Faith & Reason Nexus

Definition: Plenary inspiration, often referred to as verbal inspiration, holds that the Scriptures were written exactly as God intended, without errors or mistakes, but still allowing the personal styles and personalities of the writers to be evident. This means the original manuscripts (autographs) of the Bible are fully inspired and authoritative because they were divinely guided by the Holy Spirit.

Support in the Old Testament:

• Exodus 17:14 – “And Jehovah said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book.”
  • God commanded Moses to write His words, showing divine direction for the recording of Scripture.
• 2 Samuel 23:2 – “The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and His Word was in my tongue.”
  • King David acknowledged that the words he spoke were directly from God’s Spirit, confirming divine inspiration in writing.
• Jeremiah 1:9 – “I have put my words into thy mouth.”
  • God speaks directly to the prophet Jeremiah, indicating that the words he spoke and wrote were God’s words.
• Psalm 119 (over 175 references) – The psalmist repeatedly exalts the Scriptures as the “Word of God.”
  • This chapter in the Bible emphasizes the importance of God’s Word, reinforcing the belief that Scripture is divinely inspired and authoritative.
• Matthew 5:17-18 – Jesus said, “One jot or one tittle” would not pass away from the law until all things be accomplished.
  • Jesus affirms the integrity and permanence of Scripture, stating that not even the smallest part of the law would be rendered void, underscoring the divine authority and inspiration of the Old Testament. The “jot” and “tittle” refer to the smallest marks in Hebrew writing, highlighting the precision and detail with which God preserved His Word.

Conclusion: The doctrine of plenary (full) inspiration asserts that every word of the Bible, as originally written, is the precise Word of God. This view upholds the complete reliability and authority of Scripture, which is fully inspired by the Holy Spirit.