Thank you for the question on inspiration, “How can they say the Bible is the word of God, yet humans told the words to the bible?”
The Bible is the Word of God because the Spirit of God guided each writer in declaring the very words of God to his people.
I cite three examples for one’s consideration:
A. Jesus declares that his actions and words are the same as the Father.
John 5:19 says this, “Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does” (NIV).
John 8 says this, “So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing on My own, but speak exactly what the Father has taught Me. 29 He who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.”
In other words, Jesus’s words and actions are not independent of the Father. Jesus’ actions and words mirror the actions and words of the Father.
B. God declares that he will teach and even put his words into Moses and Aaron’s mouth.
Exodus 4 says this, “And the LORD said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Or who makes the mute or the deaf, the sighted or the blind? Is it not I, the LORD? 12Now go! I will help you as you speak, and I will teach you what to say.” 3But Moses replied, “Please, Lord, send someone else.” 14Then the anger of the LORD burned against Moses, and He said, “Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well, and he is now on his way to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. 15You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth. I will help both of you to speak, and I will teach you what to do” (NIV).
God declares that he will help both of them to speak and he will teach them what they are to do. God will superintend their words and actions so that they become the very words of God when they speak to Pharoah or to the Israelites.
When one reads Exodus, for example, one finds that it is the LORD God who speaks and tells Moses what he is to say to the people. In Exodus 20, God says this, “And God spoke all these words: 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before[a] me…” and Exodus 21, one reads this, “These are the laws you are to set before them:…” (NIV).
Moses didn’t originate the Laws. God gave them to Moses and enable him to declare the Laws to the Israelites.
C. God enables Jeremiah to speak the words of God.
Jeremiah 1 says this, “4 The word of the LORD came to me, saying, 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew[a] you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” 6 “Alas, Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” 7 But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD. 9 Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant” (NIV).
God specifically declares that he has put his words in Jeremiah’s mouth. Jeremiah is commanded to go and to speak what God tells him to say. He even promises to deliver him from those who seek to harm him.
II Timothy 3:16 says this, “16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (NIV).
How is it possible that the disciples remembered all that Jesus did and said among them? Jesus said this in John 14, “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (NIV).
The Spirit of God will both teach and remind them of everything that Jesus said to them. The disciples were not relying on their own memories of Jesus. It is the Spirit who will enable them to remember the works and words of Jesus. Thus, God has preserved his Words through the writings of his prophets, through Jesus, and through the Apostles.
Summary: The Spirit of God superintended the writers of the Bible so that they wrote the precise words of God.
-Kingston