Bible Inspired By God or Man's Handy Work?
By James Swinton
GOD SPOKE TO MOSES
God spoke directly to Moses, “I am the God of thy fathers... Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, ‘The Lord God of your fathers...appeared unto me, saying’...” (Exodus 3:6, 16); also see Matthew 22:31-32. “I will put words in his [Aaron] mouth...and will teach you what ye shall do” (Exodus 4:15-16). “And Aaron spoke all the Words which the Lord had spoken unto Moses...and the people believed...(Ex.4: 30-31). “Moses...spoke unto them. And God spake all these Words, saying,” (Exodus 19:25; Ex.20:1). Moses spoke the Words God gave him to say: the ten commandments, divers laws and ordinances. Moses told the people of Israel the Words of the Lord (Numbers 11:24).
“And Balaan said unto Balak...the Word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak” (Numbers 22:38).
PROPHETS SPOKE GOD’S WORDS
“But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:18,21). See also Luke 1:7.
The Lord told Jeremiah, “Whatsoever I command thee thou shall speak. Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, “’Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth’” (Jeremiah 1:7,9). “I will make my Words in thy mouth fire...” (Jeremiah 1: 14).
When the people rejected Jeremiah’s words, they rejected God because those Words were from God (Jer. 6:18-19). Jeremiah was commanded to write down in a book the Words of the Lord that he had spoken to Israel. Jeremiah dictated them to Baruch (Jeremiah 1:1-2,3-4,5-6,7-8).
Speaking to Ezekiel, God said, “All the Words that I shall speak unto thee...go...speak unto them [the house of Israel, Ezek. 3:4] and tell them, ‘Thus saith the Lord God’” (Ezekiel 3:10-11).
HOLY SPIRIT DELIVERED GOD’S WORD
King David said, “The Spirit of the Lord spake by me and His Word was in my tongue” (II Samuel 23:2). “For David himself said by the Holy Spirit...” (Mark 12: 36). “The Holy Spirit by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas...” (Acts 1:16). Paul stated that the Words Isaiah spoke came by the Holy Spirit (Acts 28:25).
IN DEFENSE OF INSPIRATION
Testimony of the Bible writers themselves:
Paul was chosen to hear directly from God and to speak His Words (Acts 22:12-13,14-15). Paul’s gospel was received directly from Jesus Christ (Gal. 1:11-12). As Paul wrote it [God’s Word] down, he received the revelation of the mystery (Ephesians 3:1-2,3). Paul said Christ was speaking in him (II Corinthian 13:3). The things that Paul wrote were the commandments of the Lord (I Cor. 14: 37). Moses told the people of Israel the Words of the Lord (Num. 11:24).
"And Balaan said unto Balak...the Word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak" (Numbers 22:38).
ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS
“Today, we have English translations of the biblical words which are supposed to give us an understanding of what God meant in His inspired revelation...One would be daft indeed to accept modern meaning of English words that the prophets or apostles knew nothing about. It is only reasonable that sincere people would require that our Bibles today present, as closely as possible, the precise meanings and intentions of the inspired Words.” [Ernest L. Martin. Foundation for Biblical Research, "A Central Key to
Biblical Knowledge, Nov./Dec. 1984]
CONCLUSION
“All scripture [that which is written down] is given by the inspiration of God...” (II Timothy 3:16). Whatever the Scripture says God said it. This eliminate the natural approach - the Bible is like any other book. The Bible, the Word of God, is the only final authority of the eternal God. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man (Psalm 118:8).
Note: If this article has been of any help to you, please email me on the form below. I would appreciate it very much.
God bless,
James
God spoke directly to Moses, “I am the God of thy fathers... Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, ‘The Lord God of your fathers...appeared unto me, saying’...” (Exodus 3:6, 16); also see Matthew 22:31-32. “I will put words in his [Aaron] mouth...and will teach you what ye shall do” (Exodus 4:15-16). “And Aaron spoke all the Words which the Lord had spoken unto Moses...and the people believed...(Ex.4: 30-31). “Moses...spoke unto them. And God spake all these Words, saying,” (Exodus 19:25; Ex.20:1). Moses spoke the Words God gave him to say: the ten commandments, divers laws and ordinances. Moses told the people of Israel the Words of the Lord (Numbers 11:24).
“And Balaan said unto Balak...the Word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak” (Numbers 22:38).
PROPHETS SPOKE GOD’S WORDS
“But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:18,21). See also Luke 1:7.
The Lord told Jeremiah, “Whatsoever I command thee thou shall speak. Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, “’Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth’” (Jeremiah 1:7,9). “I will make my Words in thy mouth fire...” (Jeremiah 1: 14).
When the people rejected Jeremiah’s words, they rejected God because those Words were from God (Jer. 6:18-19). Jeremiah was commanded to write down in a book the Words of the Lord that he had spoken to Israel. Jeremiah dictated them to Baruch (Jeremiah 1:1-2,3-4,5-6,7-8).
Speaking to Ezekiel, God said, “All the Words that I shall speak unto thee...go...speak unto them [the house of Israel, Ezek. 3:4] and tell them, ‘Thus saith the Lord God’” (Ezekiel 3:10-11).
HOLY SPIRIT DELIVERED GOD’S WORD
King David said, “The Spirit of the Lord spake by me and His Word was in my tongue” (II Samuel 23:2). “For David himself said by the Holy Spirit...” (Mark 12: 36). “The Holy Spirit by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas...” (Acts 1:16). Paul stated that the Words Isaiah spoke came by the Holy Spirit (Acts 28:25).
IN DEFENSE OF INSPIRATION
Testimony of the Bible writers themselves:
- “...holy men of God spake as they were moved [inspired] by the Holy Ghost” (II Peter 1:21).
- “...God hath spoked by the mouth of all of His holy prophets since the world began (Acts 3:21).
- The lively oracles the prophets had were given to them (Acts 7:37-38).
- Writers of the Scriptures recognized each other’s books:
- By “the Word of the Lord” came God’s Words to them and through them (Genesis 15:1).
- The Word of the Lord came unto Nathan (II Samuel 7:4).
- Testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ:# Have you not read what was spoken by God, “I AM the GOD...of the LIVING” (Matthew 22:41-42,43-44,45).
- Christ read from the book of Isaiah [Isaiah 61:1] and stop before completing verse two (Luke 4:16-17,18).
- Every time Christ was tempted, He said, “It is written” (Matt. 4:3-4,5-6,7-8,9-10).
- Jesus verified the truthfulness of Scripture: The flood (Matt. 24:24,37-38); Adam and Eve (Matthew 19:4-5); Sodom (Luke 17:29,32); manna (John 6:31,49); Moses (John 3:14); Jonah (Matthew 12:40).
Paul was chosen to hear directly from God and to speak His Words (Acts 22:12-13,14-15). Paul’s gospel was received directly from Jesus Christ (Gal. 1:11-12). As Paul wrote it [God’s Word] down, he received the revelation of the mystery (Ephesians 3:1-2,3). Paul said Christ was speaking in him (II Corinthian 13:3). The things that Paul wrote were the commandments of the Lord (I Cor. 14: 37). Moses told the people of Israel the Words of the Lord (Num. 11:24).
"And Balaan said unto Balak...the Word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak" (Numbers 22:38).
ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS
“Today, we have English translations of the biblical words which are supposed to give us an understanding of what God meant in His inspired revelation...One would be daft indeed to accept modern meaning of English words that the prophets or apostles knew nothing about. It is only reasonable that sincere people would require that our Bibles today present, as closely as possible, the precise meanings and intentions of the inspired Words.” [Ernest L. Martin. Foundation for Biblical Research, "A Central Key to
Biblical Knowledge, Nov./Dec. 1984]
CONCLUSION
“All scripture [that which is written down] is given by the inspiration of God...” (II Timothy 3:16). Whatever the Scripture says God said it. This eliminate the natural approach - the Bible is like any other book. The Bible, the Word of God, is the only final authority of the eternal God. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man (Psalm 118:8).
Note: If this article has been of any help to you, please email me on the form below. I would appreciate it very much.
God bless,
James
