What verbal plenary inspiration does mean is that all the words, forms of words, combination of words, and wording in the Bible are God’s divine intention for Scripture. The words, phrases, and clauses work together to give us His message, and each portion of Scripture is purposefully there.
Verbal plenary inspiration applies to the original manuscripts of the books of the Bible. The Bible translations we have today are the works of scholars who have studied copies of the original manuscripts, but the doctrine of inspiration does not extend to translations. Most modern translations are trustworthy, but no one translation is divinely inspired in the way the original manuscripts are.
Also, the doctrine of verbal plenary inspiration does not mean that God condones or encourages all the actions recorded in the Bible. For example, God states that murder is sinful, yet He also inspired historical records of people committing murder. So, the Bible contains true history as well as God’s moral instructions. The Ten Commandments are inspired, and so is the written record of Absalom’s murder of Amnon; both passages are instructive, and both passages are inspired. The interpretation and application of the Ten Commandments differs from that of Absalom’s story and requires sound biblical hermeneutics.
Verbal plenary inspiration is an important concept and tenet of the Christian faith. God’s inspiration of the text of Scripture extends to the very words themselves and to all parts of Scripture and all subject matters of Scripture. The doctrine of verbal plenary inspiration stands in contrast to the belief that only parts of the Bible are inspired or that only the thoughts or concepts that deal with religion are inspired. Verbal plenary inspiration is an essential characteristic of the Word of God, as His words reveal who He is and what He has done for us through Christ (see John 5:39–40; Acts 8:35).
There have been many questions over the years of how God does this work of inspiration. Does he dictate word for word, does he give an idea to the writer and let them put it in their own language? These are interesting things to explore, but the thing we must remember is that sentence, What verbal plenary inspiration does mean is that all the words, forms of words, combination of words, and wording in the Bible are God’s divine intention for Scripture.So regardless of the actual mechanics of it, we can trust that the words of scripture are indeed God’s words,
The Works of Benjamin B. Warfield, Volume 1: Revelation and Inspiration (Chapter III: The Inspiration of the Bible)
What this church-doctrine is (the doctrine of inspiration), it is scarcely necessary minutely to describe. It will suffice to remind ourselves that it looks upon the Bible as an oracular (relating to an oracle) book,—as the Word of God in such a sense that whatever it says God says,—not a book, then, in which one may, by searching, find some word of God, but a book which may be frankly appealed to at any point with the assurance that whatever it may be found to say, that is the Word of God
The Works of Benjamin B. Warfield, Volume 1: Revelation and Inspiration Chapter III: The Inspiration of the Bible
Such a Word of God, each one of us knows he needs,—not a Word of God that speaks to us only through the medium of our fellow-men, men of like passions and weaknesses with ourselves, so that we have to feel our way back to God’s word through the church, through tradition, or through the apostles, standing between us and God; but a Word of God in which God speaks directly to each of our souls. Such a Word of God, Christ and his apostles offer us, when they give us the Scriptures, not as man’s report to us of what God says, but as the very Word of God itself, spoken by God himself through human lips and pens. Of such a precious possession, given to her by such hands, the church will not lightly permit herself to be deprived. Thus the church’s sense of her need of an absolutely infallible Bible, has co-operated with her reverence for the teaching of the Bible to keep her true, in all ages, to the Bible doctrine of plenary inspiration.
The Works of Benjamin B. Warfield, Volume 1: Revelation and Inspiration Chapter III: The Inspiration of the Bible
We believe this doctrine of the plenary inspiration of the Scriptures primarily because it is the doctrine which Christ and his apostles believed, and which they have taught us. It may sometimes seem difficult to take our stand frankly by the side of Christ and his apostles. It will always be found safe.
Moses, in his office of prophet, predicted future prophecy:
I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.
But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’ ”
In other words, God’s word is ALWAYS authoritative, whether men believe it or not, and if they do not believe the word, they wouldn’t believe even if someone they knew were risen from the dead. If Go’s Word doesn’t convince someone, no preacher can, not argument can. God’s Word is the first and last source we need to know the truth about Him and his plan of salvation (sola scriptura)
Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
Jesus believed the words of Moses had authority in that they pointed to Himself. And Jesus also believed in the authority of the Word of God in respect to its eternality.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Further, Jesus said that his followers should not be ashamed of Jesus or His words:
For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
The angel Gabriel told Zechariah that he should have believed his words. This is because, as a messenger for God, Zechariah’s word held authority. Gabriel’s Words had authority even before they were written down, but the fact they are recorded in scripture gives us further affirmation that this actually happened and is true. This may remind you of something I said last week:
Lexham Survey of Theology Special Revelation through Prophecy
Many words of the prophets were eventually written down, and some of these form part of written special revelation. But the words of true prophets and apostles are authoritative even before they are written down.
And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”
Another go-to passage about the Word of God is in John
John 1:1–14 (ESV)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Hebrews starts out with the bold statement that in the past, God spoke to people in various ways, but now he has spoken through his son:
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
Salvation is ultimately dependent upon our trust of the truth of scripture:
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
This is very important. How are we saved? By faith alone in Christ alone, right? But where do we learn where our faith should lie? Where do we learn who Christ is? So many people may say they are saved, but the Jesus they claim to follow is very different from the Jesus of the Bible. Our faith needs to be saving faith, and the only way to know whether what we believe is the right thing to believe is to go to scripture.
Understanding Theology, Volume One Introduction
a) Sola scriptura (the scriptures alone), with the emphasis on the Bible being the only basis of faith and practice.
this is why I think sometimes we have to be careful, and this may offend someone, but using simple tracts with a few verses on them, saying a prayer with someone, and then standing up at the next prayer meeting declaring you “Led someone to Christ” may not be the best way to evangelize. I like what the Gideons do when they do street witnessing. They open the bible to the verses they are using. Their authority is clearly the book. And they are willing to put that book in someone’s hands to let them read it for themselves. They aren’t afraid of offending and they do not shrink from the power of the Word.
And again, this is what is so important. Even without intending to, you could share the gospel in an incomplete way or even an inaccurate way. But if you point people to the scriptures, and encourage them to read for themselves, you will be better off.
Life comes from these words that are breathed out by God. And the disciples who stayed with Jesus understood that Jesus had the words of eternal life:
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”
After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,
God promises us that if we study and know his word, he will help us recall it when we need it:
When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
The context here is persecution. And I believe what Jesus said here was prophetic, he was promising help to those who found themselves persecuted for their faith. He would see to it that they would have supernatural recall and wisdom of speech. And it is my belief that this is exactly what happened with the great sermon Stephen gave in Acts 7 right before he was stoned. Do you think that Stephen knew nothing of the scriptures and the Holy Spirit just put words in his mouth, or did he know the Scripture so well, that when the time came and the need presented itself, that the Holy Spirit had a fertile field to work with in Stephen’s mind, since he had dedicated himself to knowing God’s word?
Again Jesus also told us that the Holy Spirit would both teach us (mostly through scripture) and bring to our remembrance things he said.
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 that I have said to you.
This is probably part of the inspiration. Jesus made sure that the gospels recorded true events about his ministry because the Holy Spirit was the helper who helped the disciples remember the teachings, and therefore they were able to write them down accurately. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to Jesus and helps the believer to have confidence in the gospel:
“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
Scripture was for public reading:
And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.
Scripture was to be obeyed:
If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
And anyone claiming to be a prophet had better be sure that his words are aligned with the scirptrures:
If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.
Finally, the Spirit not only teaches us, but interprets for us.
Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
Who better to interpret scripture for us than the Holy Spirit who inspired it? He is our best teacher. But we also have to be diligent in learning. No teacher can force their student to learn, and if we do not take an active role in studying scripture for ourselves, we will lose out on some important knowledge. So we study using tools we have. We let scripture interpret scripture, we learn about grammar and the cultures the Bible was first written to and we study it together. How do we know if these things are true? We seek the scripture to learn:
Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.
Inspiration
Inspiration