Nowhere in the Bible do we read that men are inspired by God. That may surprise some of us because we commonly hear and say that the writers of the Bible, apostles and prophets, were inspired of God.
The only place in the Bible where the word "inspired" occurs is in 2 Timothy 3:16: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness..." [NASV] The English Standard Version translates the verse this way: "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness..." Inspired is there rendered "breathed out."
"Breathed out" is a more literal and accurate translation than "inspired." Scripture is "God-breathed". Men are not inspired. The scriptures are inspired. The affect of inspiration is not seen in the men but in The Word. While the men are speaking God's words, it is to be understood that those words, literally, come from God Himself.
The power of inspiration is not in the men but in the message!
