The Bible makes the claim that it is the inspired Word of God. The word “inspired” comes from the Greek word theopneustos, which means “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16). This means that the Bible originated from God and was breathed out by Him through the human writers. Here are some key things the Bible teaches about its own inspiration:
1. All Scripture comes from God
2 Timothy 3:16 states, “All Scripture is breathed out by God.” The Bible does not contain the words of God; it is the Word of God. Though the human writers used their own styles, vocabularies and experiences, the words they wrote were fully inspired by God (2 Peter 1:21).
2. The Bible claims divine authority
Since the Bible comes from God Himself, it carries the full weight of His authority. Psalm 19:7-9 describes the law of the Lord as “perfect” and “sure.” God’s words are true and reliable because He is perfect and trustworthy. Because the Bible comes from the ultimate authority, we can trust its teachings.
3. The Bible is without error
If God breathed out the Scriptures, then they must be fully truthful and without error. Jesus said, “Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). Titus 1:2 refers to “God, who never lies.” Since God Himself is perfect, His Word must also be perfect. His words will accomplish their purpose (Isaiah 55:11).
4. The Holy Spirit guided the writing process
2 Peter 1:21 states, “No prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit guided the biblical writers, superintending their work so they wrote exactly what God wanted written, without excess or omission. The ultimate Author was God Himself.
5. Every word is God-breathed
Some people claim the thoughts or ideas in the Bible are inspired but not the actual words. However, the Bible itself claims divine inspiration to its very words. Paul said his teachings were “not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Corinthians 2:4). Jesus taught that every word—even the smallest parts of language—were completely reliable (Matthew 5:18).
6. The Bible is completely sufficient for salvation and godliness
Since all Scripture comes from God, it provides all we need for salvation, spiritual growth and guidance for living in a way that honors God. No other source is needed for spiritual truth. “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
7. God preserved His Word through history
If God is powerful enough to inspire His Word, He is powerful enough to preserve it through history and translate it into other languages. Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (Matthew 24:35). God guided the process of canonization, preserving the books He inspired and rejecting all others. He has also preserved His message in thousands of ancient manuscripts and through translation into languages around the world.
8. The Bible transforms lives
One evidence of the Bible’s divine inspiration is its power to change lives. The author of Hebrews says, “The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12). God’s Word convicted sinners and brought them to repentance in the Bible, and it still does so today. Because it comes from God and is empowered by Him, it has unique power to convert sinners and guide God’s children.
9. Jesus confirmed the Old Testament and promised the New
Jesus treated the Old Testament writings as the Word of God and promised that the Holy Spirit would inspire the apostles’ teachings in the New Testament. In John 14:25-26, Jesus told His disciples, “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”
10. Apostles and prophets were conduits of revelation
The apostles claimed to receive direct revelation from God to write authoritative teaching about Jesus and instruct the church. Peter said Paul’s writings were Scripture (2 Peter 3:16). Paul said he received the gospel directly from Jesus (Galatians 1:12). John wrote that Jesus appeared to him to give revelation for the book of Revelation (Revelation 1:1-2). God spoke through these specially appointed spokesmen to teach His inspired truth.
11. Early Christians recognized the divine authority of New Testament writings
From the earliest days of the church, the apostles’ writings were seen as authoritative Scripture. Their teaching was foundational to the church and central to Christian living. False teachers were tested against the standard of apostolic doctrine. New Testament books were treated as Scripture alongside the Old Testament canon. Christians agreed that these writings all came through Spirit-guided revelation.
12. Accepting or rejecting parts of the Bible puts its authority in question
Since the Bible claims full inspiration from God, questioning any portion of Scripture puts its entire authority in doubt. If we deny certain parts, we may deny all of it. As Paul asked, “If some did not believe, will their unbelief nullify the faithfulness of God?” (Romans 3:3). The Bible presents itself as one complete work breathed out by God, not merely containing His words.
In summary, the Bible makes bold claims about its divine origin and reliability. As God’s Word, it carries supreme authority, truthfulness and power. Because God inspired and preserved it, we can have complete confidence in His sacred book. Trusting in the Bible gives access to God’s clear revelation about salvation, truth and our purpose as His children.
The Bible describes itself as “God-breathed.” This means its very words come from the mind of God Himself through the process of inspiration. Though God used many human instruments in writing it over 1,500 years, the Bible claims divine authorship from beginning to end. As such, it is completely authoritative, reliable and sufficient to equip us for a life of faith and godliness.
Because Scripture comes directly from God, it provides supernatural wisdom, power and promises. The Bible offers truth, guidance, encouragement, correction and all we need to be sanctified through faith in Jesus Christ. Through encountering the living Word of God, our hearts and minds are transformed by the Holy Spirit to align more closely with God’s perfect will.
Though written thousands of years ago, the Bible speaks powerfully to us today. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” God’s Word is alive and deeply impacts those who read it in faith.
The Bible is an amazing gift from our Creator. Through it, He makes Himself personally known to us. By reading, studying and applying Scripture, we learn to know the very mind of Christ. God reveals Himself through every page of His inspired Word. We discover His mighty acts, perceive His glorious attributes, understand His perfect plan, receive His gracious promises and enter into personal communion with Him.
Because the Bible is “God-breathed,” we can confidently base our lives on its truth. Other books contain human wisdom and insight, but Scripture provides divine revelation straight from the all-knowing God of the universe. Those who humbly submit to its teachings experience the life-changing power of the Holy Spirit applying God’s Word to transform their hearts and minds into Christlikeness.
The Bible is an inexhaustible treasure. We could study it for a lifetime and not plumb the depths of wisdom contained in God’s Word. Every time we open the Scriptures, we access the unlimited revelation of the infinite mind of almighty God. As we seek Him there, we discover truth, guidance, hope and insight for living in ever-increasing godliness.
Because the Bible comes directly from God through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, it is completely free from error. Though written by dozens of human authors over 1500 years, its message is unified and consistent throughout. The God who inspired His Word is incapable of error or deception. Therefore, Scripture contains no mistakes or contradictions. It is utterly trustworthy in every matter it addresses.
God superintended the process of inspiration so the human authors composed precisely the message He wanted to communicate, without excess or deficiency. The Bible is exactly what God wanted to preserve as His canonical Word. Because God breathed out the Scriptures, they are “useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).
The Bible is fully sufficient for what God intends it to do in our lives. Because Scripture comes from God, it contains all the truth and wisdom we need for salvation, spiritual growth and guidance in righteous living. The psalmist proclaimed, “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul” (Psalm 19:7). Through His Word, God graciously equips us for every good work.
Jesus and the apostles treated the Old Testament as the unbreakable, authoritative Word of God. In the New Testament, the apostles and prophets spoke the inspired Word of Christ through the Holy Spirit. From the earliest days, the church recognized these writings as possessing the same divine authority as the Old Testament Scriptures.
One evidence that demonstrates the Bible’s divine inspiration is its power to convict sinners and bring them to repentance. Scripture pierces directly to the human heart like a sharp sword to expose motives and intentions. In the lives of believers, God’s Word bears spiritual fruit and conforms them increasingly to the image of Christ. The Holy Spirit empowers the Bible to accomplish God’s redemptive purposes.
Because God inspired His Word, He also preserved it through history against all attack. No other ancient book has as many ancient manuscripts copied with such precision and care. The Dead Sea Scrolls demonstrated the meticulous preservation of the Old Testament over thousands of years. We can have full confidence that the Bible we hold in our hands today is faithful to the original inspired writings.
The Bible is an unequaled treasure. Though written long ago, it speaks powerfully into our lives today. Through Scripture, we connect directly to the mind of Christ, gaining wisdom, perspective, hope, conviction and transformation. Because God breathed it out, His living Word fulfills its divine purposes in each generation.
