There are two striking occasions when we are told that “God breathed,” and in both cases it is connected with life. The first occurs in Genesis 2:7, where we read that, “The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed [Hebrew, neshamah, breath] into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Here we have given to us the beginning of human life on this earth. This is very far removed from the theory of evolution, but tells us of God as Creator, the Fountain Head of all life, and how He bestowed human life on man.
The other occasion is where we read that “All Scripture is given by inspiration [Greek, theopneustos, God-breathed] of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished to all good works” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). That this is connected with life, divine life, is stated in Hebrews 4:12, “The word of God is quick [literally living, Greek za ō, to have life] and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit … and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Here is stated the full inspiration of Holy Scripture, God-breathed from beginning to end.
The human body is often used as an illustration of the Scriptures. Indeed we find Scripture itself using the human body as illustrative of divine and spiritual truths, concerning our Lord as the Head of the Church His body, and believers looked upon as members of His body (see 1 Cor. 12; Eph. 4; Col. 2).
There are many members in the human body. There are many books making together the Holy Scriptures. The members of the human body have different functions, yet act harmoniously in the life of the body. The Books of the Bible are very varied, some largely taken up with history, some with prophecy, some with doctrine, some with exhortation, and above all, the four Gospels presenting to us the birth, life, death and resurrection of our Lord. Yet all in perfect harmony, no contradiction between one part and another, though the writers might be separated by centuries, and be unknown to each other. All this goes to prove that the Bible is God-breathed, for in no other way could it bear the characteristics that it does, were it even partly of man’s production. There is a very solemn warning at the very close of the Bible (Rev. 22:18-19) as to adding to, or taking from the word of God. It is all of God and God alone from Genesis to Revelation.
The word of God is living, for it produces life, and life can only come from life. We read, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God which lives and abides for ever” (2 Peter 1:23). “Of His own will begat He us with the word of truth” (James 1:18). Under the hand of God by the agency of God’s Holy Spirit millions of men and women all down the ages of the world’s history have been begotten by the Scriptures of truth. The word of God is living.
The very fact that this very ancient book in the world’s literature still goes out by the millions every year, producing changed lives, altered adjustments to God, is proof of its being living. It is like the tree of life, whose leaves are for the healing of the nations (Rev. 22:2).
It is not that every part of the Bible is of equal value to us, any more than that each part of the human body is of equal value. There are parts of the human body we could do without and yet live fairly comfortable and useful lives, but the loss of the smallest member would mean a mutilated body. Every part of the body is necessary to make a complete body. So all the books of the Bible are necessary for the whole Book as God-breathed. We might think we could do without one of the small Minor Prophets, and could not do without the Epistle to the Romans or the Epistle to the Colossians, yet if the smallest part of the Book were missing we should have a mutilated Bible.
How good it is to take it just as God has given it to us. To remember that it is “God-breathed” should make us feel how God Himself is speaking to us in every part of it. No wonder that the prophet Jeremiah wrote, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was to me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart, for I am called by Thy name, O Lord God of hosts” (Jer. 15:16). No wonder that Job could say, “I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12).
What is that word to us? Do we meditate on it night and day? Are our souls fed by it as in a dry and thirsty world?