[MC1171611]

(This is a study with a Keynote presentation that I've prepared; it's designed for me to preach, not for an online discussion. Sorry if it appears a little scattered; it wasn't exactly homiletical.)

Intro: As Bible Believers we hold fast to the King James Bible, but the vast majority of Christians, and even Baptists, don’t hold the same position. Their beliefs vary from people who don’t believe any one Bible version to those who believe that the King James is the best, based on its Textual Foundations. I want to take some time and delve into the Bible issue, touching on the doctrines of Inspiration, Translation and Preservation.

Inspiration: 2 the drawing in of breath; inhalation.
an act of breathing in; an inhalation.

Most people, Baptists especially, always use this definition to explain the doctrine of Biblical Inspiration; they say that since “Inspiration” denotes breathing, therefore the Bible is “God-breathed.” However, we should compare Scripture with Scripture in order to understand the Bible properly.

2 Tim. 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

While this is the most common instance of the word, and the most specific when dealing with the Scriptures, there is another appearance, and it comes much earlier than 2 Timothy.

Job 32:5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled.
6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion.
7 I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.
8 But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

In this passage we find Elihu equating inspiration with supernatural understanding and wisdom on a subject, and dealing with nothing even closely resembling breath. That brings us to a better definition, also found in the Dictionary:

ORIGIN Middle English (in the sense [divine guidance] ): via Old French from late Latin inspiratio(n-), from the verb inspirare (see inspire ).

Even in 2 Timothy, the wording is “Given by inspiration,” not “inspired.” In fact, according to the passage in Job, the only thing that gets “inspired” is men, which in this case is the authors of the Bible.

2 Pet. 1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Spanish Bible passage:

“...mas los santos hombres de Dios hablaron, siendo inspirados del Espítu Santo.”
“Inspirados” means they were inspired of the Holy Spirit.
Jer. 36:1 And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
2 Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day.
3 It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.
...
19 Then said the princes unto Baruch, Go, hide thee, thou and Jeremiah; and let no man know where ye be.
20 And they went in to the king into the court, but they laid up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and told all the words in the ears of the king.
21 So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll: and he took it out of Elishama the scribe’s chamber. And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the princes which stood beside the king.
22 Now the king sat in the winterhouse in the ninth month: and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him.
23 And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth.
...
27 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying,
28 Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned.
29 And thou shalt say to Jehoiakim the king of Judah, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast burned this roll, saying, Why hast thou written therein, saying, The king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease from thence man and beast?
30 Therefore thus saith the LORD of Jehoiakim king of Judah; He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David: and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost.
31 And I will punish him and his seed and his servants for their iniquity; and I will bring upon them, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and upon the men of Judah, all the evil that I have pronounced against them; but they hearkened not.
32 Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah; who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire: and there were added besides unto them many like words.

Notice that there were words added to the second edition, yet they were still the words of the Lord, just as much as the first writing! While it’s completely wrong for men to change, take away from or add to the Scriptures, God is allowed to do whatever He wants to whenever He wants to. It’s His word for cryin’ out loud!

Conclusion:

Let God be true, and every man a liar

God’s word is perfect.

God’s word defines itself

God’s word is given by inspiration