Sometimes we use the word inspire to mean “I was struck with a great idea.” However, this is not what the Bible means by this word. In-Spiration comes from a Latin word which means to “breath into.” The corresponding Greek word which we find in the Bible is “theopneustos” (θεόπνευστος), which means quite literally “God-breathed,” or “breathed out by God.” We see this when Paul describes all scripture as “theopneustos” in 2 Timothy 3:16. Here we see what the Westminster Assembly meant when they said that all scripture is "given by inspiration of God." It means that these words—though written in history by men—find their ultimate origin in God Himself. By saying they are "God-breathed," the Bible says they happen as the result of the purpose and sovereign will of God. Because of this, they can rightly be called “the Word of God.”

How does God inspire these scriptures through human authors? Does He override a man's faculties and take control of their mind and body? No. when Paul wrote his epistle to the Romans, he chose the subject matter carefully, considered the construction of his arguments, as well as the flow of thoughts. Along with that, the scribe whom he dictated to wrote down what Paul said using his own skill as an amanuensis (a type of assistant in the ancient days). Both of these men made intentional, conscious choices as they wrote, yet God presided even over all of that, and these words were written according to His design. We call this “organic inspiration,” and there is indeed an aspect of mystery here, because these men acted of their own volution, yet they wrote exactly what God's will had designed they would right. We see this aspect of God's sovereignty expressed in the scriptures (see Gen. 50:20; Prov. 21:1), and it is something we can marvel at, even as we do not fully grasp it.

What are the implication of this truth concerning the inspiration of scripture, particularly in how we think about and read the Bibles? Since the scriptures are indeed the breathed-out words of God, can we brush them aside as antiquated writings of long dead men? We cannot; God is eternal, unchanging, and unchangeable. He is the creator of all things, not just one group of people in the past. Therefore all humanity has an obligation to heed what their creator has said. And it is because of this that the Confession declares that the 66 books of the Old and New Testament were given by inspiration of God “to be the rule of faith and life.” Since God the creator has caused these words to be penned and preserved, they must be taken seriously, and they must be given a place of authority for those who call themselves God's people. This also means that those who reject His written word are, in fact, not just rejecting the human authors of these writings, but they are ultimately rejecting God Himself (see Luke 10:16).

So, what place do these 66 books have in your life and behavior? Do they take preference, or do you still live according to what you think is right, or how you want to think about the world around you? Sometimes people say things like “I think God is…” And to that we can only ask: Can you be certain about that? Can you know for certain that the things you have imagined to be true concerning God are in fact correct? What is someone were to talk this way about another subject? Would that be acceptable? For example, if I imagine that the layers of Jupiter’s atmosphere are really various layers of sponge cake, will anyone accept that as creditable, just because I say "I like to think of Jupiter in this way?" In the same way, while we all have many ideas about spiritual matters unseen, the only way we can know anything with certainty is if we have the credible testimony of someone with authority on the matter—and the only one with said authority on all matters Divine, spiritual, and eternal is God Himself.

It is very risky to go into any venture based solely on what “might be” rather than based off of what actually is true. How much more dangerous would it be to live one’s life based off what you imagine God to be, rather than listening to what He says about Himself, and what He expects from you? Would you be willing to bet your eternity on wishful thinking? I sure hope not. Yet the one who trusts their own ideas is sitting on that very unsteady ground. However, the one to entrusts themselves to the testimony of God concerning Himself as He has written it down in the Bible, has the greatest certainty anyone could ever have on matters unseen and eternal. So, whom will you rest your eternity on today: the fanciful day dreams of men, or the Words of the Eternal God concerning Jesus Christ the Savior?