The Doctrine of Inspiration

If the Bible really is God speaking, why do I still treat it like something I can take or leave?

Thessalonica heard Paul preach and chose to receive his words as God's words rather than a man's, and Paul says that choice is why the word went to work in them. The difference is not in the book but in the posture of the reader standing over it or underneath it.

For this cause we also thank God without ceasing that when you received from us the word of the message of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, God’s word, which also works in you who believe.

1 Thessalonians 2:13

Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that each person who belongs to God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16–17

But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his natural face in a mirror; for he sees himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of freedom and continues, not being a hearer who forgets but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does.

James 1:22–25

What was sown on the rocky places, this is he who hears the word and immediately with joy receives it; yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. What was sown on the good ground, this is he who hears the word and understands it, who most certainly bears fruit and produces, some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty.”

Matthew 13:20–23

How could God speak through men without erasing who they were?

Peter says the prophets were carried along by the Holy Spirit, not switched off and replaced. Paul's letters still sound like Paul, and James still sounds like James, and God speaks through both of them.

For no prophecy ever came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 1:21

Then Yahweh stretched out his hand and touched my mouth. Then Yahweh said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.

Jeremiah 1:9

Now these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse says, the man who was raised on high says, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel: “Yahweh’s Spirit spoke by me. His word was on my tongue.

2 Samuel 23:1–2

Moses said to Yahweh, “O Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before now, nor since you have spoken to your servant; for I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.” Yahweh said to him, “Who made man’s mouth? Or who makes one mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Isn’t it I, Yahweh? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth, and teach you what you shall speak.” Moses said, “Oh, Lord, please send someone else.” Yahweh’s anger burned against Moses, and he said, “What about Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Also, behold, he is coming out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. You shall speak to him, and put the words in his mouth. I will be with your mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what you shall do. He will be your spokesman to the people. It will happen that he will be to you a mouth, and you will be to him as God.

Exodus 4:10–16

Is it really wrong to pick and choose which parts of the Bible I listen to?

Balaam was offered a house full of silver and gold to say one word God had not given him, and he said he could not go beyond the command of God to do less or more. The pastor made the same point about his own pulpit: the preacher does not get to set the agenda.

Balaam answered the servants of Balak, “If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond the word of Yahweh my God, to do less or more.

Numbers 22:18

You shall not add to the word which I command you, neither shall you take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of Yahweh your God which I command you.

Deuteronomy 4:2

I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book. If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.

Revelation 22:18–19

For the time will come when they will not listen to the sound doctrine, but having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts, and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn away to fables.

2 Timothy 4:3–4

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

James 4:6

Why does reading the Bible so often feel like a chore instead of a letter?

The pastor kept a box of notes from the years he and Emily were apart, and he says he ran to read them because she had his heart. The Bible is described as a love letter from God, and the psalmist talks about God's words the way a man talks about something he has tasted and found sweet.

How sweet are your promises to my taste, more than honey to my mouth!

Psalms 119:103

The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.

Psalms 119:72

Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words were to me a joy and the rejoicing of my heart, for I am called by your name, Yahweh, God of Armies.

Jeremiah 15:16

They said to one another, “Weren’t our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us along the way, and while he opened the Scriptures to us?”

Luke 24:32

Yes most certainly, and I count all things to be a loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but refuse, that I may gain Christ…

Philippians 3:8