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The Inspiration of the Scriptures

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 9, 1908

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 85, No. 28.

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The Inspiration of the Scriptures

THE charge is sometimes made against the Bible that all parts of it can not be equally inspired, as there are certain statements found in it contrary to the truth. This supposed difficulty, however, grows out of a misapprehension of what is meant by inspiration. We are told that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God;” but it does not follow that every act recorded in the Scriptures meets the approbation of God, or that he moved upon the actors to do or to say all that is recorded in the Scripture. For example, because the record is inspired, we are sure that the serpent said to Eve, “Ye shall not surely die;” but the inspiration of the Bible does not make the serpent’s statement true. Again, because the record is inspired, we know that the Pharisees represented Jesus to Pilate as “that deceiver;” but it does not follow that Jesus was actually a deceiver. On the contrary we know, from his own statement, that he is “the Truth.”
Because the inspired record includes an account of David’s great sin, and of Solomon’s departure from the way of the Lord, of Peter’s denial of Christ, and of Saul’s persecution of the early church, we are not to conclude that such conduct meets with divine approval. This would be a contradiction of the fundamental principles of righteousness set forth in the Scriptures. God can not lie; all that he says is true, all his promises are reliable. On the other hand, Satan is “a liar, and the father of it,” and those who ally themselves with him are not of the truth. The inspired record of the great controversy between good and evil contains the words and acts of those on both sides of this controversy, and we may be sure that the record is correct; but the doings of all beings must be in harmony with the divine standard of righteousness, in order to meet the approval of Heaven.
A right understanding of what is meant by the inspiration of the Scriptures, will prevent any confusion in regard to this matter.