Page 37 - Bible Writers Theology Original

prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place../' (11 Peter 1:19). For the believer, God dwells in him "as an anchor of the soul" amidst the waves of life (Hebrews 6:17-19).
The inspiration of the word of God is one of the major themes of scrip ture. So, let the Bible speak for itself. One well-known explanation of the divine inspiration of the human writers is found in II Peter 1:20-21: "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private inter pretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." The Holy Spirit used men of their time, holy men yielded to His leading, through whom He could speak to men in ages yet unborn. Paul declared, "For whatsoever
things were written aforetime were written for our learning..." (Romans 15:4). The human writers were moved, or carried along, by the Holy Spirit. The Bible declares emphatically" "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God..." (II Timothy 3:16).
Indeed, there is a strong emphasis throughout the Old Testament on the inspiration of prophecy by the Spirit of God. The prophets of old claimed to have been sent and inspired by the Spirit of the Lord. Numerous times their messages start with such expressions as "Thus saith the Lord", or "The word of the Lord came...". Their inspiration by the Spirit could take various forms (Hebrews 1:1), such as dreams (Daniel 7:1), visions (Ezekiel 11:24,25),
inner impulses (Judges 13:25; Jeremiah 20:9). Amos said, "I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son..."; but he was clear that God had given him a message: "... and the Lord said unto me. Go, prophesy unto my people Israel" (Amos 7:14-16). (See also Amos 3:7,8; Micah 3:8; Isaiah 48:16; Zechariah7:12.) Davidclaimed,"TheSpiritoftheLORDspakebyme,and his word was in my tongue" (II Samuel 23:2). (See also Mark 12:36.) Attributions of the Old Testament to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit are also frequent in the New Testament (Matthew 21:42; Mark 7:13; John 10:35; Galatians 3:8; Acts 1:16; 4:25).
The prophetic visions of the Spirit coming upon the chosen servant of the Lord in Isaiah 42:1, and upon His anointed prophet in 61:1-3, were unequiv ocally claimed by Jesus Himself (Mark 1:11; Luke 4:18; John 3:11; Isaiah 53; I Peter 2:21-25; John 15:15).
Concerning the Messianic hope of the prophets, Peter wrote, "Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who proph esied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified before hand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should
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