Q: How much of the Bible (Old and New Testaments) comes from God, and how much comes from man?
(from Harvey Averne, NYC)
Consider that a baby is 100% from its parents, and is shaped by the parents' environment and personalities, yet is also 100% from the Creator of life.
The Bible (also called Scripture or the Word of God) is 100% from God, and 100% from man. God spoke His Word to prophets, who recorded it with their own words and personality.
The Bible says this about itself—from the Old Testament:
"The LORD said to me [Moses]: '... I will speak to you all the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments which you shall teach them, that they may observe them ...' "
(Deuteronomy 5:28,31 NKJV)
Surely the Lord GOD does nothing,
Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets...
The Lord GOD has spoken!
Who can but prophesy?
(Amos 3:7-8 NKJV)
And from the New Testament:
No prophecy ever originated from humans. Instead, it was given by the Holy Spirit as humans spoke under God's direction.
(2 Peter 1:20-21 GW)
"... this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David ..."
(Acts 1:16 NKJV)
Scripture is prophecy. Prophecy can be the foretelling of future events, which God has revealed through a human. But that occurs within the far broader purpose of prophecy, which is "the acting as an ambassador of God and the interpreter of His mind and will ... the prophet spoke not his own thoughts but what he received from God, retaining, however, his own consciousness and self-possession." *
"If you believe what you like in the Gospel, and reject what you don't like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself."
~ Augustine
It might be argued that the Bible alone cannot testify on its own behalf. The Bible's uncanny truth is also proven by science, archeology, and history—and none of the Bible has been disproven. Scripture's power to reveal God, make His love known, and change lives argues for divine origins as well.
But ultimately, the proof of the Bible's origin as God's Word is a matter of faith, verified by the testimony in our hearts of the Holy Spirit, of Whom both the Old and New Testaments speak.
The Holy Spirit is given by God to those who ask, by faith in Jesus Christ.
"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"
~ Jesus, Luke 11:13 (NKJV)
For more information on how the Bible was put together,
see All About Truth.
More verses of interest on:
Holy Spirit
God's Word
© 2010 Anne Lang Bundy
* Definitions of prophecy and prophet are quoted from The Complete Word Study Dictionary, General Editor: Spiros Zodhiates, Th.D., © 1992 by AMG International, Inc., Revised edition, 1993
Image source: robertpeake.com
27 February 2010
Question of the week:
Who Wrote the Bible?
by Anne Lang Bundy
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Chuck Missler has a great series called learn the bible in 24 hours (Cd). One of the hours covers just this topic and is amazing! There is nothing more fascinating than the Lord's good book.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it wonderful to know our father's in the publishing business Anne?
Awesome post dear Anne.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post, Anne. The Bible says all Scripture is God-breathed, but we know God's hand did not literally write it. The baby analogy is perfect.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you and Russell this Monday morning!
Anne,
ReplyDeleteHarvey commented on this post at my FB link.
Scripture is like air, it keeps us alive. But, it is living and breathing as well.
Thank you again.
Enjoyed the post, Anne. Have a great day.
ReplyDeleteT ~ Is it not miraculous that our Father has preserved words spoken for the last six thousand years that you and I might know Him? How great His love for us.
ReplyDeleteDenise ~ Thanks. You're pretty great yourself.
Gwen, Russell ~ I do think there are times when I open my Bible that I can feel His breath upon my cheek.
Patty ~ Thanks. It's been a long day. Nothing sustains me through a long day like God's Word.
To other guests here at Russell's place ~
If I seem a bit enthusiastic about the Bible, and you'd like to understand why, an explaination is available at my blog, "Building His Body."