Let's talk about the "divine inspiration of the New Testament."
"And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers." - 1Th 2:13
The New Testament writers claimed that they declare the message of God. Paul claims that the things he wrote were the commandments of God; that what he preached, people were to receive as the very word of God; that the salvation of men depends upon faith in the doctrines which he taught.
Why should we believe this?
Because of the very nature of them being Apostles. Of them being "messengers sent forth with orders." Which is what "Apostle" means.
They were those who were sent forth by Jesus. And Jesus made some significant predictions concerning the preservation and interpretation of the facts that are connected with Him and His mission. Before He went away He told the disciples that the Holy Spirit would make them competent teachers of the truth. This, Jesus said, the Spirit would do by coming to them, by teaching them all things, by bringing to their remembrance all that He had said to them, by guiding them into all the truth, and by showing them things to come. These promises embrace the facts concerning the earthly life of Christ, the experiences of the early disciples, the doctrines set forth in the Epistles, and the predictions in the Apocalypse. The Apostles claim to have received this Spirit and to speak under His influence and authority. Thus our Lord may be understood as guaranteeing the inspiration of the New Testament.
SOURCES:
Lectures in Systematic Theology, Henry Thiessen, pg. 90 and 111
The apostles were specifically picked by Jesus to deliver His message and write it down (either through Luke or Mark) for generation to next generation. The Apostles were His 12 disciples that walked with Jesus on earth and were specifically taught by Jesus prior to His death on the Cross and before he ascended in to heaven. Paul was the last apostle to see Jesus...and this was very special because Jesus took Paul to Heaven to discuss his mission.
The Holy Spirit works in ALL believers to guide them in the truth, bringing remembrance of God's Holy Word...which is Christ, praying for them when human words are not enough. The Holy Spirit seals the believer, never leaving the believer even when the believer intentionally sins, but will bring the believer to his knees in repentance for the sins he committed. The Holy Spirit provides the power to walk upright.
The apostles were specifically picked by Jesus to deliver His message and write it down (either through Luke or Mark) for generation to next generation. The Apostles were His 12 disciples that walked with Jesus on earth and were specifically taught by Jesus prior to His death on the Cross and before he ascended in to heaven. Paul was the last apostle to see Jesus...and this was very special because Jesus took Paul to Heaven to discuss his mission.
The Holy Spirit works in ALL believers to guide them in the truth, bringing remembrance of God's Holy Word...which is Christ, praying for them when human words are not enough. The Holy Spirit seals the believer, never leaving the believer even when the believer intentionally sins, but will bring the believer to his knees in repentance for the sins he committed. The Holy Spirit provides the power to walk upright.