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| Volume 17 Number 12 December 2015 | Page 13 |
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| Volume 17 Number 12 December 2015 | Page 13 |
Trent Childers
The Bible is fully inspired of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Galatians 1:11-12; etc.), but what was the method of inspiration? More specifically, were only thoughts and ideas inspired or were the very words?
David said, “The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue" (2 Samuel 23:2). The Book of Jeremiah tells us, “Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: ‘Behold, I have put My words in your mouth’” (Jeremiah 1:9). The very words of the Bible have meaning.
Paul made an argument based upon the plural form of a word. Notice what he wrote: “Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ as of many, but as of one, ‘And to your Seed,’ who is Christ” (Galatians 3:16). Paul’s argument depends upon the “s” on the end of the word “seed.” Curtis Cates wrote, “The plural would not have communicated his argument” (67). Does it matter whether or not Paul used the plural form of the word? Absolutely! Plural and singular forms of words matter; they communicate specific concepts. You can add or take away a word, or add or take away an “s” and completely change the meaning. Words mean something.
Think about pronouns. Do they have meaning? As recorded in John 14-16, Jesus used distinct pronouns to refer to the Father, to Himself and to the Holy Spirit, showing that there are distinct persons within the Godhead. Using “myself” or “my” communicates something different than using “himself” or “his.” Words mean something.
What does this mean for us? It means we are to take verbal inspiration seriously. Words mean something, and the words of the Bible are the most crucial. Our souls depend upon heeding those words, as we will be judged by them (John 12:48).
Works Cited
Cates, Curtis A. “Christ, the Promised Seed (Gal. 3:15-18).” Studies in Galatians. Dub McClish, ed. Denton: Valid Publications, 1986.
Divine Omniscience
Jeremy Main
The word “omniscience” is from the Latin, meaning “all-knowledge.” God is omniscient – having infinite knowledge, knowing all things. “Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite” (Psalm 147:5). The psalmist expressed God’s limitless understanding. “He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name” (Psalm 147:4). The prophet wrote, “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable” (Isaiah 40:28).
God possesses perfect knowledge of man. God knows you, understands your thoughts, comprehends your future and is acquainted with all of your ways and words. David wrote, “O LORD, You know it altogether” (Psalm 139:1-4). God’s thoughts of goodness are “more than can be numbered” (Psalm 40:5).
God wants to forgive you! Forsake wickedness, return to Him, and He will pardon you. People find it hard to forgive, and even harder to forgive again, especially if the offense is particularly great in their minds. Forgiveness, in general, becomes more difficult when the number of offenders increases. This may be true for you, but it is not the case with God. “So are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:7-9). God wants mercy for all. His wisdom and knowledge is far deeper than that of man (Romans 11:33).
Do we live fully aware of God’s omniscience? “For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He ponders all his paths” (Proverbs 5:21). “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3). “For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done” (Isaiah 46:9-10).