Chapter 6
THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN INSPIRATIONINTRODUCTION
Today any mention of the Holy Sprtit brings to mind in many, the various prophets and tongue speakers of the Charismatic movement. Multittides claim new revelations and special gifts of wisdom and knowledge. The author rejoices that in opposition to all this we have, "a more sure word of prophecy" (II Peter 1:19-21) which is the Bible. The Holy Spirit has given us so complete a revelation in the Scriptures that His work is now that of "illumination" rather than inspiration."
The author grieves to see men so taken with the claims of modern prophets while God's Word stands as a beacon of truth. The Bible seems as a "dead letter" to those who have never prayed over its contents, but hunger for the excitement of something new. The Bible as the greatest work of the Spirit in revelation is in every way superior to: A. Tradition - Matthew 15:1-9.
B. Science - I Timothy 6:20 (Even true Science, which deals in fact, can never delve into the areas made plain in Scripture).
C. Fables - II Timothy 4:4 (The Book of Mormon gives us an example of modern fables.)
D. The occult - Isaiah 8:19-20.
E. Sign workers - Deuteronomy 13:1-3 (While in Hebrews 2:3-4, we find that signs were used to confirm God's Word, yet lying signs and wonders are also permitted to deceive those who do not love the truth).
F. False prophets.
G. Opinion - Proverbs 14: 12.
The work of God's Spirit in inspiration may be summed up by stating that "we believe in the verbal, plenary inspiration of the Holy Scriptures." The remainder of this study will be spent in examining this statement. I. INSPIRATION.
In II Timothy 3:16, we find that the Bible is an inspired book. The word "inspiration" is a translation of the Greek word theopneustic and means "God breathed." In II Peter 1:21, we find that men of God were moved by the Spirit as the wind moves a boat. Whether the various portions of God's Word were given by dictation (Exodus 20:1), vision (Revelation 1:11), or inner guidance yet it is clear that all must be viewed cas God's Word (Hebrews 4:12).
Inspiration must never be understood as a mere sharpening of the human intellect. Inspiration insures that every word of the Bible represents the mind of the Spirit. This is proved by statements in the Bible (II Samuel 23:2-3, Jeremiah 1:9), and also by the fact that some of the prophets had to study their own writings to gain, understanding of what they had written (I Peter 1:10-12). The emphasis of the word "inspiration" is that the Scriptures came from God. Many talk of "inspired men" but it is the Bible and not human authors which was inspired. II. VERBAL INSPIRATION.
When the term "verbal" is used in connection with "inspiration" it implies that the very words of Scripture are inspired. To teach that the Bible writers were merely assisted by God or that their doctrines alone were inspired is to fall short of the Bible doctrine of inspiration.
The proofs of verbal inspiration are many. We are told that the Holy Spirit teacheth "words" (I Corinthians 2:13). Our Lord taught that every jot and tittle of Scripture was certain (Matthew 5:18). David taught that the Lord's "words" were pure and would be preserved (Psalms 12:6-7). Others testified that the inspiration they received was verbal. (Jeremiah 1:9, II Samuel 23:2). That Paul believed that every word of Scripture was inspired is seen in the fact that he built doctrines on one letter of Scripture (Galatians 3:1.6). III. VERBAL PLENARY INSPIRATION.
The word "plenary" means full and implies that all of the Bible is inspired. The Bible does not contain God's Word in places, but it is God's Word in its entirety. This is stated very plainly in II Timothy 3:16.
The verbal plenary inspiration of God's Word is upheld by our Lord and His Apostles. Christ used all of the Old Testament in teaching (Luke 24:27), and quoted books like Jonah or Daniel which are now attacked by critics. In Acts 1:16 and 4:24-25, the Book of Psalms is spoken of as God's Word. The Apostle Paul quotes both Moses and Luke as of equal authority (I Timothy 5:18).(3) In II Peter 3:15-16, we find that Peter viewed Paul's epistles as "Scripture." The early church knew nothing of "degrees of inspiration" or uninspired portions of the Bible. All was believed to be "God-breathed."IV. INSPIRATION LIMITED.
As important as it is to prove the verbal inspiration of Scripture, it is equally important to assert that only Scripture is inspired. To extend inspiration beyond the Bible in this day is to actually undermine God's Word as a complete revelation. We are warned not to add to God's Word (Revelation 22:18). The claims of every modern prophet stand as an attack on the Word of God. CONCLUSION
Some have stated that to emphasize the work of the Holy Spirit is to promote fanaticism. This false conclusion has been brought about by those who seek revelations from God's Spirit apart from Scripture. When one understands that the Holy Spirit has completed His work in inspiration, and is now involved in opening hearts to understand the Scripture, he will be delivered from this error.
_______________ Note
3. In this Scripture Paul quotes from both Deuteronomy and the Gospel of Luke. Moses who wrote Deuteronomy was the great prophet so revered by all. He led Israel out of Egypt and wrote the first five books of the Bible. Of course the antiquity of his writings would impress men.
Luke on the other hand was a younger man than Paul and was not even an apostle. The fact that Paul recognized, both men's writings as of equal authority certainly proves our doctrine of inspiration.
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