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Why
all the fuss over
the
Bible?
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Why
do Christians place the emphasis that they do on the
Bible?
For
the Christian it is to the Bible that we go to discover
God’s plan for humankind. From the biblical
account of creation or re-creation, whichever view
you hold, through the book of Revelation the writers
of Scripture record the thread that runs through the
Bible. |
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It
records creation, the entrance of sin into the human family,
God’s choosing the Jews as his special people to bring
forth Messiah, the incarnation, life, death and bodily resurrection
of Messiah [Christ] and the promise of eternal life in and
through a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ
as Savior and Lord. The apostle John quoted Jesus thusly,
“You
search the scriptures because you think that in them you
have eternal life, and it is they that testify on my behalf”
(John 5:39) [1].
John
also wrote in his Gospel these words, “Now Jesus
did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which
are not written in this book. But these are written so that
you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son
of God and that through believing you may have life in his
name” (John 20:30-31).
The
Bible is not simply a collection
of books. The word “BIBLE”
means: “book.”
This is interesting because in reality the
Bible is a collection of many books. The Bible, that
the majority of Protestant Christians use, has 66
books in it. In reality even though the Bible has
so many books written by numerous writers over an extended
period of time, it basically has but one general theme:
GOD’S LOVE, MERCY AND GRACE
FOR HUMANKIND. This is that
thread that I referred to earlier.
The
Bible is more than merely another
‘religious’ book. The Bible cannot
be placed on the same level with the books of the various
religions of the world. The Bible is
God’s Message to humankind. It is the uniquely inspired
written Word of God. Unfortunately this means different
things to Christians. Some Christians view the Bible in
a sort of magical, mystical manner. Others appear to see
the Bible with superstition. It seems that some Christians
come near to worshipping the Bible. This
is idolatry. Christians are to worship the
God revealed in the Bible, not the Bible itself.
Many churches and some denominations have been split asunder
by varied views held regarding the Bible. The last few years
there has been an ongoing debate
over whether or not the Bible is inerrant. The humongous
Southern Baptist Convention has probably been the most notable
in its insisting that its affiliated churches hold to inerrancy,
as interpreted by the leadership, in order to remain within
their convention. |
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What
is meant by inerrancy?
Many
Christians who hold to inerrancy come near to believing
that God dictated what the various writers of Scripture
were to write. In fact, among many fundamentalist and
evangelical Christians inerrancy has become the
current buzz word for determining just who is
and who is not an authentic Christian.
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I,
personally, shy away from using the term inerrancy because
of its misuse and misunderstanding by many. I believe that
God inspired the various writers
of Scripture. These writers wrote using their own words,
their own grammatical construction, expressed their opinions
and thoughts and were people of the time and culture in
which they lived and wrote. There were a few occasions when
God did direct a writer as to what was to be written. However,
this was not usually the case.
The writers of Scripture were not perfect nor were they
sinless. In fact, one of the great things about the Bible
is that it not only portrays the various writers in their
obedience to God but also records the sin, faults and mistakes
they made. The apostle Paul made the following declaration
regarding Scripture,“All scripture
is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof,
for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that
everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped
for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Reading and studying the Bible is essential
for Christian growth. It is impossible to become a mature
Christian unless a disciple of our Lord is reading and studying
the written Word of God. The Bible is indispensable to Christian
discipleship. It should be read daily. Reading Scripture
can be compared to spiritual eating to grow, develop and
mature in the faith. Christians should test every teaching[2]
with Scripture. Comparing Scripture
with Scripture is one of the best ways to understand the
Bible. The Bereans of New Testament days set a good example
for Christians of all ages. “The
Bereans examined the Scriptures every day to see if what
Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11b) NIV. |
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is vital to the proper understanding of Scripture to
put aside that which we may suppose, think, hope or
want it to say and teach. We should not come to the
Bible as a Baptist or a Pentecostal or a Presbyterian
or a Roman Catholic. Rather, we need to come to the
Bible as people seeking understanding as illumined by
the Holy Spirit who lives in the heart and life of every
believer regardless of their label, denomination or
church affiliation. I believe that whenever we open
the Bible to read or study it we should ask the Holy
Spirit to be our teacher. An important work of the Holy
Spirit is that of illumination. The Spirit gives greater
understanding to Scripture. Before our Lord left his
disciples to return to heaven he gave this promise,
“But when he, the Spirit of
truth, come, he will guide you into all truth. He will
not speak on his own, he will tell you what is yet to
come” (John 16:13) NIV. |
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I mentioned earlier that as Christians we should be reading
and studying Scripture in order that we may grow in the
Faith. The apostle Paul gave this exhortation, “Study
to show thyself approved unto God, a worker that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”
(2 Timothy 2:15) KJV.
A
superficial hap-hazard reading of the Bible will not do.
Reading in this way produces Christians who are spiritually
undernourished. If the Bible is what it claims to be then
it deserves the careful attention
of the believer.
Keep
in mind that the Bible is
not a book of magic nor is superstition to be attached
to it. The Bible should be taken for what it is: God’s
message to us! It is within the pages of this book
that we learn that God loves each of us. God’s grace
is revealed. Grace is God’s gift to each of us who
are undeserving. Through no self-effort nor humanly devised
effort God’s grace is ours. We read of this in Paul’s
letter to the church at Ephesus, “For
by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is
not your own doing: it is the gift of God – not the
result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what
he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life”
(Ephesians 2:8-10).
The
grace of God is ours as we come into a personal relationship
with God. It is not through
religious effort or ceremony that one is adopted into the
family of God but by personally trusting[3]
Jesus Christ. The apostle John declared, “But
to all who received him [Christ], who believed in his name,
he gave power to become children of God, who were born,
not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will
of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13).
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the child of God there are countless blessings. These
include: |
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Peace
with God – Romans 5:1 |
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Peace
of God – Philippians 4:4-7 |
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Justification
by faith – Romans 5:1 |
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Reconciliation
– 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 |
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Assurance
of salvation – 1 John 5:11-13 |
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Promise
of a place in heaven – John 14:1-6 |
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Bible is vital to
the new believer as milk is for a new born baby. It was
the apostle Peter who declared in his first letter,“As
newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you
may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the LORD
is gracious” (1 Peter 2:2-3) NKJV.
When a person becomes a new creation in Christ the individual
should be encouraged to read and study God’s Word.
However, it is recommended that a more mature biblically
sound Christian help the new believer in his or her study.
It is not recommended that a new believer begin reading
at Genesis chapter one. Many Christian groups can offer
recommendations for reading and studying the Bible. This
is a place where house groups
and house churches tend to
do a better job than do the more structured church settings.
Our Lord taught that we cannot live by bread alone but by
every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. See –
Matthew 4:4. The Bible also
exhorts Christ’s disciples to live and walk by faith.
See – 2 Cor. 5:7. Faith
for the Christian is centered in Jesus Christ. See –
2 Cor. 4:4-6. Faith is the means by which believers experience
victory rather than defeat in their lives. See
– 1 John 5:4. The apostle Paul wrote, “So
then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of
God” (Romans 10:17) NKJV.
It
is faith rather than fate
that guides the life of the believer. It is important that
Christians come to Scripture with the attitude that they
will listen, then heed what
the Word exhorts. In fact, James declared that as followers
of Jesus Christ we must not only hear God’s Word but
we are to be doers of that
word. See – James 1:22b
The
Bible is also unique in that heeding what is written within
its pages can alter one’s
life.
Note
how the Psalmist David put it. “How
can people keep their way pure? By living according to your
[God’s] word. . . I treasure your word in my heart,
so that I may not sin against you. . . Open my eyes, so
that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. . . Give
me understanding, that I may keep your law [word] and observe
it with my whole heart. The LORD exists forever; your word
is firmly fixed in heaven. . . Oh, how I love your law!
It is my meditation all day long. . . Your word is a lamp
to my feet and a light to my path” (passages
from Psalm 119). |
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ARE SOME PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS |
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REMEMBER
that the Bible is the uniquely and divinely inspired
written Word of God. Treat it with respect. Handle it
carefully. Let God speak to you through his Word. Whenever
you come to Scripture ask God’s Spirit to clear
your mind and give you understanding. When reading and
studying the Bible always
keep in mind who is speaking and to whom the passage
is addressed, i.e., Israel and the Jews, the Church,
an individual or a group of people, a special event,
the culture existing when written, etc. Unless these
and similar questions are asked and answered much of
the Bible will not make sense or will be misunderstood
and misapplied. |
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REMEMBER
that some passages are to be taken literally whereas
other passages were never intended to be taken in this
way. Some passages are prophetic, others symbolic. It
is important for the extreme literalist to keep in mind
that not everything written
in the Bible was intended to be taken literally. Whatever
you do, do not get bogged down in minute details and/or
in areas that you may not fully understand when reading
the Bible. |
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REMEMBER
that the Bible will often use the same word in different
ways just as we do in our speaking and/or writing. We
determine the meaning of a word by the way it is used
in a given situation or context. It is vital to always
keep in mind the culture and society of which the writer
was part of. |
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REMEMBER
that the world is filled with charlatans, i.e., false
and deceptive preachers, teachers, evangelists, would-be
prophets, etc. Christians must
use caution. Many who stand behind a pulpit or in
a classroom setting misuse a word or passage by taking
it out of its context and giving it an interpretation
that is not in accord with the overall message of
Scripture. See – 1 John
4:1-6; 2 Peter 1:20-21. As we read and study
Scripture there are basic tools
available. These include the following: |
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Concordance
– Some Bibles have an abbreviated concordance,
however a larger concordance is recommended such as
Strong’s Concordance. There are others as well.
With a concordance you will be able to compare
Scripture with Scripture to aid in discovering
what is meant in any given passage. |
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Bible
Dictionary
– This will enable you to look up biblical words
to find their meaning. |
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Reference
Bible
– There are many reference Bibles on the market.
Some are good while others should be avoided. Check
with a mature Christian whenever purchasing a reference
Bible. Always keep in mind that the notes in any and
every reference Bible are the opinions, understandings
and interpretations of their authors, hence are not
God’s Word. The individuals who write the notes
in these Bibles often prove helpful however the reader
needs to be aware of the fact that each writer is invariably
influenced by their particular theological position.
Always keep in mind that these individuals are not divinely
inspired in the same way as were the writers of Scripture
itself. |
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Cross
References
– It is surprising how many readers of the Bible
do not know how to use the cross reference system found
in their Bibles. The cross references will aid in comparing
Scripture with Script. |
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Commentaries
– As with reference Bibles there are numerous
Bible Commentaries on the market. Each commentary is
slanted to the theological premise held by its authors.
Some commentaries are conservative while others take
a more moderate or progressive theological position.
There are a few commentaries that provide insights into
differing interpretations. Consult with more knowledgeable
Christians when purchasing a commentary. |
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Bible
Studies
- Most churches offer Bible studies. The Christian should
seek out such a group and become actively involved in
it. Caution here. There
are some Bible study groups or individual Bible studies
that are unbiblical or even heretical hence should be
avoided. Other Bible studies are offered by some of
the more extreme fundamentalist groups who tend to be
political and even cultic in some of their understanding
of Scripture. These, too, should normally be avoided. |
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Bible
Translations
– In our English language there are many different
translations of the Bible being offered today. Some
of these translations are better than are others. The
old King James Version served its day well, however
it is not as effective and/or suitable for contemporary
Christians because of language changes as well as the
fact that many additional manuscripts have been found
since the seventeenth century when the KJV translation
was published. Some other translations that I recommend
include the New International Version (NIV), Today’s
New International Version (TNIV), the New King James
Version (NKJV), the New American Standard Bible (NASB)
and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV). There are
other less popular translations and versions that are
also well done. In my personal library I have numerous
translations that I use from time to time in my reading
as well as in my study. |
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reading and studying the Bible it should be done in
an orderly manner. Simply
picking the Bible up, opening it at random and expecting
God to speak to you in a supernatural way is mere
superstition and should be avoided. It is not
the way that God’s people should approach Holy
Scripture. I am always amazed
that there continues to be some preachers who boast
that they never prepare their sermons but they allow
God’s Spirit to fill their mouths. God, on occasion,
can and does do this, however nearly
always those preachers who make this boast
are proclaimers of trite Christianize using words
and expressions that
their audience like to hear but are lacking |
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in substance and lacking in good, solid, sound biblical
teaching. Unlike some of my peers in preaching/teaching
ministry I am not opposed to the Lectionary. For some
using the Lectionary provides a more orderly way in teaching
and/or preaching God’s Word. Good study habits are
necessary to get all that
God has for us from Scripture. Take time to meditate on
passages of Scripture that you read and study. Scriptural
meditation is like a cow who chews her cud.
David
wrote, “Let the words of my
mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to
you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer”
(Psalm 19:14).
To
me the Bible is an exciting book. I can truthfully say
that I love the Bible. To me the Bible is God’s
love letter to us. In coming to Scripture it is an exciting
adventure for the child of God. It is in and through this
Book that we discover that, “God
so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life” (John 3:16) KJV.
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Where
else can one find such a declaration as quoted above?
The “sacred” books of the various religions
of the world cannot compare
to the Bible. They are the writings of men and women,
though often sincere, yet without the guidance of
the Holy Spirit. They are attempts of human beings
to reach God or a god. On the other hand the writers
of the Bible were motivated and guided by God’s
Spirit in what they wrote. They, too, were human,
yet they knew God. The
Bible is the basis of
Christian belief. I view the Bible, not religious
systems, as my ultimate authority in matters relating
to belief, faith and practice. |
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The
various writers of
Scripture were guided to write and
record what God intended we human beings to know. The
apostle Peter put it this way, “Above
all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture
came about by the prophet’s own interpretation.
For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but
prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried
along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter
1:20-21) TNIV.
In
the beginning of this material it was stated that the
chief purpose of the Bible is to provide an insight
into the fact that God’s love, mercy and grace are
extended to humankind. We humans often flounder through
life unless and until we
know the love that God extends to all people. God’s
love, mercy and grace are best understood in
and through Jesus Christ. The Bible testifies to
who this One was and is. We live in a day of skepticism
and at times outright denial of the Person of Jesus the
Christ. The Bible, especially the four Gospels, provide
many facts as to this One whom we refer to as the Christ
or the Messiah[4]. The letters of the apostles provide
teaching that is established and set forth in the Gospels.
The Gospels provide the basic teachings of our Lord such
as his pre-existence, incarnation, virgin birth, life,
rejection and crucifixion, death and burial, bodily resurrection,
ascension and the promise of his return at a future time.
The ancient creeds,[5] though imperfect, declare these
central truths that are basic to biblical belief.
If you are a Christian whatever you do, do
not neglect to read and study the Bible. Just because
it is misused, misinterpreted and used by some to bash
others, it is our spiritual food. Love it! Obey it! .
Be sure to also find and become part of a company of believers
who are biblically-based. See –
1 Timothy chapter 4; 2 Timothy 4:1-8; Titus 2:1; Hebrews
10:23-25.
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[1]
Unless otherwise noted the Scripture passages in this study
are quoted from The New Revised Standard Version.
[2]The
word ‘teaching’ is render also as ‘doctrine’
in the Bible and in the church.
[3]
Trusting is believing/receiving Christ into one’s
heart and life.
[4]The
terms “Christ” and “Messiah” are
one in the same. “Christ” is from the Greek
whereas “Messiah” is from Hebrew.
[5]The
Ancient Creeds include the Apostles’ Creed and
the Nicene Creed. |
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