That the man of God may be complete ~ Bob Coy

Inspiration Information

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 complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.-2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV)

Yesterday we considered one of the primary principles of Christianity-the supremacy of Scripture. The Bible is the absolute and final authority when it comes to what Christians believe and how they are to behave. But there are bound to be those who will ask, What makes the Bible so special and different from the other written works of men? This is a valid question, and it's important that we answer it before going any further.

The Bible is set apart from all other literary works due to the fact that God authored it. This is the powerful point being made in the verse above: All Scripture is given by inspiration of God.

Every other book on the planet can be attributed to human inspiration, but the Bible is different because it was inspired by God Himself. And because it came from a perfect and flawless Author, it, too, is perfect and flawless.

But how did this happen? The apostle Peter tells us that God chose to communicate His Word through holy men by causing His Spirit to " move" them: But holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:21 NKJV)


The original Greek word here for moved denotes the idea of a person carrying something he or she has been given, which is exactly what the men who copied down the Scriptures were doing-they were transmitting the divine message God had laid upon them. And because they did, we have a written record concerning God's character and will. We know this record is totally trustworthy because, again, its Author is totally trustworthy. This means there's no second-guessing when it comes to the Bible; we can rest in its reliability.

Discuss as a group what sets the Bible apart from all other works of literature. How do you see the Bible as being unique from all other books?

Dig into 2 Timothy 3:16–17. What does it mean to you that the Bible is inspired? What does this verse reveal to you about the value of Scripture? How does this verse give you confidence?

Decide as a group to commit 2 Timothy 3:16–17 to memory. Encourage your group to discover the value of hiding God’s Word in your heart and mind.