Chapter 20

The Bible

Its Background and Content

We have seen that both the Old and New Testaments declare themselves, and have proven themselves, to be the Word of God in the face of all opposition through the ages. The unusual background lends more credible evidence to the divine nature and origin of the Scriptures.

THE BIBLE'S BACKGROUND AND INFLUENCE

The Bible is considered by many to be the greatest book ever written. No other book has such an unusual background. It is made up of 66 books of varying lengths, written by approximately forty authors over a period of some 1600 years, from about 1500 B.C. to 100 A.D. Among the forty authors were kings, priests, lawyers, shepherds, fishermen, and tax-gatherers. They represented all parts of the old world – from the wilderness of Sinai, in southern Israel; to the cliffs of Arabia; from small towns in Palestine; to large capital cities like Babylon on the Euphrates River; from the courts of temples to prisons in exile. What a variety of places from which the Scriptures were written! What a variety of people doing the writing! Free men, slaves, prisoners, and kings were all involved in writing the Scripture.

The Bible's Unity

And yet, with such a difference of time, authors, and circumstances, the entire 66 books have one central theme; that is incredible. That theme is the separation of man from God through sin and God's provision to bring man back to Himself. The testimony throughout is uniform and clear that salvation is never by works but always by grace through faith in God and His plan of salvation. The Bible begins with the fall of man and ends with believers completely restored to perfect fellowship with God.

The Bible's Prophecy

Another reason for believing that the Bible is the Word of God is the control which it has exercised over human history. Thousands of years ago the Bible made predictions about the nations near the end of this age. It has proven to be correct and demonstrates the control of God over history even though men are, for the most part, acting in rebellion against Him. Even recent events in Europe and the Middle East have a bearing on the end times. I believe these things are happening to align the nations to set the stage for the return of Jesus Christ.

The Bible's Influence for Good

The fact is, that wherever the Bible has been preached and taught clearly and simply, men have been freed and women have been raised to their proper, God-given place. Unbelievers often accuse Christianity of keeping men and women in bondage. However, in areas not under its influence people are in bondage to fear, poverty, famine, and disease. The Word of God has the power to break all bondage in the name of Jesus Christ.

THE BIBLE'S CONTENT

The Bible's Accuracy

The amazing accuracy of the Bible is a good reason for believing it to be the Word of God. It was never intended to be a book of science, but where it speaks on scientific matters it has proven to be reliable. One example comes from Job, the oldest book of the Bible, written some 1,500 years before Jesus Christ. It speaks about the cycle of rain as it evaporates, ascends, cools, and falls as rain, long before scientists discovered it. Job says that God is responsible for the rain cycle:

		Job 36:26-29
	26	"Behold, God is exalted, and we do not know Him; The number of His years is unsearchable.
	27	For He draws up the drops of water, They distill rain from the mist,
	28	Which the clouds pour down, They drip upon man abundantly.
	29	Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds, The thundering of His pavilion?"

Another example of Job's scientific accuracy well ahead of its time is the statement, "He stretches out the north over empty space, And hangs the earth on nothing" (Job 26:7). Job points out that the earth is hung in space on nothing. How much more true to actual science than the concepts of the earth resting on the back of an elephant, or the Greek god Atlas, condemned to support the heavens on his shoulders! Remember, Job is the oldest book of the Bible!

Long before science determined that the earth is not flat, as people used to believe, the book of Job referred to its shape as being like a circle. He wrote, "He has inscribed a circle on the surface of the waters, at the boundary of light and darkness" (Job 26:10). This verse also refers to the division between night and day caused by the earth turning in relation to the sun. These facts are common knowledge today. Therefore, it is not surprising to read them in the Bible. But, if you had lived 500 years ago, you would have thought such information absolutely unbelievable. And yet, it was written in Job 3,000 years before that! These are only a few of the many scientifically correct statements that were made thousands of years before their discovery by science.

The Bible's Great Wisdom

Not only is the Bible filled with facts, it also contains more wisdom than all other books in the world combined. Proverbs alone contains wonderful advice for living a good life with oneself and with one's fellowman. Here are a few of the common sense rules for living from among more than 30 chapters of wisdom. The book of Proverbs tells us about living at peace with our neighbor:

		Proverbs 3:29-30
	29	Do not devise harm against your neighbor, While he lives in security beside you.
	30	Do not contend with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm.

It also speaks about not being lazy:

		Proverbs 6:6-11
	6	Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise,
	7	Which, having no chief, Officer or ruler,
	8	Prepares her food in the summer, And gathers her provision in the harvest.
	9	How long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?
	10	"A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest" –
	11	And your poverty will come in like a vagabond, And your need like an armed man.

A little later on in the same chapter of Proverbs, we find the Scriptures speaking of seven things that God hates.

		Proverbs 6:16-19
	16	There are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:
	17	Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood,
	18	A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil,
	19	A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.

And finally, Proverbs 15:1 gives good advice about how to handle people who become angry with us. It says, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."

Near the Bible's Middle

If you have a Bible including the Old and New Testaments but without study notes and concordances, you will find that Psalm 119 is the approximate middle of it. It is interesting that this Psalm at the middle of God's Word deals with the wonderful value of His Word. It is made up of 176 verses based on the Hebrew alphabet.

Here are just a few verses from Psalm 119 about the Word of the living God:

		Psalm 119:9 and following:
	9	How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Thy Word.
	11	Thy word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against Thee.
	38	Establish Thy word to Thy servant, As that which produces reverence for Thee.
	49	Remember the word to Thy servant, In which Thou hast made me hope.
	50	This is my comfort in my affliction, That Thy word has revived me.
	58	I entreated Thy favor with all my heart; Be gracious to me according to Thy word.
	104	From Thy precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.
	133	Establish my footsteps in Thy word, And do not let any iniquity have dominion over me.
	160	The sum of Thy word is truth, And every one of Thy righteous ordinances is everlasting.

The Psalmist certainly appreciated the Word of God. Be sure to take time to read the entire Psalm for yourself from the Bible.

Make It Personal

The purpose of the Bible is to bring men back into the place of blessing under God's love. Paul wrote Timothy:

		2 Timothy 3:16-17
	16	All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
	17	that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

If you desire to serve God you should learn as much of the Scriptures as you possibly can. Then the Lord will use you in His kingdom as you apply the Word of God to your own life.

		Psalms 37:31
	31	The law of his God is in his heart; His steps do not slip.

Do you know for sure that you will spend eternity in Heaven? The Bible speaks clearly about how you can know for sure if you are Heaven-bound.
Click here to learn more.

Return to top of page
Return to How Not to Get Burned table of contents.