Part 2 - God The Auther
This next section has a large number of passages to look up. This is to help you to learn your way around the Bible. Look up each passage and make notes for your own refference.
God The Author Of The Bible
So far we have examined the Bible and its structure and learnt something of the writers of the various books.
It is important to understand that these men were only instruments writing under the direction of God himself. This is made clear by the following examples and references.
The Old Testament
Moses was spoken to by God. He wrote down what God said. God commanded the prophets to record His Word. If you turn over the pages of the books of the prophets you will find many chapters which begin, "Thus saith the Lord" or "The word of the Lord came unto me saying". Note particularly the opening words of Jeremiah and Ezekiel.
The prophets sometimes dictated to a scribe.
Read: Numbers 12 vs. 6-8; Genesis 1 vs. 1-5;Numbers 33 v 2; Isaiah 30 v 8; Jeremiah 30 v 2; Ezekiel 43 vs. 10-11; Jeremiah 1 vs. 1-9; Ezekiel 1 vs. 1-3; Jeremiah 36 vs. 1-4.
The News Testament
Jesus said that his message was from God who bore witness to its truth. Jesus imparted the Gospel message to Paul who recorded that this was so. Paul and other writers wrote the Word of God. Paul's letters were copied and passed to others to read. John wrote what he was commanded by Jesus to record.
Read: John 8 v 28; John 5 v 36; Galatians 1 vs. 6-12; Corinthians 14 v 37; 1 Thessalonians 2 v 13; 1 Peter 1 v 25; 1 Thessalonians 5 v 27; Revelation 1 vs. 1 and 11.
In spite of different times, occupations and writers, all the messages were received from god by the operation of the holy spirit. Thus the bible claims to be the word of god and declares a consistent message throughout.
Note how jesus regarded the old testament and quoted from it. Paul and the other writers did the same.
From all this evidence we can justly conclude that the bible is The word of god. We can rely on it. It is without error.
Read: 2 Peter 1 vs. 20-21; 2 Timothy 3 vs. 14-17; Matthew 4 vs. 3-4; Matthew 12 v 3; Matthew 19 v 4; Matthew 21 v 13; Matthew 22 v 29; Luke 24 v 25-27 & 44; Galatians 3 v 8; Ephesians 4 v 8;Acts 24 v 14; Acts 26 v 22; James 2 v 23; 1 Peter 1 v 16.
The Meaning Of "Inspiration"
The word "inspiration" in the passages you have looked at, means that God ~breathed~ into the writers. Look at 11 Peter 1 v 21 again. That is He put into their minds the thoughts that they were to write down. They "were moved" by the power of God.
An example of the power of God - The Holy Spirit - working in this way is found in the ease of Jeremiah.
He had an unpleasant message to declare and was ill-treated for his preaching.
He made up his mind to stop preaching but. . . . read Jeremiah 20 v 9.
Divine inspiration applies to ALL Scripture, including the historical and poetical books.
Read again 11 Timothy 3 v 15.
Because the Bible is GOD'S revelation to man, GOD is exalted and HIS word is magnified.
READ: Psalm 138 v2; Ephesians 4 vs.1-6;Isaiah 45 vs.5-7; Isaiah 46v9.
Man is abased and put in his right place in God's sight; READ what the following have to say:
- David - Psalm 51;
- Paul - 1 Timothy 1 v 15;
- Peter - Luke 22 vs. 54-62.
Note the complete agreement of teaching throughout the Bible.