INSPIRATION

     "Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable....that the
man of God may be complete" (2 Tim. 3:16). The phrase "inspired of
God" comes from a Greek word, theopneustos -- theo (God) and pneustos
(breathed), hence, the scriptures are God-breathed. Whatever is "in-
spired of God" comes from the mouth of God; it is the very word of
God. Inspiration refers to the process in which God uses a human
being to convey His words to other men either by speaking or writing.
God himself provides the words to be used by such men. See Matthew
10:19,20. Note 2 Pet. 1:21. Inspiration results in an infallible,
inerrant record of the words of God.
     Inspiration may be distinct from revelation. Revelation refers
to a disclosure of divine truth. Revelation does not necessarily
carry with it Divine guidance to communicate the new truth to others.
Pharaoh received a revelation from God in a dream, but he was not
inspired. Cornelius (Acts 10) received certain revelations from God
without being inspired.
     Also, inspiration does not always require revelation. Luke in
writing the book of Acts wrote of things he had experienced
personally. Knowledge of these events was no revelation to him. But,
Luke was inspired to write an infallible record.
     Usually, revelation accompanies inspiration. Both are included
in 1 Cor. 2:6-13; verses 6-12 show that men cannot learn spiritual
truth without God's guidance, thus the need for revelation; verse 13
points to the Divine aid by which the apostles told others of this
revelation.                                 (Earle H. West)

     The Bible claims inspiration for itself. "The word of God" (Eph.
6:17), "wisdom of God" (Lk. 11:49), "word of truth" (James 1:18),
"word of his grace" (Acts 20:32), "the oracles of God" (1 Peter
4:11), "the writing of God" (Ex. 32:16).
     Jehovah spoke to such men as Moses (Num. 5:1; 14:10), Joshua
(Joshua 3:7; 5:9), Jacob (Gen. 35:15), David (1 Kings 6:12; 2 Sam.
23:2).
     The prophets affirm that God spoke through and to them. (Isa.
1:2; Jonah 1:1; Haggai 1:1; Zech. 4:8; 2 Peter 1:21).
     In Exodus (40 chapters) it is stated 161 times that "God spake
these words.
     Forty-eight percent of Exodus is an account of what God spoke
directly.
     Jesus claimed authority for the Old Testament by quoting from it
often. (John 10:35; Luke 11:49).
     Christ promised to endow the apostles with divine power.
Revelation was to be made through them. (Matt. 10:19-21; John 14:26;
15:26; 16:13).
     The apostles often claimed that the truths they taught were
divine revelations. (1 Cor. 2:13; 14:37; Gal. 1:12; 1 Peter 1:11-12;
2 Peter 3:2; Rev. 22:16).
     The Bible is either the Word of God, or else it is an evil book
of errors; thus, a lie. There is no middle ground. Its claims of
inspiration must be examined in all fairness before one can
successfully cast it aside as a fraud. The Bible's very presence in
the world must be accounted for. It has survived every attack made by
its critics: for it is indeed, The Inspired Word of God!!


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