Notes And Quotes For Today:
Is Your Bible Really The Word of God? – II
What Do We Mean by Inspiration?
The Bible declares : “ All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God…..” 2nd Timothy 3:16 Though the intellectuals are not aware of it, it is elementary that every word has a basic meaning. Language would be impossible otherwise. The word “inspiration” in the above verse literally means “ God breathed.” In this case we are referring to something that came from God Himself.
The precise words of the original autographs were inspired not just the thoughts, but the exact words given by the Holy Spirit . God’s thoughts were expressed in word and the form the message. All the words of the Scripture are equally inspired. No part/words of the Scripture are more inspired than any other part/words. We must make it clear that the Scriptures constitute a very definite set of books or writings. When we say, “ All Scripture,” it is understood to be the very words as well as the very thoughts of the 66 Book, as we have them in the Authorized version. (KJV) when originally given came directly from God. We must make it clear that the Scriptures constitute a very definite set of books or writings. When the Jesus spoke of the “Scriptures” everyone knew what He meant; He was referring to the Jewish Scriptures. These were very definite books and everyone knew what they were. He was meant the books which the prophets and indeed the nation held to be from God.
Our Lord had the same Old Testament we have. As for the New Testament, Jesus said He would give this to us after His resurrection, through the disciples. So, when we speak of the Inspiration of the Scriptures we are saying that the very words as well as the thoughts of the 66 books as we have them in the Authorized version- KJV, when originally given came directly from God. We want also to emphasize the importance of the words. Even many Evangelicals have now slipped into the camp which says that only the thoughts are inspired, not the words, so, they say, some of the words in the Bible may not belong there, but it does not matter for it is the thoughts that count. To be sure the thoughts count. For the life of us we cannot see how intelligent men can say that you can put the right thoughts without putting down the right words. This seems to us to be mere double-talk to please the unbelieving or an effort to eliminate things which one finds objectionable. One Commentator said once, ” If you don’t know the difference between a room and a mansion, I don’t want you for my real estate agent.” [NIV]
Some of the evangelicals speak loudly of inspiration and an inerrant Bible while at the same time they talk about errors in it. It is obvious there can be only one Bible. It doesn’t take a genius to understand this statement. If God gave us His Word, then what He delivered is true Scripture and all else is not. Those original writings may be copied many times and translated into many languages….. copies which agree with what God gave are the Word of God. This is the heart of the matter. Of course, the scholars will say that all the modern versions are true, they simply use more up-to-date language. Now, if that were true there would be little objection. But the plain fact of the matter is that the modern versions have a different source than the King James Bible, and they have many changes and omissions. Friends, How Can we live by” every Word,” if we don’t have ” every Word” of God?
The scholars tell us that they are clarifying what God said; and then new meanings are given to basic passages. Isn’t that strange, that God gave us His word, but He was unable to say what He means and mean what He says. Do they want us to believe that until they, the modern scholars of the 19th and 20th century came along, Christians and the world were without an accurate interpretation of God’s Word? Friend, you don’t defend the Word of God by altering the Word of God. A perfect God that we worship never give us anything less than a perfect Bible.
Yes, there is only one Bible. God speaks of it as “ The Sword of the Spirit.” there are not 30 or 40 swords but one! Many years ago a group of men were descending on of the peaks in the Alps. Suddenly the first man in line slipped of the edge. The next two men above tightened the rope and stood firm to bear the shock and save their friend. The rope ran its length and the blow came; but the rope snapped like a thread, They stood horrified as the man plunged 4000 feet to his death. When they reached the bottom, the rope was examined; why had it not held? They soon found out! It was not the genuine article. True Alpine Club ropes have a red stands running through them, but this one had none. It was a poor substitute and it did not stand the test. There is only one true Bible. Cheap substitutes will not do on matter how man people buy them and in spite of all the notable who endorse them.
Some teach, and we are afraid that all too many believe, it does not matter if we have an accurate copy of the original Bible or not. As long as it is similar, it is good enough. Many teach that it is of no consequence if the Bible has some historical errors as long as the message of salvation is true. It never occurs to such intellectuals that if God can not record and preserve a simple record of history factually, is it not risky to accept the account of salvation and one’s eternal destiny?
A statement pertinent to this matter was made by the late Dr. James M. Gary. He told of a certain liberal theologian who voiced the opinion that the subject of the Bible’s purity was unimportant. The man went to say that ” it was a matter of small consequence whether a pair of trousers were originally perfect if they were now torn.” Dr. Gary said, “ that it might be a mater of small consequence to the wearer of the trousers, but the tailor who made them would prefer to have it understood that they did not leave the shop that way.”
Dear Friends, we think it makes a great deal of difference to God, and it should to us as to whether that original production was perfect or not. Do we have the one that left the shop? Can we be sure that the Bible we follow today is the same as that one? It would be well for us to remind ourselves that , “ Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” (Romans 10:17). Saving faith does not come from a substitute for the Bible. Men are only saved, born again through the one and true Bible: “ not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God which lieveth and abideth forever.” 1st Peter 1:23. Beware of the confusion created by the senseless rash of new versions, translations, editions and so called “improvements” upon the tried and tested Bible of our fathers and grandfathers!!
Modern versions change the Bible to please people. God uses the Bible to change People!
To be continued………………………….
From The Peoples Gospel Hour Staff