THE INSPIRATION OF THE WORD.
A CORRESPONDENT writes us as follows:— I am in receipt of your paper of Jan. 6, 1898, and find therein much interesting reading along Bible lines in which all are or should be deeply interested. In the Bible Reading, item 6, I read: “The New Testament writings were inspired by the same Spirit.” While this doctrine or statement is believed by most all denominations, I am unable to believe it as much as I would be glad to do so. To be inspired of God, or by the Holy Spirit, as I take it, means that the speakers or writers are fully under the control of God as much as if He spoke the words by their mouths and guided their pen or hand. Do you so believe? If speaker and writer are so guided, ought they not to agree the same as tho only one speaker spoke or only one writer wrote? If not, why not? We have no disposition to dogmatize as regards the inspiration of the Word of God either as a whole or as respects its different parts. We prefer to let the Word speak. To him who has faith, the speaking of that Word will be sufficient. To him who has not faith, any amount of argument will be of little avail. A few observations, however, may be helpful. In the first place, “The Old Testament” and “The New Testament” as indicating division of the Bible are not of Biblical but human origin. There was the old covenant and the new covenant, sometimes called testament, but the Scriptures before Christ as truly teach the new covenant as do the Scriptures since that time. 2. The Scriptures in the days of Christ and His apostles were what we now call the Old Testament. These were called “the Law of Moses, and the Prophets, and the Psalms,” “the Law and the Prophets,” “the Scriptures,” “the Word,” etc. To them was constant appeal made as ultimate evidence of the truth of the Gospel. 3. These Scriptures are said to be inspired. The apostle Paul, referring to them as “the Holy Scriptures,” which Timothy had known from a child, declares that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God [God breathed], and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Tim. 3: 16, 17. Mark that it is not the man that is inspired, but the Scriptures, the writing. It is nowhere said in the Word of God that the Bible writers were “inspired men.” These Scriptures, known to us as the “Old Testament,” thoroughly furnish the man of God unto all good works; thus revealing their perfection. Other evidences from the New Testament confirm the above. Peter tells us that “the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:21. In 1 Peter 1:11 we are told that it was “the Spirit of Christ which was in them” that “testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” Referring to the Psalms it is written, “As the Holy Ghost saith” (Heb. 3:7; Acts 1:16), and our Lord, basing an argument upon a word of the Psalms, declares, “The Scripture can not be broken” (John 10:35). David says, “The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and His word was in my tongue.” 2 Sam. 23:2. 4. There are expressions in the New Testament which convey the same idea in the promises of our Lord to His apostles (John 15:26, 27; Acts 1:8; Heb. 3:3, 4); in the testimony of Peter classing the writings of Paul with “the other scriptures” (2 Peter 3:16); in the testimony of Paul, “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth” (1 Cor. 2:13). 5. Another evidence of that Word is its power manifest in molding, changing, regenerating, and re-creating the hearts of men. Thousands of lives have borne witness to this all through the ages. How many times is a soul converted and helped by some text of Scripture in which thousands of others could see nothing! The secret is disclosed to faith. Man shall live by every word of God, and faith receives it as such. Compare Deut. 8:3; 1 Thess. 2:13; Isa. 55:10, 11. 6. The fulfilment of the prophecies of God’s Word is a mighty evidence that the Word is what it is said to be, the Word of God. 7. The teaching and example of our Lord. Never in all His teaching did He even question a single word of the Scriptures. They were to Him ultimate authority. When Satan came with his strongest and subtlest temptation, the temptation was thrice met by, “It is written,” and each time the weapon was taken from a fortress, an armory, against which the “higher criticism” has for years leveled its batteries in vain. See Matt. 4:1–10; and the quotations in Deuteronomy. Jesus read the Scriptures, taught them, quoted them, opened them to His disciples, but never questioned or criticised a single part. 8. In what respects do we know that Bible writers disagree? Of course there may be some minor mistakes in copying and translating the original; but these are insignificant as compared with the great, grand truth of salvation. Many times on a first glance two passages seem to conflict where, if we knew all the circumstances which called them forth, we should see agreement where now we see difference. Two men give each an independent account of an event. They seem to be in conflict, where, if we could have been present, we would have seen perfect agreement. To the untrained ear the same music played on a dozen different instruments may seem to produce a discord; but to the master, all is harmony. Each has its own particular tone and quality, and can reveal in the music that which none other instrument can. Each expresses its own individuality, but one and all express the power and skill of the master. When our ears are perfectly attuned to the harmony of heaven, we will hear harmony where now we hear discord. In this, as in all things, let us have the mind of Christ.