How is the Bible inspired? What does it mean for the Bible to be inspired?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Bible is inspired because God, through the Holy Spirit, guided human authors to communicate His truth accurately, making Scripture His very revelation to humanity. In the Old Testament, prophets repeatedly prefaced their messages with “Thus says the Lord,” and the Law, Psalms, and wisdom literature were treated as divinely authoritative, showing that God’s words, not human ideas, were conveyed. The New Testament affirms this, with 2 Timothy 3:16-17 describing all Scripture as “breathed out by God” and 2 Peter 1:21 emphasizing that prophecy came from God, not human will. Jesus affirmed the enduring authority of Scripture, declaring that not even the smallest letter will disappear until all is accomplished (Matthew 5:17-18). Because God is perfect, His Word is trustworthy and inerrant, equipping believers to learn, correct, and train in righteousness, and calling them to submit their lives to His teachings, making every engagement with Scripture an encounter with God Himself.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The Old Testament repeatedly emphasizes that God communicated His words through chosen individuals. Phrases like “Thus says the Lord” appear throughout (e.g., Isaiah 1:2, Jeremiah 1:4-9, Ezekiel 2:4-7), showing that the message originates from God, not the human writer.
• The Law, Psalms, and wisdom writings are treated as God-given commands or truths. For example, Deuteronomy 4:2 warns not to add or subtract from God’s word, emphasizing its divine origin and authority.
• Psalm 119:105 calls God’s word a lamp and light, highlighting its guidance and divine truth.
• While humans authored the texts, God’s Spirit guided their words. Prophets are described as being filled or moved by God’s Spirit to speak (e.g., Numbers 24:2, where Balaam “saw the vision of God” and spoke under God’s influence).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The biblical view of inspiration is found in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that reads, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." The phrase "breathed out by God" is from the Greek word theopneustos, which literally means "God breathed." To say the Bible is inspired by God means that its words are an extension of God Himself, revealing His teachings for our lives today.
• Because the Bible is inspired, it serves as the source of help for many areas of the Christian life. Second Timothy 3:16 notes four areas. First, inspired Scripture is important for teaching. As a young minister, Timothy was being reminded of the importance of using Scripture, rather than personal opinions, as the basis for teaching.
• Second, inspired Scripture is useful for reproof or pointing out wrong. Since Scripture is living and active (Hebrews 4:12), it shows both the positive and the negative in our lives. Third, it is useful for correction. Inspired Scripture not only points out our wrongs, but also shows how to correct our course and do what is right. Fourth, Scripture is important for training in righteousness. Just as an athlete must regularly prepare and train to succeed in a sport, a believer must regularly train by studying God's Word in order to grow in understanding and succeed in living for Christ.
• Second Peter 1:21 also supports the inspiration of the Bible: "For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." Here we find evidence that the Scripture was not something created by human writers, but something from God. Yes, God did utilize the abilities and personalities of the human writers, but directly communicated His message through them for our benefit.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Jesus taught, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished" (Matthew 5:17-18 NIV). The least stroke of a pen in Hebrew at that time was the letter yod that looks like a single quotation mark in English ('). Jesus made clear that God's inspiration extends to every dot and letter of every written word He has revealed. As a result, we should care about what God is communicating in every aspect of Scripture. Time spent in God's Word is time spent listening to what God has spoken.

There are many important teachings that result from the inspiration of God's Word. Since God's Word is inspired, and God is perfect, His words must be perfect. Theologians often refer to this as the inerrancy of Scripture. Because God holds all authority and the Bible is from God, then the Bible is authoritative for our lives.

God's Word is breathed by God and is inspired. As a result, we are to submit our lives to its teachings as it reveals God's will for our lives today.

UNDERSTAND

• The Bible is God-breathed, written through human authors guided by the Holy Spirit.
• Scripture is authoritative, perfect, and inerrant.
• The Bible as God’s inspired Word equips believers to live according to God’s will.

REFLECT

• How often do you turn to Scripture for guidance, correction, or encouragement in your life?
• How do you trust that God’s Word is perfect and applicable to your circumstances?
• How can you submit more fully to the authority of Scripture in your decisions and actions this week?

ENGAGE

• How do we see evidence of God’s inspiration in both the Old and New Testaments, and how are we to live in light of this?
• What practical steps can we take to ensure Scripture guides our teaching, correction, and training in righteousness?
• How can we help each other recognize and apply the authority and inerrancy of God’s Word in our lives?