IS THE BIBLE THE WORD OF GOD?

by

Phillip Eichman, Ed.D.

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INTRODUCTION

Is the Bible purely the work of human hands or is it a product of divine activity?  This question is crucial in all considerations of the validity of information in the Bible.  If it is merely the work of some human writers, then we need be little concerned about the contents of the Bible.  It would be little more than any other book of moral stories.  If, on the other hand, the Bible is unique, and truly the words of God, then we must accept it as an authoritative guide in living our lives and serving God.
 

INSPIRATION AND REVELATION OF THE BIBLE

We often hear that the Bible is the "inspired Word of God."  What is inspiration and what does it mean to be inspired?  The Bible is also often referred to as God's "revelation" or his "revealed will."  What do these terms mean?  In this section we will briefly look at inspiration and revelation and see how they are related to understanding of the Bible as the Word of God.
 

I.  The meaning of inspiration

"Inspiration" and "inspired" are words often used in reference to the Bible.  What does it mean to say that the Bible is inspired or that we have received the Bible through the process of inspiration?

The original word is found only once in the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  This word was translated in the King James Version as "inspiration."  The Greek word, theopneustos, means literally "God-breathed" and is translated in this way in some versions, such as the New International Version. 

The Bible is full of figures or word pictures, and "breathing," "breath," or the "breath of God" are examples of such figures.  The "breath of God" is a common theme, for example, in the Old Testament (see Genesis 2:7; Psalms 33:6; and Job 33:4, for example) and is often used to describe some activity of God.

Although 2 Timothy 3:16-17 is the only place where the word translated as "inspiration" was used, the writers of the Bible unanimously agree that they were indeed speaking for God.  In the Old Testament alone there are more than 2400 references attributing the message to God.  The prophets especially are noted for this.  The word "prophet" literally means "one who speaks for God."  The prophets were literally God's spokesmen and communicated his will to others.

The writers of the New Testament also recognized that the Old Testament was from God and used them as the basis for much of their teaching (see Matthew 1:22; 2:43; and Acts 4:25).  The New Testament writers likewise recognized that they were also speaking for God.  Jesus, for example,  taught the Apostles that they would be guided by the Holy Spirit (see John 14:26 and 16:13).  Through this guidance by the Holy Spirit, these men subsequently wrote much of the New Testament, established the church, and served as its first leaders.
 

II.  The mode of inspiration

How did the writers of the Bible receive these words from God?  We are not actually told in the Bible itself.  Some believe that the writers were more or less a secretary and that God "dictated" every word  (sometimes called the "dictation theory").  Others feel that God guided the writers, but allowed freedom of expression.  Albert Lockyer, for example describes inspiration as follows:  "while the authors acted under the guidance and control of the Holy Spirit, yet they did not write to mere dictation, but were allowed to express God's words in the way most natural to themselves" ( All the Doctrines of the Bible, Grand Rapids:  Zondervan, 1964, p. 9).  This seems more reasonable, especially in light of different styles and vocabulary used by the writers.

M. R. Vincent commenting on 2 Timothy 3:16-17 stated:  "The word (theopneustos) tells us nothing of the peculiar character or limits of inspiration beyond the fact that, it proceeds from God" (Word Studies in the New Testament, Volume IV, Grand Rapids:  Eerdmans, 1966, p.  317).  A related verse in 2 Peter 1:2  simply states that "men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God."  Again, however, this tells us little about how this took place.  Frank Pack perhaps summarized the meaning of inspiration best when he wrote:  "Thus when Paul says, 'All Scripture is inspired of God,' he is asserting that all Scripture is an expression of God's Spirit, that God's Spirit is in the Scripture as my  breath and my spirit are in my words.  As my words reveal and communicate to you the thoughts of my mind, so the things of God are made known to men through the words of the God-inspired  Scriptures" ( "The Inspiration of the Scriptures" in Pillars of Faith, H. O. Wilson and M.M. Womack, eds., Grand Rapids:  Baker, 1973, p. 175). 
 

III.  The process of revelation

The Greek word (apocalupto) translated as "revelation" is found numerous times in the New Testament and means literally "to uncover or unveil."  Thus, revelation is the process which allowed persons to understand that which was previously hidden or unknown.   It is the process of divine communication of knowledge that could not be obtained in any other manner, or stated more simply, revelation is the process by which God makes his will known to human beings.

The actual details of how the writers of the Bible received this revelation was not given.  There are  references in the New Testament, however, to individuals who did receive a revelation from God (see Galatians 1:11-12; 2 Peter 1:21; and Revelation 1:1).

Unlike inspiration, which God ceased to use when the actual writing of his Word was completed, revelation is still at work today.  We can still receive information that has been revealed by God.  Most of this information is to be found in the Bible, but God has also revealed himself through other ways.
 

IV.  Types of revelation

There are basically two types of revelation from God:  general and specific.

General revelation is basic information which we receive through God's creative activities (see Psalms 19:1 and Romans 1:19-20).   In the physical universe we can see evidence of God's existence, his intelligence, and his creative power, for example.  This form of revelation, however, is limited to general information about God.  We cannot, for example, learn of God's love, grace, or how to worship, obey, or serve God through general revelation.  This information only comes through specific revelation.

God has made known, through specific revelation, things that we would otherwise be unable to know or understand.  This specific information has been revealed in various ways.  In the Old Testament God spoke directly to the Patriarchs, for example, and made his will known to them.  The Law of Moses is another example of specific revelation.  It contains specific rules and regulations concerning sacrifices, worship, civil laws, and other information which God communicated to his people.  Other specific information in Old Testament times came through the prophets, judges, and priests.

The New Testament, God's final revelation, is another example of specific revelation.  Within its pages we can read of the life of Jesus, establishment of the church, how to enter the church, how to worship, and other details concerning what God expects of his people today.

Perhaps the greatest revelation from God was his Son, Jesus, who came to earth in the form of a man (see John 1:1-5, 14 and 14:9).  In the person of Jesus we can know more of the nature of God than through all of the other revelations.  In him we see God as one of us.  Through his life and teachings we can know more clearly what God is truly like.
 

 V.  The extent of revelation

The extent of God's revelation can be described in the following ways:
 

 1. Revelation is limited. 

That is not to say that God is limited, but that he has limited his revelation to mankind.  Revelation is limited in the sense that we are often given only a bare sketch of the details.  There is much that we would like to know about various topics, but God has chosen not to reveal that to us.  The Bible, however, does contain enough information for us to learn how to obey God, live in a right relationship with him in this life, and live with him eternally in the next.
 

 2.  Revelation is progressive.

The Bible was written over a period of almost sixteen centuries.  It begins with creation and ends with visions of a new heaven and earth.  Through its pages God revealed to mankind his divine will.  This revelation is progressive.  It begins with general information and proceeds to the specific. 
 

 3.  Revelation is final.

Although some may claim otherwise, God's revelation is final, completed with the final book of the New Testament.  There are to be no more revelations from God (see Hebrews 1:1-3 and Jude 3).  God has completed the task of revealing his will to mankind, and everything that we need to know is found in the Scriptures.
 

 4.  Revelation is sufficient.

Even though we would often like to have more information, God has provided all that we really need. (see 2 Timothy 3:16-17).  The Bible contains all the information that is necessary for salvation and is sufficient for the needs of mankind.  Within the pages of the Bible we can read of God's love, how to live in a proper relationship with him and others, the forgiveness available through his Son, and how to live with him forever.
 

EVIDENCES OF INSPIRATION OF THE BIBLE

The Bible is not the only religious book in our world today.  There are numerous other religions, besides Judaism and Christianity, most of which have their own writings.  Some of these may make claims, or contain information similar to the Bible. Is the Bible different?  Is the Bible accurate?  Can we trust the Bible not only in religious matters, but also as it relates to scientific and historical information?  Must we simply accept the Bible in "blind faith," or can we have some reasonable basis for our beliefs?

If the Bible is the word of God, then we should be able to see evidence of its divine nature.  There should be something about the Bible that sets it apart from other such books.  A careful study of the Bible will reveal that there is indeed evidence to support this.  In this section a very brief outline of this evidence will be presented.  Those wanting more information may refer to the resources in the Selected Readings list.
 

I.  The claims of the Bible

The Bible clearly and emphatically claims to be a God-breathed, or inspired, message.  If this is so, the Bible cannot be dismissed as a book of moral stories for it claims to  have come from a divine being. Numerous examples from both the Old Testament and New Testament could be cited to show that the message in the Bible indeed claims to be from God.  Some of these are listed below (see Appendix 1) and the reader is encouraged to look up these references to see for yourself what the Bible says about its origins.
 

II.  The influence of the Bible

There have always been skeptics who criticize the Bible and Christianity in general.  However, a careful and unbiased study of history will reveal that the Bible has had a positive influence on mankind. Wherever the Bible has been used as a guide, civilization has been lifted to a higher level.  The Bible emphasizes characteristics which are universally accepted, such as honesty, truth, respect for others, compassion, and kindness.  Many of the problems which have occurred in the history of the world can be shown to be a result of failure to follow the Bible's teachings.
 

III.  The unusual style of the Bible

The style of the Bible is unique in literature.  One of the first things that a reader will notice is the brevity of the Bible.    The writers dealt with crucial and important issues in a brief, concise manner. Some examples include:
  1. The origin of the universe, earth, living things, and humans. (Genesis 1 and 2)
  2. Jesus baptism. (Matthew 3:13-17)
  3. The Transfiguration.  (Matthew 17:1-8)
  4. The execution of James, the first apostle to die. (Acts 12:2)
  5. The burial of Stephen, the first Christian to die for his faith. (Acts 8:2)
Another unusual style of the Bible is the impartiality of its writers.   Important characters in the Bible are sometimes described in a very frank, impartial, and at times embarrassing manner.  Some of these include:
  1. Noah planted a vineyard and became drunk with the wine.  (Genesis 9:18-27)
  2. Abraham's lies regarding his wife.  (Genesis 12:10-20; 20:1-18)
  3. David's behavior regarding Bathsheba.  (2 Samuel 11:1-27)
  4. Peter's denial of Jesus.  (Matthew 26:69-75)

IV.  The unity of the Bible

The Bible was written by about 40 persons over a period of 1600 years.   These persons were from different cultural and social backgrounds and spoke at least three different languages.  Skeptics have tried for centuries to find mistakes and contradictions in the Bible, but have not been successful.  The unity of the Bible itself would be enough to show that it would not be possible without any guidance from the Holy Spirit.
 

V.  Scientific and medical accuracy of the Bible

The Bible is not a medical or scientific book.  It is, however, accurate whenever these subjects are discussed.  The level of medical knowledge portrayed in the Old Testament is, for example, much greater than would be expected from a group of people such as the Israelites.  Some examples of medical or hygienic practices include the following: 
  1. Food restrictions for prevention of disease.
  2. Quarantine of diseased persons.
  3. Burial of wastes.
  4. Washing after contact with disease.
(See Leviticus 11-15 for details on these practices.)

The Bible  also contains some very interesting scientific information.  Some writers have carried this to extremes and one needs to be careful in this regard.  Examples of scientific information in the Bible include the following:

  1. Seed of the woman.  (Genesis 3:15)
  2. Necessity of blood for life.  (Leviticus 17:11)
 Both of these are mentioned in the Bible, yet neither of these were understood scientifically until recently.
 

VI.  Historical accuracy

Geography, place names, people, and historical events in the Bible have been found to be correct and accurate.  Many of these have been discovered by archaeologists in the last two centuries.  Some examples of these discoveries include:
 
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE SECULAR DISCOVERY
Sargon, king of Assyria (Isaiah 20:1) His palace was discovered in 1843 by Paul Botta.
King Mesha (2 Kings 3:4) He is mentioned in an inscription called the Moabite or Mesha Stone that was discovered in 1869.
Sennacharib, king of Assyria (2 Kings 18, 19; 2 Chronicles 32) A large prism was discovered which describes his exploits including the siege of Jerusalem and King Hezekiah.
Shalmaneser, king of Assyria (2 Kings 17:3-6) He left an obelisk describing his life which includes a carving of Jehu, king of Israel paying tribute.
Cyrus, king of Persia (2 Chronicles 36:22-23) Made a decree which allowed captive people to return to their homes.  A cylinder with an inscription of the decree is in the British Museum.

 

VII.  Prophecy and fulfillment

Prophecy and fulfillment is another strong indication that the Bible is no ordinary book.  The following table contains several examples of prophecies and their fulfillment, many of which can also be verified in secular history. 
 
 
SCRIPTURE PROPHECY FULFILLMENT
Amos 1:3-5  Damascus will be conquered Tiglath-Pileser  (732 BC)
Amos 1:6-8 Gaza, Ashdod, and Askelon will be destroyed Several different armies
Amos 1:9-10 Tyre will be destroyed by fire Sargon II (722 BC)
Amos 2:1-3 Moab will be burned and the judge removed Nebuchadnezzar (582 BC)
Amos 2:4-5 Jerusalem will be destroyed Nebuchadnezzar (586 BC)
Amos 3:12-15; Micah 1:6 Samaria will be destroyed Sargon II (722 BC)
Micah 5:2 The Messiah will be born in Bethlehem Luke 2
Zechariah 9:9 A king shall come to Jerusalem Matthew 21:4-5
Malachi 4:5 Elijah will come again  Matthew 11:14; Mark 9:11-12

(Table compiled from Protestant Christian Evidences by Bernard Ramm, Moody Press, 1953, pp.  81-124.)
 

VIII.  Other facts about the Bible

The circulation of the Bible through history exceeds that of any other book.  The Bible is, for example:
  1. The most published book in the world.
  2. The first significant book to be translated into another language (the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Old Testament.).
  3. The first printed book.
  4. The most printed book in history.
The Bible is also the most translated of any book.  It has been translated into more languages than any other book in history.  The  survival of the Bible through time is also unique for any written document.  There are more copies and older copies of the Bible than any other book that has ever been written.  Finally, as literature, the Bible is unique.  It clearly stands apart from all other works of literature.  Some of these unique features include the following:
  1. The Bible contains material that is unsurpassed in literature.  (See for example:  the creation account, Psalms, the Beatitudes, and the Parables).
  2. The scope of the Bible.  It begins in Genesis and moves through the history of Israel, Jesus' life, beginning of the church, and ends with the final events of human history.
  3. The Bible is based on actual, historical events, many of which have been verified in secular history.
  4. The Bible deals with subjects which are important to our existence such as, life and death, marital and family relationships, and others.
  5. The Bible lacks extremes which are common in other religious writings.
  6. The Bible emphasizes positive, true, and morally good behavior.

IX.  Conclusion

The Bible is clearly different from all other books, religious or otherwise.  Its claims are supported by evidence and the evidence is that the Bible is the Word of God.  It contains the revealed words of God passed to the authors through inspiration and contains the information needed for us to live for God now and with him for eternity.

Only a very brief discussion of these topics has been given here.  Anyone wanting  more detailed information is encouraged to go to one of the books in the Selected Readings list.
 

SELECTED READINGS 

Barnett, Paul, Is the New Testament Reliable?, Downers Grove, IL:  InterVarsity Press, 1986.

Bruce, F. F., New Testament Documents:  Are They Reliable?, Downers Grove, IL:  InterVarsity Press, 1974.

McDowell, Josh, Evidence That Demands a Verdict, Nashville, TN:  Thomas Nelson, 1999.
 
 

APPENDIX 1.  Selected passages referring to the inspired nature of the Bible.

Exodus  4:10-16; 31:18; 32:15-16; 34:1

Numbers 22:28-38; 23:12, 16, 23-26

1 Samuel 10:9-12

2 Samuel 12:7-9; 23:1-2

Psalms 19:7-11; 119:9, 89, 97-105

Isaiah 1:10-18; 30:8-15; 55:6-11

Jeremiah 1:4-9; 23:16-22, 28-31, 36; 26:2,8; 36:4-8, 14-19, 20-25, 27-30 

Ezekiel 3:4-11; 11:1,5

Daniel 2:19-23, 26-28

Amos 3:1, 7-8; 7:12-16

Micah 3:8-12

Matthew 1:22; 2:4-6; 4:4,7,10; 5:18; 15:1-9; 22:29-32,42-45

Luke 16:29-31; 24:25-27, 44-45 

John 5:38-40, 45-47; 6:63; 7:16-17; 8:26, 28, 31-32, 40, 47; 10:35; 12:47-48; 16:13-14; 17:8, 17, 20 

Acts 1:16; 4:25; 13:17-22, 29-30, 38-39; 20:32-35; 24:14

Romans 3:2; 9:17 

1 Corinthians 2:13; 14:37

2 Corinthians 13:8 

Galatians 1:8-12; 3:16

Ephesians 1:13 

1 Thessalonians 2:13

1 Timothy  4:1,16

2 Timothy 2:15,25; 3:7, 15-17; 4:2-4

Titus 1:9, 14

Hebrews 1:1, 6-8; 4:4; 5:12; 10:15

James 1:18-22

1 Peter 1:10-12

2 Peter 1:19-21; 3:15-16

1 John 4:6; 5:10-11

2 John 1-10

Jude 3

Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22; 22:18-19 
 
 

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