What does it mean that the Bible is inspired? | GotQuestions.org

Today's question is, what does it mean that the Bible is inspired? In this video

I'll answer that question from a biblical perspective. Then afterwards, as always, I'll share some helpful resources, so stick around until the end.

When people speak of the Bible as inspired, they are referring to the fact that God divinely influenced the human authors of the

Scriptures in such a way that what they wrote was the very Word of God.

In the context of the Scriptures, the word inspiration simply means

God -breathed. Inspiration means the Bible truly is the Word of God and makes the

Bible unique among all other books. While there are different views as to the extent to which the

Bible is inspired, there can be no doubt that the Bible itself claims that every word in every part of the

Bible comes from God. 1 Corinthians 2, verses 12 -13. This view of the

Scriptures is often referred to as verbal plenary inspiration. That means the inspiration extends to the very words themselves, verbal, not just concepts or ideas, and that the inspiration extends to all parts of Scripture and all subject matters of Scripture, plenary.

Some people believe only parts of the Bible are inspired, or only the thoughts or concepts that deal with religion are inspired.

But these views of inspiration fall short of the Bible's claims about itself. Full verbal plenary inspiration is an essential characteristic of the

Word of God. The extent of inspiration can be clearly seen in 2 Timothy 3, verse 16.

All Scripture is God -breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

This verse tells us that God inspired all Scripture and that it is profitable to us.

It is not just the parts of the Bible that deal with religious doctrines that are inspired, but each and every word, from Genesis to Revelation.

Because it is inspired by God, the Scriptures are therefore authoritative when it comes to establishing doctrine, and sufficient for teaching man how to be in a right relationship with God.

The Bible claims not only to be inspired by God but also to have the supernatural ability to change us and make us complete.

What more can we need? Another verse that deals with the inspiration of the Scriptures is 2

Peter 1, verse 21. This verse helps us to understand that even though God used men with their distinctive personalities and writing styles,

God divinely inspired the very words they wrote. Jesus Himself confirmed the verbal plenary inspiration of the

Scriptures when He said, "...do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.

I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the law."

—Matthew 5, verses 17 -18. In these verses, Jesus is reinforcing the accuracy of the

Scriptures down to the smallest detail and the slightest punctuation mark, because it is the very

Word of God. Because the Scriptures are the inspired Word of God, we can conclude that they are also inerrant and authoritative.

A correct view of God will lead us to a correct view of His Word. Because God is all -powerful, all -knowing, and completely perfect,

His Word will by its very nature have the same characteristics. The same verses that establish the inspiration of the

Scriptures also establish that it is both inerrant and authoritative. Without a doubt, the

Bible is what it claims to be—the undeniable, authoritative Word of God to humanity.

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