Association of Certified Biblical Counselors Exam Question #1

It's been a while since I've posted anything here on my blog.  I've been working on some other writing these days.  I am working towards certification as a biblical counselor.  So, I was thinking that posting some of the test questions and answers would be a neat way to share what I've been learning and writing about lately, and "hit two birds with one stone".  Here's the first question in the theology section of the exam.  I have not yet sent my responses in for grading (as I still have a lot more questions to answer, only about a quarter of the way through the written exam).  I've really been enjoying the task of working through my personal theology on paper (or I should say keyboard and screen).  Prior to taking on this certification process I knew in my mind where I stood on things, but to take the time and have to articulate it in written word solidifies things like nothing else can.  For some years now I've wanted to invest in this process and do this exam.  Now, God has chosen to provide the time.  I am thankful.  I hope these questions will wet your appetite for personal study,  and a desire to firm up your own theological views.  I welcome your comments and thoughts.  As I mentioned I haven't sent them in for assessment yet, so please help me out with any errors you see.  :)

1.  The Bible is spoken of as “inspired.” What does this mean?

The secular dictionary definition of the word “inspired” is an adjective meaning “aroused, animated, or imbued with the spirit to do something, by or as if by supernatural or divine influence”¹.  While this definition might explain the inspiration to make a yule log for dessert at Christmas time in spirit of the holidays; this definition is not very substantial, and certainly not sufficient to describe God’s Word, the Bible.  Ryrie defines Biblical inspiration as; “God superintended the human authors of the Bible so that they composed and recorded without error His message to mankind in the words of their original writings.”² I wholeheartedly agree with this definition.          

We read in 2 Timothy 3:16 (NASB) that; “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness”.   A literal translation of the word “inspired” in Greek is theopneustos; meaning God-breathed.   

             The Bible is God’s Word to us, He is the Author; however He used the Holy Spirit to prompt men to put the words on the page.  He was communicating His truth to us, His creation.  2 Peter 1:21 says “for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”  God directed the men, they were active in the process, but it was His Word that they were writing.

The Bible is unique in literature, like nothing else in history.  It claims to be the Word of God (Isaiah 1:2, Jeremiah 10:1-2), and explains within its’ pages how God accomplished that.  All 66 books, though penned by different authors, at different times in history, using different forms of literature (law, history, wisdom, poetry, gospel, epistles, prophecy, and apocalyptic) they are all to be considered part of the one volume, the one God-given, God-authored book as a manual for living on planet Earth, the Bible.

                 It is important as Christians that we firmly believe in the doctrine of inspiration, and we set apart in our lives the Bible as God’s truth.  In counseling it needs to be established at the outset of a counseling situation that the counselee will submit to God’s truth and that the counselor will use the Bible to to lead the individual to Biblical hope, help, and practical application to aid the counselee in overcoming sin issues, and living out their faith victoriously in Christ. 

¹ www.dictionary.com    ² “Basic Theology” Charles Ryrie, page 71

Here's a link for more information on the Association Certified of Biblical Counselors:
http://www.biblicalcounseling.com/certification/exams