There
are a number of different views of the inspiration of the Bible. In simple language, some of them are:
1. Dictation
2. Verbal, Plenary
3. Dynamic
4. Classical
Let
me explain.
1. Dictation. Sometimes called Mechanical Dictation. God dictated His message, word for word, to
the human authors. Much like a boss
would dictate a letter to a secretary.
God
definitely used this method on some occasions.
For example, when He directly told a prophet what to say (Exodus 34:27;
Isaiah 38:4-5; etc.). But I do not
believe He used this method throughout the Bible.
2. Verbal,
Plenary. Verbal means word for
word. In other words, every word of the
Bible is inspired by God. Plenary means
all. Not just some words, but every word
in all 66 books of the Bible are God’s inspired words. This view is sometimes shortened to just,
Verbal Inspiration.
This
view does not mean, as some falsely charge, that the entire Bible is
mechanically dictated (that God simply dictated His words to the human writers). Rather, God worked through the human writers
and used their personalities. The final
product was truly the words of the human author, as well as the words of
God. And, the final product was word for
word, the inspired, unerring word of God.
If
you believe in Verbal, Plenary Inspiration, you believe in the Inerrancy of the
Bible.
3. Dynamic
Inspiration. The thoughts of the
Bible are inspired by God. But, it is
not necessarily inspired word for word. Like
those who hold to Verbal Inspiration, they believe God worked through the
personalities of the human writers.
Those
who hold to Verbal Inspiration sometimes counter, we don’t think in thoughts,
but in words. We don’t communicate in
thoughts, but in words.
Those
who believe Dynamic Inspiration may, or may not, believe in the Inerrancy of
the Bible.
4. Classical
Inspiration. The Bible is divinely
inspired, just as other great works of literature and art are inspired.
This
is a theologically liberal or progressive view.
This view would hold that therefore, there are obviously human errors,
as well as divine splendor, in the Bible.
They also get to pick and choose what is truth and what is error. Instead of God’s Word judging them, they make
themselves judges of Scripture.
The
Classical Inspiration view clearly does not hold to the Inerrancy of the
Bible.
It
should be pointed out the first three views can be held by those who believe in
Inerrancy. Some also point out the
important thing is not a theory of inspiration, but belief in the inerrancy of
the Bible. I certainly agree that
inerrancy is crucial to correct biblical doctrine.
I
believe in the Verbal, Plenary Inspiration of the Bible. The Inerrancy of the Bible is of vital
importance, and Verbal Inspiration holds firmly to this view. Verbal Inspiration also fits well with what
the Bible says about its own inspiration.
Scripture on
Inspiration:
For
assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or
one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. -Matthew 5:18
All Scripture is given
by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness. -2 Timothy 3:16
For
the word of the Lord is right, and all His work is done in
truth. -Psalm 33:4
The
entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous
judgments endures forever.
-Psalm 119:160
Sanctify
them by Your truth. Your word is truth. -John 17:17
For
the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than
any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and
of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of
the heart. -Hebrews 4:12
Knowing
this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy
never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they
were moved by the Holy Spirit. -2
Peter 1:20-21
Baptist Faith and
Message, 2000
The
Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God's revelation of
Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for
its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for
its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It
reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will
remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the
supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions
should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the
focus of divine revelation.
Exodus 24:4; Deuteronomy
4:1-2; 17:19; Joshua 8:34; Psalms
19:7-10; 119:11,89,105,140; Isaiah 34:16; 40:8; Jeremiah
15:16; 36:1-32; Matthew 5:17-18; 22:29; Luke 21:33; 24:44-46; John 5:39;16:13-15; 17:17; Acts 2:16ff.; 17:11; Romans 15:4; 16:25-26; 2
Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews
1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter
1:19-21.
The
Baptist Faith and Message 2000 is the official doctrinal statement of the
Southern Baptist Convention.
Quotes:
“It
has always been a matter of profound surprise to me that anybody should ever
question the verbal inspiration of the Bible." -B. H. Carroll (AD 1843-1914), Inspiration of the Bible. Carroll was the founding president of
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
“Let
me say further that only the original text of the books of the Bible is
inspired, not the copy or the translation.”
-B. H. Carroll (AD 1843-1914).
“I
believe the Bible to be the infallible, inspired word of God written by men of
old and new through the leadership of God’s power and Spirit.” -Evangelist Dan Vestal (AD 1918-1980), Golden Hours in the Bible.
“If
there be any mistakes in the Bible, there may well be a thousand. If there be one falsehood in that book, it
did not come from the God of truth.”
-John Wesley (AD 1703-1791), Journal.
(More
quotes may be added.)
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor,
July 25, AD 2018.
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