INTERESTING FACTS : "No man ever believes that the Bible means what it says: He is always convinced that it says what he means." --George Bernard Shaw

TEXT : Deu 4:1 Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you. Deu 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

THEME : INSPIRATION

In chapter four, we read a mandate concerning the commandments of God. It is straightforward and easy to understand. It simply says - do not edit or amend God's Word. In other words, since the commands of God are from His Hand, no man is permitted to change them. Remember, the Ten Commandments in particular were written literally with the finger of God. [See Deut. 4:13] The rest of the Books of the Law as well as Genesis were written by God also through Moses. We can think of the writers of the Bible as God's secretaries. They wrote as they were told to write - no more, no less, through a variety of methods. In Moses case for instance, God spoke to Him directly on Mount Sinai and in the Tabernacle. In the case of the prophets, they had visions, dreams, and at times heard the voice of God as well.

Concerning this edict, that is, that no one can add or subtract from God's commandments, we find this order throughout the Bible, including the New Testament. Keil and Delitzsch's Commentary on the Old Testament states -

"The observance of the law, however, required that it should be kept as it was given, that nothing should be added to it or taken from it, but that men should submit to it as to the inviolable word of God. Not by omissions only, but by additions also, was the commandment weakened, and the word of God turned into ordinances of men, as Pharisaism sufficiently proved. This precept is repeated in Deu 13:1; it is then revived by the prophets (Jer 26:2; Pro 30:6), and enforced again at the close of the whole revelation (Rev 22:18-19). In the same sense Christ also said that He had not come to destroy the law or the prophets, but to fulfil (Mat 5:17); and the old covenant was not abrogated, but only glorified and perfected, by the new."

Therefore, the precept of not editing or amending God's commands as found in the Law is applied to the prophets and the New Testament as well. From this we learn -

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. [2 Ti 3:16 - 17]

Further, we read -

"We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. [2 Pe 1:19 - 21]

This leads us to the doctrine of the Inspiration of the Scriptures. In 2nd Timothy 3:16 the word inspiration means - "divinely breathed in." This is similar to what we read in Genesis when God breathed into Adam the breath of life and he became a living soul. Therefore, the Bible is not like any other Book. It was written by holy men of God who spoke and wrote as God's Spirit moved them. The word "moved" means to be "carried along." John Gill comments.

"holy men of God spake, as they were moved by the Holy Ghost; who illuminated their minds, gave them a knowledge of divine things, and a foresight of future ones; dictated to them what they should say or write; and moved upon them strongly, and by a secret and powerful impulse stirred them up to deliver what they did, in the name and fear of God: which shows the authority of the Scriptures, that they are the word of God, and not of men; and as such should be attended to, and received with all affection and reverence; and that the Spirit is the best interpreter of them, who first dictated them; and that they are to be the rule of our faith and practice; nor are we to expect any other, until the second coming of Christ."

TRUTH FOR TODAY : THE BIBLE IS THE ONLY BOOK GOD WROTE!

When we say God wrote the Bible, we mean He wrote every word [verbal inspiration] and not merely the concepts or ideas. In other words, the writers of the Bible did not put anything on paper except what God told them. The styles of the writers vary due to individual personality, but the words are God's. Then, in the sixty-six Books that make up the Bible, every one of them is written of God. Put together, inspiration means every word, every verse, every chapter and every Book is God's Word [plenary inspiration]. Thus, we say we believe in the verbal and plenary inspiration of the Bible.

Therefore, the Bible is a "living Book" that has no equal. It cannot even be compared to any other.

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. [The word "quick" in Greek means "to live"].

By necessity, because the Bible is written by God, it becomes authoritative. It is our only rule for our faith and our practices. The Westminster Confession of Faith states -

"The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, and obeyed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man, or Church; but wholly upon God (who is truth itself) the author thereof: and therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word of God."

As we read, let us also believe the Word of God, for it is able to give us the wisdom we need in this world as we are on our way to the next. As the Scripture itself says "...the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." [2Ti 3:15]