Jeremy Carr » God Systematic Theology Biblical Theology Trinity Scripture Doctrine

Breathed Out By God

The Holy Spirit works through the Word, therefore, understanding his work in the Word is the vital starting place for discussion. Since Scripture is the means of God’s revelation of his character and will, the Holy Spirit’s inspiration of Scripture is foundational to illumination and obedience. Paul writes in 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” This is the one occurrence of theopneustos (translated “breathed out by God,” “given by inspiration of God,” or “inspired of God”) in the New Testament. Erickson defines inspiration as “that supernatural influence of the Holy Spirit on the Scripture writers which rendered their writings an accurate record of the revelation or which resulted in what they wrote actually being the Word of God” (Christian Theology). Inspiration is a supernatural influence on a few selected persons, the result being the divine product of God’s creative breath: Scripture. Grudem notes the metaphoric use of “inspiration,” since the word is referring to the writings, and prefers the rendering “God-breathed” for the authoritative Scriptures (Systematic Theology). The Holy Spirit’s influence on the authors thus makes the writings both trustworthy and authoritative since God himself is attributive authorship (Evangelical Dictionary of Theology).

Inspiration vs. Illumination

Inspiration differs from illumination in that inspiration was to a select group of divinely appointed authors whereas illumination applies to all believers (Systematic Theology Index). Both are works of the Holy Spirit, thus inspiration is foundational to illumination in that the Holy Spirit does not illumine the minds of believers apart from the Word. As Luther states, “We must…recognize the ‘God-breathed’ character of Scripture, and the ‘Spirit that makes alive.’ Only so will the Scripture be profitable.” Likewise, Calvin states, “…only when God shines in us by the light of his Spirit is there any profit from the Word” (Saved by Grace). Since the Holy Spirit inspired Scripture, the illumined understanding and empowered obedience can only come from him as well. As J.I. Packer notes, “Without the Holy Spirit there would be no gospel and no New Testament… there would be no faith and no new birth… without the Spirit there would not be a Christian in the world” (Knowing God). The Holy Spirit’s work in Scripture is the vital starting point for his work through Scripture to the believer, what we know as “illumination.” To be continued.