Inspiration of the Bible
By Arthur V. Fox
AUTHENTICITY refers to the writer of a book, credibility to its matter, genuineness to its preservation, authority to its sanction, inspiration to its origin. The last applies in a particular sense to the Bible. There are various opinions in regard to the extent in which the Bible is inspired. Some think the Bible inspired merely as poetry is; some hold it to be inspired simply so far as they deem it God-worthy; a third class holds that portions only of the Bible are inspired, as the Pentateuch and Isaiah; a fourth, that all Scripture is inspired but not equally—distinguishing between superintendence, direction, and suggestion, as distinct and progressive steps; a fifth class, professing a belief in plenary inspiration of all Holy Scripture, practically denies it by giving to human writing, or an instinctive sentiment, or an inner light, an equal authority. The first is open infidelity; the second, masked infidelity; against the third we maintain that all Scriptures are inspired; against the fourth, that all are equally so; against the fifth, that all are peculiarly so. The doctrine we teach is, that as the word of man is by the breath of his mouth, so the Word of God is by the breath of the Almighty. Primarily, the text refers to the Old Testament; but as the apostles ranked the New Testament with the Scriptures, we may embrace in the proposition the whole Bible. But what is the Bible? We answer, The canonical Scriptures in the original tongues. That these are fully inspired we argue, (1) from the necessity of the case. We are doomed to endless disquiet unless we have an infallible standard of truth. There are only three things in which we can look for such a standard,—reason, the church, and revelation. With all Christians the first is out of the question, and with all Protestants the second is also. We have no standard if not in the written Word. If the words of Scripture are not approved by God, there is no written revelation. No being is responsible for a document which he has not dictated, or at least inspected and approved: and if God has dictated, inspected, and approved the Bible, it is verbally inspired; if not, then, tho the prophets were inspired, we have no revelation — we have nothing but the book. That the book is verbally inspired in part is clear from the following circumstances: In some instances the writers predicted coming events which they did not comprehend; in others they searched to know what or what manner of time the Spirit that was in them did signify. We may argue its inspiration also from the prophetic nature of the Scripture. Not a book of the Old Testament or New that is not prophetic in part. Prophecy—prediction—refers to what is beyond the range of human minds. Here man must rely verbally upon the divine mind for guidance,—an error in mode or tense would be an error in fact, and a leak for the faith which might sink the church.6The Inspiration of the Word Is Indicated by the manner in which sacred writings are introduced and closed, and quoted by sacred writers. David says, "The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and His Word was in my tongue." 2 Sam. 23: 2. "And these are the words that the Lord spake." Jer. 30: 4. "For the Lord spake thus to me." Isa. 8: 11. "Hear this word that the Lord hath spoken against you." Amos 3: 1. "Speak with My words unto them." Eze. 3: 4, 11. Thus opening they close with such words as these: "The mouth of the Lord of Hosts hath spoken." How are they quoted by the apostles? "But those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all His prophets." Acts 3: 18. God the speaker and man the instrument, not man the speaker and God the assistant. The New Testament writers divide the Old Testament into the law and the prophets, but quote both as of equal authority—both as prophetic. The ceremonial law was indeed prophetic in all its parts; the history of the Jews was typical. The Psalms are full of predictions; the authors of all the books were invested with the dignity of prophets. "This scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake." The New Testament Scriptures are full of predictions, and their authors are said to speak by the Spirit. In the words of Holy Writ we may conclude. "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether." Ps. 19: 7-9.