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God's Sovereign Control over Scripture's Inspiration

God's Sovereign Control over Scripture's Inspiration

The concept of God's sovereign control over Scripture's inspiration is rooted in biblical teachings and has been interpreted and articulated differently across various Christian traditions. At its core, it involves understanding the role of God in the creation and transmission of Scripture.

The biblical foundation for this concept is found in passages such as 2 Timothy 3:16, which states that "All Scripture is inspired by God" [4, 5]. This verse is often cited to affirm the divine origin and authority of Scripture. The term "inspired by God" (theopneustos in Greek) literally means "God-breathed," suggesting that Scripture is a product of God's initiative and action [1].

The doctrine of God's sovereignty is also relevant to understanding His control over Scripture's inspiration. According to Easton's Bible Dictionary, God's sovereignty refers to "his absolute right to do all things according to his own good pleasure" [2]. This sovereignty is seen in various biblical passages, such as Daniel 4:25, 35, Romans 9:15-23, and Revelation 4:11 [2].

Different Christian traditions have interpreted the concept of God's sovereign control over Scripture's inspiration in various ways. The Reformed tradition, as represented by Charles Hodge, emphasizes the infallibility and divine authority of Scripture due to its inspiration by the Holy Ghost [6]. John Calvin also stresses that the authority of Scripture is derived not from human sources but from the Spirit of God [7].

In contrast, the Catholic tradition, as expressed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, views Scripture as being inspired by God while also emphasizing the role of human authors in the process [10]. The Catechism notes that "the words of God, expressed in the words of men, are in every way like human language" [10].

The Eastern Orthodox tradition, represented by John of Damascus, affirms the divine inspiration of Scripture and its role in testifying to Christ [9]. The Anglican tradition, as reflected in the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion, also acknowledges the importance of Scripture while cautioning against overly curious or carnal interpretations of predestination and election [11].

The concept of God's sovereign control over Scripture's inspiration is closely tied to the doctrine of inspiration itself. Smith's Bible Dictionary defines inspiration as "an extraordinary divine agency upon teachers while giving instruction, whether oral or written, by which they were taught what and how they should write or speak" [3]. This understanding highlights the supernatural guidance involved in the creation of Scripture.

While there are differences in how various traditions understand the specifics of God's sovereign control over Scripture's inspiration, there is a broad consensus on the divine origin and authority of Scripture. The Patristic tradition, as seen in the writings of Tertullian, also emphasizes the importance of Scripture as a source of divine truth [8].

Sources

  1. 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 ”
  2. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Sovereignty — Of God, his absolute right to do all things according to his own good pleasure (Dan. 4:25, 35; Rom. 9:15-23; 1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 4:11).”
  3. 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.”
  4. 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;”
  5. 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,”
  6. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 41: § 2. The Scriptures are Infallible, i. e., given by Inspiration of God. The infallibility and divine authority of the Scriptures are due to the fact that they are the word of God; and they are the word of God because they were given by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. A. The Nature of Inspiration. Definition. The nature of inspiration is to be learnt from the Scriptures; from their didactic statements, and from their phenomena. There are certain general facts or principles which underlie the Bible, which are assumed in all its teachings”
  7. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 23: 68 CHAPTER 7. THE TESTIMONY OF THE SPIRIT NECESSARY TO GIVE FULL AUTHORITY TO SCRIPTURE. THE IMPIETY OF PRETENDING THAT THE CREDIBILITY OF SCRIPTURE DEPENDS ON THE JUDGMENT OF THE CHURCH. Section. 1. The authority of Scripture derived not from men, but from the Spirit of God. Objection, That Scripture depends on the decision of the Church. Refutation, I. The truth of God would thus be subjected to the will of man. II. It is insulting to the Holy Spirit. III. It establishes a tyranny in the Church. IV. It forms a mass of errors. V. ”
  8. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 4: Tertullian IV, Minucius Felix, Commodian, Origen — CHAP. I.--THAT THE SCRIPTURES ARE DIVINELY INSPIRED.: 1. But as it is not sufficient, in the discussion of matters of such importance, to entrust the decision to the human senses and to the human understanding, and to pronounce on things invisible as if they were seen by us,[1] we must, in order to establish the positions which we have laid down, adduce the testimony of Holy Scripture. And that this testimony may produce a sure and unhesitating belief, either with regard to what we have still to advance, or to what has been already ”
  9. CCEL (Eastern Orthodox) “John of Damascus, An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, section 93: 89b Chapter XVII .— Concerning Scripture 2514 2514 This chapter is wanting in Cod. R . 3547. . It is one and the same God Whom both the Old and the New Testament proclaim, Who is praised and glorified in the Trinity: I am come , saith the Lord, not to destroy the law but to fulfil it 2515 2515 St. Matt. v. 17 . . For He Himself worked out our salvation for which all Scripture and all mystery exists. And again, Search the Scriptures for they are they that testify of Me 2516 2516 St. John v. 39 . . And the Apostle says, God”
  10. Catechism of the Catholic Church (Catholic) “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Article 3 (part 1): Article 3 SACRED SCRIPTURE I. Christ - The Unique Word of Sacred Scripture 101 In order to reveal himself to men, in the condescension of his goodness God speaks to them in human words: "Indeed the words of God, expressed in the words of men, are in every way like human language, just as the Word of the eternal Father, when he took on himself the flesh of human weakness, became like men."63 102 Through all the words of Sacred Scripture, God speaks only one single Word, his one Utterance in whom he expresses himself completely:64 You recall ”
  11. Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican) “Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican, 1571), Section 242: As the godly consideration of Predestination, and our Election in Christ, is full of sweet, pleasant, and unspeakable comfort to godly persons, and such as feel in themselves the working of the Spirit of Christ, mortifying the works of the flesh, and their earthly members, and drawing up their mind to high and heavenly things, as well because it doth greatly establish and confirm their faith of eternal Salvation to be enjoyed through Christ, as because it doth fervently kindle their love towards God: So, for curious and carnal per”
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