Inspiration
The Scriptural view of inspiration reveals that in relation to
the Bible the Words are inspired.
A recent theory based on human reasoning contends that the
writers of Scripture were inspired and only the manuscripts which
they penned were inspired. The principal inspiration was upon the
writers and the writings received a secondary inspira-tion which
passed away or ex-pired when copies were made. Thus ascribing all
inspiration upon men and no initial inspiration of the writers
all is left up to scholarly men.
This is French Deism ap-plied to inspiration. They say in essence
that God introduced Scripture and left it to men to preserve it.
Hence the hoards of Greek scholars crying, "We have no
inspiration today."
"By the inspiration of the Scriptures, we mean that special
divine influence upon the minds of the
Scripture writers in virtue of which their productions, apart
from errors of transcription and when
rightly interpreted, together constitute an infallible rule of
faith and practice." (Christian Theology p.
352, 1949 edition)
Following is the BJU position and also the position of
practically every other self appointed Bible
teaching institution in America.
"Because we believe in the inspiration of the original
manuscripts of the Old and New Testament, it is important that we
be as close to the readings of the originals as possible. Through
the carelessness of scribes who copied manuscripts, many varying
readings have crept into them." (Position of the Bible
Department of BJU on the Scripture).
The whole problem stems from a misunderstanding of what
inspiration is. There are scores of Bible
college and seminary professors teaching about inspiration who do
not know what they are talking about.
Let's look now at the Bible teaching on inspiration. The word
inspiration appears only two times in the Bible.
1. Job 32:8 - "But there is a spirit in man: and the
inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding."
2. II Timothy 3:16 - "All scripture is given by inspiration
of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteous-ness."
According to Webster's English dictionary - To expire is "To
die, that is to draw ones last breath." To inspire is
"To infuse life into by breathing."
Our scholarly friends gener-ally agree that inspiration means
"God breathed."
Adam was inspired - "And the LORD God formed man of the dust
of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life;
and man became a living soul." Genesis 2:7
God inspired Adam and he became alive. When God formed him of the
dust of the ground he was all made. He looked the same, but until
he was inspired he was dead.
God's Words are inspired - "For the word of God is quick,
and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even
to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and
marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the
heart." Hebrews 4:12
"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of
incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for
ever." I Peter 1:23
Those who believe that inspiration passed away with the writers
and original autographs believe that the Word of God expired.
They profess to be teaching a dead book.
Job 32:8 says - "But there is a spirit in man: and the
inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding."
Here the new birth is taught in the Old Testament. Nicode-mus
should have known about being born again. The Lord reprimanded
this "ruler of the Jews" for not knowing - "Jesus
answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and
knowest not these things?" John 3:10
You see, man is spiritually dead because Adam's sin (Romans
5:12). He is born that way. He can't
understand spiritual things.
"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit
of God: for they are foolishness unto him:
neither can he know them, because they are spiritually
discerned." I Corinthians 2:14
The only way he can understand is to be born again, to be made
spiritually alive. That is to be
"inspired."
Those who believe they have an expired Bible need to read Matthew
24:35- "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall
not pass away."
Now the vast majority of those who believe in an inspired Bible
are Westcott and Hort followers. Theirs is a dead book! It didn't
expire. It was never alive.
The Textus Receptus is God's inspired Word in Greek. God's
inspired Word in English is the King
James Version.
One recent advocate of an expired Bible said, "Oh, you
believe the King James Version was inspired in 1611."
BJU claims we believe in second inspiration and in-spired
translators. That is not so. I believe God's Words were inspired
when He gave them and they have been alive ever since. He used
men as instruments to pen down his words -
"For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man:
but holy men of God spake as they were
moved by the Holy Ghost." II Peter 1:21
He also uses men to translate His inspired Words. Inspiration in
relation to the Scriptures is upon the Words, not writers or
translators.
"The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a
furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this
generation for ever." Psalm 12:6-7
by Raymond Blayton