Was the Bible written by humans or did God write it? The answer is, yes! The Bible is a divine-human collaboration that we Christians affirm as both divinely inspired[1]and written by real people.[2] It wasn’t handed down on golden tablets, nor was it merely human religious speculation.[3] Rather, scripture was inspired – breathed out – by the Holy Spirit working in humans, and the human authors actively participated in its composition. They were guided, but not robotically controlled, by God’s Spirit. Through this divine-human collaboration, the Bible reveals God’s love, character, and will.

This is important because who wrote the Bible affects how we read it. If we consider it to be only human wisdom, then it’s open to debate, revision, or even dismissal. And if we presume that it’s purely divine dictation, we risk the distortion of its meaning by taking it out of context and potentially damaging its credibility. But when we recognize that it’s both, we can see the beauty of our God who works through real people in real history to communicate timeless truths.

Real People and Real History

The Bible is a collection of works from over forty authors spanning roughly 1,500 years. These authors came from all walks of life – kings, prophets, fishermen, shepherds, and even a tax collector. Because of this, the Bible isn’t simply one book: it’s more like an entire library of books. The Bible is a grand record of God’s interaction with his chosen people and ultimately his choosing of all who will believe, written by many hands across generations, cultures, and eras. It is packed with epic stories, heartfelt poems, fiery prophecies, and powerful sermons. Each book was written to real people, addressing their struggles, hopes, and spiritual needs.

While it was originally written to others, it was also written for our benefit. When we read the prophets and the apostles, we are reading ever-relevant words across the centuries, like literary time travelers drawing wisdom and timeless truths from the past. However, as we travel, we must wisely remember that we are guests in the world of the Bible, and we must not ignore the culture of its original audience and the historical setting of their writings, lest we misunderstand them.

For example, one could read Paul’s writings related to slaves and masters in his letters to the Ephesians and Philemon and presume he is endorsing the slavery prevalent in our early American culture. However, when we consider the cultural context of ‘bondservants’, the heart and character of God as revealed in scripture, and the whole counsel of scripture, we realize that God values and loves every human being equally and desires all to be free from bondage and oppression. Although we cannot always be sure of the exact cultural context, there is safety in considering the whole counsel of scripture, referencing the life and teachings of Jesus and his apostles to help us properly discern the weighty matters, while not neglecting the smaller.

There is also a danger in overemphasizing the human authorship of scripture. If we reduce the Bible to simply an ancient religious text, we risk treating it as nothing more than inspirational literature, like an old book of fairytales. We believe the Bible is so much more than that. These writings, while penned by humans, were also divinely inspired, not merely reflections on God, but revelations from God.

God’s Thoughts in Human Language

The God who spoke to Abraham, Moses, and David is the same God who walked in Galilee and the same God we worship today. The Spirit who descended in fire on Mount Sinai is the one who wrote His law on human hearts at Pentecost. God’s constancy is why the message of scripture remains consistent across time and cultures.

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The world has changed in many ways since these words were written. Empires have risen and fallen, languages have evolved, and technology has reshaped our daily lives, but the truth of God’s Word remains. God’s words transcend time, speaking to ancient Israel, the early church, and to us in the 21st century.

Recognizing the importance of respecting the cultural and historical context of the biblical authors and audience isn't merely an academic exercise but a vital step in discerning the message of many scriptural passages before we seek to apply its principles. It’s prudent to approach each passage with the goal of understanding what it intended to communicate to its original audience. Then, we bring it into our own context by identifying the teachings that transcend culture and time. Skipping the first step can lead to misinterpretation, as we demonstrated with passages related to slavery. Ultimately, we must apply the principle to the way we live, bringing our lives into alignment with God’s instruction.

A careful look at scripture reveals numerous human elements. A modern skeptic might say, “See, these are human words and ideas, not those of a god.” If we retain a notion of divine dictation, the credibility of the Bible may be undermined by these facts. However, we do not hold to such a simple understanding of inspiration. We believe that God speaks through human authors, and His truth is breathed into their writings.

The Word of God in Human Hands

When we acknowledge both the human and divine authorship of Scripture, we approach the Bible with deep reverence. We recognize that the messages of the Bible profoundly impacted the hearts of our spiritual forefathers, and we humbly seek to view it through their eyes before applying our own. Because it is God’s Word, we believe it holds supreme authority over our lives. Therefore, we come often to its pages. In doing so, we gain a deeper understanding. The Bible is a grand, unfolding narrative that ultimately leads us to Jesus. It is not merely a collection of disconnected spiritual truths; it is the history of God’s redemptive plan, revealed in real time and space. The messages of the scripture are clear. Believe and love God, love your neighbor, and love your enemy. These transcend time, geography, and culture.

When we ponder how we have received God’s written word, it’s astonishing – almost unthinkable – that God would choose to work this way. The all-powerful Creator of the universe entrusted His infallible truth to fallible humans, allowing his transcendent thoughts to be expressed in human language, within human history, with all its limitations and complexities.

Yet this book has endured and humbled kings and transformed entire nations. It has been misused to validate wars, yet it has also called for justice, forgiveness, and reconciliation. It has sparked revivals and brought comfort to the brokenhearted for generations. In a way, the Bible reflects Jesus Himself. Jesus is God clothed in humanity for the sake of humanity. The Bible is divinely inspired yet human in substance, eternal yet written in time. Like Jesus, its message remains relevant, powerful, and always leads us back to God.

[1] 2 Timothy 3:16

[2] John 20:30-31

[3] 2 Peter 1:20-21