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Question 9: Inspiration

03.03.25-03.07.25|Enemies of the Soul Series

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Question: What does “inspiration” mean regarding the Bible?

Answer: Inspiration means the Bible is “God-breathed” —written by human authors but directed by God’s Spirit.

For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:21

Peter gives us a hint about the mechanics of how the Bible was written. The writers were “carried along by the Holy Spirit.” Think of the image of a sailboat being pushed along the water. Just as wind drives a sailboat across the water, the Holy Spirit moved the writers of the Bible to record exactly what God wanted. God used the personalities and perspectives of the prophets and other authors, but their words didn’t originate from their interpretation or will alone. God’s Spirit directed the entire process, ensuring his message was conveyed accurately through human instruments. This was not mechanical dictation—God used their individual styles and backgrounds while guaranteeing his message was recorded.

Understanding biblical inspiration changes how we read the Bible and builds our trust in it. The books of the Bible aren’t just ancient texts written by wise religious leaders—they are God’s very words, breathed out by God through human authors. When we read the Bible, we can be confident that although it was penned by people in specific times and cultures, the message comes from God himself. Every word carries God’s authority and truth. This gives us confidence to build our lives on Scripture’s teachings, knowing we’re standing on God’s unchanging Word rather than human wisdom.

TODAY: As you read Scripture, remember that God breathed out these words through human authors. Read 2 Peter 1:12-21, noting both the human elements (the writer’s style and context) and divine inspiration (God’s unchanging truth). Thank God for communicating so clearly through his Word and ask the Spirit to help you understand and apply it to your life. Read our We Believe section on the Bible HERE.