THE FORM

SOUND WORDS

OF

We come therefore to the plain statement of 2 Timothy 3:16 concerning the Scriptures to learn what a form of

sound words framed on the teaching of Paul must be.

Theopneustos, the word translated `given by inspiration of God', is composed of two words, Theos, `God' and

pneustos, the third person, singular, perfect, passive of the verb pneo, `to breathe'. From this word is derived

pneuma, `spirit'. The close association between pneuma, `spirit', and its figure, `breath', is preserved in such words

as pneumatic and pneumonia, where the Greek word is retained; or in such words as `inspire', `respire', `perspire'

and `transpire', where the Latin equivalent is used.

We have already seen that the Scriptures are `written' graphe coming from grapho, `I write'. If therefore we

credit the apostle with using words with intent and with due regard to the solemn issues that such a pronouncement

must surely have, then we must face the fact and all that it implies, that to Paul, all Scripture, namely, what is

written, is given by inspiration of God, or God-breathed. Now if what is written by man is what was breathed by

God, there can be no interval in which the prophet interprets visions of his own heart. However intelligently the

writer might co-operate with the Divine Spirit, or, on the other hand, however mystified he might be by the words

given him to write, the fact remains, that what was written is what God breathed.

The reader of this book will probably never see the author's actual autograph, neither will the printer nor the

proof-reader. To save the time and temper of the compositors the manuscript will be turned into type-script, and the

type-script into the printed page. But he would be a quibbler who said that because of the mediation of the machine

and the willing co-operation of the mind and skill of others, the writer whose name occurs on the title page did not

`write' the book. So with the giving of the Scriptures, `GOD, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in

time past ... by the prophets' (Heb. 1:1). Times and manners may be divers, the instruments may differ in rank and

ability, but it remains true that it is GOD Who speaks, even though it be by the prophets.

To Paul, the Scriptures were `The Word of God'; alternatively, they were `The Word of Truth', and to Paul and

to all of like precious faith with him it is inconceivable that any revelation given by God could be other than `Truth'.

Nor can any reason be given why the God of Truth, Who was mighty enough to create heaven and earth, could not

or would not so supervise any revelation given to man, that it should not be exactly what He intended it to be. It is

not as though we had come into possession of a number of ancient documents which we could examine and whose

worth we could estimate, and accept or reject, according to the dictates of our critical faculty. On the contrary the

documents abound with unique claims to Divine authority and origin. In view of this it is morally impossible to

regard them in the same light as we do other productions. If we elect to sweep aside the claims to Divine

inspiration, there is nothing left but to call them `erroneous' or `deceptions', (either wilful or ignorant), and the

authority of the documents for us has for ever gone; we cannot even use them as we would other books, for the

offensive claim to Divine authority meets us in every book and creates a moral issue that cannot be silenced.

In this book we are necessarily limiting our study to the witness of the apostle Paul, but when we remember that

he, in his turn, was `sent' by the Lord, Who endorsed these Scriptures in His life and teaching, in His death and

resurrection, and Whose great desire was to fulfil all that they contained concerning Himself; then, we say, that to us

as believers, saved by that same Christ, through the ministry of that same apostle, there is no alternative left but to

say that the Bible which was accepted and endorsed by both the Lord and His servant Paul, must be accepted

without reservation by all who acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, and Paul the chosen and equipped earthen

vessel for the ministry of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles.

Our `form of sound words', therefore, must include without ambiguity or reservation the words, `All Scripture is

given by inspiration of God'.