Inspiration guarantees the written records will carry out the purposes for which they were intended. The doctrine of inspiration provides an assurance that divine authority stands behind the words of Scripture. We should be careful that our understanding of inspiration accords with the characteristics of the documents accepted as inspired and does not impose a preconceived idea on them.
The book of Hebrews sets forth the divine chain of authority: “Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son” (Heb. 1:1-2; NRSV).
The writer continues, “Therefore we must pay greater attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. For if the message declared through angels was valid, and every transgression or disobedience received a just penalty, how can we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? It was declared at first through the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him, while God added his testimony by signs and wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, distributed according to his will” (Heb. 2:1-4).
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