Counsels on Christian Worldview

Counsel #1 — Who Wrote The Bible?

Picture: Counsel #1 — Who Wrote The Bible? CCW 101.1

The Bible is a collection of 66 books written by nearly 40 different authors over a period of about 1500 years. The authors include herdsmen, shepherds, soldiers, and fishermen. Others were kings, legislators, statesmen, courtiers, priests, poets and a physician.^[157] All were inspired by God Himself. CCW 101.2

The biblical authors used different literary styles and genres. Some were writing law, others religious poetry or lyrical prose, some wrote as historians. The authors used parables, biographies, or personal memoirs and some wrote about prophecy. Fourteen of the books of the New Testament are letters Paul wrote to various individuals and churches! CCW 101.3

“God who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets.” Hebrews 1:1 NKJV CCW 101.4

“It is not the words of the Bible that are inspired, but the men that were inspired. Inspiration acts not on the man’s words or his expressions but on the man himself, who, under the influence of the Holy Ghost, is imbued with thoughts…. The divine mind and will is combined with the human mind and will; thus the utterances of the man are the word of God.” Ellen White in Selected Messages, book 1, p. 21 CCW 101.5

Reflect: What are your favorite parts of the Bible? Why? CCW 101.6