Jess Whitlock
The Bible is the verbally inspired Word of God. Hence, we have the verbal, plenary, and “God-breathed” Word of God. “Verbal” refers to the exact words of the Bible, i.e., that every word is revealed to us from God. “Plenary” indicates a message that is full, complete in every sense of the word. The Greek word for inspiration is a compound word; theo meaning “God” and pneustos which means “breathed.” The Bible is the product of the creative breath of God, Himself. The Word of God is literally “God-breathed.” “By the word of Jehovah were the heavens made, and all the host of them, by the breath of His mouth…for He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast” (Psa. 33:6,9). The Geneva Bible renders Second Timothy 3:16 in this manner: “The whole Scripture is given by inspiration of God…” Paul wrote by inspiration, “And my speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (1 Cor. 2:4-5). True inspiration involves the words of the Scripture (1 Cor. 2:9-12); inspiration involves the men used to reveal the Scripture (1 Cor. 2:1-4); and inspiration involves the finished product of God’s inspired Word, “which things also we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth; combining spiritual things with spiritual words” (1 Cor. 2:13).
“For His lovingkindness is great toward us; and the truth of Jehovah endureth forever” (Psa. 117:2). “The sum of Thy word is truth; and every one of Thy righteous ordinances endureth forever” (Psa. 119:160).
Historically the Bible is unequalled. Herodotus, an ancient historian, denied that grapes were ever found in Egypt, as declared in Genesis 40:10. However, the spades of archaeology confirmed the Scripture. In the book of Acts, Luke records the names of 32 countries, 54 cities, and nine Mediterranean islands, plus the names of 95 people. Sir William Ramsay determined to prove that Luke was wrong in those areas. After years of research, Sir William finally admitted that Luke was “the very greatest of historians.”
A book may be historically accurate and not be inspired; but the inspired Volume must be historically accurate. At one time or another, 47 kings of the Old Testament record of the kings were disputed by the critics and enemies of the Bible. With the passing of time and the discoveries by archaeologists and historians each and every one of those kings has been proven to have actually existed and reigned, just as the Scripture declared. W.F. Albright wrote, “Archaeology has set the Bible, the whole Bible, once again at the center of history…the narratives of the Patriarchs, Moses, the Exodus, the conquest of Canaan, the Judges, the monarchy, the exile, and the restoration, have all been confirmed…to an extent I would have thought impossible only forty years ago” (Christian Century, Vol. 75, Nov. 19, 1958).
The expression, “…the word of the LORD…” is found 3,808 times in the Bible, and the expression “…thus saith the LORD…” is found over 2,000 times in the pages of Holy Writ.
The late President Ronald Regan noted, “Within the covers of that single Book are all the answers to all the problems that face us today, if we would only read and believe…”
Let the skeptics, atheists, and agnostics produce a book better than the Bible if they can. Let them collect the best minds of the universities of the world, forty should be enough! Let them consult the finest libraries of the world. Let them glean from the internet through the fields of geology, botany, astronomy, biology, and all the “ologies” of their choosing. Let them take full advantage of art, literature, oratory, and history. When they have exhausted every avenue available, let them produce a book and offer that book to the world as a substitute for the Bible! Have they the confidence of the false prophets of Baal in their false god? Will they even put forth the effort? Will they even try? If not, what flimsy excuse will they offer? Has mankind fallen so low that he is unable to do what forty inspired men of God did in the long ago? “Every word of God is tried: He is a shield unto them that take refuge in Him. Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar” (Prov. 30:5-6).
