The Bible is the Word of God
Jun 18, 2007
The Bible is the best-selling book of all time and it isn’t hard to imagine why. Many families seem to have at least one copy of the Bible and most people seem to have some amount of respect for it. It has often been called “the good book” and it is certainly the book most associated with Christianity. However, there is some disagreement regarding the real significance of the Bible. Some believe that it is absolutely the word of God while others believe that, even though it is a good book and promotes good moral qualities, it is just the opinion of the men who wrote it. This second belief does not make sense because either the Bible is the word of God, as it claims to be, or it is a complete lie and cannot be called a good book.
Three of the writers of the Bible were John, Peter, and Paul. The Bible records each of these writers as having been given information from God. John was the author of the books of John and Revelation. It is clear that he spent a great deal of time with Jesus (Matthew 4:21+22; Matthew 17:1+2; Mark 14:32+33; John 19:25-27). Also, in the book of Revelation, he states that he received the message that he wrote (Revelation 1:1+2, 9-11, 19). It could not have been his own opinion, unless he was a liar. Peter wrote the letters that we now refer to as 1st Peter and 2nd Peter. Like John, Peter was very close to Jesus while Jesus was on earth (Luke 6:13+14; Matthew 16:13-19; Matthew 17:1+2; John 6:66-69). Some time after the ascension of Jesus, we can read about Peter being given information from God in the form of a dream (Acts 10:9-16). Paul was the author of many New Testament books. He wrote Romans, 1st Corinthians, 2nd Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and several others. Paul may not have spent time with Jesus during Jesus’ life, but Jesus did speak directly to Paul and gave him information (Acts 9:1-22; Acts 26:12-23).
Besides the records of biblical writers receiving knowledge from God, they themselves also placed a great deal of importance on the things they were writing. They did not do so out of arrogance, but because they knew they were writing God’s word (1st Thessalonians 2:13). They wrote wisdom from God, which was far more valuable than wisdom of the world (1st Corinthians 2:6-13). They also wrote commandments from God, which carry far more weight than anything a man would command (1st Corinthians 14:37). Even though most of the books of the New Testament originated as letters to specific people or groups, they were to be read by as many as possible (Colossians 4:16; 1st Thessalonians 5:27). In Galatians 1:8+9, Paul states that one who taught any other gospel should be accursed. How could he make such a bold statement if the gospel he taught was anything but the word of God?
The Bible is a good book, but it is more than just a good book. It is the word of God. Even though it was written by men, it came to them from God and its value cannot be emphasized too much (2nd Timothy 3:16+17). To say that the Bible is just the opinion of men is to directly contradict the biblical message that it is from God and to call those who wrote it liars. Instead, let’s accept the Bible as God’s word and do our utmost to study it and to do as it instructs.
Three of the writers of the Bible were John, Peter, and Paul. The Bible records each of these writers as having been given information from God. John was the author of the books of John and Revelation. It is clear that he spent a great deal of time with Jesus (Matthew 4:21+22; Matthew 17:1+2; Mark 14:32+33; John 19:25-27). Also, in the book of Revelation, he states that he received the message that he wrote (Revelation 1:1+2, 9-11, 19). It could not have been his own opinion, unless he was a liar. Peter wrote the letters that we now refer to as 1st Peter and 2nd Peter. Like John, Peter was very close to Jesus while Jesus was on earth (Luke 6:13+14; Matthew 16:13-19; Matthew 17:1+2; John 6:66-69). Some time after the ascension of Jesus, we can read about Peter being given information from God in the form of a dream (Acts 10:9-16). Paul was the author of many New Testament books. He wrote Romans, 1st Corinthians, 2nd Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and several others. Paul may not have spent time with Jesus during Jesus’ life, but Jesus did speak directly to Paul and gave him information (Acts 9:1-22; Acts 26:12-23).
Besides the records of biblical writers receiving knowledge from God, they themselves also placed a great deal of importance on the things they were writing. They did not do so out of arrogance, but because they knew they were writing God’s word (1st Thessalonians 2:13). They wrote wisdom from God, which was far more valuable than wisdom of the world (1st Corinthians 2:6-13). They also wrote commandments from God, which carry far more weight than anything a man would command (1st Corinthians 14:37). Even though most of the books of the New Testament originated as letters to specific people or groups, they were to be read by as many as possible (Colossians 4:16; 1st Thessalonians 5:27). In Galatians 1:8+9, Paul states that one who taught any other gospel should be accursed. How could he make such a bold statement if the gospel he taught was anything but the word of God?
The Bible is a good book, but it is more than just a good book. It is the word of God. Even though it was written by men, it came to them from God and its value cannot be emphasized too much (2nd Timothy 3:16+17). To say that the Bible is just the opinion of men is to directly contradict the biblical message that it is from God and to call those who wrote it liars. Instead, let’s accept the Bible as God’s word and do our utmost to study it and to do as it instructs.