No biblical writer shows any consciousness of such supernatural influences upon him in his work as insured its infallibility.  Nearly all these authors begin and end their books without any reference to themselves or their work.  The writer of the Gospel according to Luke thus prefaces his book: 

“Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to draw up a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, even as they delivered them unto us which from the beginning were eye-witnesses and ministers of the word, it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, that thou mightest know the certainty concerning the things which thou wast taught by word of mouth.”

This is the only personal preface to any of the Gospels, and it is thoroughly human.  There is not even such an invocation as introduces Milton’s great poem.

These writers at times, after the fashion of the older prophets, affirm that they speak with divine authority; but they also as expressly disclaim such authority in other places.  St. Paul is sure, in one matter referred to him, of the mind of God, and writes: 

   “Unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord,” etc.[2]

Immediately after he writes, as having no such assurance: 

   “To the rest speak I, not the Lord."[3]

Later on in the same letter he is so uncertain as to add to his judgment: 

   “And I think also that I have the spirit of God."[4]

Again, in the same connection, being conscious of no divine authorization, he gives his own opinion as such: 

   “Now, concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord, but I give
   my judgment."[5]

Eighteen hundred years after he wrote, men insist that they know more about St. Paul’s inspirations than he did himself.  Against his modest, cautious discriminations, our doctors set up their theory of the Bible, clothe all his utterances with the divine authority, and honor him with an infallibility which he explicitly disclaims.

The New Testament writers use language which seems, to our theory-spectacled eyes, to ascribe an infallible inspiration to the Old Testament books.  But the words have no such weight.  The Epistle to the Hebrews opens with the words: 

   “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto
   the fathers by the prophets,” etc.[6]

The author of the Second Epistle of Peter writes: 

   “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men
   of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."[7]

Such passages as these command the instant assent of all who reverence an ethical and spiritual inspiration in the prophets, and a real revelation through them, and they command no other belief.