The Bible is Inspired

2 Timothy 3:15-17 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which can make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. In verse 16’s text Given by inspiration of God translates the Greek word theopneustos, which literally means “God-Breathed.” This is Scripture’s most important statement about itself, meaning that Scripture is the product of God’s creative breath. Therefore, being God’s own utterance, it is properly called “the Word of God.” Here Paul only states the fact of inspiration without its process. Elsewhere he elaborates on the Holy Spirit’s role in the production of the written Word (1 Cor. 2.9-15; see also 2 Pet. 1:21) In our walk of faith, we must believe absolutely in the divine inspiration of the Scriptures. Therefore, the person of faith has a very high view of the Bible and is courageously able to face opposition unmoved. We are to revere God’s Word very highly. Recognize its fully divine source of inspiration and submit to it absolutely. The absolute authority of the Bible over our lives is based on our conviction that this Book does not merely contain the Word of God, but that it is the Word of God in its sum and in its parts. This text testifies to this, describing the actual process of this inspiration (inbreathing of life):

1.            It is the word of the Holy Spirit. Theopneustos (Greek), translated as “inspiration” of God, literally means “God-Breathed.” This describes the source of the whole Bible’s derivation (That is, all scripture) as transcendent of human inspiration. The Bible is not the product of elevated human consciousness or enlightened human intellect but is directly breathed from God Himself

2.            2 Peter 1:20, 21 elaborates this truth and adds that none of what was given was merely the private opinion of the writer (v.20) and that each writer involved in the production of the Holy Scriptures was “moved by” (literally, being borne along) the Holy Spirit. This does not mean that the writers were merely robots, seized upon by God’s power to write automatically without their conscious participation. God does not override those gifts of intellect and sensitivity that He has given His creatures.

3.            1 Cor. 2:10-13 expands on this process by which the revelation of the Holy Scriptures was given. V.13 says that even the words used in the giving of the Bible (not just the ideas, but the precise terminology) were planned by the Holy Spirit, who deployed the respective authors of the Bible books to write, “comparing spiritual things with spiritual, (literally, matching spiritual words to spiritual ideas). This biblical view of the Bible’s derivation is called the plenary verbal inspiration of the Scriptures, meaning every word is inspired by the Holy Spirit of God

1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this reason, we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

The concept of “without ceasing” is crucial to understand, we are to thank God without ceasing and to also pray without ceasing, 1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray without ceasing, three simple words. But, it is indeed possible to pray non-stop. We cultivate a habitually devotional spirit, keeping our hearts attuned to the transcendent. The Greek for without ceasing is adialeptos, which doesn’t mean non-stop but means constantly recurring prayer. You know intuitively that it is possible to love without ceasing. Adoration for God can enable you to be continuously aware of His presence, creating a desire to punctuate your days, hours, and minutes with the communion and fellowship of prayer. This adoration can transform sporadic and stammering prayers into a constant and characteristic attitude of reverence and dependence on God. It is possible to keep your mind consciously in God’s presence. Psalm 34:1 I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You Because he trusts in You.

Let us dig a little deeper into the word effectively from 1 Thessalonians 2:13, Strong’s #1754: One of the four big energy words: energeo, energe, energeia and energema. The words all stem from en, “in” and ergon, “word,” and have to do with the active operation or working of power and its effectual results.

In closing and continuing with how our walk of faith should be, the walk of faith is expectant and hopeful. By faith, we pray and expect to see God move through His Church today with signs, wonders, and miracles. By faith, we embrace biblical preaching with expectant hope that through His Word, God will change us increasingly into His image. By faith, we expectantly look forward to the return of our Lord Jesus, in whom all our hope is placed. We must believe that the gospel message is from God and not from mere human reasoning. Know that when you receive biblical preaching, it can powerfully effect change in your life. Rom 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. It can also be stated this way, Consequently, faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the preached word. 2 Peter 1:21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.