"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete
thoroughly equipped for every good work."
2 Timothy 3:16, 17
Inspired By God
"Inspiration of God" is the rendering of the Latin, "divinitus inspirata." The Greek word, "theopneustos," literally means "God-breathed," as in the New International Version. "All Scripture is God-breathed...." In other words, the Scriptures in their entirety are the Word of God.
The Bible makes this claim for itself. In the first chapter of the first book of the Bible, Genesis, we repeatedly find the words, "Then God said...." The last chapter of the Bible ends with "He who testifies to these things says...." We read in Hebrews 1:1, 2 that "God, who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son...." A common phrase in the King James Version of the Bible is "Thus saith the Lord." It is found innumerable times throughout the pages of the Old Testament.
What the Scripture says, God says. For example, look at Galatians 3:8. "And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the nations by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, 'In you all the nations shall be blessed." Notice here that it is "the Scripture...saying." Now examine Genesis 12:3 and 18:18, where it is the Lord Himself who does the speaking. Another example is John 19:37. "And again another Scripture says, 'They shall look on Him whom they pierced.'" These words are part of a lengthy discourse by the Lord. Many other verses could be used to demonstrate this truth, that what the Scripture says, God said. See Mark 15:28; John 7:38, 42; Romans 4:3; 9:17; 10:11; 11:2; Galatians 4:30; 1 Timothy 5:18; James 2:23.
It is also true that what God says, the Scripture says. Read Romans 15:10. "And again He says: 'Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!'" If you look at Deuteronomy 32:43, you will find that God Himself did not say this. The words were spoken by Moses, which brings us to our second verse, and next point.
"For prophecy never came by the will of man,
but holy men of God spoke
as they were moved by the Holy Spirit."
2 Peter 1:21
Written By Men
The Scriptures were inspired by God, and written by men. According to Webster, "Inspiration is a divine influence upon human beings, as that resulting in the writing of the Scriptures." It has also been defined as the direct influence of God on the writers of the Bible by which, while they did not cease to be themselves, they were so moved, guarded, and guided by the Holy Spirit that their resulting productions constitute the written Word of God. From one perspective each biblical book is a distinctive literary work of its human author. Evidence of human authorship is obvious in stylistic features, historical outlook, cultural context, and so forth. However, from the theological viewpoint, its content is God's creation.
Although 2 Peter 1:21 deals specifically with spoken prophecy, Peter seems to have been using the action of the Spirit in the prophets to emphasize the divine origin of Scripture as a whole. Compare 2 Peter 1:3-25. It is also true that what was "spoken" was also written.
This second important verse also mentions that the writers were "moved by the Holy Spirit." What is "moved" is borne by the Mover, who is the Spirit of God. The holy men of God were moved by the Spirit's power to the Spirit's goal. That which was written "never came by the will of man."
One man that the Holy Spirit used was David. According to Mark 12:36, "For David himself said by the Holy Spirit...." Again in Acts 1:16, "The Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David...."
Old Testament Scriptures are also attributed to Moses. In Mark 7:10 we read, "For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother': and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.'" It's interesting what "Moses said" was also recorded. The two quotations in Mark 7:10 are found in Exodus 20:12 and 21:17. Other references to Mosaic authorship are Matthew 22:24; Mark 12:19; Luke 20:28; Acts 3:22; Romans 10:5, 19.
The prophet Isaiah is also identified in the New Testament as one of the holy men of God moved by the Spirit. See Matthew 15:7-9; Mark 7:6; John 1:23; 10:20, 21; Romans 9:27-29.
Read Romans 15:9-12. In verse 9 "it is written," and verse 10 "he says," and verse 12 "Isaiah says." What can we derive from this? Isaiah says = the Scriptures says = God says!
