Having some problems with Divine Inspiration

[Pieman333272]

Recently on another thread I heard that Divine Inspiration was alternative means for dictation, according to dogma. I’m having some problems with that, however:

1. Why, if its the direct word of God, would the contents of the New Testament leave out details?
2. Are letters God’s direct word, too? I mean, are they directly communicated by God through James or Paul, or just his God’s will through Paul’s words?
3. What if the authors got their information in another way (this has kinda been answered already on these forums), like a speech, eyewitness testimony, or Q/Signs/something else? What role does God play in that?

 

[Vico]

Recently on another thread I heard that Divine Inspiration was alternative means for dictation, according to dogma. I’m having some problems with that, however:

1. Why, if its the direct word of God, would the contents of the New Testament leave out details?
2. Are letters God’s direct word, too? I mean, are they directly communicated by God through James or Paul, or just his God’s will through Paul’s words?
3. What if the authors got their information in another way (this has kinda been answered already on these forums), like a speech, eyewitness testimony, or Q/Signs/something else? What role does God play in that?

God inspired the text. Divine Inspiration is the grace of prophesy. God does not give all the details.

 

[po18guy]

1. Why, if its the direct word of God, would the contents of the New Testament leave out details?

First, the written word only supplements the oral Paradosis, the teaching tradition of the ancient Hebrews. Since God’s Word is infinite, no finite book may contain more than a fraction of it.

1. Are letters God’s direct word, too? I mean, are they directly communicated by God through James or Paul, or just his God’s will through Paul’s words?

To know that, one must know God’s intent, as expressed through the hand of the sacred writer. Scripture is not the ten commandments, which were inscribed in stone in God’s own writing. Scripture is God’s meaning, expressed through the limitations of man.

1. What if the authors got their information in another way (this has kinda been answered already on these forums), like a speech, eyewitness testimony, or Q/Signs/something else? What role does God play in that?

The manner in which God inspires us is infinite. Each piece of scripture may have been received through various means to an through the author’s five senses. God alone chooses how, when, where, why and to whom He reveals His Truth. It is for His eternal purpose, and revelation occurs at the precise moment it is needed and intended.

As a general rule, I find that prophecy is principle and not precision. This is because it is a perfect message revealed through the imperfect senses and abilities of the prophet. As to scripture and its limitations, scripture was not intended to be complete, and tells us in many places: See Luke 3:18, John 20:30, John 21:25, Acts 2:40, 1 Corinthians 11:34.

We see that God sent men to witness to His Truth: Moses, Abraham, David, Solomon, the Prophets. When they passed on, their words were twisted and abused by lawless men to subvert God’s purpose, He then sent His Son. When He was rejected, He sent the Apostles. Scripture is a fair portion of God’s revelation, but men with authority are His chosen method of delivery and interpretation. For this reason, as well as for our redemption, He gave flesh to His Son.

 

[GreggAlvarez]

Recently on another thread I heard that Divine Inspiration was alternative means for dictation, according to dogma. I’m having some problems with that, however:

1. Why, if its the direct word of God, would the contents of the New Testament leave out details?
2. Are letters God’s direct word, too? I mean, are they directly communicated by God through James or Paul, or just his God’s will through Paul’s words?
3. What if the authors got their information in another way (this has kinda been answered already on these forums), like a speech, eyewitness testimony, or Q/Signs/something else? What role does God play in that?

It CANNOT be a direct dictation and writing down because Scriptures clearly indicates human writing. There are parts where Paul himself forgets whom he baptized. And if there was dictation, there would not be minor differences in the Gospel because His viewpoint would be the right one.

Hope this helps buddy… God bless

 

[Pieman333272]

It CANNOT be a direct dictation and writing down because Scriptures clearly indicates human writing. There are parts where Paul himself forgets whom he baptized. And if there was dictation, there would not be minor differences in the Gospel because His viewpoint would be the right one.

Hope this helps buddy… God bless

So, then by what means did God inspire it? This doctrine is one I’m really, really struggling with so if there’s any information on the mechanism, that would be great.

 

[danserr]

So, then by what means did God inspire it? This doctrine is one I’m really, really struggling with so if there’s any information on the mechanism, that would be great.

I don’t generally view divine inspiration as word for word dictation either. That’s essentially the Muslims view of the Koran and the Christian fundamentalist view of the Bible, but I don’t think you need to take that view of “inspiration,” and like other posters said, the Bible does suggest evidence of human authorship (I mean, Paul in one of his letters distinguishes between stuff he’s commanding on behalf of God, and stuff he’s just suggesting as his own learned opinion.

In terms of mechanism, how about trying one of Paul’s letters as an example. Paul hears of trouble in the church at Corinth, the Holy Spirit leads him to reply and guides his reply helping him to be free of moral error. The Holy Spirit is not concerned with the exacts names of people Paul baptized or minor details of travel or if Jesus healed a man while walking towards his house or walking away (Gospels), so the authors may disagree and even err in those cases with no negative implications for the doctrine of Biblical inspiration. The writings and ideas are those of Paul himself, but he is led by the Holy Spirit to avoid error in important areas (moral advice, doctrine), and to discuss the issues relevant to the problem.

This is only speculation, of course. I have no idea how inspiration works, I just think it has to leave some room for the imprint of the author himself on the text, who could obviously err, but still taken as a whole, in the relevant points is inspired in the sense God makes sure it tells us what we need to know. Just a thought, I have no idea how it actually works.

 

[po18guy]

God inspires, but uses flawed men as the messengers. Thus, the message, while correct in nature, may be imperfect in content.

 

[Vico]

On Scriptural inspiration, from item 20, Pope Leo XIII Encyclical Providentissimus Deus (1893) :

But it is absolutely wrong and forbidden, either to narrow inspiration to certain parts only of Holy Scripture, or to admit that the sacred writer has erred. For the system of those who, in order to rid themselves of these difficulties, do not hesitate to concede that divine inspiration regards the things of faith and morals, and nothing beyond, because (as they wrongly think) in a question of the truth or falsehood of a passage, we should consider not so much what God has said as the reason and purpose which He had in mind in saying it – this system cannot be tolerated.

For all the books which the Church receives as sacred and canonical, are written wholly and entirely, with all their parts, at the dictation of the Holy Ghost; and so far is it from being possible that any error can co-exist with inspiration, that inspiration not only is essentially incompatible with error, but excludes and rejects it as absolutely and necessarily as it is impossible that God Himself, the supreme Truth, can utter that which is not true.

This is the ancient and unchanging faith of the Church, solemnly defined in the Councils of Florence and of Trent, and finally confirmed and more expressly formulated by the Council of the Vatican.
papalencyclicals.net/Leo13/l13provi.htm

 

[Crumpy]

So, then by what means did God inspire it? This doctrine is one I’m really, really struggling with so if there’s any information on the mechanism, that would be great.

Why are you struggling with this, I ask rhetorically? You need faith to accept scripture. It doesn’t get any better than scripture and the church magisterium and tradition, under the influence of the Holy Spirit.

There’s a tab above for “encyclopedia” why don’t you browse there for “bible” and “inspiration” etc. and get some scholarly articles on this subject. You don’t know that you’re going to get a total answer in these threads. Also, you probably need to look at the Catechism of the Catholic Church.