Who Wrote the Bible: God or humans?

Have you ever wondered about the origins of the Bible? The age-old question of who really authored this sacred text has sparked debates and ignited curiosity for centuries. Some believe that the Bible was divinely inspired, written directly by God, while others argue that it is the work of human authors. So, who wrote the Bible – God or humans? In this article, we delve into the fascinating exploration of the Bible’s authorship, examining the evidence and theories surrounding its creation. Find out how God reveals, inspires, and illuminates the Bible’s content.

Humans wrote what God revealed.

God revealed parts of the Bible to the authors. The story of creation in the first chapter is a good example. Man existed on the sixth day. God had to share the story of the earth, the moon, and the stars’ creation with Moses for him to write about it. God spoke directly to Moses and the Prophets. The Prophets wrote predictions for future events. The authors could not have known these passages without God giving them the facts. God spoke to these and others directly. In 1 Samuel 3, Samuel hears God calling to him and mistakes His voice for Eli’s.

God speaks through angels, dreams, and visions in the language the person can understand. Gabriel, an angel, told Mary she would give birth to Jesus, Luke 1:26-27. On multiple occasions, an angel talked to Joseph in a dream, giving him instructions. The prophetic events in the Book of Revelation came from visions given to John while imprisoned.

There are a few theories about the author’s inspirational process. Natural theory proposes the authors were inspired in the same way as Charles Dickens or Mark Twain. The content theory suggests that God gave the main idea, then the writer chose the wording for the text. The view that every word of the Bible is God-inspired is called the plenary-verbal theory of inspiration. This view cannot assure the interpretation of translations to be the same as the Hebrew or Greek transcript, but the original transcript is believed to be from God down to the letter.

God inspired the human author.

Merriam-Webster defines “inspire” as  “to move or guide by divine influence.” God guided the humans who wrote the books of the Bible. Paul wrote to Timothy, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” 2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV). Fun fact: This quote is the only time the phrase ‘given by inspiration of God’ is in the New Testament. Other versions of the Bible will use God-breathed instead of ‘given by inspiration of God.’ Paul is saying here that everything in the Bible was given from God to humans to write. 

Jesus said this about the Old Testament Law and Prophets, ” 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” Mat 5:17-18 (KJV) He said the smallest letter, jot, or the slightest pen stroke, tittle, will not be removed from the law of Moses or the writings of the Prophets until everything is complete. Jesus tells us even the letters of the words God gave the authors are not to be removed.

God illuminates the message to the reader.

The Bible tells the story of the redemption of God’s people across time. It makes known God’s love for all of mankind, but it can be hard to understand sometimes. The Holy Spirit, that part of God in a Christian, gives the reader a better understanding of the Bible. Jesus said,

“26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

John 14:26 (ESV)

The Holy Spirit reveals to us the message in scripture. Before reading the Bible, the best practice is to pray for discernment and guidance while reading the scripture. Ask God to show you what He wants you to get from the scripture. God will illuminate His word to us, causing us to understand it. Illumination is the final way God communicates His word to us.

Instead of who wrote the Bible being God or humans, the answer is God and human authors. The Bible is not just a book. It is a collection of books written by many people over many years, from different cultures and backgrounds, in different situations, and for various purposes. The Holy Spirit, who was present with the authors, gave them His own words to write. The Bible is God’s word and should be our guide to life. While it was written many years ago, the Bible is truth and applies today. The Holy Spirit helps us understand and put into practice God’s word.