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Summary Point

What are the reasons to believe that the Bible is divinely inspired?

Subpoints

The Bible specifically claims to be inspired by God. This is supported by Jesus’ use of Scripture as well as fulfilled prophecy and one central message disclosed over many centuries thru many authors.

  1. The Bible claims to be inspired by God.

    • This contention is not a proof for divine inspiration, since this would be circular reasoning for the Bible to be inspired because it claims to be inspired. However, it does clarify what the Bible’s position is regarding its ultimate source.

    • Below are some Scripture verses to support this point:

      • All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, (2 Timothy 3:16 CSB emphasis added)

      • We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. (1 Corinthians 2:13 CSB emphasis added)

      • First of all, you should know this: no prophecy of Scripture comes from one's own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, moved by the Holy Spirit, men spoke from God. (2 Peter 1:20-21 CSB emphasis added)

  2. Jesus validated the OT and prophesied about the NT.1

    • Jesus claimed and proved He is God – see evidence.

    • Jesus referenced the Old Testament (OT) numerous times. This indicates that Jesus viewed the OT as an authoritative and trusted source, indicating its content was inspired by God. Below are some verses where Jesus referenced the OT when He countered Satan's temptation.

      • Jesus told him, "It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God. " Again, the Devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. And he said to Him, "I will give You all these things if You will fall down and worship me." Then Jesus told him, "Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him. "(Matthew 4:7-10 CSB emphasis added)

    • Jesus referred to the Old Testatment as God speaking and called it the "word of God"

      • "For God said, 'HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER,' and, 'HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH.' "But you say, 'Whoever * says to his father or mother, "Whatever * I have that would help you has been given to God," he is not to honor his father or his mother .' And by this you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition. (Matthew 15:4-6 NAS emphasis added)

    • Jesus said that King David wrote under the direction of the Holy Spirit.

      • David himself says by the Holy Spirit: The Lord declared to my Lord, 'Sit at My right hand until I put Your enemies under Your feet.' (Mark 12:36 CSB emphasis added)

    • Jesus prophesied about the New Testament, saying the Holy Spirit would guide His disciples when He left.

      • "I have spoken these things to you while I remain with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit-the Father will send Him in My name-will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you. (John 14:25-26 CSB emphasis added)

  3. Unified Message: One unified message of salvation disclosed over centuries from a number of authors is best explained by God.

    • According to renowned apologist, Norman Geisler:

      • “One supporting line of evidence for the Bible’s divine origin is its unity in great diversity. Even though composed by many people of diverse backgrounds over many years, Scripture speaks from one mind.”2 (emphasis added)

    • The Bible is a compilation of 66 books written by a number of different authors over many centuries; however, it provides a cohesive, unified message regarding the salvation of mankind. Consequently, it is more likely that this was directed by a divine source guiding each author, rather than coming together randomly. There is no way the Old Testament writers could have known that the content of their books would be part of a cohesive plan of salvation for mankind, culminating in the life of Jesus.

      • The Bible is written over a span of ~1,500 years.3

        • The first books of the Bible were written about ~1,400 B.C.

        • Last book of the Bible is Revelations, completed by ~A.D. 100.

      • The Bible is written by over 40 authors.3

        • “Written by more than forty authors from every walk of life, including kings, military leaders, peasants, philosophers, fisherman, tax collectors, poets, musicians, statesmen, scholars, and shepherds.”3

  4. Prophecy: God is the only explanation for 100% accuracy in correctly predicting numerous future events.

Links to external resources on this topic:

Anchor 1

Context:

  • What is meant by the Bible being ‘divinely inspired’? It means God inspired the authors to write their content, carrying them along by the Holy Spirit. It does not mean that He dictated the specific words contrary to the person’s writing style. Rather, the Biblical authors wrote in their own style under the guidance of the Holy Spirit ensuring the content is what God intended.

  • If the Bible is inspired by God, then it must also be truthful in its original form. “Inspiration means to be “breathed out by God” (see 2 Timothy 3:16) and if something is breathed out by God, then it cannot be in error…Inerrancy means to be without error.”4

  • But why should we believe that Bible is anything more than a book written by men?

Anchor 2

Sources (complete reference information provided on SOURCE PAGE):

  1. Geisler & Turek, I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist, pp.363-364.

  2. Geisler, Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics, p.94.

  3. McDowell, The New Evidence that Demands a Verdict, pp.4-6.

  4. Hindson & Caner (General Editors), The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics, “Bible, Inerrancy of” by Norman L. Geisler and Lanny Wilson, p.103.

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