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TITLE: Theories of Inspiration
TEXT: 2 Timothy 3:14-17
PROPOSITION: The Bible is the infallible Word of God.
QUESTION: How?
KEY WORD: Theories
SCRIPTURE READING: Same
INTRODUCTION:
  1. The Bible claims to be inspired.
  2. This lesson will focus on the HOW of inspiration.
  3. How did God get his thoughts to us today?

1. Define the terms -
        A. Inspiration - To breath in, 2 Timothy 3:16 "breathed of God"
        B. Revelation - To part the curtain, to make clear or plain
        C. Inspiration does not always include revelation.
        D. Revelation does not always include inspiration.

2. Theories of Inspiration That I Reject -
A. Natural - To get an idea by the natural thought process
                1. This eliminates God's involvement.
                2. 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21; 2 Samuel 32:2; Acts 1:16
B. Mechanical - Man was just a dictation machine
                1. Paul's form of logic.
                2. Luke used medical terms.
                3. Paul (5.2 letters per word); Peter (4.1 letters per word).
                4. Matthew (Jewish measurements); Mark (Roman); Luke (Greek).
C. Noematical - The idea came from God, the words came from man.
                1. 1 Peter 1:10-12 Prophets searched their own writings
                2. Inspiration does not include understanding or acceptance
                        Peter on Pentecost; Cornelius, and Galatians 2.
3. Galatians 3:16; Hebrews 7:12-14
(Argument is made on the word used.)
4. If you believe in noematical inspiration, you believe nothing.

3. Verbal or Plenary - God guided man in the thoughts to be expressed and chose from that man's vocabulary the words to express the idea.
                1. Matthew 10:19-20 "how (words) or what (ideas)"
                2. Luke 12:11 "how or what"
                3. Luke 21:14-15 "mouth (words) and wisdom (ideas)"
                4. Jeremiah 36:6 "which thou hast written from my mouth"
                5. 1 Corinthians 2:9-13
                        Not naturally known or understood. (9)
                        God revealed them (10)
                        We have received - (12)
                                Not spirit of the world
                                Spirit of God
                        Not in words of man's wisdom (13)
                        But (in words) which the Holy Spirit teacheth (13)
                        "Comparing spiritual things with spiritual words" (ASV)
                6. 1 Timothy 4:1 "Spirit speaks expressly"

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