Synopsis: The Divine Inspiration of The Bible

The Bible is plenarily inspired. This means that it is entirely or absolutely inspired. From Genesis to
Revelation, every part of the sacred Scriptures is God-breathed. In its original form and languages,
(Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic) God transmitted his words (or his revealed will) to selected godly men.
The Lord did this by the direct operation, guidance, and inspiration of his Holy Spirit. The Bible is not in
any sense the expression of man’s mind, will or thoughts. Rather, it is the revelation to humanity of
God’s mind and will. The Bible includes and teaches everything that is necessary for salvation; for assured
hope for the future, and for godly daily living. Among the principal matters revealed in God’s
Word are the subjects of Creation, Providence, and Redemption. The Bible is inspired, authoritative,
and infallible in all matters of which it speaks, including matters of doctrine, principle, morals, practice,
history, geography and science. The doctrine of plenary inspiration stands opposed to the doctrine of
partial or limited inspiration.
The Rule of Faith
The Bible is the Word of God. God’s Word consists of 66 books. Thirty-nine of these books are located
in the Old Testament, and twenty-seven in the New Testament. The Bible is the only infallible rule or
standard of faith and practice. There is no other valid source of information pointing to eternal salvation
or faith in God. Nor is there any other valid and authoritative source of information that reveals God’s
will and purposes for humanity in particular, and for God’s creation in general.
That the Bible is the only infallible rule of faith and practice implies belief in the following essential
truths:
1. The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God.
2. These Scriptures can never fail, and they can never change.
3. They are of divine authority for faith and practice.
4. Regarding doctrine, teaching or fact, the Scriptures cannot err or be mistaken.
The Holy Scriptures, or the Holy Bible, constitutes the entire revealed will of God for mankind. God designed
his written revelation to be the only standard of faith and practice for the church. Sometimes, we
refer to this standard as the Rule of Faith or the Analogy of Faith.
Using the ordinary means of grace,1 and with the aid of the Holy Spirit, God’s people may understand,
clearly and sufficiently, the teaching of the Bible for themselves. No other ‘infallible’ or ‘authoritative’ interpreter
is required to explain the meaning of God’s Holy Word. 2
This, however, does not preclude the exposition of God’s Word by appropriately gifted and Spirit-led
individuals, such as pastors and teachers. Nor does it preclude the use of Bible study aids or commentaries
to assist in the understanding of God’s Word. However, we must remember that no human
teacher or pastor, and no book or other aid is infallible (or inerrant). Only the Bible itself is infallible or
incapable of error.
1 ‘The ordinary means of grace’ includes prayer, reading of the Word, and preaching and teaching of the Word.
2 Above section based on C. Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1., [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1977 reprint] p.
152
Bible Truths Explained: The Divine Inspiration of The Bible
BTE01: The Divine Inspiration of The Bible 2 1.1.05
We must always rely, therefore, on the Holy Spirit to grant us discernment to distinguish truth from error,
and to keep us in the right way. We must not depend, however, on the opinions of human beings
when we should be depending on the clear teaching of God’s Word, and should be adapting our lives
to the pattern of that Word.
The Rule of Faith (Scripture References)
The following Scriptures illustrate that the Bible is literally the Word of God:
1 Thessalonians 2:13
(13) For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received
the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the
word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually
worketh also in you that believe.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
(16) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (17) That the
man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Peter 1:3-4
(3) According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain
unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us
to glory and virtue: (4) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and
precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature,
having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
The Divine Inspiration of The Bible
The Bible is the revelation of God’s will to mankind. God gave this revelation by the direct guidance
and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Inspiration may be summarised as follows:

Inspiration is an act of the Holy Spirit whereby he conveys divine truths to the minds of selected
servants of God. The Holy Spirit thus inspired the writers of the sacred Scriptures,
preserving them from errors in teaching. While inspired by the Holy Spirit of God, these holy
prophets and apostles taught, preached and wrote the express words of God. Therefore,
the Bible is the infallible Word of God. 3
Many Writers—One Author
As we noted earlier, the Bible consists of sixty-six books, thirty-nine of which are contained in the Old
Testament, and twenty-seven in the New Testament. The Holy Spirit inspired equally and entirely all
sixty-six books. This is known as the doctrine of plenary or complete inspiration.
The Bible is the whole revealed will of God, insofar as he makes known his purposes to and for the
human race. This revelation took place gradually over a period of several thousand years. The revelation
of God’s Word to his own people in particular, and to humanity in general, was written down faithfully
and inerrantly by different writers. These inspired writers lived in different ages, and under a
variety of different circumstances. Yet, for all these differences, the various books of the Bible form a
fully integrated and coherent whole. From beginning to end, God’s Word teaches the same moral,
spiritual and eternal truths.
3 Above section based on C. Hodge, op. cit., Vol. 1, p. 155
Bible Truths Explained: The Divine Inspiration of The Bible
BTE01: The Divine Inspiration of The Bible 3 1.1.05
The reason for this consistency in teaching is that, although the Bible had many writers, it had only one
true Author. This Author was God himself—acting through his Holy Spirit. Therefore, in its original
manuscripts, the Bible was preserved completely free from error, because the Holy Spirit had unerringly
guided the human writers.
The Holy Spirit inspired certain godly men, such as the LORD’s holy prophets, to record divine truths.
God’s Spirit, however, did not use these individuals in a mechanical fashion, as though they were
merely machines. The Holy Spirit did not override or suspend their rational, intellectual or other natural
faculties or abilities. On the contrary, the Spirit of God made full use of these godly men’s natural abilities,
while at the same time preserving them from error in what they wrote or taught whenever they
acted in the name of the LORD and by his express command. Thus, frequently, the prophets would
begin their teaching or pronouncements with the expression, ‘Thus says the LORD…’ indicating that
what they were about to say were the very words of Almighty God. For this reason, to reject the words
of God’s inspired and holy prophets was to reject the Word of God itself. The same was true concerning
the writings and teachings of the New Testament apostles.
Inspiration preserved these writers from errors in teaching, and in writing down God’s Word. It did not
preserve them, however, from errors in personal conduct. Of itself, inspiration does not sanctify a person
or make him perfectly holy. For example, the Spirit of God inspired David to write many of the
Psalms. David, however, tarnished his personal life with some very grievous sins. Similarly, the Holy
Spirit inspired the apostle Peter to write two epistles of the New Testament. Peter’s conduct, however,
was not always above reproach. Nevertheless, inspiration of the Holy Spirit guaranteed that men’s sins
and failures would not affect the truth of God’s Word in any way.4 Human beings can fail or err, but God
and his Word can never fail or err.
Many Writers—One Author (Scripture References)
The following examples from God’s Word show us that the real Author of that Word was God himself.
Thus, it is written:
Exodus 20:1
(1) And God spoke all these words…
Exodus 31:18
(18) And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with
him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written
with the finger of God.
Zechariah 7:7a
(7a) Should ye not hear the words which the LORD hath cried by the former
prophets..?
2 Timothy 3:16a
(16a) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God…
4 Above section based on C. Hodge, op. cit., Vol. 1, pp. 155-157,166
Bible Truths Explained: The Divine Inspiration of The Bible
BTE01: The Divine Inspiration of The Bible 4 1.1.05
Hebrews 1:1-2
(1) God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto
the fathers by the prophets, (2) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by
his Son…