On previous sessions of Christianity Clarified, we have repeatedly described the issue of authority as critical to biblical Christianity. This means absolutely everything pertaining to the Christian faith rises or falls on the Bible’s authority.
The claim of biblical inspiration views the Bible as having come directly from God as He utilized human penmen. This means that the Scriptures are without error since He who inspired the writers is a God of perfection. This is referred to as the “inerrancy of Scripture”, which insists the Bible is mistake-proof.
It is also “plenarily” inspired, meaning it is fully, or completely, inspired of God. All throughout its parts, Old and New Testament, in their entirety. No part of the Bible is somehow more the Word of God than another. While we may read and find certain portions or verses to be more inspiring, or more interesting than other parts, they are not, nonetheless, more inspired than other parts. Nothing in the Bible is more the Word of God, or less so, than another part. This is what “plenary inspiration” refers to. The thoroughness of divine inspiration gives equal authority to all of Scripture in all its parts. Thus, it is called “plenary”, full or entire inspiration.
For instance, most Christians would likely consider the New Testament above the Old as regards its authority. It isn’t. The Old is of equal authority to the New. Many misunderstand this concept simply because they see the New Testament as a fulfillment, or completion, of the Old, and it is. However, neither is more, or less, the Word of God than the other. When Paul wrote Timothy, “All Scripture was inspired of God,” he spoke of the Old Testament since the New, at that time, had not been written. This means that an obscure verse in Leviticus is as much as God’s Word as John 3:16. While the latter may be viewed as more strategic and significant in its implications, yet it is not more inspired than the obscure verse in Leviticus.
Any writing inspired or originated of God cannot be more so or less so. It is not a little inspired or a lot inspired. If it is inspired, it is the Word of God carrying all of the authority of God – period. Such inspiration is essential if we are to have an authoritative record that God has revealed to us.
CC-02-20
Published by