Inspiration

Do you feel the bible is the inspired word of God and can be taken at face value when read? “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2nd Timothy 3:16-17) We notice that the word inspiration in this passage means God breathed and perfect means complete or furnished completely.
   
Here are some related verses regarding the adding to or taking away from the completeness of the word of God: “Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness. Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” (Psalm 119:159-160) “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” (Proverbs 30:5-6) “And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” (Revelation 22:19)
   
Perhaps the first question we should ask in this study is the question: “Are you inspired and understand fully the written word of God?” Do you hold the qualifications of inspiration? I suspect it helped a man of Ethiopia greatly when Philip the evangelist asked this question and received an answer: “And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.” (Acts 8:30-31)
   
The next question would probably be do you study in the original Greek text or have access to the original New Testament letters? I suspect most of you are reading from an English translation and only know one language. Do you feel that God had a hand in the canonization and translation of scriptures? As you know, the process was long working its way along through dead (i.e. Latin) or not often used languages and Old English and German translators, etc. Did God have a hand in all of this and put the complete will (letters, etc.) in the bibles we read?
   
I personally believe that he did because I have no other standard or basis for my beliefs when I take that completeness out of the bibles I read and study.
   
Perhaps the last question would be do you believe that the commentaries, concordances, bible dictionaries, and history are part of the inspired word of God? How limited or broad do we want to make the inspiration of God? In this regard, we are talking about how you actually study and believe and not what you sometimes say about the inspired book.
   
If you are like me, and have studied the background of some of the bible scholars, you get a little concerned. Their beliefs may be somewhat far removed from my beliefs regarding scripture. They certainly weren’t members of the same church that I am a member of and I can’t support some of their general beliefs in scripture. However, they are considered scholars of the bible and we sometimes use their work to gain understanding.
   
In my introduction I used a passage of scripture from the Old King James New Testament (the word perfect) because many Christians have been advised often that the word is complete or finished (generally speaking) in today’s English. Only the most arrogant among us consider themselves perfect and others not measuring up to “their” defined standards. Of course, we aren’t talking about bible standards when we consider their definition of perfect and their “actual” view of themselves and others.
   
Is my telling you that this word perfect actually means complete in today’s English “adding” to or “taking” away from the word? After all, the word “complete” is not in the KJV translation in this and other verses using the word perfect.
   
Personally, I feel very comfortable using the KJV even though there has been a change in the meaning of some words. I feel like I can get the meaning of 2nd Timothy 3:17 just using my God given brain.
   
There are passages of scripture that give me problems even though I feel that the KJV and other translations are complete to the saving of my soul. I suspect I’m not alone when it comes to some of these specific problems. I can think of one controversial subject where the majority opinion in the church goes to a remote bible scholar (bible scholars often disagree) and not “one” English translation that I’m aware of translates the bible using this scholars interpretation of a particular word. His word interpretation changes completely the meaning of the scriptures. Even so, he is “gospel.” Do you believe the bible translations or some remote word scholar? Do you actually believe what you read in the bible? Here, let me explain it to you….
   
Sometimes we hear so-called doctrine that defies every translation that is written. We might say that some delight in selecting a particular viewpoint instead of the written word. We certainly believe this is true when it comes to the requirement of baptism for the remission of sins.
   
Interestingly, those that believe the translation of the bible as it is written are sometimes considered the minority viewpoint. Sometimes we are even labeled a cult. What is difficult about the words of Acts 2:38? “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” What requirements in this verse can we avoid because of our “word” studies? One thing I admire about many translations of the bible is their consistency in translation. The New Living Translation of the bible translates verse 38 with these words: “Peter replied, Each of you must turn from your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Who could misunderstand these words without some other words adding to or detracting from this verse of scripture?
   
It all seems to go downhill from here. Does Baptism include sprinkling? Can we baptize infants? Do we even need to be baptized for salvation? Will faith only save us? The questions and word studies just go on and on. Adding to or detracting from the complete inspired word of God. When studying you might want to start with your bible.