As you study, we encourage you to use your bible and look up each text. Please don’t take our word, though we have carefully prepared this lesson there is no better source than the bible itself and prayer – asking God to give you understanding if His words.
The Bible is a Revelation of GOD to man consisting of sixty-six books bound together and forming one book. Twenty-two of the books are mainly historical, twenty-one are largely books of prophecy, twenty-one are forms of letters, and two are primarily poetic.
Even though written by at least thirty-six different authors who were kings, farmers, lawyers, generals, fishermen, ministers, and priests, a tax collector, a doctor, some rich and some poor, stretching over a period 1,600 years, yet the Bible is one book because GOD was its true author.
Who gave the prophecies of the Bible by means of the Holy Spirit?
“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 Peter 1:21. Read 1 Peter 1:10, 11.
How much of the Bible is inspired by GOD?
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
2 Timothy 3:16, first part.
Who revealed the future to the prophets through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit?
“Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.”
Amos 3:7.
Did the prophets recognize that their messages were from GOD?
Yes. Here are a few examples.
David said, “The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.”
2 Samuel 23:2.
Jeremiah said, “Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.”
Jeremiah 1:9, last part. Read Jeremiah 1:4-9
GOD told Ezekiel, “And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.”
Ezekiel 2:7, first part.
When Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, “was filled with the Holy Ghost” he said that GOD had spoken “by the mouth of his holy prophets” which have been since the world began. Luke 1:70.
By what means does John say the Book of Revelation was given.
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.”
Revelation 1:1, 2.
Note: In this example of the steps in God’s messages to the prophets we see that GOD is the fountainhead of truth. Christ received truth from the Father. Jesus then gave it to the chosen angel. The angel communicated the message to the prophet, who in turn passed it to the people either orally, or by writing, or both.
Conclusion
It is evident that it was “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets.” Hebrews 1:1. The Bible is God’s book. Because it is His Word it will stand forever. Read Isaiah 40:8. It would be well for us to place the same value on God’s Word as did Job. “Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” Job 23:12.