A: Let’s start by understanding what we mean when we talk about the Bible as “inspired” because that word may mislead us. The term is an attempt to translate a word that occurs only once in the New Testament, and it’s not the best translation, even though William Tyndale introduced it back in 1526.

The word is found in 2 Timothy 3:16 and is made from two Greek words, one being the word for God and the other referring to breath or wind. It is significant that the word is used passively in this case. God did not “breathe into” (inspire) all Scripture, but it was “breathed out” by God (expired). Thus, 2 Timothy 3:16 is not about how the Bible came to us but where it came from. The Scriptures are “God-breathed.”

If “inspired” really means “God-breathed,” then the claim of 2 Timothy 3:16 is that all Scripture, being God-breathed, is without error and therefore can be trusted completely. Since God cannot lie (Hebrews 6:18), He would cease to be God if He breathed out errors and contradictions, even in the smallest part. So long as we give theopneustos its real meaning, we shall not find it hard to understand the full inerrancy of the Bible.

Continue reading to learn more about how God’s Word came to us and why we can trust it 100 percent.

This Sunday, Answers in Genesis President Ken Ham will be speaking at the morning and evening services of First Baptist Church Woodstock (near Atlanta, Georgia). You can view all his talks (the morning messages will be the same) on the live media page of the church website, www.fbcw.org (service hours are listed).

The senior pastor is Johnny Hunt, outgoing president of the Southern Baptist denomination. By the way, if you haven't seen it yet, be sure to watch Dr. Hunt’s YouTube video endorsement of our Ark Encounter project. (Some content on YouTube is not representative of Answers in Genesis’ views.)

Mega marsupial: A nearly complete skeleton of the world’s biggest marsupial, the Diprotodon, was unearthed at Floraville Station in Queensland. This specimen, 6.5 feet tall and 11 feet long, is estimated to have weighed three tons. Read more.

Panzee and Nim: Voice changers don’t fool her! Panzee, a 25 year old chimp, has been impressing psychologists at Georgia State University with her language skills. Another chimp will be getting publicity this summer with the release of the movie Project Nim. Nim Chimpsky was the subject of an experiment by Columbia University psychologist Herbert Terrace. Read more.

Also:

• Big black hole
• Bungled baraminology
• The critical computer
• And Don’t Miss . . .

• Why Is It Not All About Me?
• How Should I Mourn Sin?
• Where Can True Comfort Be Found?
• How Must I React to My Sin?
• What Is the Result of Spiritual Bankruptcy?

• Plants—but they’re not “nephesh!”
• Comets—they disintegrate too quickly!
• Refuting compromise—God and the big bang!
• Stars—really created on the fourth day?
• Genesis—it’s worth division!

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