BIBLICAL INSPIRATION: WHAT IS IT AND WHY IT IS IMPORTANT Bruce A. Ware, Professor of Christian Theology, Southern Seminary, Louisville, KY I.

Recent Distortions of Biblical Inspiration by Some Professing to be Evangelical

II. Defining Biblical Inspiration A. Meaning of theopneustos in 2 Timothy 3:16

B. Verbal Inspiration

C. Plenary Inspiration

D. Definition Biblical Inspiration is the Christian belief that God, by His Holy Spirit, so moved the writers of the books of canonical Scripture, that as they wrote what they believed and chose to write, they wrote exactly as God wanted them to write, so that Scripture is simultaneously the word and teaching of human authors while it also, in its entirety and in all of its actual words and grammatical form, is fully and verbally Gods very own breathed-out word. III. Biblical Teaching A. 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

B. 2 Peter 1:20-21 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of ones own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

C. 1 Corinthians 2:12-13 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.

IV. Why is it Important? A. The full truthfulness of Scripture both requires inspiration and is required by inspiration

B. Ontology and Function what something is affects what it is able to do

C. Inadequacy of general revelation, and need of Scripture for saving revelation

D. The Holy Spirit, who inspired Scripture, sanctifies us by Scripture

E. Marvelous illustration of concurrence Scripture is fully the product of God and men