The bible speaks of itself as being ‘inspired’ by god.?

Question

What does this claim exactly mean? How is it testable and verifiable?

If the bible is true, why would it need to be ‘inspired’? Inspiration is customarily applied to fiction, such as a great novel being said to have been ‘inspired’ by an event or impression experienced by the author, or his admiration for a certain personality or achievement. How is the biblical use of the term ‘inspired’ different from that applied to works of fiction, and please explain why truth claims would require this ‘inspiration’.

Answer 1

:o)

First, broaden your definition of 'inspired'.

in-spire ... in- + to breathe; breath or blow upon;...4. to cause, guide, communicate or motivate as by divine or supernatural influence. (Webster's New World Dictionary, second college edition; the etymology, slightly paraphrased)

There is more, but this is the primary meaning for both uses we are discussing.

The reference to breathing is in the way air and breath are invisible, like the spirit realm. The "divine influence" is, of course, God, normally. When an artist or writer says they were inspired, this is loosely referring to God (or the heavenly realm) being the source of their ideas. It really means, they don't know where the ideas came from.

With the Bible, it is meant literally -- God influenced the writings of the Bible. Though some people believe this means God dictated the words of the Bible to those humans who copied them to parchment, this is definitely not the case.

God puts his spirit (his mental process of understanding) into some people (all people will eventually have the opportunity to receive God's spirit), so they can learn to discern true things from false. And God motivates some of them to write this truth. He also 'inspires' his people to discern between those works of writing that were 'inspired' by him and those that have not. (There is another form of Godly inspiration where God speaks and it is written mostly verbatim -- that is prophecy).

So, the Bible is true BECAUSE it was inspired -- that is, it comes from God himself.

Testing this is important. Again, some people think that we should just believe in what God says without proof -- have "blind faith." But the Word of God, the Bible, was inspired to say just the opposite:
"Prove all things; keep that which is good." (1Thessalonians 5:21)

So, how does one test the Bible itself? One way is through prophecy. The Bible has very many prophecies recorded in it. Many are not yet fulfilled; and some are too old to test. But some can be tested by reading history.

One prophecy that stands out in my memory is when God predicted Alexander the Great would conquer the world (its extent at that time). This can be proved to have been written before the actual event because the Jews presented him with the writings of the prophecy just as he was about to invade their land. And by that, they saved themselves from going to war against Greece -- a war that God had already determined that the Jews would loose.

Another test for the truth of the Bible, that it is inspired by God, is to do the things it says, and see if they produce the good results that God says they will. This will take a keen mind and an unbiased heart to discern the results truthfully.

I hope this helps.

Answer 2

Is this a question? Some Bibles have 66 books. Some have more. Some have less. Some books should be in the Bible, but have been lost over time. The Bible itself mentions many inspired books that are not found within, like the book of Iddo the Seer, and the book of Nathan the Prophet. The Bible is a collection of testimonies about God, but it wasn't written by God. That doesn't mean that they aren't inspired, although some are more inspirational than others. Isaiah is polar opposite to Song of Solomon. Ultimately, it is up to the Spirit of God to testify what is true, and what is not. Otherwise we would be endlessly stuck in a quagmire of tradition and translation issues.

Answer 3

It doesn't.
The Apostle Paul claimed that the writings accepted by the Jews and familiar to Timothy were 'inspired' by God. Nothing more, nothing less. The Bible is not a single book - it is a collection of many different books by many different authors. Paul made claims, as did Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, etc. The Bible makes no claims - it is a category of things, not an individual thing.

Answer 4

The text you refer to is probably from 2 Timothy 3:16...

2 Timothy 3:15-17 (New American Standard Bible)

15and that (A)from childhood you have known (B)the sacred writings which are able to (C)give you the wisdom that leads to (D)salvation through faith which is in (E)Christ Jesus.

16(F)All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

17so that (G)the man of God may be adequate, (H)equipped for every good work.

In this case, the word "inspired" translates from the Greek word theo-pnuestos which is more literally translated as "God-breathed". The reference is to "all scripture". If I try to understand the text, it seems to be a different meaning than the currently used "inspired" that you mention. It sounds as if the author, Paul, was giving credibility and credit to God rather than others for the usefulness of the scripture to equip mankind for good. If I look at the world today, as well as our history, I like the idea of having reliable text that can equip you and I for good. I know I can use all of the help I can get.

Answer 5

Are you so ignorant to not know the fulfilled prophesies of the Bible? Thousands of years ago it was prophesied that Israel would become a nation again and a nation born in one day and a nation speaking the original Hebrew language. This nation would be surrounded by enemies and this nation would be hated by all nations. You verify a prophet by his prophesies coming true. The prophets of the Bible who said that God told them what to say have all had their prophesies come true.

How is it tested? The Bible is the most attested book ever written. It has been attacked and tested. Men have lost their lives for printing it. Men have lost their lives for translating it. Satan would love to destroy it, but God said heaven and earth may pass but His Word the Holy Bible would not pass away. To your worst enemy Satan, all you need to do is quote "It is written" and state God's Word and Satan must flee. Even Satan knows the power of the Word of God and man just sits around questioning the Bible. Never reading it, just questioning and doubting and unbelieving and murmuring and fussing and cussing and the hogwash that you just wrote. God says that He is TRUTH and the only way you can know TRUTH is to know GOD.

Answer 6

just a quick reminder-
Many many people wrote the bible. Not one or two. I mean hundreds. Many of the stories you read are considered gospels and in turn gospel is derived from the word gossip. The definition of gossip:gos·sip (gŏs'əp) Pronunciation Key
n.

1. Rumor or talk of a personal, sensational, or intimate nature.
2. A person who habitually spreads intimate or private rumors or facts.
3. Trivial, chatty talk or writing.
4. A close friend or companion.
5. Chiefly British A godparent.

read number 2.
Take from it what you will.
The gospels were handed down from person to person as stories and then finally given to a man to write them. You know what happens when you pass a story down from generation to generation. You get a story that's diluted. You get a story that changes to suit the times and the needs of those people during those particular times. The bible is not 100% accurate.

Answer 7

It Is not inspiration as you are thinking, the actual translation is "God Breathed." The Bible says "The Scriptures are not of any single man's interpretations, but Holy Men of God were moved by God's Holy Spirit to write down the things God wanted man to know.

Answer 8

inspiration is different then dictation. inspiration can come in dreams or thoughts and such.

for instance. im sure a great painter divinci inspired many others to want to be painters. but how many painted just like leonardo?

inspiration doesnt mean its the direct words or exact replica. it something more to the sense of an outside sorce motivating you to do something.

Answer 9

the bible is true OK just cause its inspired dint mean its not true OK god gave you a choice just like he did every one else in the world OK the bible is inspired by the holy ghost but its the true written word of god OK. believe the bible or not my friend your choice OK.. ill be praying for you OK.

Answer 10

There is no truth in the bible in the scientific sense. It is a bunch of things different saints said. It is insipired because it is their own version or what they understood. People can argue about this forever, but the bottom line remains that you can believe what you want and practice anything that you want, as long as you are not breaking any laws or hurting anyone, period.