1. Inspiration Chapter 2 Lesson 3

2. Turn to page 20. Read Authorship and Inspiration of the Bible. What role does inspiration play in the writing of the Bible? What role does inspiration play in the writing of the Bible? What does inerrancy mean? What does inerrancy mean?

3. The primary author of the Bible is God the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit chose certain men to write down only what he inspired them to write. The Holy Spirit chose certain men to write down only what he inspired them to write. Inspiration means that God moved these men to write about him and he guided their minds as to what to put down. Inspiration means that God moved these men to write about him and he guided their minds as to what to put down. Because God inspired these men to write these books, the writings are free from error, which is called inerrancy. Because God inspired these men to write these books, the writings are free from error, which is called inerrancy.

4. 1. What are the reasons for God’s choice to reveal himself to us? 2. Is it because of his goodness? Just as we want to share the good things in our lives with others, so too God wanted to share himself and his goodness with us because he loves us.

5. Think about this. Wouldn’t we tell others if our mother had a baby? (Think of the Christmas Story.) Wouldn’t we tell others if our mother had a baby? (Think of the Christmas Story.) What if we recovered from an illness or saw the impossible? (Think of miracles.) What if we recovered from an illness or saw the impossible? (Think of miracles.) What about sharing who we are with people we care about? (Think of Jesus’ parables and teachings.) What about sharing who we are with people we care about? (Think of Jesus’ parables and teachings.) Do we share big events too? We share victories in sports, successes at school, Baptisms, First communions, and weddings. (Think of Jesus’s life, death Resurrection, and Ascension.) Do we share big events too? We share victories in sports, successes at school, Baptisms, First communions, and weddings. (Think of Jesus’s life, death Resurrection, and Ascension.)

6. Jesus’ Love letter We can say that God has written a beautiful love letter to us, sharing himself and all that is important with us, because he loves us so much. We can say that God has written a beautiful love letter to us, sharing himself and all that is important with us, because he loves us so much. We should want to read this love letter. We should want to read this love letter.

7. What do we mean when we say that the Bible is the Word of God? Did God type his word and send it through the latest technology to the apostles so they could circulate it? Did God type his word and send it through the latest technology to the apostles so they could circulate it? No. God inspired human beings to write his word – and only his word. No. God inspired human beings to write his word – and only his word. They did not add or subtract from his word. They did not add or subtract from his word. They were free to use their own style (there are letters, poetry, historical documents, stories, recorded conversations, etc.) They were free to use their own style (there are letters, poetry, historical documents, stories, recorded conversations, etc.)

8. The Bible also had various perspectives on the same events, such as those found in the Gospels. Read and compare these passages on the accounts of the Last Supper. Mt 26:17-30 Mt 26:17-30 Mk 14: 13-26 Mk 14: 13-26 Lk 22: 8-39 Lk 22: 8-39 Jn 13:1-31 Jn 13:1-31 1Cor 11:23-30 1Cor 11:23-30

9. Bible Tidbits The Bible was written in the languages of the human authors. The Bible was written in the languages of the human authors. The Old Testament was written in Hebrew and then translated into Greek. The Old Testament was written in Hebrew and then translated into Greek. The New Testament was written in Greek. The New Testament was written in Greek. The Bible was translated into Latin by Saint Jerome around 385-405. The Bible was translated into Latin by Saint Jerome around 385-405.

10. The Bible 1. Who inspired the Bible? The Bible was inspired by God. 2. Who wrote it on paper? Men wrote it. 3. How does God’s inspiration work? Did it take away the free will of the writers? God moved the writers to write about him and guided their minds as to what to put down. 4. What aspects of the writing were not inspired? The language and style of writing were not inspired by God. 5. How do we know that there are not any errors in the Bible with regard to the teaching needed for salvation? Because they were inspired by God. 6. Are faith and science contrary to each other. No.