What does it mean that the Bible is inspired?

Answer 1

A:It means that they Bible was written by men who were listening to God and writing down what he said. B:The Bible has two verses relevant to this question.

1. 2 Peter 1:19, where it says that the Old Testament prophets spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
2. 2 Timothy 3:16, where it says that all scripture is "God-breathed."

Both verses carry a similar message, but there is a subtle difference between them.

The passage in 2 Peter only talks about prophecies. Here the writer was convinced that these prophecies could only have been true if they came directly from God, which is a reasonable proposition.

The passage in 2 Timothy is more general. While it is possible to interpret this to mean that all of the Old Testament (which Paul was talking about here) was dictated by God, it also possible to interpret this to mean that "God-inspired" people wrote down what they knew, rather than God dictating the words they should write.

For the scriptures to be "God-breathed" suggests that Paul was teaching that the Old Testament was written by people who were inspired by the Holy Spirit (literally the "holy breath"). In this regard, we should be aware that Paul was not so interested in the literal words of scripture, but in the underlying meaning. This can be seen in the treatment of the story of Sarah and Hagar in Galatians 4:23-31, which is the antithesis of a literalistic interpretation. Therefore, he was not talking about the modern idea of "literal inspiration" but about the "inspired" nature of the work, and more specifically, about its message.

Some Christians demand that all Christians should accept the doctrine of the "literal inspiration" of the scriptures. However, those who argue this position should also bear in mind that Paul taught that "the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life" (2 Corinthians 3:6). It is the Spirit that leads us into the right way of living, as Paul said, "Those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their mind set on what the Spirit desires" (Romans 8:5).

We can learn what the Spirit requires by reading the Bible, but also by being open to the Spirit's leading.

Taking these two things together is the path to a Spirit-inspired life.

Answer 2

A:Nowhere does the Bible claim to be inspired. Even the authors of the various books of the Bible do not make that claim for the works they produced.

Long afterwards, men began to say the Bible was inspired or God-breathed. They meant that, in their view, God actually told the authors what to write. A common illustration of medieval times is of a dove, representing the Holy Spirit, whispering into the ear of an evangelist.

Answer:It means that even though the words of the Bible were written down by men, they originated with God. In the original Greek, the word translated as the phrase "inspiration of God" in the verse below literally means, "God-breathed."

2 Timothy 3:16, 17 - 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 complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Peter 1:19-21 - And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

Jeremiah 30:1, 2 - The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, "Thus speaks the Lord God of Israel, saying: 'Write in a book for yourself all the words that I have spoken to you.'" [NKJV]

Obviously, the Bible does indeed claim to be inspired.

Answer 3.

There is a mixture of truth and falsehood in the books of the Holy Scriptures; every word can't be viewed as inerrant or unchangeable, for the Holy Scriptures are revised and rendered in translation according to the understanding of Man, who in their limited knowledge interweave their vain interpretations into the text, where he can 'pervert the oracles of the Lord to his own lusts' : Polycarp to the Philippians; and Jesus: "Wherefore ye err not knowing the true things of the Scriptures" (Matthew 22:29) and... "be prudent money-changers", 'meaning that there are truthful and false things in the Scriptures' - and are to be reasoned by sound judgement : Peter, Clementine Homily 3:50.

Forthwith the 'inspired Bible' of this question, that is the Holy Bible of Christianity, can not be above the Holy Scriptures, in being that every word is inspired and true, for the Holy Bible is made up of The Holy Scriptures, of which Jesus Christ said we must be prudent moneychangers - and cast out the counterfeit, and keep the true.

Thereupon one has to render to Jesus Christ that which belongs to him; and render to Men that which belongs to them.

Thereupon whatever things in the Scriptures of the Holy Bible that are in harmony with the sayings of Jesus Christ, they are truthful, and whatever things in the Scriptures of the Holy Bible that are contrary to the sayings of Jesus Christ, they are false.

Forthwith the Holy Bible read in harmony with the sayings of Jesus Christ will be as such: 1. Clement XX : Look unto the Holy Scriptures, which are the true words of the Holy Ghost. Ye know that there is nothing unjust or counterfeit written in them.

To those who believe that there is an inspired halo effect that protects the Holy Bible from error, they are blind to the words of Jesus Christ, who says one must be prudent in knowing the true things of the Scriptures, meaning that the Holy Bible contains false things in its Scriptures, those things which, being not in harmony with Jesus Christ's sayings, are not inspired from him.

Answer 3

Christians believe that although the Bible was written by people, these people were writing it under the influence of God. Another way to say this is that God wrote through the writers. They were his willing "tools" through which He created the Bible.

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,"

2 Timothy 3:16

Answer 4

The Apostle Peter put it this way, "knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of men, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit II Peter 1:20-21).

"Prophecy of Scripture" is the complete Scriptures, as they were unknown to man before God gave them to men.

The Holy Spirit gave the men who were writing Scripture the very words to put down. This is why if possible men should read the Scriptures from the Greek or Hebrew, and pay attention to the very words used and even the construction of the sentences. This is the only way you will come to the true meaning as God intended it. (I can read neither Greek or Hebrew, but a good Bible dictionary and a good concordance is essential when read and studying Scripture.

If a person does not believe in the inspired word they can change meanings of the Bible to suit their own lifestyles. Very dangerous.

Answer 5

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;2 Timothy 3:16-17). 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 in2 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 is2 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.