WHO WROTE THE BIBLE?

Not only does the Bible claim to be a God-breathed writing, but it comes from Spirit-moved writers. Peter referred to the Old Testament prophets as men who were “carried along” by the Holy Spirit. “For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21 NKJV). David added, “The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue” (2 Samuel 23:2). So the Bible claims to have come from God through men of God.

The Bible was written by prophets of God. God is the ultimate source of the Bible, but men of God called prophets were the instruments God used to record his words. “The role of biblical prophets was unique. They were the mouthpieces of God, commissioned to speak his words, nothing more and nothing less (Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18–19). God told Balaam, only what I tell you” (Numbers 22:35). Balaam responded, “Can I say just anything? I must speak only what God puts in my mouth” (verse 38). As Amos put it, “The Sovereign LORD has spoken—who can but prophesy?” (Amos 3:8).

The whole Old Testament was written by prophets. Some Old Testament writers were prophets by office. Moses was a prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15). He wrote the first five books of the Bible known as “the book of Moses” (Mark 12:26) or “Moses” (Luke 24:27). All the books after him were at first called “the Prophets” (Matthew 5:17; Luke 24:27). The New Testament refers to the whole Old Testament as a prophetic writing (2 Peter 1:20–21; cf. Hebrews 1:1). Beginning with Samuel (1 Samuel 10:10–12) there was a company of the prophets (1 Samuel 19:20). Some men such as Elijah (1 Kings 18:36; Malachi 4:5) or Elisha (2 Kings 9:1) were known as prophets.

Other Old Testament writers were prophets by gift. That is, they did not belong to the group or company of prophets, but God spoke to them and gave them a message to deliver to the people (Amos 7:14–15). Daniel was a prince by profession (Daniel 1:3–6), but he became a prophet by calling and gift. Jesus called him “the prophet Daniel” (Matthew 24:15). David was a shepherd boy, but God spoke to him. David wrote, “The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue” (2 Samuel 23:2). Even Solomon, who wrote Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs, received revelations from God as a prophet does (1 Kings 3:5). The rest of the Old Testament authors fit into this category, since their writings were in the section known as “the Prophets” (Matthew 5:17; Luke 24:27) and since the Old Testament was known as a prophetic writing (Hebrews 1:1; 2 Peter 1:20–21).

Likewise, all the New Testament writers were “apostles and prophets,” since the church was built on this foundation (Ephesians 2:20). They, too, claimed to receive their message from God. Paul, who wrote about half of the New Testament books, was considered to have written inspired Scripture in the same category as the Old Testament (2 Peter 3:15–16). Matthew and John were among those Jesus promised to lead into “all truth” and bring to their remembrance whatever he taught them (John 16:13; 14:26). Peter, one of the chief apostles, wrote two books based on his credentials as an apostle and eyewitness of Jesus (see 1 Peter 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1, 16). The other New Testament writers were associates of the apostles and prophets by gift, since God spoke through these servants of Jesus as well (see James 1:1; Jude 1–3).