The Bible is the most well-known and well-preserved book of all time – no other book of antiquity comes close to having the manuscript evidence that the Bible has. Believers in God recognize the Bible as His word and those who reject God still cannot ignore it. It is truly a unique book.
But what is the Bible? Let us consider four points that will help us begin to answer that question.
The Bible Is the History of God’s Dealings with Man
The Bible begins with God creating the world: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). [We noticed this in the previous article.] This includes the creation of man: “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27). Man was made in God’s image and, therefore, has a special place in creation.
The Old Testament is filled with God’s dealings with man from the creation until a few hundred years before the birth of Christ. It was recorded to give us hope (Romans 15:4) as we see how God cares for His people and keeps His promises to them. The New Testament tells of Jesus who died on the cross for our sins (Matthew 20:28) and points to our hope for eternity (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
The Bible Is Inspired by God
Paul told Timothy: “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). The word “inspired” literally means it was breathed out by God. This is why the Bible is consistent, reliable, true, and without contradictions. As it was written by forty authors in three languages over a period of about 1,500 years, divine inspiration is the only explanation that can account for its uniformity (its consistency, reliability, truth, and absence of contradictions would not have been possible if the Bible was made by man without divine guidance).
Peter explained how the inspired writers received and transmitted their message: “But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:20-21). This is why Jesus was able to say, “The Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). The Scriptures will not contradict themselves because they are from God.
The Bible’s Theme Is Salvation
God offers us salvation through His Son and only in Him. When called before the Jewish rulers for preaching about Jesus, Peter declared, “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). The apostle wrote in his first epistle that we have been “born again to a living hope” (1 Peter 1:3). He went on to explain that the seed by which we are born again is the word of God (1 Peter 1:23).
Jesus, who was identified as “the Word” (John 1:1), has the “words of eternal life” (John 6:68). He shows us “the way…that leads to life” (Matthew 7:14). He told His apostles, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6). The gospel, which is the message of Christ, is “the power of God for salvation” (Romans 1:16).
The Bible Is Our Standard
The word of God will judge us in the last day. Jesus said, “He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day” (John 12:48). We will each stand before the Lord to give an account for what we have done in this life. Paul wrote regarding this: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). We need to be ready for this.
The Hebrew writer explained that the word of God is able to judge not just our actions, but also our thoughts and intentions: “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:12-13). Nothing is hidden from God, and His word applies to every part of our lives.
Conclusion
So what is the Bible? It is the inspired word of God that shows us how to be saved and what standard to follow. Let us make sure that we are following it so we can have the hope of salvation through the Lord.
