Articles
What is Your View of Scripture?
It might surprise you that not all Christian religions believe Scripture is the word of God.
Many differences among Christian churches are based upon the presupposition or denial of inspiration. Some groups argue the Scriptures are the actual words of God. Others say Scripture records "human attempts to repeat God's mighty acts by recounting them in human words and thoughts, according to human situations." Those holding this view believe, "The personal encounter of the believer with God is the only genuine revelation." (Walter A. Elwell) This view leads many religious groups to deny the inspiration by God of the Bible's propositional truths and doctrines.
Paul makes a bold claim about the source of Scripture. "All Scripture is breathed out by God " (2 Tim. 3:16). Moses made the same claim. "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” (Deut. 29:29 ESV)
The author of Hebrews said, "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son" (Heb. 1:1-2 ESV). How did God speak through the prophets? "No prophecy of scripture ever comes about by the prophet’s own imagination, for no prophecy was ever borne of human impulse; rather, men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God." (2 Pet. 1:20-21 NET).
Some deny inspiration, citing style differences between different writers. Critics fail to account for the power of a God who raises the dead. God can use a writer's ability while guiding their thoughts and words. Inspiration is Plenary, meaning that Scripture is God-breathed in all of its parts. Inspiration is Verbal, meaning that God's breathed Scripture consists of God-given words. He put it in human words so we could understand it (Eph. 3:5). Each book or letter is a creation of its author, but its content is God's. How this was accomplished is God's secret (Deut. 29:29).
What did Jesus and the Apostles think of Scripture? Jesus said the Old Testament is Scripture that "cannot be broken." (John 10:35). He said the Old Testament was God breathed when quoting the Psalms (Matt. 22:43-44). The apostles saw their writings as Scripture (1 Cor. 14:37-38; 2 Pet. 3:15-16). Paul said failing to recognize his writings as a "command of the Lord" was a reason to break fellowship (1 Cor. 14:38; 2 Thess. 3:6, 14). In the view of the Lord and the Apostles, "All Scripture is breathed out by God."
The view of Moses, Jesus, and the Apostles is Scriptures are God-breathed "and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16-17 ESV) In the words of Paul, “If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.” (1 Cor. 14:38 ESV)
