Journal: Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
Volume: JETS 06:1 (Winter 1963)
Article: Further Thoughts On Biblical Inspiration
Author: Ralph Earle

BETS 6:1 (Winter 1963) p. 7

Further Thoughts On Biblical Inspiration

Ralph Earle

The title of this paper has been chosen with some care. We trust that we are not suffering from delusions of grandeur when we attempt to speak on such a profound subject as Biblical inspiration. We have sought to be realistic by suggesting that all we hope to do is to present some further thoughts that may stimulate productive discussion. Finality in this field will certainly not be achieved by finite minds.

Inspiration is primarily a matter of communication. The inspiration of the Bible is an expression of God’s effort to communicate His eternal truth and soverign will to man.

Dr. Eugene Nida, vice-president in charge of translating for the American Bible Society, recently delivered a series of lectures at our seminary. His general subject was the problem of communication. He pointed out the important fact that all effective communication involves three factors — the Source, the Message, and the Receptor. It is not enough for the source to produce a message. That message must finally reach the receptor before communication has actually taken place.

Neo-orthodoxy has emphasized the idea that inspiration is primarily, if not altogether, a subject to subject’ relationship. God the subject speaks to man the subject. The Word of God is not the Bible but the voice of God speaking directly to me today.

Obviously the neo-orthodox theologians have left out one essential factor. Communication is not just a subject-subject relationship, but a subject-object-subject process. It is God the subject reaching man the subject by way of the Bible, the object. Without any written revelation the door is thrown wide open for all kinds of fanatical vagaries to be proposed as God’s will and word for man. God must speak to me. But He has chosen to speak to me primarily through the Bible.

While neo-orthodoxy has tended to bypass, or at least minimize the authority of, the mediating object, the written Word, too often evangelical scholars have been guilty of neglecting the third factor. They have made inspiration merely a subject-object relationship, failing to recognize that communication is not completed until the object has effectively and effectually reached the final subject. The Bible as the written Word of God does not communicate until it conveys God’s truth accurately and meaningfully to modern man.

But perhaps we should turn back the pages of history and catch a few brief glimpses of what the centuries have said about Biblical inspiration. The limitations of time preclude any extended treatment of this vast field.

1. The Early Church

Clement of Rome’s First Epistle to the Corinthians is the earliest ex...