The Bible - a work of inspirationThe Bible - a work of inspiration

“Search the scriptures...” (John 5v39)

Why do we Why do we state state that...that...Why do we Why do we state state that...that...

““The Bible - [is] a work of inspiration”The Bible - [is] a work of inspiration”

““All scripture is given All scripture is given by inspiration...”by inspiration...”

(2 Timothy 3v16)

An investigationAn investigationAn investigationAn investigation

The StartThe Start. The Bible claims to be a work of inspiration

Some QuestionsSome Questions. Is the whole Bible inspired? Who inspired it? For what purpose? How was it inspired? What does it mean to be inspired? What was man’s role in this?

Some ProofSome Proof. The Bible says it is a work of inspiration, with an astounding source. What proof is there of this?

Some Final QuestionsSome Final Questions. So where exactly does all of this lead me? What do I do next?

The Bible’s claim - Quote 1The Bible’s claim - Quote 1The Bible’s claim - Quote 1The Bible’s claim - Quote 1

“But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned

them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy holy scripturesscriptures, which are able to make thee wiseable to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus…”

“…All scriptureAll scripture is given by inspiration of Godby inspiration of God, and is is profitableprofitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for

instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

(2 Timothy 3v14-17)

Quote 1 - key pointsQuote 1 - key pointsQuote 1 - key pointsQuote 1 - key points

“All scripture”

“is given by inspiration”

“of God” “and is profitable…”

Q. For what purpose? A. A profitable oneQ. Who inspired it? A. GodStatement. The Bible - a work of inspirationQ. Is the whole Bible inspired? A. Yes, OT & NT

Greek Lexicon (qeo/pneusto$)

• theopneustos; from theos (‘a deity’) and a presumed derivative of pneo (‘to breathe hard’); hence, divinely breathed in

• KJV translation “given by inspiration of God”

Q. So what exactly is “inspiration”?Q. So what exactly is “inspiration”?Q. So what exactly is “inspiration”?Q. So what exactly is “inspiration”?

Oxford English Dictionary (Inspiration/Inspire)Oxford English Dictionary (Inspiration/Inspire)

Inspiration “a supposed creative force or influence on poets, artists, musicians, etc., stimulating the production of works of art” “a similar

divine influence supposed to have led to the writing of Scripture”

Inspire “stimulate… (a person) to esp. creative activity, esp. by supposed divine or supernatural activity”

The Bible’s claim - Quote 2The Bible’s claim - Quote 2The Bible’s claim - Quote 2The Bible’s claim - Quote 2

“We have also a more sure word of prophecya more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heedtake heed, [as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise] in in

your heartsyour hearts:…”

“...Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretationprivate interpretation. For the prophecy came not in

old time by the will of manwill of man: but holy men of God spakeholy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghostmoved by the Holy Ghost.”

(2 Peter 1v19-21)

“no prophecy… of any private

interpretation”

Quote 2 - key pointsQuote 2 - key pointsQuote 2 - key pointsQuote 2 - key points

“more sure word”

“not… by... will of man”

“holy men of God… moved…

by... Holy Spirit”

Statement. Since it is inspired by God it is sureQ. Does the Bible contain Man’s own ideas? A. NoQ. Did Man cause the Bible to come into existence? A. No - God’s power working through Man did

Putting the jigsaw pieces togetherPutting the jigsaw pieces togetherPutting the jigsaw pieces togetherPutting the jigsaw pieces together

God is the Bible’s

author and originator

He worked through

men, word is God-breathed

By the Holy Spirit - which is God’s power, set apart

for a special reason

God

Bible

Man

Spirit

So what do the Bible’s claims mean?So what do the Bible’s claims mean?So what do the Bible’s claims mean?So what do the Bible’s claims mean?

If inspired by God alone, the world’s Creator, what characteristics might we expect of the Bible?

accurate

authoritative

unified

remarkable

incomparable

revealing

The need for a lively mindThe need for a lively mindThe need for a lively mindThe need for a lively mind

“And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the

synagogue of the Jews. These were more noblemore noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all they received the word with all

readiness of mindreadiness of mind, and searched the scriptures dailysearched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so…”

“Therefore many of them believedTherefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.”

(Acts 17:10-12)

The ‘Five’ proofs The ‘Five’ proofs (or prompters)(or prompters)The ‘Five’ proofs The ‘Five’ proofs (or prompters)(or prompters)

1. Its characteristics and impact

2. Its historical accuracy

3. Its prophetic accuracy

5. The ring of truth

4. Its witnesses, the Jews

No. 1 - Its characteristics and impactNo. 1 - Its characteristics and impactNo. 1 - Its characteristics and impactNo. 1 - Its characteristics and impact

2.1 billion2.1 billion copiescopies sold 1815 to 1975

Completely translated into 349 languages349 languages(partly in c.2000)

Has had more impactimpact on today’s society than any other single influence

Laws

Language

Beliefs

66 books66 books, written over >1,600>1,600 years, yet it is consistent

and unified

No. 2 - Its historical accuracyNo. 2 - Its historical accuracyNo. 2 - Its historical accuracyNo. 2 - Its historical accuracy

We said, a moment ago, that if it was inspired by God we would expect the Bible to be accurate...

• 10,000 bricks in one building - each naming ‘Nebuchadnezzar’

• Tablet uncovered in 1961 - bearing name ‘Pontius Pilate’

No. 3 - Its prophetic accuracyNo. 3 - Its prophetic accuracyNo. 3 - Its prophetic accuracyNo. 3 - Its prophetic accuracy

No human being can predict, with 100% accuracy, the future… the Bible does… (Deuteronomy 18v21-22)

“Therefore shall ZionZion for your sake be plowed as a fieldplowed as a field, and JerusalemJerusalem shall become heapsbecome heaps, and the mountain of

the house as the high places of the forest.”(Micah 3:12)

Maimonides, Jewish rabbi, Tract. Taanith, c. 4, says, “On that ninth day of the month Ab, fatal for vengeance, the wicked

Turnus Rufus [General of Caesar Titus], of the children of Edom, plowed up the temple, and the places round plowed up the temple, and the places round

about itabout it...”

No. 4 - Its witnesses, the JewsNo. 4 - Its witnesses, the JewsNo. 4 - Its witnesses, the JewsNo. 4 - Its witnesses, the JewsGod said to Israel:

““Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen…”and my servant whom I have chosen…”

(Isaiah 43:10)

• A ‘miracle’ nation of the 20th/21st century

• Not a nation for over 1800 years, then reformed as foretold

• Survived their scattering, retaining their identity

• Survived Holocaust (c. 6 million Jews exterminated)

• Successful in 6 Arab wars 1948-2001, against all odds

• The most prosperous nation in the Middle-East

No. 5 - The ring of truthNo. 5 - The ring of truthNo. 5 - The ring of truthNo. 5 - The ring of truth

The Bible’s frank and candid narrative does not have the air of fiction… but the ring of truth...

What the Jews recorded about themselves.

(For example: Exodus 15:21-24)

Ecclesiastes 1v7 Job 38v14

Where does this leave you?Where does this leave you?Where does this leave you?Where does this leave you?

Accept wholeheartedly

Accept partially Do not accept

Need to find out what to do next

Need to find out more, to come to

conclusions

Need to think, could the Bible

have been written by a human being?

““Search the scriptures…” (John 5v39) Search the scriptures…” (John 5v39)

The Bible does not ask you to The Bible does not ask you to dispense with reason… instead dispense with reason… instead

it contains an appeal to it contains an appeal to reason...reason...