A. WHAT THE BIBLE IS ABOUT
The Bible is, in the first place, about God and, secondly, about the universe and, especially, about the people He created.
He wrote it for man’s sake. It contains everything which He deems necessary for man to know in order that he may live a fulfilled life, well pleasing to God and to the benefit of his fellow men.
Its basic message to man is that God is love and that He loves man. God’s love however differs considerably from man’s conception of love.
God’s will for mankind is summarized in a portion of Scripture known as the Ten Commandments. At first glance these seem to be strict laws, but a closer look shows that they actually regulate man’s relationship to God and to his fellow human beings and can be summarized as follows: Love God and love your neighbour (that is how Jesus saw it, Math 22:37-39).
B. A UNIQUE BOOK
The Bible is verbally inspired by God. It is the only book in this world of which God himself is the author (writer).
The first small portion of the Bible (the Ten Commandments, supra) God Himself engraved with his finger on two flat stones (tablets). The rest of Scripture is likewise inspired by God, but that He had penned by men.
The Bible is a library comprising 66 different books. These have been written over a period of approximately 1535 years by more or less 39 men that differed hugely from one another, but had one thing in common, namely their intimate relationship with God. In théir hearts and minds He could lay His words and they then conveyed them to mankind in writing. In this way God made it possible for each one of us to be able today to have His own “Life Manual” from heaven.
C. HOW CAN WE BE CERTAIN THAT GOD IS THE AUTHOR OF THE BIBLE?
THERE ARE 6 PROOFS:
- No Controversy In The Bible.
In the first place because the Bible nowhere contradicts itself. One should expect that when so many writers, over such a long period, all writing on the same main topic, would at times have different opinions and insights, but this is not the case at all. They all are of one accord. This shows that God was, behind the screens, the Writer and not the men writing down the words; they were only the pens in God’s hand.
- The Bible Claims To Be God’s Word.
The Bible itself claims to be inspired by God and since the Bible proves to be true in all other respects, we can believe it to be true also in what it says about itself.
All Scripture is God-breathed, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,that the man of God may be perfected, thoroughly furnished to every good work. (2Ti 3:16,17).
- Fulfilled Prophecies.
God alone knows the future and all the prophecies which He had penned down in the Old Testament, have already been fulfilled, except for those pertaining to future dates. This proves that He is the writer of this Book.
- Jesus Acknowledged The Bible To Be Of God.
The Lord Jesus who proved himself to be the Son of God by never sinning, by the miracles He performed, by the heavenly wisdom He spoke and by his resurrection from the dead, quoted many portions of the Old Testament as being the Word of God and never did He question any portion of it.
- The Holy Spirit Testifies That The Bible Is The Book Of God.
Any person that earnestly seeks after God, will, while reading the Bible, be convinced by the Holy Spirit that that which he reads, truly are the words of God. In this way God ensures that even small children and people that are unable to do a deep research, may know for certain what God wants to say to them, what He expects of them and what He promises to them.
- When I Try To Live According To The Bible, I Realize That It Is Of God.
If anyone desires to do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it is of God, or I speak from Myself. (Joh 7:17).
Do try to live according to one or two verses in the Bible and very soon you will discover that these directions are way above the ability of man and only God could have contemplated them. For instance, try to live according to the Great Commandment for one day only:
Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22: 37-39).
No human being can live according to these commandments except the Son who became man and then lived and kept all the commandments without ever breaking one. Only He could exclaim:
Which of you convicts Me of sin? (Joh 8:46).
D. UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE
It is so important that we not only know the contents of the written Word, but also interpret it correctly, both for our own sake and for the sake of those to whom we teach the Word.
“Misinformation” regarding to what God said, is probably the worst “crime against mankind,” for it could even rob a person of the opportunity of gaining eternal life. Therefor consider the following verses carefully:
- Satan used “misinformation” to bring Eve to a fall and through her, the whole of the human race.
Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which Jehovah God had made. And he said to the woman, Is it so that God has said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden? (Gen 3:1).
- The spiritual leaders of Jesus’ time lead their whole nation astray by their misinterpretation of God’s Word.
Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. (Mat 16:12).
- Paul cautioned the young Timothy to take great care in studying the meaning of God’s Word:
Study earnestly to present yourself approved to God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth. (2Tim 2:15).
- James cautioned against giving oneself out as a teacher while you have not been deeply taught by God.
My brothers, do not be many teachers, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. (Jas 3:1)