The Inspiration of Scripture and How To Teach the Bible

"The Scriptures are the voice of God to the soul of man," said W.E. Vine, and therefore they are, in the words of the apostle Paul, "profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness." This little book is an explanation and exposition of that statement by combining three works of W.E. Vine. First, "The Divine Inspiration of the Bible" explains and gives evidence for the inspiration of the Bible. "To lose certainty here is to be exposed to every wind of doctrine," says Vine. He explains the doctrine of inspiration, gives evidences in Scripture for inspiration, and reviews objections to the doctrine. Finally, he shows the effects of the Bible, which has "won the souls and molded the lives of millions." Second, "The Scriptures and How to Use Them" looks at those who teach the Bible—their responsibilities and their qualifications—and examines "guiding principles" of teaching the Word of God. Vine's challenge to teachers is to teach in such a way "that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ." Third, "Bible Predictions and the Critics" shows how Higher Criticism attempts to minimize the Bible's own testimony of its supernatural character, particularly when it comes to the predictive prophecies of the Bible. A.S. Peake's Commentary on the Bible is represented as a moderate example of Higher Criticism.

"The Scriptures are the voice of God to the soul of man," said W.E. Vine, and therefore they are, in the words of the apostle Paul, "profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness." This little book is an explanation and exposition of that statement by combining three works of W.E. Vine. . First, "The Divine Inspiration of the Bible" explains and gives evidence for the inspiration of the Bible. The Scriptures are God-breathed, and so "by whatever media that Word reaches men, whether in the original autographs or in faithful copies or in the resultant texts, or in a faithful translation, it is in reality God's own voice to our souls." W.E. Vine points out the importance of this doctrine because "to lose certainty here is to be exposed to every wind of doctrine." To lose confidence in the unchanging authority of God's Word opens up the possibility of relying on the ever-changing authority of human opinions. The author explains the doctrine of inspiration and what it means. He then gives evidences in Scripture for inspiration by looking at key passages in both the Old and New Testaments and reviews objections to the doctrine and various misunderstandings. For instance, is the Bible inspired when it quotes the mistaken arguments of Job's friends or the falsehoods of Peter when he denied Jesus? The author also shows the effects of the Bible, which has "won the souls and molded the lives of millions." Second, "The Scriptures and How to Use Them" looks at those who teach the Bible—their responsibilities and their qualifications. It also examines "guiding principles" of teaching the Word of God. Vine challenges those who are called to "the holy and solemn yet blessed work of teaching" to "give ourselves to teaching by speaking—in the words of the apostle Peter—"as it were oracles of God: . . . that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, Whose is the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen." Third, "Bible Predictions and the Critics" shows how Higher Criticism attempts to minimize the Bible's own testimony of its supernatural character, particularly when it comes to the predictive prophecies of the Bible. A.S. Peake's Commentary on the Bible is represented as a moderate example of Higher Criticism.

W. E. Vine is considered one of the world's foremost Greek and biblical scholars. His Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words has been a bestselling classic, popular with generations of Bible scholars and students. Yet he wrote much more than the famous dictionary. His timeless biblical commentaries were marked by careful exegetical word study and expository insight. W.E. Vine worked for Echoes of Service, an organization that supported missionaries around the world. At one time, he kept six secretaries busy corresponding with more than 1,000 missionaries. "Mr. Vine shows," said F.F. Bruce, "how great a service can be rendered to the church by well-balanced, all-around scholarship when it is combined with reverent submission to the Word of God and spiritual insight into its meaning. . . . The Scriptures' chief function is to bear witness of Christ, and the chief end of their study is to increase our inward knowledge of Him. . . . Mr. Vine, in all his study and writing, would not be content with any aim lower than this for himself and his readers alike."