“The Bible is Inspired [Part I]”

Ben Bailey

 

            In our world the Bible is often laughed at, mocked and ridiculed.  In our schools children are taught that evolution is correct and Genesis 1:1 is only a myth.  Even among many preachers, the validity and authenticity of the Bible is in doubt.  However, the Bible claims that it is fully inspired.  Paul said, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Tim. 3:16).  Peter also said, “no prophecy is of any private interpretation…but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:20-21).  If man says the Bible is not inspired, and God says it is, whom shall we believe?  Can we trust the Bible?  Can we prove that it is inspired? We must be able to prove the Bible is inspired to please God and to answer the critics (1 Thes. 5:21).  In the following series of articles we are going to prove from several evidences that the Bible is inspired of God. 

            The first proof that the Bible is inspired of God is prophecy.  Prophecy is properly defined as the ability to predict a future event with such exacting accuracy and minute detail so as to necessarily require divine guidance. The Bible is full of this kind of prophecy.  Notice a few of these.  (1).  Jeremiah predicted that God’s people would go into a 70 year period of captivity by the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar (Jer. 25:9-12, 29:10-11).  This was fulfilled completely and is recorded in history and the Bible (2 Chron. 36:20-21).  How did Jeremiah know who would do this and for how long it would be?  The only answer is God told him.  (2).  Isaiah predicted that a virgin would give birth to a son and His name would be called Immanuel (Isa. 7:14).  This prophecy was spoken 750 years before Mary gave birth to Jesus, the Immanuel (Matt.  1:21-23).  But how was Isaiah able to look 750 years into the future and predict not only an event, but an event that had never happened before?  Because God told him this would happen.  (3).  The Psalmist predicted the Lord’s death with exacting detail.  In Pslam 22, he predicted that He would be mocked (Ps. 22:6-8), his hands and feet would be pierced (Ps. 22:16), his clothes would be divided (Ps. 22:18), and he would become very thirsty (Ps. 22:15).  As you read the gospel accounts of Jesus’ crucifixion, all of these events in Psalm 22 are recorded as happening.  Again, how could the Psalmist have known 1000 years before the cross that Jesus would die this way?  How could he tell such minute things as Jesus hands and feet being pierced and His clothes being divided?  The only logical answer is that God inspired him to say those things.  Likewise, God inspired the New Testament writers to say exactly what He wanted said.  Truly, the Bible is God’s word.  The Psalmist expressed it so beautifully when he said, “the entirety of Your word is truth” (Ps. 119:160).  Let’s believe that the Bible is God’s word and that its message applies to us today.