Evaluating differing views on how the Bible was written.
Inspired? Many wrong views only one right

There are many viewpoints and theories on how the Bible was written. The following list represents only a few. As you read, try and determine for yourself the one that reflects closest, or best summarizes, what the Bible teaches about itself. At the end of this article we have provided a host of relevant Bible passages that are a good starting place for a Bible Study on this subject.

  1. The Bible was written by God and dictated to individuals such as Moses, Isaiah, and Paul, who recorded it verbatim.

  2. The Bible is the inspired Word of God transmitted through human writers who, being human, aren't necessarily infallible and are capable of creating and perpetuating errors.

  3. The Bible was written by wise and pious people as a profound expression of their understanding of their origins and God's will.

  4. The Bible was written by humans but nonetheless contains timeless wisdom and items of historical and literary interest.

  5. The Bible was written by humans belonging to particular cultures at a particular time and is not necessarily a universally relevant document.

  6. The Bible was written and modified by religious people with a goal of manipulating and controlling people.

  7. The Bible was written by God through chosen individuals authenticated as prophets and apostles. God sovereignly utilized all the experiences and personalities of the writers to record the message He provided.

In order, we will briefly examine each of these seven claims.

#1. The Bible was written by God and dictated to individuals such as Moses, Isaiah, and Paul, who recorded it verbatim.

    This first point, though quickly sounding good, is deficient. Yes, it is true that God did dictate word-for-word some of the Bible, even writing a little of it down himself, but it doesn't encompass the entire Bible. Those who claim "verbal inspiration" often mean that each and every word of the entire Bible was dictated audibly by God. Some who hold this view, believing each individual word and syllable to be integral, then have to claim subsequent (successionary) inspiration for their favorite translation, because "how else would God carry every word into a new language?" Unfortunately, holding to the idea that the original was verbally dictated leads to the questions "How can we ever know God's word, because there are so many variants in the manuscripts?" and "Where are the original manuscripts (autographs)?" Taking it further to claim inspiration of a specific manuscript, textual branch, or translation, still begs the question "How do you know this text is the right one?" Historically differing branches of the church have claimed the Septuagint, the Latin Vulgate, and the King James, all as having subsequent God-given authority. Each position did so without having a Scriptural validation for such a claim or without acknowledging that hosts of wording changing, spelling errors or revisions, and more exist within their text family.

#2. The Bible is the inspired Word of God transmitted through human writers who, being human, aren't necessarily infallible and are capable of creating and perpetuating errors.

    "They're only human", while true, is a misleading statement. Most making this claim are merely paying lip-service to God's Word being inspired. If God couldn't assure that His word was written down properly, conveying His meaning and intent, then any message passed on would be suspect. Saying that the writers did their best in writing down what they believed God was trying to say, still effectively reduces the message to one that could have been distorted, perhaps even unintentionally, by the original writer.

    A mark of all prophet's God appointed, and subsequently apostles, was that they could speak without error what God had revealed to them. This was a universally viewable sign that they spoke on behalf of the one true God, who cannot lie and who is perfect in all ways. (For more on prophets and prophecy read here.)

#3. The Bible was written by wise and pious people as a profound expression of their understanding of their origins and God's will.

    Wise can describe those God used to write down His word, but not in the way the world uses that term. Each of the individuals God chose was endowed with wisdom from above, a wisdom that far exceeded their education, upbringing and experiences. For example, some of the apostles were crude fisherman, not quite the scholarly type that typically resorts to libraries and lecture halls.

    If pious is being used to mean "devout" rather than "self-righteous" or "religious" it too may be an apt description. Certainly, after being called by God, these individuals devoutly followed the Lord. The world tends to use the alternate meanings, making the individuals into self-righteous religious zealots who seek power or to manipulate others by their beliefs.

    If the Bible is merely an expression of any personal understanding of who God is and what He has done, it is merely stories of man - fairytales that may or may not contain some truth.

#4. The Bible was written by humans but nonetheless contains timeless wisdom and items of historical and literary interest.

    This understanding falls even further than the last. Herein the Bible is a collection of good sayings, great fictional stories and perhaps a little good history. At best it was retained over the years because it was useful. Again, if it is merely stories of man, with dubious origins and merit, it is something to be used or rejected by the whim of man.

#5. The Bible was written by humans belonging to particular cultures at a particular time and is not necessarily a universally relevant document.

    Removing an all-knowing ever-present all-powerful God from the Bible's origins reduces it to a book compiled by people in a small geographic region. If only by the people of the near east (Middle East), without knowledge or understanding of the remaining world, it can only be useful to those it was written for. Even then, as cultures have changed and adapted throughout time, those holding this view can justly argue that most of it could hardly be relevant to today.

#6. The Bible was written and modified by religious people with a goal of manipulating and controlling people.

    This is quite similar to the third view, except here the religious people perhaps callously and maliciously fabricated and shaped the message with intent. Even if they accept that some truth was originally expressed, none of it can be trusted because of the changes they profess. It's a simple matter for this view to be ascribed not only to the original writers but to copyists and translators of all subsequent generations. Certainly this is the view popularized by the best selling work, The Da Vinci Code.

#7. The Bible was written by God through chosen individuals authenticated as prophets and apostles. God sovereignly utilized all the experiences and personalities of the writers to accurately record the message He provided.

    This view alone ascribes to God complete control over His revelation. He chose the people, he shaped the people, he provided visible authentication of each person, and he used all things to guarantee that his message was faithfully recorded. This places scriptures above all other earthly works of man, something clearly seen as unique and incapable of being reproduced by human initiative. It is for this reason that imitations and counterfeits have always be found to be such by comparison to the original.

    God does not need to repeat the special circumstances of inspiration for each additional copy or translation. Instead, His sovereign shaping of events, circumstances, and people, have safeguarded His word through these subsequent processes. God's word transcends the letters on a page so that the meaning and intent of what he has revealed continue to remain clear throughout all generations and for all people.

     

In conclusion, some Bible passages to consider on this subject...

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NIV)

2 Samuel 23:2 "The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me [David]; his word was on my tongue. (NIV)

Acts 28:25 They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: "The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said through Isaiah the prophet: (NIV)

Romans 3:1-2 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? 2 Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God. (NIV)

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (NIV)

2 Peter 1:20-21 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (NIV)

Psalms 19:7-9 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 9 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. (NIV)

Jeremiah 22:1 This is what the Lord says: "Go down to the palace of the king of Judah and proclaim this message there: ... (NIV) [Also Jeremiah 32:1 and 33:1]

Acts 20:27 For I [Paul] have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. (NIV)

Deuteronomy 4:36 From heaven he made you hear his voice to discipline you. On earth he showed you his great fire, and you heard his words from out of the fire. (NIV)

Exodus 24:12 The Lord said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commands I have written for their instruction." (NIV)

Psalms 102:18 Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord: (NIV)

Psalms 119:160 All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal. (NIV)

Zephaniah 1:1 The word of the Lord that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, during the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah: (NIV)

Luke 1:1-4 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. (NIV)

1 Corinthians 7:6-7 I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7 I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. (NIV)

Exodus 17:14 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven." (NIV)

Jeremiah 36:27-28 After the king burned the scroll containing the words that Baruch had written at Jeremiah's dictation, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 28 "Take another scroll and write on it all the words that were on the first scroll, which Jehoiakim king of Judah burned up. (NIV) [Also 36:32]

Habakkuk 2:2-3 Then the Lord replied: "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. 3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. (NIV)

Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. (NIV)

Philippians 3:1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. (NIV)

Jude 3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. (NIV)

Matthew 5:48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (NIV)

Psalms 18:30a As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. (NIV)

Revelation 1:10-11 On the Lord's Day I [John] was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea." (NIV)

Revelation 10:4 And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down." (NIV)

Revelation 21:5 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." (NIV)