I’ve posted a lot on the meaning of the Greek word theopneustos, translated in the KJV as “is given by inspiration of God.”  For those who missed it, my fairly detailed summary of those posts can be found in The Meaning of Theopneustos, with some discussion of the importance of the matter found in The Scriptures — Inspired or Expired?

I heard recently from Thomas Ross, who came to somewhat similar conclusions some time ago.  I don’t entirely agree with all his wording, but we’re very similar in our discussion of the continuing present implications of the inspiration of the Scriptures.

One point in his article which I had overlooked is particularly helpful.  He mentions this Scripture:

Matthew 4:4

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

The word translated “proceedeth” is in the Greek present tense, which indicates continuous action — we live by every word that is continually proceeding out of the mouth of God.  (You don’t need to know Greek to recognise the present tense — look for that “-eth” at the end of a word).

The words of God are just as much His words proceeding from His mouth today as they were when He first spoke them.  They are still the breath of God, living, life-giving, and life-changing, still proceeding from Him as the continually active revelation of His nature.