Previously we said that the New Testament is both truth and our guide to life and worship. But these two ideas are supported by a third; the New Testament is inspired.
The New Testament is Inspired
We say this so often that we may be numb to his deeper meaning. If the New Testament is truth, how does it become truth? From where does that quality come? Simply, from God through the work of the Holy Spirit in the labors of holy men. Peter is concise:
“For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21).
In Context, Peter is arguing for the certainty of their testimony of Christ. He, along with James and John, had heard God’s voice from heaven proclaiming the preeminence of Jesus over the heroic figures of the Old Testament (vs. 16-18). But even more certain to his readers were the words of prophecy given by the Holy Spirit. This same Holy Spirit is the inspiring power of Scripture.
Speaking to the apostles Jesus told them that the Holy Spirit would “teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26). It is the Holy Spirit that will point to Christ (John 15:26). The Spirit speaks what he hears; “he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come” (John 16:13). Do not overlook Paul’s thoughts on Godly wisdom in 1 Corinthians 2:10-13 wherein he argues that Godly wisdom flows from the mind of God through the Holy Spirit and inspired writers to Christians:
“these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.”
Couple these verses with Paul’s remark in 2 Timothy 3:16 that “all Scripture is breathed out by God” and we see the linkage between the mind of God, the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures. The New Testament is inspired by God and thus it is as true as the very mind of God. Inspiration affirms, guarantees and supports the importance of the New Testament and the Scriptures generally. This inspired truthfulness produces a very serious implication which we will discuss next.
Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at preachersstudyblog.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter @J_Bryant_Evans.
