Scribes of Scripture - Editor's Note:

From: The Christian Shepherd: 2004

By: Thomas A. Roach

• 5 min. read • grade level: 7

Having completed an overview of the books of the precious Word of God, we feel it would be profitable to begin a series which considers those vessels divinely inspired by the Spirit of God to pen the Bible. Though “knowing of whom thou hast learned them” is guidance for teachers of Biblical doctrine, the moral principle is applicable.

Inspiration and Sovereignty

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable... that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:16-17¹⁶All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: ¹⁷That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16‑17)).

Luke informs us of things that are “most surely believed among us” (Luke 1:1¹Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, (Luke 1:1)). The Apostle John tells us, “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you” (1 John 1:3³That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:3)). Peter says, “We have not followed cunningly devised fables... but were eyewitnesses of His majesty,” and that he heard His voice “when we were with Him in the holy mount” (2 Peter 1:16-18¹⁶For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ¹⁷For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. ¹⁸And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. (2 Peter 1:16‑18)).

“No prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:20-21²⁰Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. ²¹For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Peter 1:20‑21)).

God who spoke “in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son,” or, “in the Person of the Son.” Jesus has now gone back to heaven, and God has been pleased to deliver His Word to us by men. Why?

God is sovereign and used men with feelings and circumstances to help us understand His truth and feel His love. God “made known His ways unto Moses, His acts unto the children of Israel” (Psa. 103:7⁷He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. (Psalm 103:7)). He wants us to know His ways and not merely His acts and become acquainted with Him. God controlled the singular and plural: “He saith not, And to seeds as of many; but as of one, and to Thy seed, which is Christ” (Gal. 3:16¹⁶Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (Galatians 3:16)).

The little maid in 2 Kings 5 spoke for the blessing of Naaman. She had no command or precedent for her statement, yet God honored it.

Some of the “powerful” men were hesitant, as Moses, when God called him: “Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh.” Moses objected: “O my Lord, I am not eloquent.... I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth... Have not I the Lord? Now therefore go and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say” (Ex. 3:10; 4:10-12¹⁰Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. (Exodus 3:10)
¹⁰And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. ¹¹And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord? ¹²Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. (Exodus 4:10‑12)).

Likewise, when God called Jeremiah and he objected, the Lord said to him, “Say not, I am a child; for thou shalt go.... Whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.... Then the Lord... touched my mouth. And... said... Behold, I have put My words in thy mouth” (Jer. 1:7-9⁷But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. ⁸Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord. ⁹Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. (Jeremiah 1:7‑9)).

Special Vessels

God used men of special character. Paul, the scholar, tells the educated and intelligent Corinthian believers that Jesus “knew no sin” (2 Cor. 5:21²¹For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)). Peter, the active doer, tells his law-keeping brethren that He “did no sin” (1 Peter 2:22²²Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: (1 Peter 2:22)). John, who lay on Jesus’ bosom, says, “In Him is no sin” (1 John 3:5⁵And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. (1 John 3:5)).

God called attention to His word by his servant’s actions. By walking naked, Isaiah impressed upon the people how the captives would walk (Isa. 20). Ezekiel had to draw a map of Jerusalem on a tile and lay siege to it while lying on his side, because the people would not listen to God’s word by him (Ezek. 4).

The inspired headings of several psalms tell the circumstances in which the psalm was written. In Psalm 3, for example, David was in dire straits fleeing from Absalom. In verse 5 he says, “I laid me down and slept.” Such was his confidence in God. Would you or I have slept?

Special Circumstances

Paul was well educated but avoided using “enticing words of man’s wisdom” that the Corinthians’ faith would stand “in the power of God.” He used the words “which the Holy Ghost teacheth” (1 Cor. 2:15,13¹⁵But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. (1 Corinthians 2:15)
¹³Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (1 Corinthians 2:13)).

Paul’s statement from prison, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Phil. 4:4⁴Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. (Philippians 4:4)), had far more impact than if Solomon on his throne had said it. We might say, “If I had Solomon’s position of wealth, wisdom and power, I would rejoice too.” Now reverse the two. If Paul in prison had declared, “All is vanity and vexation of spirit,” we might say, “I’m free. Maybe I can find happiness and satisfaction in this world.”

Those whom God used to write the Bible did not simply write what they remembered, but “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” God has given us His precious Word in a way we can understand and enjoy. Yet it perfectly tells His purposes. John is the only one of the Gospel writers to witness the transfiguration on the mount, and he does not mention it! It was not in keeping with the Gospel of the divine, eternal Son. Those who recorded it were not there to witness it. This is divine inspiration!

The Bible is a unique and marvelous book. There is not an unnecessary word in it. It is a miracle. May these meditations give us a greater appreciation of God’s holy Word.

T. A. Roach

Click here to show subject links in the text for more information.