Yes—the Old Testament was written by holy men of God who were moved by the Holy Spirit, not by human will or tradition.
Peter states that no prophecy of Scripture came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Les Feldick applies this directly to the Old Testament writers, including Moses, and rejects the idea that the text began as campfire legends.
2 Peter 1:20-21 — Peter directly explains that Old Testament prophecy did not come by human will but by holy men moved by the Holy Spirit.
2 Timothy 3:16 — Paul affirms that all Scripture, including the Old Testament, is given by inspiration of God.
Peter answers the question directly: "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 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." This places the origin of Old Testament prophecy—and therefore the Old Testament itself—outside human will and private thought. Paul adds in 2 Timothy 3:16, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." The consistent biblical picture is that Scripture came from God through men whom the Spirit moved, not from the writers' own imagination or memory.
Les Feldick repeatedly returns to 2 Peter 1:20-21 to answer how the Old Testament was written. He explains that "prophecy" in that context refers to the word of God being set out, not merely predicting the future. The Old Testament "came not in old time by the will of man." The writers were not dreaming it up, and it did not come from campfire stories or legends handed down from generation to generation. Instead, holy men of God—set apart for His purpose—wrote as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. Les applies this to specific writers. Moses, he says, was not at creation and did not find a book of records; he wrote Genesis by inspiration. Moses also wrote about his own death by inspiration. The Old Testament prophets such as Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel wrote by inspiration, even though Daniel himself was told to shut up the book because it was not for him to know. Les also makes clear that this inspiration was not limited to the Old Testament—Paul and John wrote the New Testament by the same Holy Spirit inspiration. For Les, the practical result is that the Old Testament is "the bedrock for the New" and was written for our learning, even though it was addressed to Israel under the Law and does not contain the Gospel or the plan of salvation.
No, according to Les Feldick. He says the writers "did not dream it up" and were not relying on things handed down from generation to generation. The idea that the Old Testament grew out of campfire stories and legends is something he ridicules as contrary to what Peter teaches. The prophets wrote as the Holy Spirit moved them, not from their own research or private interpretation.
Les answers that Moses wrote by inspiration. Moses was not present at creation, and he did not "all of a sudden find a whole book of records" depicting the early days. He also could not have known the circumstances of his own death as an eyewitness. Yet he wrote both by inspiration, because the Holy Spirit moved him as he wrote.
For Les, the inspiration of the Old Testament matters because it means the whole Bible can be trusted. He notes that all Scripture is inspired of God, and Peter says the writers were moved along by the Spirit. The Old Testament is also not irrelevant; Paul says the things written back there—Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus—were "written for our learning." Les calls the Old Testament the bedrock for the New, explaining that you cannot understand the New unless you understand the Old.
No Private Interpretation
Les explains that Peter's opening warning means no giving forth of Scripture is a private interpretation; the Word was set out by gifted men, which points to divine origin rather than human opinion.
Holy Men of God Wrote as the Spirit Moved
Les directly quotes Peter: holy men of God wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, and says this applies to every word of the Bible from Genesis through Revelation.
Moses Wrote Genesis by Inspiration
Les shows that Moses could not have relied on memory or records for creation or his own death; he wrote by inspiration as the Holy Spirit moved him.
Not Campfire Legends
Les ridicules the idea that the Bible came from campfire stories passed down as legend, insisting all Scripture is inspired of God.
Holy Men Set Apart, Carried Along
Les explains that "holy" means set apart, and that the Old Testament writers did not dream things up or repeat oral tradition; they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Old Testament Prophets Wrote by Inspiration
Les points out that Daniel and the other Old Testament prophets wrote by inspiration, and Daniel himself was told to shut up the book because it was not yet for him to know.
Not Human Intellect or Collected Research
Les clarifies that Paul's writings were not the product of his intellect or research; every writer of the book was moved by the Holy Spirit.
Old Testament Written for Our Learning
Les teaches that the Old Testament, although written to Israel under the Law, was written for our learning and is the bedrock for understanding the New Testament.
2 Peter 1:20-21: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 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.
Peter gives the foundational statement that Old Testament prophecy did not originate in human will or interpretation.
2 Timothy 3:16: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Paul's words confirm that all Scripture, including the Old Testament, is inspired of God.
1 Peter 1:11: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
Peter reveals that the Spirit of Christ was in the Old Testament prophets as they wrote.
No. Les Feldick says that is not what the Bible is. He points to 2 Peter 1:20-21, where prophecy did not come by the will of man but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The Old Testament did not come from legend or oral tradition.
Les Feldick says Moses wrote Genesis by inspiration. Moses did not find a book of records or rely on memory. The Holy Spirit moved him to write, just as he moved every other writer of Scripture, even for events like Moses' own death.
Yes. Les says that every word of the book, from Genesis through Revelation, is the Word of God. Paul wrote by revelation from the ascended Christ, and the Apostle John wrote the book of Revelation by Holy Spirit inspiration.
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