The Verbal Inspiration of the Holy Scriptures

Abstract

In this 1960 essay, Dr. Siegbert W. Becker offers a comprehensive defense of the doctrine of verbal inspiration, affirming that the very words of Scripture are divinely given and inerrant. He traces this belief through the writings of Moses, Jeremiah, and Paul, showing that each claimed to speak and write the words of God. Becker argues that verbal inspiration is not a theological deduction but a biblical teaching, supported by both Old and New Testament testimony. He addresses common objections, including textual variants, translation issues, and accusations of “mechanical inspiration,” and demonstrates that none undermine the reliability or authority of Scripture. Becker emphasizes that the Bible’s truth is rooted in its divine origin, not human opinion, and that faith in Christ is inseparable from faith in His Word. He concludes with a call to preserve this doctrine as essential to Christian teaching and life. Abstract generated by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4)