The Inspiration of the Bible: Man’s Part
The role of the authors involved a number of phases in a process that lead to an inspired Scripture.
I. GOD PREPARED THE AUTHORS
A. They Were Set Apart From the Womb, Galatians 1:15
1. The general influences in their lives were preordained.
2. Their religious training and personal experiences were preordained.
B. They Were Consecrated Prior to Birth, Jeremiah 1:5
1. Their personalities and mental emotional capacities were predetermined, Psalm 139:13-18
2. Their calling was predetermined before their birth.
II. GOD PRESENTED REVELATION TO THE AUTHORS
A. They Were Revealed Truth Unknowable to Mankind, I Corinthians 2:6-12
1. It is called wisdom … God’s wisdom, v. 6,7
2. It is called a mystery …truth previously hidden, v. 7
3. It is called “things” we speak, v 13. “Things” not seen, v.9. “Things” freely given, v. 12. “Things” revealed, v 10.
B. They Were Revealed Truth Taught to Them with Specific Words from the Holy Spirit, I Corinthians 2:13
1. They were not left to express it in their own wisdom. They were taught how to express them. “Things we also speak not in words taught by human wisdom.”
2. The Holy Spirit oversaw which “spiritual words” they were to use to accurately express the truth. “But in those taught by the Holy Spirit”.
III. GOD PRESERVED THE AUTHOR’S PERSONALITY
A. The Holy Spirit used the Authors own Vocabulary and Writing Style
“We also speak;… taught by the Holy Spirit”
B. The Holy Spirit Chose Words to Exactly Express the Truth
“Combining Spiritual thoughts (things – truths) with spiritual words.”
IV. GOD PROVIDENTIALLY CONTROLLED THE AUTHORS, II PETER 1:20, 21
A. Negatively: Men did not Originate the Message and Truth They Preached
1. Scripture does not “come to be” by human compelling: The English word “is” in the Greek is the word “come to be”, v. 20.
2. Scripture is not a result of human enterprise or endeavor: “One’s own interpretation” refers in context to one’s own ideas or endeavor, v. 20.
3. Scripture is not a result of a human decision or act of will, v. 21.
B. Positively: God Oversaw the Production of the Scripture
1. Men were Moved: The term “moved” means more than to guide – it means to – overrule in the direction and destiny of an object
Phero: “To carry, to move by bearing, to be conveyed or borne with a suggestion of speed or force.” Mark 1:32. “Bringing” sick to Jesus, Luke 5:18. “Carrying” on a bed a paralyzed man
2. It is used of a ship borne along by wind, Acts 27:15, 17
3. The authors were sovereignly lifted and conveyed so that what they spoke was what God wanted and at the same time what they wanted.
