The Bible

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NKJV).

The Bible! The most amazing book! Written over a period of 1500 years and 40 generations, by more than 40 different authors from different walks of life; Moses a political leader, Amos a shepherd, Solomon a king, Luke a physician, Matthew a tax collector, Peter a fisherman, and of course Paul a Pharisee before his conversion. Written on three continents; Asia, Africa and Europe. Written in three languages; Hebrew – most of the OT, Aramaic – some parts of Daniel, Ezra, and Jeremiah, Greek – all of the NT. Written in different places; Moses in the wilderness, Daniel in a palace, Jeremiah in a dungeon, Paul in a Roman prison, Luke while traveling. Written at different times; David wrote in times of war, Solomon in times of peace. Written recording different moods – the heights of joy and the depths of sorrow.

We could take 100,000 words rather than about 1,000 to look at the origin, writers, formation, language, historical setting, translations, authenticity, power, accuracy, application and transformational ability of the Bible, and still not exhaust the subject!

The world’s first printed book was a Bible: Gutenberg’s Vulgate. The most expensive book in the world is a Bible: Gutenberg’s Latin Vulgate. The longest telegram in history is the Revised Version of the New Testament, sent from New York to Chicago. The largest first edition of any book in history was a Bible: the RSV, at 1,000,000 copies.

A Chinese lady was once told by the Holy Spirit to go to a place, three days train journey. There she met Christians who gave her a copy of the Bible. She went back home and for three days on the train the police suspiciously watched her. For three days on that train she never moved from her seat, no toilet, no sleep, she never left her seat. She was sitting on the Bible.

The Bible is unlike any other book in the world: its history is striking, its message is impeccable, its influence is incomparable, its unity is amazing, its accuracy is remarkable. It’s exciting that God would inspire men to record a timeless message for humanity. It is no collision or coincidence that we have the Bible today.

Looking briefly at today’s text, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, we see some interesting things.

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God” or “God-breathed” (NIV).

The Bible is God’s idea, it originated in the mind and heart of God, not man. The Bible was written by men inspired by God. Sometimes He told them exactly what to write (eg: Jeremiah 1:9), but more often He used their minds, vocabularies, and experiences to produce His own perfect, infallible, inerrant Word. So identified is God and His Word that when Scripture speaks, God speaks! (See Romans 9:17).

Many people struggle with “God’s will” for their lives. The Scripture speaks generally to us about so many things in life. Relationships, marriage, work, sex, morals, honesty, church, serving, money – to name a few. When there’s so much guidance already in the Scripture, we should never seek the leading of the Lord about things He has expressly commanded us to do in the Bible. But also we should never seek the leading of the Lord about things expressly forbidden in the Bible: morally, financially, relationally, in issues of integrity, speech, etc. The will of God is never found in areas outside the Bible’s clear directions and prohibitions.

“profitable for doctrine”.

Doctrine shows you the path to walk on. The Bible provides the comprehensive and complete body of Divine truth necessary for life and Godliness. The Bible is God’s guidebook, it shows us how to live and provides us with ready made decisions about many things in life. In an age of tolerance acceptance and flexibility, God’s Word still holds true as what to do and what not to do. If only we’d “really” live by it’s Divine guidance, we’d spare ourselves some heart-ache. Doctrine received believed and practiced, determines a person’s behaviour, character and destiny!

“profitable for … reproof”.

Reproof shows you where you left the path. If we’re believing and/or behaving badly, the Bible (God!) can tell us in no uncertain terms! And don’t we need that from time to time! Sin needs to be exposed, so that it can be dealt with through confession and repentance. Better to have the Bible reveal some sin that we need to deal with, rather than some public exposure.

“profitable for … correction”.

Correction shows you how to get back on the path. If something has fallen over, it needs help to be put back upright again. If someone has stumbled, they may need help getting back on their feet. The Bible does that! The Bible not only rebukes wrong behaviour, but it also points the way back to Godly living.

“profitable for … instruction”, or “…training in righteousness …” (NIV).

Instruction shows you how to stay on the path. The Bible provides positive training in how to live a Godly, God-pleasing life. When a plant is “trained”, it just grows a certain way, because it has been trained to grow that way. Oh how we need godly training on how to grow and how to behave in a sin-filled world! The Bible is our Life Instruction Manual 101 in this regard.

Have you got a passion for God’s Word? Do you have a habit of getting into it, reading it, studying it, learning about it, devouring it and being changed by it regularly? Do you “feed” on it regularly? As someone once said” “The Bible is the only book where the Author is always present when it is being read”.

So we come to the Bible not to change it, but to be changed by it. But be warned! Reading the Bible will change you. What a privilege of being in the process of Revelation – receiving a Divine life-giving truth from God’s Word. Then Application – whereby we live out our lifestyle and behaviour according to that truth and doctrine. Then Transformation – something that happens as a miracle of God changing us more and more into His image because we “looked into His Word and were changed by it”. (See James 1:23-25).