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Inspiration. The word is used in various ways today. "Patrick is such an inspiration to us all." "The artist searched in vain for inspiration in order to paint again." "You will find that book in our `Inspirational' section on the left." "Notre Dame is playing some inspired football in the second half." "Hamlet's soliloquy on death is truly an inspired work of art and human psychology." But none of these uses of the word matches the meaning of inspiration as a doctrine about Scripture in Christian theology. There is a huge difference between declaring that we are inspired by Psalm 23 and declaring that Psalm 23 is the inspired word of God. The former depends upon our understanding; the latter lies in the nature of Scripture itself. It is this latter claim that constitutes the subject of this study.
After exploring two different understandings of the concept of the Bible as revelation, the author describes two different understandings of the concept of inspiration. Rather than say one is right and the other wrong, he shows some of the weaknesses of each theory, encourages participants to come to their own understanding, and calls for respect for those who think differently. In the end, however we may explain it, the Bible is inspired. Its usefulness within the community of faith proves it.