It is written:
2 Samuel 23:2-The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue.
Mr. Hopson, in your song lyrics you make some very serious accusations against the Bible.
For example:
“You gave me a Bible and expect me not to analyze it?
I’m frustrated and you provoked it
I’m not reading that m_________________g book because a human wrote it
I have a f____________g brain, you should know it.”
Again:
“A lot of folks believe it though, but I’m not surprised
Humans are f____________g dumb, still thinkin’ that Pac’s alive
I ain’t trying to take your legacy and torch it down
I’m just saying: I ain’t heard s_______ from the horse’s mouth
Just sheep always telling stories of older guys.”
Your arguments against the Bible here certainly deserve careful consideration, and I intend to provide such.
It is true that the Bible was written by men.
Your claim, however, that this invalidates it as being the Word of God is illogical and unfounded because it does not take one factor into consideration: God Himself.
You have acknowledged that God indeed exists, and I certainly agree with your assessment.
Since God exists, is it not therefore at least possible that God has spoken to humanity….THROUGH humanity?
Is is not possible that God has the ability to communicate through mankind….even FALLIBLE mankind?
Certainly, the Bible itself claims that its’ teachings are from God. The doctrine of “inspiration” applies here.
2 Timothy 3:16-17-All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Please consider that word “inspiration,” Mr. Hopson.
“This term is given to the mysterious power exercised by the Divine Spirit on the authors of the writings of the Old and New Testament, to enable them to compose that which the church of God has received from their hands….The historian Josephus, 1 who was the contemporary of Paul, makes use of a term exactly similar, in his first book against Appion, in which, speaking of all the prophets, “who,” he remarks, ” have composed the twenty-two sacred books of the Old Testament,” he declares, that they wrote according to [or inspiration] which comes from God…These assertions, which are themselves the testimony of the word of God, include already our last definition of , and lead us finally to characterise it as—” that inexplicable power which the Divine Spirit, afore time, exercised upon the authors of Holy Scripture, to guide them even to the words which they have employed, and to preserve them from all error, as well as from any omission.”” (François Samuel R. Louis Gaussen, Theopneustia: The Plenary Inspiration Of The Holy Scriptures, 260-425 (Kindle Edition, emphasis added); Miami, FL; Hard Press)
The Bible teaches that God’s Holy Spirit so operated on the Prophets and Apostles that the words which they spoke and wrote were not their own words, but the words of God.
Consider another passage of Scripture:
2 Peter 1:20-21-knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
Rhodes has well noted:
“Second Peter 1: 21 provides a key insight regarding the human-divine interchange in the process of inspiration. This verse informs us that “prophecy [or Scripture] never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” The phrase “carried along” in this verse literally means “forcefully borne along.” The human wills of the authors were not the originators of God’s message. God did not permit the will of sinful human beings to misdirect or erroneously record His message. Rather, “God moved and the prophet mouthed these truths; God revealed and man recorded His word.” 5 Interestingly, the Greek word for “carried along” in 2 Peter 1: 21 is the same as that found in Acts 27: 15-17. In this passage the experienced sailors could not navigate the ship because the wind was so strong. The ship was being driven, directed, and carried along by the wind. This is similar to the Spirit’s driving, directing, and carrying the human authors of the Bible as He wished. The word is a strong one, indicating the Spirit’s complete superintendence of the human authors. Yet, just as the sailors were active on the ship (though the wind, not the sailors, ultimately controlled the ship’s movement), so the human authors were active in writing as the Spirit directed. This is in keeping with the fact that many Old Testament passages quoted in the New Testament are said to have the Holy Spirit as their author, even though a human prophet actually spoke the words (see Mark 12: 36; Acts 1: 16; 28: 25; Hebrews 3: 7; 10: 15,16).” (Ron Rhodes, The 10 Most Important Things You Can Say to a Mormon, 36 (Kindle Edition); Eugene, Oregon; Harvest House Publishers)
The Bible teaching of inspiration is the answer to your argument that the Bible cannot be trusted because it was penned by fallible mankind.
You may object, “Just because the Bible claims to be the Word of God doesn’t mean that it is!”
I agree completely!
You are correct that far too often:
“humans are…..dumb.”
Again, I agree with your point:
“There’s way too many different religions with vivid descriptions
Begging all….men and women to listen”
So now, we need to investigate whether or not there is evidence that substantiates the claim that the Bible is true. We need to be careful and thorough in our investigation, as I am sure that you will agree.
Mr. Hopson, I have been blessed to work with many friends in the Hazard area, several of whom come from a background of atheist, agnostic, pagan, Satanist, etc. When we study, I share this simple argument with them that I now share and consider with you:
1. If the Bible contains traits which may only be explained by Divine inspiration, then the Bible is the Word of God.
2. The Bible contains traits which may only be explained by Divine inspiration.
3. Therefore, the Bible is the Word of God.
Once we investigate some of the evidence that the Bible is the Word of God, we will examine your other charges against the Bible.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.
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