A. Biblical InspirationA. Biblical Inspiration

Read:Read:

Eugene Maly, “Purpose of the Eugene Maly, “Purpose of the Bible” , introductory article of Bible” , introductory article of the the New American Bible.New American Bible.

The State of the Question:The State of the Question:

In general, What is the meaning In general, What is the meaning of the statement, “the bible is of the statement, “the bible is word of God?”word of God?”

In particular, How does biblical In particular, How does biblical inspiration work?inspiration work?

1. Definition1. Definition

--Inspiration applies to the sacred --Inspiration applies to the sacred writers not to the bible as an writers not to the bible as an inspirational book.inspirational book.

--from the Latin word, --from the Latin word, inspiratusinspiratus, a , a term associated with “spirit”term associated with “spirit”

----Biblical Inspiration is the guidance Biblical Inspiration is the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the writing of the of the Holy Spirit in the writing of the Sacred Scripture, so that it can be Sacred Scripture, so that it can be called the Word of God.called the Word of God.

2. Biblical Background of the 2. Biblical Background of the concept inspirationconcept inspiration

a. In the OTa. In the OT Certain people talked and Certain people talked and

acted in behalf of God due to acted in behalf of God due to the Spirit of God.the Spirit of God.

--Prophets, example Ezekiel: “--Prophets, example Ezekiel: “Then Then the spirit of the LORD fell upon me, the spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and he said to me, "Say, Thus says and he said to me, "Say, Thus says the LORD: This is what you think, O the LORD: This is what you think, O house of Israel; I know the things that house of Israel; I know the things that come into your mindcome into your mind.” .”

Ezekiel 11:5Ezekiel 11:5

Certain books were also Certain books were also considered as sacred.considered as sacred. Example, The Lord commands the Example, The Lord commands the

prophet Jeremiah to “prophet Jeremiah to “Take a scroll Take a scroll and write on it all the words that I and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you have spoken to you …” (Jeremiah …” (Jeremiah 36:2)36:2)

Certain books were also Certain books were also considered as sacred.considered as sacred. Example, The Lord commands the Example, The Lord commands the

prophet Jeremiah to “prophet Jeremiah to “Take a scroll Take a scroll and write on it all the words that I and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you have spoken to you …” (Jeremiah …” (Jeremiah 36:2)36:2)

B. In the NTB. In the NT Jesus often quoted passages from Jesus often quoted passages from

the Old Testament when he taught.the Old Testament when he taught. --example: Mark 7:6: --example: Mark 7:6: He [Jesus] said He [Jesus] said

to them, "Isaiah prophesied rightly to them, "Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written, about you hypocrites, as it is written, 'This people honors me with their lips, 'This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from mebut their hearts are far from me;;

The New Testament cites some 350 The New Testament cites some 350 times the Old Testament.times the Old Testament.

The passage in 2 Timothy 3:16 The passage in 2 Timothy 3:16 ““All Scripture is All Scripture is inspired by inspired by GodGod and is useful for and is useful for teaching…”teaching…”

-in Greek, “inspired by God” is -in Greek, “inspired by God” is theopneustostheopneustos, literally, “God-, literally, “God-breathed”. This Greek word could breathed”. This Greek word could describe the experience of the Old describe the experience of the Old Testament prophets who were Testament prophets who were “inspired” by the Spirit of God.“inspired” by the Spirit of God.

3. The manner of Biblical 3. The manner of Biblical InspirationInspiration

““How did biblical inspiration How did biblical inspiration work?”work?”

-the problem in the Nineteenth -the problem in the Nineteenth Century is not the Century is not the factfact of of inspiration but its inspiration but its mannermanner..

1. Theories of Inspiration1. Theories of Inspiration Divine DictationDivine Dictation Negative assistanceNegative assistance Subsequent approbationSubsequent approbation

The Evangelist Matthew by Rembrandt

2. The Church’s understanding2. The Church’s understanding

(see (see Dei Verbum Dei Verbum nos. 9 and 11) nos. 9 and 11) God is actively present in a unique God is actively present in a unique

manner in the composition of the manner in the composition of the biblical books.biblical books.

The human authors were free in The human authors were free in making use of their own talents making use of their own talents and resources in composing the and resources in composing the sacred books,sacred books,

3. The five effects of Biblical 3. The five effects of Biblical Inspiration (Inspiration (R-U-C-Sa-TR-U-C-Sa-T))

RevelationRevelation. The Bible is a . The Bible is a special record of God’s self-special record of God’s self-communication.communication.

In the Scripture, God freely In the Scripture, God freely makes known the makes known the hidden hidden purpose of the divine willpurpose of the divine will and and lovingly speaks to human beings lovingly speaks to human beings as friends, inviting them “into as friends, inviting them “into fellowshipfellowship with himself with himself

UnityUnity.. There is a basic unity in There is a basic unity in the different biblical writings.the different biblical writings. Every pageEvery page of the inspired of the inspired

text(text(both in OT and NTboth in OT and NT) tells us in ) tells us in some way about God’s will for some way about God’s will for salvation, for a fullness of life for salvation, for a fullness of life for his people and for all of Creation, his people and for all of Creation, and the about the one central and the about the one central reality—reality—the mystery of Jesus the mystery of Jesus Christ.Christ.

CompletenessCompleteness.. The Bible is complete The Bible is complete in its revelation of who God is.in its revelation of who God is. God’s revelation in the Scripture is God’s revelation in the Scripture is

perfect.perfect. No other new revelation is No other new revelation is needed to complete our picture of God needed to complete our picture of God and his ways. The and his ways. The ongoing revelation ongoing revelation of Godof God in history and in the Church (so- in history and in the Church (so-called “Tradition”), is necessarily and called “Tradition”), is necessarily and intimately connected with the Biblical intimately connected with the Biblical Revelation. (so Revelation. (so Dei VerbumDei Verbum 10 says: 10 says: “Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture “Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture form one sacred deposit of the word of form one sacred deposit of the word of God, which is entrusted to the Church”). God, which is entrusted to the Church”).

SacramentalitySacramentality.. The Bible is The Bible is “sacramental”.“sacramental”. One can have One can have a real encountera real encounter

with God through Jesus Christ in with God through Jesus Christ in the Sacred Scripture the Sacred Scripture

(see Isaiah 55:10-11; Hebrew (see Isaiah 55:10-11; Hebrew 4:12). 4:12).

TruthTruth.. The Scripture teaches us “The Scripture teaches us “that that

truthtruth which God wanted put into which God wanted put into the sacred writings the sacred writings for the sake for the sake of our salvationof our salvation. . (see (see Dei VerbumDei Verbum 11). 11).

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