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That Remarkable
Book – The Bible!
The Bible is truly the most remarkable book ever known
to man. Though it is an old book, yet it remains as
fresh today as when the words were originally penned.
Consider the following facts about the Bible.
First, consider the subjects of which the Bible treats.
Every correct concept we have of God, of Christ, of the
nature of man, of sin, and of salvation, we owe
ultimately to the Bible. The Bible speaks of these
matters with a simplicity which is striking. Whereas the
philosophies and theories of men are filled with
speculation and hesitancy, the Bible displays a direct,
authoritative manner. In precisely those areas where men
wander in darkness, the Bible sheds its light. It is
little wonder that Jeremiah would confess, "O LORD, I
know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in
man that walketh to direct his steps." (Jeremiah 10:23).
Second, consider the amazing unity of the book known as
the Bible. It is a collection of 66 different pieces of
literature. From the time of the writing of the first
five books of the Bible to the writing of the Revelation
is a span of nearly 1600 years. The styles of literature
include historical narrative, poetry, prophecy, drama,
psalms, sayings, biography, and letters. The forty
writers who penned it came from a variety of
backgrounds: shepherds, farmers, kings, priests,
scholars, fishermen, a tax-collector, a cup-bearer, and
a doctor. Some were rich, like Job; others were poor,
like Amos. The Bible was written in three languages
(Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek), and on three different
continents (Asia, Europe, and Africa). Yet, despite the
diversity in time, in style, in the authors' background,
and in the places and circumstances of writing, the
Bible truly is one book, with one theme, and with no
contradictions between one writer and another. This
unity is inexplicable, unless one accepts its claim to
have come from God.
Third, consider the survival of the Bible. No single
book in all of history has come under the scrutiny which
the Bible has endured. Many are its enemies, and men
through the ages have attempted to ban and destroy it,
or ridicule and disprove it. Voltaire, the noted French
philosopher, boasted that within 100 years of the time
he lived, the Bible would be a long-forgotten book.
Voltaire died in 1778, but the Bible lives on! Critics
have searched its pages with a "fine-toothed comb,"
looking for any semblance of error, or contradiction.
Often times in the past, charges have been made that the
Bible is inaccurate in certain historical statements
which it records. However, the critics have been left
red-faced on numerous occasions when the spade of the
archaeologist has verified the Biblical statement, and
proven the critics' scholarship to have been lacking
sufficient evidence! Luke, the writer of the third
gospel and Acts in the New Testament, was at one time
considered a "third-rate historian." However, one
scholar who made that pronouncement, and set out to
prove his judgment of Luke's capabilities, finally
concluded that Luke was instead an historian "of the
first class." Sir William Ramsey, the one who made those
statements, established himself as one of the foremost
archaeologists and historians of the period covered by
the book of Acts, and wrote at least ten volumes
presenting his conclusions in support of the
trustworthiness of the Biblical record.
Finally, consider the central character of the Bible.
Though its pages are filled with countless heroes (such
as Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Samson, David, Daniel,
etc.), the main figure in its pages is Jesus, the
Christ. He is present at the creation of the world (Gen.
1:26; John 1:1-3). His coming is foretold as early as
Genesis 3:15. He is the central figure of all the
prophecies and types of the Old Testament. While He was
on the earth, He spoke as no man ever before (or since)
spoke; He taught the greatest lessons in the most simple
manner (note the parables of the Good Samaritan and the
Prodigal Son); He died a cruel death, unjustly, and His
was a death which drew the attention even of the
centurion who was charged with His execution. His
enemies' worst fears were realized: He had foretold that
He would be raised from the dead, and He was! Though
Jesus never wrote a book, never led an army, never
amassed a fortune, and though He died penniless and
homeless, His life and death have affected more lives
than any other the world has ever seen.
These are just some of the reasons I love the Bible! I
commend it to you for your study, and as the pattern for
your life. Someone once said of the Bible, "Read it to
be wise; believe it to be safe; and practice it to be
holy."
Kenneth W. Burton |
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