Paul wrote to Timothy: “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 perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17, KJV). The Bible is the plenary, verbally inspired, infallible Word of God. What do these words mean? The word “inspired” means the Bible came from God, not man. The word “infallible” means the Bible cannot teach error. The word “plenary” means all parts of the Scriptures are inspired. The word “verbal” means the very words (not just the thoughts) were given by God to the writers.
The Bible came either from God or else from man. Peter wrote: “knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of private interpretation. For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20-21).
People of every age have agreed the Bible is the Word of God. Paul plainly said that the words he spoke and wrote were the commandments of God: “If any man thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of the things which I write unto you, that they are the commandment of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 14:37). He wrote to the Thessalonians: “And for this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received from us the word of the message, even the word of God, ye accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also worketh in you that believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13). Paul also wrote to the church at Ephesus that “...by revelation was made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote before in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ” (Ephesians 3:3-4).
Our Lord Jesus Christ also testified that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. He believed the Old Testament came from God: “And he said unto them, These are my words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me” (Luke 24:44). Even before the New Testament was written, Jesus said its message would be from God. He told His apostles: “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come” (John 16:13).
Some people think the Bible is inspired in the same way that poetry is said to be inspired. They think the Bible writers were men of genius like Shakespeare or Confucius. If this is the case, then the Bible is just an ordinary book. But this is not the case! God not only gave the thoughts to the men who wrote the Bible, He also gave the words by which they expressed the thoughts: “Then Jehovah put forth his hand, and touched my mouth; and Jehovah said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth” (Jeremiah 1:9).
“Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt speak” (Exodus 4:12).
“The Spirit of Jehovah spake by me, And his word was upon my tongue” (2 Samuel 23:2). “And if any man obeyeth not our word by this epistle, note that man, that ye have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed” (2 Thessalonians 3:14).
Because the very words of the Bible are inspired, Paul was able to make an argument based on the singular (Seed) and the plural (seeds): “Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ” (Galatians 3:16).
We must not add to, take away from, or change the Word of God in any way (Deuteronomy 4:2: Galatians 1:6-9; Revelation 22:18-19). When the Hebrew words in which the Old Testament was first written, and the Greek words in which the New Testament was first written, are translated correctly, we have the Word of God in the language into which the translation has been made.
The Bible is God’s inspired Book, which provides for all our spiritual needs: “seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3). The Bible is also the Book by which we will be judged at the Last Day. Jesus said: “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).
The Bible came either from God or else from man. Peter wrote: “knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of private interpretation. For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20-21).
People of every age have agreed the Bible is the Word of God. Paul plainly said that the words he spoke and wrote were the commandments of God: “If any man thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of the things which I write unto you, that they are the commandment of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 14:37). He wrote to the Thessalonians: “And for this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received from us the word of the message, even the word of God, ye accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also worketh in you that believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13). Paul also wrote to the church at Ephesus that “...by revelation was made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote before in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ” (Ephesians 3:3-4).
Our Lord Jesus Christ also testified that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. He believed the Old Testament came from God: “And he said unto them, These are my words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me” (Luke 24:44). Even before the New Testament was written, Jesus said its message would be from God. He told His apostles: “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come” (John 16:13).
Some people think the Bible is inspired in the same way that poetry is said to be inspired. They think the Bible writers were men of genius like Shakespeare or Confucius. If this is the case, then the Bible is just an ordinary book. But this is not the case! God not only gave the thoughts to the men who wrote the Bible, He also gave the words by which they expressed the thoughts: “Then Jehovah put forth his hand, and touched my mouth; and Jehovah said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth” (Jeremiah 1:9).
“Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt speak” (Exodus 4:12).
“The Spirit of Jehovah spake by me, And his word was upon my tongue” (2 Samuel 23:2). “And if any man obeyeth not our word by this epistle, note that man, that ye have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed” (2 Thessalonians 3:14).
Because the very words of the Bible are inspired, Paul was able to make an argument based on the singular (Seed) and the plural (seeds): “Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ” (Galatians 3:16).
We must not add to, take away from, or change the Word of God in any way (Deuteronomy 4:2: Galatians 1:6-9; Revelation 22:18-19). When the Hebrew words in which the Old Testament was first written, and the Greek words in which the New Testament was first written, are translated correctly, we have the Word of God in the language into which the translation has been made.
The Bible is God’s inspired Book, which provides for all our spiritual needs: “seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3). The Bible is also the Book by which we will be judged at the Last Day. Jesus said: “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).