Foundation Course Lesson 2

How We Can Know The Bible Is Inspired?

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete thoroughly
equipped for every good work. - 2 Timothy 3:16-17

When we say that the Bible is inspired what we are saying is it's God breathed, literally it comes
from God, this means the bible contains no errors and does not contradict itself it is 100% truth. In
this lesson we will look at three ways in which we are shown that the Bible must be authored by
God Himself, from the Bible itself, Prophetic and Historic.

Proof the Bible is Inspired from the bible itself.

2 Peter 1:18-21, tells us how men in the Old Testament were moved by the Holy Ghost hundreds of
years giving prophecies of the coming of Jesus, some of these are
Virgin birth Isaiah 7:14, 758 B.C, fulfilled 1-3 B.C approx in Matthew 1:22-23
Born in Bethlehem Micah 5:2, 710 B.C, fulfilled 1- 3 B.C approx in Matthew 2:8-11
He would die Daniel 9:26, 536 B.C, fulfilled 32 A.D in John 19:30,
His Resurrection Psalm 16:9-10, 1000 B.C fulfilled 32 A.D in Matthew 28:5-6.

Proof the Bible is Inspired from Prophecy

All other religious books do not contain prophecy, God tells us He alone declares it Isaiah 46:9-10.
2 Peter 1:19, tells us how we can trust the Bible because of Prophecy, lets look at some of these
fulfilled.
Matthew 24:2, Jesus talking of the Temple says it will be destroyed, A.D 70 this was fulfilled when
Rome conquered Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 30:3, predicts Israel being regathered back in their land. Fulfilled 1948.
Isaiah 27:6, predicts Israel will fill the world with fruit. Today is one of the biggest sellers of fruit
all over the world.
Zechariah 12:2-3, talks of Jerusalem being a cup of trembling and a burden for the nations, today
this happens daily, peace talks happening all the time, knowing the next world war could be over
this city.
These are just a few prophecies we can see with our own eyes which have been fulfilled, we can
safely say we can trust God's Word.

Proof the Bible is Inspired from History

If we say the Bible is true we must be able to prove it is from history.

Deuteronomy 20:17, mentions a people group called the Hittites, people used to say they never
existed and are only mentioned in the Bible so the Bible is wrong. In the early 1900's the Hittites
were discovered. The Bible proved itself as historically true.
Matthew 27:2, mentions a man called Pontius Pilate, people have said that he never existed. In
1961 a limestone rock was found with his name on, also in the British Museum we have one of his
coins. The Bible again proves itself as Historically true.
Jonah 1:2, Jonah was told by God to go to Nineveh and cry out against it. Many people said
Nineveh never existed and is a myth. In 1847 Nineveh was discovered. Yet again proving the Bible
as Historically true.

This is just a small part of proving the bible as Inspired and comes direct from God. We have to be
Foundation Course Lesson 2

serious when we read it.

The Inspired Word applied to our life.

Psalm 119:105, says Your Word is a lamp unto my feet. And a light to my path.

God uses His Word daily in our lives, it is to guide us on our walk through this world. He uses the
Holy Spirit to do this. The Holy Spirit uses the Word to set us apart from the world John 17:17, He
does this by guiding us into all truth John 16:13. We should be walking in the Spirit, Galatians
5:16, when we are reading His Word we are feeding ourselves on spiritual truth, we are taking in
goodness and the Holy Spirit uses that in our lives, we will walk in the Spirit. If we do not read the
Bible and feeding ourselves daily on the things of this world, we are not walking in the Spirit but in
the flesh and continuing walking in the flesh leads us away from God, then to not making it to His
Kingdom Galatians 5:19-21.

2 Timothy 3:16, says All Scripture is Inspired. This means we don't pick and choose what we
want to hear and do. Every part of Scripture is given to us to study and apply to our lives.

Questions

1) Hebrews 4:12, tells us the Word of God is living. It's not a fairy tale of good stories. What is the
Bible to you? God's Word or a fairytale? When you read the Bible is it living to you? Does it correct
you if your doing something wrong? Or can you just read and the Bible doesn't really say anything
to you? If the Bible brings no change in your life, check and see if your walking in the Spirit, go to
your pastor and ask them to pray with you and give you advice.

2) Ephesians 5:26, tells us Christ uses the Word to cleanse His bride. Are you reading your Word?
Are you allowing Christ to use His Word to cleanse you? If you are not reading your Word your not
being cleansed, because if its not the Word going in you it is the world going in you and corrupting
you. If your not reading start today. Pray ask the Lord to use the Word to cleanse you. Once you
start you and others will notice the difference.

3) John 17:17, says the Holy Spirit uses the Word to set us apart from the world. Are you allowing
the Holy Spirit to set you apart from the world? Or are you ignoring His bringing conviction in your
life? Have you hardened yourself to Him? If your ignoring Him, pray and repent ask the Lord for
the Holy Spirit to again soften your heart and to use His Word to set you apart from this world.

Things to do

Memory verse Psalm 119:105

Read a part of the Bible each day praying that the Word will be used to make you walk in the Spirit
and to set you apart from this world.
Write your favourite Scripture in this box.

Any Questions you have on this lesson, write them on the back.