Modernist teachers reject such a view. They foolishly claim that ver bal inspiration is synonymous with mechanical dictation. How can we know God’s thoughts if we don’t have His words? It is illogical for a person to expect he can find inspira tion in one’s thoughts without the words of the person who thinks those thoughts. How can we consider in spiration to be a collection of unin spired words which would ever con vey inspired thoughts? As a profess ing Christian, how could anyone think it incredible that God should so speak? The Bible itself claims to be the Word of God. I’m not suggesting that there’s no disclosure from God apart from the Bible. It’s not necessary to use words to impart revelation. “The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth His handiwork” (Psa. 19:1). Such a primary disclos ure of God in His works falls far short of the knowledge we receive through the fuller revelation in God’s words. The former discloses His pow er while the latter reaches beyond to the revelation of His purpose and future plans. The Bible is not mere ly a work of God; the Bible is the record of the words of God. Let’s look at a few verses: “I will raise them up a prophet. . . and will put my words in his mouth” (Deut. 18:18). Moses wrote, “And God spake all these words.” Again in Exo dus 35:1, “These are the words which the Lord hast commanded.” It was David who penned under sacred guidance, “The spirit of the Lord spake by me and his word [not his thought] was in my tongue” (II Sam. 23:2). Jeremiah was assured by Joseph, “Behold, I have put my words, [not thoughts], in thy mouth” (Jer. 1:9). Inspiration extends to the very words of Scripture. I am not sug gesting that God dictated every word, but rather that He guided the writers in the choice of their words.
ture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for re proof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” The word inspira tion appears only twice in the Eng lish Bible. The earlier reference is Job 32:8. The five words, “given by inspiration of God” are the transla tion of one Greek compound term meaning “God-breathed.” It is found only here in the New Testament and is designed to make the reader aware of the fact that every writing to which the name Scripture can be giv en, actually was breathed out by God. Consequently it has the stamp of di vine' origin and authority. Metaphor ically, th e scriptures a re God’s breath. Modern theories of inspira tion would have us give the larger role to man and the lesser role to God. But, you may be absolutely cer tain that all Scripture is the product of the divine breath of the Almighty. We assert with firmness and finality that this greatest of all books owes its very existence to the direct crea tive work of the Lord Himself (Matt. 4:4). On one occasion Christ said to the Jews, “The Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). He was tell ing us that the Word of God cannot be fragmentized. It can never be an nulled or set aside. Unless all Scrip ture is inspired, none of it can be. The Bible claims for itself, and rightly so, total inspiration. Not only was Scripture “God-breathed,” but also the very Creation came into being the same way (Psa. 33:6; Gen. 2:4; Job 33:4). Let us lay hold of this fact; it will help and strengthen us as we move along in our daily living. P art II W hen we consider the magnitude of scriptural inspiration, it is impossible to hold too high a view. The inspiration of the Bible extends to the very words themselves, which is what the Word of God teaches. 4
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