Can the inspiration and authority of the Bible be proved, or are they matters of faith?
It cannot be proved but it is a matter of faith for no one can put the inspiration event into laboratory to prove its reality to affirm the Bible authority. Biblical Inspiration and authority are spiritual matters that eyes and laboratories cannot prove. It requires faith in order to prove by experience the work of the Holy Spirit in one’s life.
When the Biblical inspiration and authority will be proven materially to be visibly seen, then it is no longer faith. However, according to Warfield as quoted by Viertel, inspiration is the work or activity of God through the Holy Spirit in His chosen writers of truth. The activity of the Holy Spirit in inspiration cannot be seen by the naked eye nor touches by human hand but only feels by the holy writers of God. Here, the tangible evidence cannot be proven for it is a spiritual matter. Hence, no one can prove its inspiration and authority except by faith. . Thus, many atheists exist because they don’t have faith in God.
It is only through the Holy Spirit works in one’s mind that a person can accept the inspiration and authority of the Bible. None has seen and witnessed the events: the revelation and inspiration except the Heavenly hosts and the receiver and or the prophets. However, the Israelites have witnessed the power and existence of God through the great wonders He performed before their very eyes as Christians believed, but today, none has witnessed those things.
The authority of the Bible according to Viertel is depending on the reality that “it is the Word of God.”
However, the level of authority addressed to the Scriptures depends on one’s perspective on the revelation and inspiration as what Viertel said, “…depends on one’s view of revelation and inspiration.” On this basis, still states that the authority depends on one’s faith on the existence of God and disclosure. It pertains to spiritual matters that eyes cannot prove. It’s a matter of faith by the work of the Holy Spirit in one’s heart. Jesus said, “no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him…” (John 6: 44).
