Today’s question is, “What does it mean that the Bible is inspired?”
In this video I’ll answer that question from a biblical perspective.
Then afterwards, as always, I’ll share some helpful resources, so stick around until the end.
When people speak of the Bible as inspired, they are referring to the fact that God divinely
influenced the human authors of the Scriptures in such a way that what they wrote was the
very Word of God.
In the context of the Scriptures, the word “inspiration” simply means “God-breathed.”
Inspiration means the Bible truly is the Word of God and makes the Bible unique among all
other books.
While there are different views as to the extent to which the Bible is inspired, there
can be no doubt that the Bible itself claims that every word in every part of the Bible
comes from God (1 Corinthians 2:12-13.
This view of the Scriptures is often referred to as “verbal plenary inspiration.”
That means the inspiration extends to the very words themselves (verbal)—not just
concepts or ideas—and that the inspiration extends to all parts of Scripture and all
subject matters of Scripture (plenary).
Some people believe only parts of the Bible are inspired or only the thoughts or concepts
that deal with religion are inspired, but these views of inspiration fall short of the
Bible’s claims about itself.
Full verbal plenary inspiration is an essential characteristic of the Word of God.
The extent of inspiration can be clearly seen in 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is God-breathed
and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the
man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
This verse tells us that God inspired all Scripture and that it is profitable to us.
It is not just the parts of the Bible that deal with religious doctrines that are inspired,
but each and every word from Genesis to Revelation.
Because it is inspired by God, the Scriptures are therefore authoritative when it comes
to establishing doctrine, and sufficient for teaching man how be in a right relationship
with God.
The Bible claims not only to be inspired by God, but also to have the supernatural ability
to change us and make us “complete.”
What more can we need?
Another verse that deals with the inspiration of the Scriptures is 2 Peter 1:21.
This verse helps us to understand that even though God used men with their distinctive
personalities and writing styles, God divinely inspired the very words they wrote.
Jesus Himself confirmed the verbal plenary inspiration of the Scriptures when He said,
“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.
I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the
least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law...”
(Matthew 5:17-18).
In these verses, Jesus is reinforcing the accuracy of the Scriptures down to the smallest
detail and the slightest punctuation mark, because it is the very Word of God.
Because the Scriptures are the inspired Word of God, we can conclude that they are also
inerrant and authoritative.
A correct view of God will lead us to a correct view of His Word.
Because God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and completely perfect, His Word will by its
very nature have the same characteristics.
The same verses that establish the inspiration of the Scriptures also establish that it is
both inerrant and authoritative.
Without a doubt the Bible is what it claims to be—the undeniable, authoritative, Word
of God to humanity.
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