19/04/2020
We believe that the scriptures are the only inspired, infallible, authentic, inerrant and authoritative word of God. By the Scriptures, we mean both the Old and New Testament.
As God's word, the Scriptures therefore are the final authority for all matters of faith and practice.
We will examine each of these positions individually.
The Bible is the ONLY INSPIRED word of God
There are many views and theories that are held by the church concerning the inspiration of the Bible. But what do we mean by Inspiration?
Let us consider some of these views.
Natural Inspiration:
Believers in natural inspiration do not believe that there was anything supernatural or peculiar in the operation of the Holy Spirit upon the writers of scripture. They believe that the scripture writers were no more inspired than Shakespeare in his writings. It was simply a matter of human genius.
Universal Christian Inspiration:
According to this theory, Christians of every age are just as inspired as were the writers of scripture. The scripture writers did not have a unique encounter of inspiration that Christians today cannot experience. All Christians are inspired by God.
Mechanical Inspiration:
This theory totally ignores the human element in the writing of the scriptures altogether. They claim that the writers were merely instruments in the hand of God just as strings on a guitar are in the hands of a master musician.
This theory robs the writers of their individuality. But the Holy Spirit allowed for differences in the styles of writing thereby preserving the individuality of each writer.
Concept or thought Inspiration:
This theory claims that only the concepts, or thoughts, of men were given by inspiration. This means that the writers were left to choose their own words.
Partial Inspiration:
This theory asserts that the Bible contains the word of God. This implies that there are also some portions which are not the word of God and as such are not inspired. The greatest challenge, then, with this theory is to determine which parts are God’s words and which parts are not.
This theory leaves man in uncertainty
Plenary-verbal inspiration :
This theory is the exact opposite of partial inspiration. This theory holds to the belief that all scripture is equally inspired. It bases its belief on 2 Timothy 3:16 which reads as follows:
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (KJV/ NKJV)
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness (ESV)
The English Standard Version (ESV) translates this scripture better than the KJV or NKJV. The word used for “inspiration” in this verse is a Greek word that should literally be translated as “breathed out by God”. This scripture declares that ALL scripture, OT and NT is BREATHED OUT BY GOD.
The Revised Version of 1885 translation of this verse is incorrect. It is an erroneous translation. It reads: “Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable….”. This translation seems to imply that there are some parts of scripture which are not inspired. This translation seems to support the partial inspiration theory.
This is the “spirit of rationalism which makes human reason the test and judge and measure of what is inspired and is not” (Rev William Evans, Great Doctrines of the Bible).
The Revised Version translation allows man to decide what is inspired or profitable. This allows each individual to decide what they feel is inspired or profitable.
Now that we have outlined views on the inspiration of Scripture, which view of inspiration does Equipper's Institute believe in?
We hold FAST to the Plenary-verbal inspiration of the Scriptures.
