“How can these things be?” was the amazed question from an Israeli maiden.

How can the sinless Son of God be formed in the womb of a sinful human and not be tainted?

How can He, the Living Word, somehow partake of her nature, be mingled with her substance, and yet emerge stainless?

It is a mystery indeed.

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the Holy Child begotten will be called the Son of God.” [Lk.1:35].

That was the answer that does not unravel the mystery.

But the truth remains; Jesus came forth sinless partaking both of the Divine and the human.

We believe this though we cannot describe the mechanism or dissect the cohesion between the two.

And so it is that this same mystery pertains with the written Word of God, the Bible.

“How can these things be?” is the amazed and often incredulous inquiry of both sincere and scoffing souls alike.

How can the Scriptures be formed in the souls and expressed through the pens of sinful men and not be stained with mere mortal opinion?

How can this written Word, forever settled in heaven [Ps.119:89], whose words are spirit and life [Jn.6:63], whose component parts comprise everlasting truth [Ps.119:160] be the product of corrupt human authors and yet emerge stainless?

It is a mystery indeed.

“Know this first of all, that every prophesy of Scripture does not originate in one’s own release/explanation/interpretation, for no prophesy [of Scripture] was ever made by the will of man, but holy men being carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” [2 Pet.1:20,21].

This is the answer that does not unravel the mystery.

But the truth remains; The Bible is inspired by God throughout and profitable for godliness in every way.

We believe this though we cannot describe the mechanism or dissect the cohesion between the two.

A sinful woman, though a virgin, stained men though holy: A perfect Living Word emerges from the one and a perfect written Word from the other.

And the Holy Spirit is the origin and author of both.

Copyright Steve Phillips 2015