Inexact by Inspiration

Do you believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God? Paul told Timothy, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16), and Peter told his readers, “no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 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 1:20, 21). Paul summed up the process of inspiration when he said, “Which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words (1 Corinthians 2:13 NASB). Not only does the Bible bear the marks of inspiration, but it also claims to be inspired.

If the Bible is indeed a document inspired by the Holy Spirit, then why at times did God choose to be inexact? For example, when the number of the disciples is given prior to Pentecost, the inspired writer Luke put their number at “about a hundred and twenty” (Acts 1:15). This number is so small that people confidently assert that there were one hundred and twenty, but Luke said “about.” Why didn’t God give Luke the exact number? This inexactness continues throughout Luke’s account. Luke numbers the disciples at Pentecost at “about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41); later, he numbers those who had heard and believed at “about five thousand” (Acts 4:4). After this, he leaves off numbering altogether.

Further, in the very book where Paul claims that the very words he is writing are inspired and are “the commandments of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 14:37), we find a record of those whom Paul baptized. Paul says, “I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius […] I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other” (1 Corinthians 1:14, 16). Couldn’t the Holy Spirit have led Paul to state the record exactly, rather than allowing him to depend on his memory?

Let’s ask another question. Do you believe that the Bible has all the information that we need in its pages to help us to go to heaven? Peter said that God’s divine power has given us “all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). Jesus promised, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31, 32). Note, the Bible does not claim it has given us all things – all the information we might wish to know (Deuteronomy 29:29) – but it does indeed claim that it has given us all things that pertain to matters of spiritual truth, life, and godliness.

So why did God inspire Luke and Paul to be inexact? The easy answer to this question would be that the exact number of the disciples at any given point of time recorded in the book of Acts or the exact number and the names of the people Paul baptized is not a matter that pertains to life and godliness. Let’s dig deeper though. Is it possible that more is being communicated by these omissions?

In the case of Paul, the very context states Paul feelings about baptizing in Corinth, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel” (1 Corinthians 1:17). As we consider this in the light of Paul’s other writings, this passage cannot be taken to mean that Paul viewed baptism itself as unimportant (Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:27; et al). Instead, it seems that Paul viewed administering baptism (i.e. personally performing someone’s baptism) and keeping track of the names and numbers of those whom he had baptized as unimportant. Paul knew his job was to preach the gospel. He knew that it had to be preached “in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2). He knew that God alone could give the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6). He therefore knew that while preaching was his business, baptism was a matter between his audience and their God.  

There is an alarming trend in the Lord’s church today of preachers, elderships, and leaders playing the numbers game. Ask some preachers, “How is the work going at _____________?” and invariably the response will be, “We’ve had ___________ baptisms this year.” Yes, numerical growth in the Lord’s church is something we should be happy about; heaven rejoices when one sinner repents (Luke 15:7, 10). Yes, the message that converted about three thousand souls on Pentecost is just as powerful today as it was then (Romans 1:16). However, there is a danger in believing that numerical growth is the mark by which God judges faithfulness and success. Ezekiel did a great work, but there is no indication that he had a single convert or restoration (Ezekiel 3:7-9).

Why wasn’t Luke exact in his record of the number of believers? Maybe it’s because the Holy Spirit wanted to give us a picture of the power of the gospel without influencing us towards being number oriented. Why didn’t Paul keep track of the names and numbers of his baptisms? Maybe it’s because he knew that preaching the gospel was the mark of his faithfulness, not how it was received (1 Corinthians 9:16).

When preachers, missionaries, and leaders/elders of the Lord’s church play the numbers game, more often than not lost souls lose rather than win. A missionary convinced that numbers is the mark of success will push for a baptism rather than teaching a person the cost of discipleship and encouraging him to count it (Luke 14:26-33). Often this results in people getting wet rather than being converted (Acts 3:19).

We should all want souls to be saved and as many souls as possible to be saved. We should not allow the Lord’s promise, “there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:14) salve our consciences in inactivity. We are debtors to proclaim the Gospel (Romans 1:14-16)! However, let’s take what may very well be a subtle hint from the inexactness of inspiration and remember that Christ sent us not to baptize but to preach the Gospel and to convert souls rather than play the numbers game.

-Patrick Swayne  
patrick@tftw.org