Inspiration of Scripture
Scripture is God-breathed — written by human hands, authored by God
Inspiration is the teaching that Scripture is God-breathed, authored by God through human writers, as expressed in 2 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Peter 1:21. That Scripture is inspired is affirmed across Christian traditions. What differs is how its inspiration is understood — whether described as verbal, plenary, or in other ways — and how far claims of freedom from error extend. The shared conviction is that God speaks through the biblical text.
How it traveled
- 2 PeterRome · 64explains
- 2 TimothyRome · 67explains
- Hortatory Address to the GreeksRome · 165explains
- The First ApologyRome · 165explains
- Dialogue with TryphoRome · 165explains
- Apology.— · 220explains
- The Church History of EusebiusCaesarea · 339explains
- The Catechetical Lectures of S. CyrilJerusalem · 386explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Timothy, Titus, and PhilemonConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of St. JohnConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John ChrysostomConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the HebrewsConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Letters of St. JeromeBethlehem · 420explains
- The ConfessionsHippo Regius · 430explains
- On Christian DoctrineHippo Regius · 430explains
- City of GodHippo Regius · 430explains
- Reply to Faustus the ManichæanHippo Regius · 430explains
- The Harmony of the GospelsHippo Regius · 430explains
- A Treatise on the Soul and its OriginHippo Regius · 430explains
- Internal ConsolationZwolle · 1471explains
- Discussion: Second PartWittenberg · 1546explains
- Erasmus’ ScepticismWittenberg · 1546explains
- Book First. of the Knowledge of God the CreatorGeneva · 1564explains
- Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic ChurchGeneva · 1564explains
- A History of the Work of RedemptionNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
- Christian KnowledgeNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
- A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three PartsNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
- Five Sermons. On Different OccasionsNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758applies
Key passages(20)
Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness,
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For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit.
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Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
118 D118 This assertion that the Spirit of Christ “in a manner dictated words to them” implies at least three ideas: (1) The guidance of the Spirit in the inspiration of Scripture extends to the very
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“ ‘Should any one, then, employ a teacher?’ I say, ‘or whence may any one be helped, if not even in them there is truth?’ “ ‘There existed, long before this time, certain men more ancient than all th
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John of Damascus: Exposition of the Orthodox Faith · John of Damascus
All Scripture, then, is given by inspiration of God and is also assuredly profitableFor every one that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it shall be openedask thy
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The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Timothy, Titus, and Philemon · John Chrysostom
Homily IX. 2 Timothy iii. 16, 17 “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
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Which things also we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual things.
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For this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when you received from us the word of the message of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which
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A History of the Work of Redemption · Jonathan Edwards
And the way that Samuel spoke of these times of Christ and the gospel, was by giving the history of those things that typified, and pointed to them, particularly what he wrote concerning David. The Sp
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Chapter XVIII. But, that we might attain an ampler and more authoritative knowledge at once of Himself, and of His counsels and will, God has added a written revelation for the behoof of every one wh
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Chapter XX. To make up for our delay in this, we bring under your notice something of even greater importance; we point to the majesty of our Scriptures, if not to their antiquity. If you doubt that
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Book First. of the Knowledge of God the Creator · John Calvin
THE TESTIMONY OF THE SPIRIT NECESSARY TO GIVE FULL AUTHORITY TO SCRIPTURE. THE IMPIETY OF PRETENDING THAT THE CREDIBILITY OF SCRIPTURE DEPENDS ON THE JUDGMENT OF THE CHURCH. Section. 1. The authorit
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Book First. of the Knowledge of God the Creator · John Calvin
Augustin. De Ordine, lib. 2 c. 9 “Ad discendum dupliciter movemur, auctoritate atque ratione : tempore auctoritas, re autem ratio prior est,” &c. “Itaque quamquam bonorum auctoritas imperitae multitud
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Book First. of the Knowledge of God the Creator · John Calvin
Such, then, is a conviction which asks not for reasons; such, a knowledge which accords with the highest reason, namely knowledge in which the mind rests more firmly and securely than in any reasons;
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Book First. of the Knowledge of God the Creator · John Calvin
Hence there was good ground for the Apostle’s declaration, that the faith of the Corinthians was founded not on “the wisdom of men,” but on “the power of God,” (1 Cor. 2:5), this speech and preaching
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Book First. of the Knowledge of God the Creator · John Calvin
6. For it is also worthy of remark, that the miracles which he relates are combined with disagreeable circumstances, which must have provoked opposition from the whole body of the people, if there had
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Book First. of the Knowledge of God the Creator · John Calvin
ALL THE PRINCIPLES OF PIETY SUBVERTED BY FANATICS, WHO SUBSTITUTE REVELATIONS FOR SCRIPTURE. Sections. 1. The temper and error of the Libertines, who take to themselves the name of spiritual, briefl
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Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
3. The nature of the power conferred upon the prophets in general Ezek. 3:17). Is not he who is ordered to hear at the mouth of the Lord prohibited from devising anything of himself? And what is meant
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Christian Knowledge · Jonathan Edwards
What is intended by divinity, as the object of Christian knowledge. Various definitions have been given of this subject by those who have treated on it. I shall not now stand to inquire which, accord
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Christian Knowledge · Jonathan Edwards
Directions for the acquisition of Christian knowledge. 1. Be assiduous in reading the Holy Scriptures. This is the fountain whence all knowledge in divinity must be derived. Therefore let not this tr
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