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The Bible - a work of inspiration

The Bible - a work of inspiration. “Search the scriptures...” (John 5v39). Why do we state that. “The Bible - [is] a work of inspiration”. Because it claims to be. “All scripture is given by inspiration...” (2 Timothy 3v16). An investigation.

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The Bible - a work of inspiration

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  1. The Bible - a work of inspiration “Search the scriptures...” (John 5v39)

  2. Why do we state that... “The Bible - [is] a work of inspiration” Because it claims to be... “All scripture is given by inspiration...” (2 Timothy 3v16)

  3. An investigation The Start. The Bible claims to be a work of inspiration Some Questions. Is the whole Bible inspired? Who inspired it? For what purpose? How was it inspired? What does it mean to be inspired? What was man’s role in this? Some Proof. The Bible says it is a work of inspiration, with an astounding source. What proof is there of this? Some Final Questions. So where exactly does all of this lead me? What do I do next?

  4. The Bible’s claim - Quote 1 “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus…” “…All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3v14-17)

  5. Quote 1 - key points “is given by inspiration” “All scripture” Q. Is the whole Bible inspired? A. Yes, OT & NT Statement. The Bible - a work of inspiration Q. Who inspired it? A. God Q. For what purpose? A. A profitable one “and is profitable…” “of God”

  6. Q. So what exactly is “inspiration”? Oxford English Dictionary (Inspiration/Inspire) Inspiration “a supposed creative force or influence on poets, artists, musicians, etc., stimulating the production of works of art” “a similar divine influence supposed to have led to the writing of Scripture” Inspire “stimulate… (a person) to esp. creative activity, esp. by supposed divine or supernatural activity” • Greek Lexicon (qeo/pneusto$) • theopneustos; from theos (‘a deity’) and a presumed derivative of pneo (‘to breathe hard’); hence, divinely breathed in • KJV translation “given by inspiration of God”

  7. The Bible’s claim - Quote 2 “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, [as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise] in your hearts:…” “...Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1v19-21)

  8. Quote 2 - key points “no prophecy… of any private interpretation” “more sure word” Statement. Since it is inspired by God it is sure A. No - God’s power working through Man did Q. Does the Bible contain Man’s own ideas? A. No Q. Did Man cause the Bible to come into existence? “holy men of God… moved… by... Holy Spirit” “not… by... will of man”

  9. Putting the jigsaw pieces together God Man Bible Spirit God is the Bible’s author and originator He worked through men, word is God-breathed By the Holy Spirit - which is God’s power, set apart for a special reason

  10. So what do the Bible’s claims mean? If inspired by God alone, the world’s Creator, what characteristics might we expect of the Bible? accurate authoritative remarkable revealing unified incomparable

  11. The need for a lively mind “And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so…” “Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.” (Acts 17:10-12)

  12. The ‘Five’ proofs (or prompters) 5. The ring of truth 4. Its witnesses, the Jews 3. Its prophetic accuracy 2. Its historical accuracy 1. Its characteristics and impact

  13. Laws Has had more impact on today’s society than any other single influence Language Beliefs No. 1 - Its characteristics and impact 2.1 billioncopies sold 1815 to 1975 66 books, written over >1,600 years, yet it is consistent and unified Completely translated into 349 languages (partly in c.2000)

  14. No. 2 - Its historical accuracy We said, a moment ago, that if it was inspired by God we would expect the Bible to be accurate... It is! • 10,000 bricks in one building - each naming ‘Nebuchadnezzar’ • Tablet uncovered in 1961 - bearing name ‘Pontius Pilate’

  15. No. 3 - Its prophetic accuracy No human being can predict, with 100% accuracy, the future… the Bible does… (Deuteronomy 18v21-22) “Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.” (Micah 3:12) BC 730 Maimonides, Jewish rabbi, Tract. Taanith, c. 4, says, “On that ninth day of the month Ab, fatal for vengeance, the wicked Turnus Rufus [General of Caesar Titus], of the children of Edom, plowed up the temple, and the places round about it...” AD 70

  16. No. 4 - Its witnesses, the Jews God said to Israel: “Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen…” (Isaiah 43:10) • A ‘miracle’ nation of the 20th/21st century • Not a nation for over 1800 years, then reformed as foretold • Survived their scattering, retaining their identity • Survived Holocaust (c. 6 million Jews exterminated) • Successful in 6 Arab wars 1948-2001, against all odds • The most prosperous nation in the Middle-East

  17. Ecclesiastes 1v7 Job 38v14 No. 5 - The ring of truth The Bible’s frank and candid narrative does not have the air of fiction… but the ring of truth... What the Jews recorded about themselves. (For example: Exodus 15:21-24)

  18. Where does this leave you? Accept wholeheartedly Accept partially Do not accept Need to think, could the Bible have been written by a human being? Need to find out more, to come to conclusions Need to find out what to do next “Search the scriptures…” (John 5v39)

  19. The Bible does not ask you to dispense with reason… instead it contains an appeal to reason...

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