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[Note: This MS is available in larger font on our Brief Articles 2 page.]
The Bible claims to be the exclusive revelation of the true and living God. The Old Testament prophets enjoin, “Hear the word of the Lord,” or like expressions, hundreds of times. Paul declared that God revealed the long-hidden “mysteries” relating to human redemption (i.e., the New Testament) to the apostles by means of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 2:6–10, 13; cf. 2 Pet. 1:21). Jesus promised the apostles that, upon His ascension, He would send the Holy Spirit unto them to guide them “into all the truth” (John 16:13)—the doctrine of “inspiration.” To preach any other “Gospel” than the one the apostles preached brings the anathema of God (Gal. 1:6–9; 2 Tim. 4:2–4; Jude 3; Rev. 22:18–19; et al.).
The Bible’s claim of inspiration is thus not merely that which one might attribute to exceptional artistic or poetic talent, but that Deity especially and specifically endowed its writers to produce its words.
If the Bible is not thus inspired, how does one account for its amazing unity of theme—the redemption of mankind from sin, introduced in its early pages (Gen. 3:1–15)? This unity exists although some forty writers wrote its sixty-six books over a span of sixteen centuries. The theme is so pervasive that we may accurately describe John 3:16 as “the Bible in miniature.” Only a Mastermind, far beyond the ability of human genius, could have produced this effect.
How does one account for the Bible’s prophecies and their fulfillment apart from God? Modern psychics and astrologers sometimes make lucky guesses in general terms about future events over a few months or a year—and gullible people are amazed. Bible prophets never consulted stars, crystals, or cards, yet they often foretold times, people, places, and events in specific terms, which no man could know unless Him Who knows all told them (e.g., Isa. 2:2–3; 7:14; 39:5–7; Jer. 25:8–11; Joel 2:28–32; et al.).
How does one account for the Bible’s scientific foreknowledge apart from God? Such things as the rotundity of the earth, the law of gravity, and the channels of the sea, none of which were discovered (or discoverable) by men until comparatively recent times, were mentioned centuries before in the Bible (Isa. 40:22; Job 26:7; Psa. 8:8).
Jesus attributed Scripture to His Father and thus expressed His absolute confidence in its trustworthiness (John 17:17).
[Note: I wrote this article for and it was published in The Lighthouse, weekly bulletin of Northpoint Church of Christ, Denton, TX, July 17, 2011 of which I was editor.]
Attribution: From thescripturecache.com; Dub McClish, owner and administrator.
