VARIOUS PROBLEMS CONNECTED WITH VERBAL INSPIRATION - 1

THE PROBLEMS OF VERBAL INSPIRATION

 

Intellectual difficulties exist in all realms of thought. Problems of unbelief are greater than those of Christian faith. This is true because unbelief throws away an area of truth that is above and beyond men. Without it men are reduced to the darkness and groping’s of their own unaided minds.

 

Must we give up our faith if we face a problem we can't solve? No. Because we can't solve it doesn't mean it can't be solved. Because it hasn't been solved doesn't mean it never will be.

It is not essential that every difficulty be cleared away from a doctrine before we can believe it. If so, science could never proceed, and we would get nowhere. And Columbus would never have discovered America. *(Men have tried to turn Columbus into some kind of monster bringing disease and other atrocities to this continent but what he brought were Christian men and women that were attempting to escape that same kind of persecution in Europe. And God has used America. See the previous article on whether the United States is in prophecy.)

If the facts upon which a doctrine rests are well-established, we can believe it in spite of difficulties.

Illus. Darwin and the orchid with 11-inch nectary, and slender as a knitting needle. Finally a moth was discovered with a tongue 11 inches long

Verbal inspiration rests upon the facts of Christ's testimony and the testimony of his disciples.

 The Problem of The Inexact Quotation

Isa. 40:3 cf. Mt. 3:3 "Prepare ye the way of the Lord."

"The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God."

"For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight."

Answer:

Doctrine of verbal inspiration does not require that New Testament writers quote word for word. Only requires that it give the truth without error.

In some instances it is clear that the New Testament writer had no idea of quoting. He is merely using the language of the Old Testament to express New Testament revelation.
See Hab. 2:3, 4 cf. Heb. 10:37-38.

"For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith."

"For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him."

In other instances, the New Testament writer may be giving only an interpretation of its meaning. Who has a better right to do so than these Spirit-filled men?

Any linguist knows that translation tends to produce variation.
Hebrew to Greek to English
Hebrew to English

It is a well-recognized literary principle that the author of a book may quote from his own works freely.

God is the Author of the Bible.

More problems follow.