Inspiration

The phrase "is given by inspiration of God" (2 Tim. 3:16) is translated from one Greek word (theopneustos), which literally means "God-breathed." There are various views of inspiration, most of which are only partially true, which makes them false views of inspiration. The only view that harmonizes with reality has often been referred to as the "plenary verbal inspiration" view. Plenary is a Latin term meaning "full," or "complete." Verbal means to "the words," so that God did not merely inspire the thoughts, but inspiration extended to the very place of each word. This view states that through the superintending influence of the Holy Spirit on the writers of Scripture, the account and interpretation of God's revelation have been recorded exactly as God intended so that the Bible is actually the word of God. We may never know the exact "process" of inspiration (exactly how God did it). It is obvious from the contexts that God did not always dictate word for word what was to be written. God allowed each writer to use his own background, education, and writing style. However, we can know that the "product" of inspiration, the Bible, is truly the word of God.

Inerrancy

Because the words of the Bible are God's, we know that the Bible is totally inerrant. The Bible (in its original documents), properly interpreted in its historical cultural back-ground, is completely true in all that it affirms to the degree or precision intended by the writers, and it is incapable of error.

Despite the secular "scholars" who claim otherwise, there are no true contradictions in the Bible! There are passages which may appear to be contradictory, but when objectively examined, they are not. Inerrancy does not imply omniscience on the part of the human writers. They may not have even understood what they wrote (cf. 1 Pet. 1:10-12). Inerrancy does not demand absolute identity of parallel passages, nor does it demand the literal interpretation of everything written. We may not always know the exact meaning of a text, but we can at least find possible reasons for apparent contradictions.

Authority's "Chain Of Command"

When anyone today faithfully teaches Bible truth, he or she is teaching with the authority of God. This is the case because the Bible, when properly translated, is the very word of God-as if God himself was speaking (cf. Tit. 2:15)! How is this so? Consider these steps in God's authority "chain of command." First, all authority inheres in God as the creator of all things created (Gen. 1-2; Deut. 6:4; Jn. 1:1-3; Rom. 9:20; Col. 1:15-17). Second, all authority was given to Christ (Mt. 28:18). Jesus spoke with divine authority (Mt. 11:27; Jn. 7:16; 8:26; 12:49; 14:24), and he demonstrated divine authority (Mk. 4:39-41; Lk. 8:40-56; Jn. 5:36). Even his contemporaries recognized his authority (Mt. 7:28; Mk. 5:6-7). Third, authority was given to the apostles (Mt. 10:5-8; 18:18-20). They were his authorized representatives before his death (Mt. 10:4; Lk. 9:1-10). Jesus promised them the Holy Spirit after his death in order to guide them into all truth (Jn. 16:13) and to remind them of everything he taught while on earth (Jn. 14:26). The apostles claimed to speak with God's authority, and they supported their claim with irrefutable evidence (Acts 2:1-41; 3:6-10; 9:33-35; Rom. 1:11; 2 Cor. 12:12). Fourth, authority was given to New Testament prophets (Eph. 4:11-13 cf. Acts 21:9). Fifth, apostles and prophets have written the Scriptures (Rom. 16:25-27; 1 Cor. 14:37; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21).

Therefore, whenever one faithfully teaches what the Bible teaches, that person's teaching carries the weight of God's authority, as if God himself were speaking! Whether or not we recognize this, we will be judged by God's authoritative word (Jn. 12:48). Are we living in recognition that God's word is inerrant and authoritative?

Brian Kenyon