What does it mean that the Bible is "inspired"?

Hi guys,
Been ages since I posted and I wanted to get something up.

So, to save time and experiment with how well it works, I'm posted an essay, I wrote last November about what it means that the Bible is "Inspired by God.
I'll stand by and say that I'm pretty proud of this essay. I'm not sure if it reads as well as a blog post as it does as Theological essay, but its worth a try:


How would you explain what it means that the bible is inspired?

In order to answer this question, I will first talk about what is meant by the word inspired.
Is it inspired simply in that it inspires people to do great things?
This could be said of any great literature.
Is it inspired in that it contains a flawed record of God’s actions?
The Bible itself does not allow us to make this assumption.

“All scripture is breathed out by God… 2 Timothy 3:16 ESV

This verse is commonly translated “All scripture is inspired by God…”
It is undoubtedly the most commonly quoted verse considering the inspiration of the Bible.

However, “breathed out” is more correct.
It implies that God is not just the inspiration for scripture but that scripture originates from him. It wasn’t just men writing their own thoughts on what God might be like. God is expressing himself through the scripture.

How this actually took place is a matter of debate. The above view has been criticised for implying that God dictated his Words to men who simply acted like secretaries at typewriters. C.H. Dodd wrote that the original implications of dictation theory are that “the primitive religious thought the "inspired" person was under the control of a supernatural influence which inhibited the use of his normal faculties.”

This view is uncommon today. Although there are undoubtedly times when God did speak directly through men such as the prophets, this doesn’t take in account the obvious personal touch that is seen in the writings of the New Testament. F.F.
Bruce writes that “Dictation leaves no room for the writer’s individuality of thought and diction, but this individuality gets the fullest scope in the Bible.” This is demonstrated most obviously in the four Gospels. Each has separate focuses and unique features that are born out of each author’s intent and unique point of view.

How then are the scriptures both breathed out by God and written by human authors? Luke, in writing his Gospel, was not given the words directly from God but tirelessly researched the life of Christ from the people who witnessed Christ’s life. It doesn’t mean that it is solely a human document. 1 Peter 1:21 says: “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.” According to this verse, it is by being carried by Holy Spirit that enabled men as they speak from God. The Apostle, Paul in writing 1 Corinthians is guided into truth by the Spirit of God.

There is debate over whether the inspired word of God contains error since it passed through fallible human hands. However, while humans can make mistakes, it is wrong to say that they always do or even that it should be expected most of the time. It is unreasonable to expect the Bible to contain errors simply because it was written by human hands. Milne concludes his writing on inspiration with a reminder from Ephesians: “[God] works all things according to the counsel of his will.” In his guiding of the authorship and compilation of the scriptures, I believe God has through his spirit maintained the integrity and accuracy of his Word. I believe that as we reflect on the history and read it with our own eyes, we can’t help but be convinced likewise.

Explain how Christians believe God speaks through the words of Scripture?



The Bible is the record of God’s word and actions with humanity. Although, its components are written to many individual and groups spanning thousands of years, there is clarity of purpose and completeness in its variety. Taken together, the scriptures are a Christian’s chief source of revelation of God.

In one sense, we have to read the Scriptures like we would read any other book – that is with the purpose that the human author had in mind when he wrote. It would be wrong for Christians to blindly take any given verse of scripture and apply it as if God had spoken directly to them. For instance, the Pentateuch was given specifically to the Jewish nation. The covenants, laws and promises given in the Jews in exile can’t be applied to an Irish, evangelical Christian.

On the other hand, the Bible is clearly more then any other book. Its ultimate source is God and it therefore has unique properties not found in any other writing. It is ultimately authoritative (when understood and applied correctly), universally relevant, wholly inerrant, and it alone carries the revelation of God and the salvation that He offers. Therefore, it is with respect and awe that we read the scriptures. We should seek to understand through careful study.
The Scriptures aren’t however a static text book that we learn history or theology from. There do more then teach us what God is like. They show us how to follow him.

“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 competent, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16

The same Holy Spirit who inspired the writers of these is now indwelling in believers. It is through this Spirit that we can see God speaking in the scripture. At an intellectual level, it is possible for anyone to understand what the scriptures mean, but Duvall and Hays argue that it only through the Spirit that we can truly set aside an “unbelieving preunderstanding”.

It is the Spirit also that helps us grasp and believe at a heart level. The Holy Spirit also gives us the ability to follow God. It is both through Scripture and through the Spirit working together that we move toward righteousness and towards God. God isn’t just revealed in his inspired writing and the witness he bears but also in the Holy Spirit that is present in all who put their faith in Jesus Christ. It is this connection that makes the Bible a living book with endless depth, relevance and hope.