Mankind has been told for centuries that the bible is The 'Inspired Word of God.' But is it entirely God's word? Does 'inspired' mean that every word in the bible from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22: 21 is out of the mouth of God or His Son?
Paul's says of scripture in 2Timothy 3:16, " All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness"
Several questions come to mind.
What exactly is scripture and how are they inspired, in what way and to what degree?
Webster's Unabridged Dictionary says:
- Scripture, 2. any writing or book, esp. when of a sacred or religious nature.
- Inspired, 1. aroused, animated or imbued with the spirit to do somethining, by or as if by supernatural or divine influence.
So all religious writing can be considered 'scripture' and if it were 'inspired' that would mean someone was divinely motivated to write it. Yet, that motivation is no guarantee that what is being writen is entirely from the One doing the motivating.
For example:
- Proverbs 31: 6 and 7 "Give intoxicating liquor, you people, to the one about to perish and wine to those who are bitter of soul. Let one drink and forget one's poverty, and let one remember one's own trouble no more."
If this "scripture" were treated as the literal 'Word of God' then all the Elders would be required to bring a mini-bar along on each Shepherding Call.
- 1Corinthians 7: 10 - 25
In these "scriptures" Paul is careful to distinguish what is his own 'opinion' and what he recieved from Jesus. When we read the writings of Paul over all though, we see he regularly spoke his opinions, which have been mis-applied as commands from God through His Son, like Mose's law on divorce (Deuteronomy 24: 1). Which to the reader before Jesus correction, would appear to originate from Jehovah through Moses, yet Jesus made it plain, it was not, (Matthew 19: 8).
- Proverbs chapters 7- 9
Note the 'shift' in direction from the writer of chapters 7 and 9, who was giving advice for good living to another writer in chapter 8 who was giving a deep personal explaination of Himself.
It's clear to me that some parts of the bible are more inspired than others and more relevant. Biblicly speaking, is it wrong from God's viewpoint to challenge existing ideas of what is true and correct? I believe not, (Numbers 27: 1-7). It seems to me the key to reading, understanding and then applying the information God preserved for us in Bible is at Mark 13:14, "...(let the reader use discernment), "