Inspiration of Scripture, 2of2

~ External Evidence of Inspiration ~

This is the second of two postings about the inspiration of the Holy Bible. Our prior focus was on what the Bible says about its inspiration. Today’s focus regards empirical evidence of the inspiration of the Holy Bible.

Fulfillment of Prophecies  ~  There are well over 300 predictions of Christ in the Old Covenant which were made over a period of 4,000 years—all of which were fulfilled in the life of one person. A statistician has calculated the odds of that happening as 1 out of 8.4 times 10⁹⁸—now that is a lot of zeros!

Amazing Unity  ~  It was written on 3 different continents by more than 40 writers over a time period of about 1,600 years. These varied writers included fishermen, herdsmen, physicians, judges, priests, prophets, poets, scribes, scholars, and kings. Amazingly, the Bible is one book telling one story. For example, a reader cannot understand the New Testament Book of Revelation without understanding the Book of Daniel in the Old Covenant. Consider that about 630 years passed between the writing of these two books and they were written in different locations about 1,200 miles apart.

Survival Against Constant Attack  ~  No other book has been attacked by so many adversaries or for so many centuries and survived. Today, the Bible continues to be near the top of sales every year.

Perennial Freshness / Never Ending Interest  ~  One of the many reasons for its survival is its continuing message. It is an ancient book with eternal truths which are applicable for humankind today.

Extreme Antiquity  ~  The average life of books in our society is less than 10 years. Most new books sell less than 500 copies over their life and 70% of all books printed are thrown out within 90 days of purchase.

Remarkable Influence On Mankind  ~  No other book has had such a positive influence on mankind. Virtually all of modern civil law can be traced to origins in the Bible. It teaches love for one another and the highest values. Because of its teachings thousands of educational facilities and hospitals were founded.

Transforming Power / “Living Oracles” of God  ~  The greatest empirical evidence of all is the miracle of changed lives. Those who have listened and responded to the message of the Word of God find a power for good on earth while waiting for their eternal destiny with God. We read the story of the blind man in the Gospel of John and we realize that his testimony represents all who have responded to the love of God at Calvary. “One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25b). He was physically blind and received his physical sight. Untold millions who were spiritually blind have received spiritual sight.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Inspiration of Scripture, 1of2

~ Internal Evidence of Inspiration ~

This is the first of two postings about the inspiration of the Holy Bible. Today’s focus is on what the Bible says about its inspiration. The second post will focus on the empirical evidence of the inspiration of the Holy Bible.

Scripture’s Divine Origin  ~  “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).

Scripture’s Human Channels  ~   “The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue” (2 Samuel 23:2). “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). 

Scripture Claims to be The “Word of God”  ~  “And Moses turned and went down from the mountain, and the two tablets of the Testimony were in his hand. The tablets were written on both sides; on the one side and on the other they were written. Now the tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God engraved on the tablets” (Exodus 32:15-16). Phrases translated as “The Lord said,” “The Lord spoke,” or “The Word of the Lord came” occur frequently in Scripture. They occur over 700 times in the first five books, about 1,200 times in the prophetical books, and about 3,800 times throughout the Old Covenant. The New Testament speaks of the Old Covenant authority over 50 times.

Scripture’s Absolute Purity  ~  “The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;

The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes” (Psalm 19:8). “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him” (Proverbs 30:5).

Scripture’s Supreme Authority  ~  “Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right” (Psalm 119:128a).  “I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name for Your loving kindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your word above all Your name” (Psalm 138:2).

Scripture’s Acceptance by the Lord Jesus  ~  “Then He said to them, ‘These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me’ And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures” (Luke 24:44-45). 

Scripture’s Eternal and Imperishable Nature ~  “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (Matthew 24:35). “But the word of the Lord endures forever” (1 Peter 1:25a).

Scripture Can Be Corrupted by Men  ~  “For we are not, as so many, peddling the Word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:17). “As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures” (2 Peter 3:16).

Scripture Can Be Made Void by Tradition  ~  “Making the Word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do” (Mark 7:13). “And they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Timothy 4:4).  

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW