The Holy Scriptures
By James K. Bridges
The apostle Paul reminded Timothy that from childhood he had known “the Holy Scriptures” (2 Timothy 3:15, NKJV), which had led him to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible is referred to as the Holy Scriptures because it is different from any other book ever written. It stands in a category exclusively by itself for the following reasons:
It was given by a holy God.
Second Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God” meaning it is “God breathed.” God is the divine Author of the Bible; therefore, we can trust it to be the inspired, inerrant, infallible and authoritative Word of God. Paul commended the Thessalonians because when they received the Word of God they “welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God” (1 Thessalonians 2:13). The God of the Scriptures is a holy god who requires holiness in His people: “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16).
The inspiration we speak of is not natural or partial. We speak of is not natural or partial. We speak of a verbal, plenary inspiration which is full and complete. As Charles Spurgeon said, “We contend for every work of the Bible and believe in the verbal literal inspiration of the Holy Scriptures. Indeed, we believe there can be no other kind of inspiration. If the words are taken from us, the exact meaning is of itself lost.”
It came through the divine agency of the Holy Spirit.
The apostle Peter identified those who spoke the Word of God as being “moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). Literally, they were “borne along” by the Spirit of God to express the Scriptures without error. The Holy Spirit was the agency through which the writers of the Bible were inspired. And, as the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit will guide the followers of Christ into all truth (John 16:13). So the same Holy Spirit who inspired the Bible will also direct us to a proper understanding of the Scriptures.
It came through the human agency of holy men of God.
Second Peter 1:21 says, “Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” But the apostle Peter makes it clear that the Scriptures are not the private interpretations of men, neither were they produced out of the will of man (vv.20,21).
The human writers that God chose to write the 66 books of the Bible were not left to their own imagination or speculation. There is a remarkable unity among the books which only the mind of God could have created.
Its purpose is to produce holy living.
When the Holy Scriptures are “rightly divided” (2 Timothy 2:15), they inform man that he is the creation of God who made man in His own image (Genesis 1:27). This God is revealed in the Bible. Also, it has revealed man’s fallen moral condition and God’s plan of redemption through the death and resurrection of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. The Scriptures further teach us of a righteousness provided by Jesus Christ. The Scriptures further teach us of a righteousness provided by Jesus Christ (Romans 10:4). Which has provided for all men the needed “holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).
Its goal is to lead us to the Holy City.
The Holy Spirit gave the apostle John a remarkable vision of “the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God” (Revelation 21:10). This is the Holy City designed for God’s holy people. The Psalmist wrote about this city: “The Most High Himself shall establish her. The Lord will record, when He registers the peoples: This one was born there” (Psalm 87:5,6).
Our city of birth will no longer be found in this world which is passing away. The holy City, the New Jerusalem, will be our hometown. “All my springs are in you” (v.7).
We give praise to our holy God who through holy men inspired by the Holy Spirit has given us the Holy Scriptures whereby we are taught holy living in order to live eternally in His Holy City.