Scripture's Role in Guiding Imagination in Creative Examples
Scripture is understood by Christians as "inspired by God" (2 Timothy 3:16 NASB), meaning it is "God-breathed" or "breathed out by God's own speech" [8]. This divine inspiration renders the writings infallible and perfectly trustworthy in all parts [1, 2]. The concept of inspiration applies to the entire collection of sacred books, encompassing both the Old and New Testaments [6, 9].
The Bible itself attests to its divine origin, with passages like 2 Timothy 3:16 stating, "All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness" [3, 4]. This inspiration is attributed to the Holy Spirit, who guided the authors to express exactly what God intended as a revelation of His mind [1, 5, 7]. While God is fully responsible for the content, this does not negate the active involvement of human authors [8]. The "Scripture" is not merely a work of human genius or supernatural insight, but is "theopneustic," meaning "breathed into by God" [1].
The purpose of this divine inspiration is multifaceted. It is intended to reveal future events, disclose the mysteries of God, empower ministers, direct their actions, and testify against sin [7]. The Scriptures are also called "the Word of God" and "the Word of Christ," emphasizing their divine authority [5]. The practice of reading Scripture was transferred from the Jewish synagogue to the Christian Church, where New Testament Gospels and Epistles were recognized as inspired and read alongside the Old Testament [10].
The "Scripture" is seen as a definite collection of sacred books, which God intended to perpetuate His revealed will [6]. This collection was enlarged over time as God raised up individuals to commit His revelation to writing in an infallible record [6]. The testimonies within Scripture are considered "wonderful" due to their divine author, the profound truths they contain, and their beneficial use [11]. The inspiration of Scripture ensures that it serves as an infallible guide for humanity [2].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Inspiration — That extraordinary or supernatural divine influence vouchsafed to those who wrote the Holy Scriptures, rendering their writings infallible. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God" (R.V., "Every scripture inspired of God"), 2 Tim. 3:16. This is true of all the "sacred writings," not in the sense of their being works of genius or of supernatural insight, but as "theopneustic," i.e., "breathed into by God" in such a sense that the writers were supernaturally guided to express exactly what God intended them to express as a revelation of his mind and ”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Inspiration — Dr. Knapp given as the definition of inspiration, "an extra-ordinary divine agency upon teachers while giving instruction, whether oral or written, by which they were taught what and how they should write or speak." Without deciding on any of the various theories of inspiration, the general doctrine of Christians is that the Bible is so inspired by God that it is the infallible guide of men, and is perfectly trustworthy in all its parts, as given by God.”
- II Timothy “II Timothy 3:16 (LEB) — All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness,”
- 2 Timothy “2 Timothy 3:16 (NASB) — All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Scriptures, The — Given by inspiration of God -- 2Ti 3:16. Given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit -- Ac 1:16; Heb 3:7; 2Pe 1:21. Christ sanctioned, by appealing to them -- Mt 4:4; Mr 12:10; Joh 7:42. Christ taught out of -- Lu 24:27. Are called the Word. -- Jas 1:21-23; 1Pe 2:2. Word of God. -- Lu 11:28; Heb 4:12. Word of Christ. -- Col 3:16. Word of truth. -- Jas 1:18. Holy Scriptures. -- Ro 1:2; 2Ti 3:15. Scripture of truth. -- Da 10:21. Book. -- Ps 40:7; Re 22:19. Book of the Lord. -- Isa 34:16. Book of the law. -- Ne 8:3; Ga 3:10. Law of the Lord. -- Ps 1:2; Isa”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Scripture — Invariably in the New Testament denotes that definite collection of sacred books, regarded as given by inspiration of God, which we usually call the Old Testament (2 Tim. 3:15, 16; John 20:9; Gal. 3:22; 2 Pet. 1:20). It was God's purpose thus to perpetuate his revealed will. From time to time he raised up men to commit to writing in an infallible record the revelation he gave. The "Scripture," or collection of sacred writings, was thus enlarged from time to time as God saw necessary. We have now a completed "Scripture," consisting of the Old and New Testa”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Inspiration of the Holy Spirit, The — Foretold -- Joe 2:28; Ac 2:16-18. All Scripture given by -- 2Sa 23:2; 2Ti 3:16; 2Pe 1:21. Design of To reveal future events. -- Ac 1:16; 28:25; 1Pe 1:11. To reveal the mysteries of God. -- Am 3:7; 1Co 2:10. To give power to ministers. -- Mic 3:8; Ac 1:8. To direct ministers. -- Eze 3:24-27; Ac 11:12; 13:2. To control ministers. -- Ac 16:6. To testify against sin. -- 2Ki 17:13; Ne 9:30; Mic 3:8; Joh 16:8,9. Modes of Various. -- Heb 1:1. By secret impulse. -- Jdj 13:25; 2Pe 1:21. By a voice. -- Isa 6:8; Ac 8:29; Re 1:10. By visions”
- 2 Timothy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Timothy 3:16: 3:16-17 These verses elaborate on 3:15 by explaining Scripture’s effectiveness, its source, and the ways that it gives wisdom to live out our salvation. Paul was speaking of the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament), but his statement can now apply to all Scripture, including the New Testament (see, e.g., 2 Pet 3:15-16). 3:16 The fact that Scripture is inspired by God (literally God-breathed, breathed out by God’s own speech; see also Heb 4:12-13; 2 Pet 1:20-21) does not negate the active involvement of the human authors. But it does affirm that God is fully re”
- 2 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Timothy 3:15: All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,.... That is, all holy Scripture; for of that only the apostle is speaking; and he means the whole of it; not only the books of the Old Testament, but of the New, the greatest part of which was now written; for this second epistle to Timothy is by some thought to be the last of Paul's epistles; and this also will hold good of what was to be written; for all is inspired by God, or breathed by him: the Scriptures are the breath of God, the word of God and not men; they are "written by the Spirit", as the Syriac version ren”
- 1 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Timothy 4:13: Till I come--when Timothy's commission would be superseded for the time by the presence of the apostle himself (Ti1 1:3; Ti1 3:14). reading--especially in the public congregation. The practice of reading Scripture was transferred from the Jewish synagogue to the Christian Church (Luk 4:16-20; Act 13:15; Act 15:21; Co2 3:14). The New Testament Gospel and Epistles being recognized as inspired by those who had the gift of discerning spirits, were from the first, according as they were written, read along with the Old Testament in the Church (Th1 5:21”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119:125: PE.--The Seventeenth Part. PE. Thy testimonies are wonderful,.... The Scriptures, which testify of God, his mind and will, are wonderful both with respect to the author of them, the things contained in them, and the use and advantage of them. They give an account of the wonderful works of creation; of their author and matter; of the manner, order, and time of their being wrought: they relate many wonderful events of Providence, both in a way of mercy and judgment; they declare several surprising miracles, wrought by Moses and others, and exhibit many marvellous t”