Greatest book ever written offers solutions
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Unlike other books, the Bible is a unique collection of smaller books within one book placed together by different authors. The Bible is not just a collection of narratives, or events about great men and women recorded throughout history.
It is not just a book that fills the space of an attractive ornament on a coffee table. It is not just a book that is casually passed out by someone who does not understand its purpose and use. It is not just a book located within one's personal library used as a reminder to help appease the human conscience that he or she is a Christian.
On the other hand, the Bible is the Inspired, Infallible and Inherent Word of God. Inspired meaning God breathed or God moved upon to empower. Infallible means sure, certain, or can be counted upon as being authentic. Inherent means distinctive, characteristic, intrinsic or ingrained.
Furthermore, there are a few key points in understanding how the Bible came into existence. It is made up of 66 different books that were written over a 1600 year period, (1500 BC to AD 100). The Old Testament contains 39 books (written approximated 1500-400 BC). The New Testament contains 27 books (written approximately AD 45-100). The Old Testament was written in Hebrew with some Aramaic. The New Testament was written in Greek. The books of the Bible were collected and arranged by rabbis and sacred council members. Before the introduction of the printing press, the Bible was copied primarily by hand. Remarkably, the Bible we have today is the closest to the original writings. Of the thousands of copies made before (AD 1500), more than 5300 Greek manuscripts from the New Testament exist; the discovery of the Dead
Sea confirmed the reliability of some of the Old Testament made over the years. Although some spelling variations exist, no variation affects Bible doctrine.
As the Bible was carried to other countries it was translated into the common language of the people by scholars who wanted others to know about God. Currently, there are still approximately 2000 groups with no Bible in their own language. By AD 200, the Bible was translated into seven languages; by AD 500, 13 languages; by AD 900, 17 languages, by AD 1400, 28 languages; by 1800, 57 languages; by 1900, 537 languages; by 1980, 1100 languages.
More important, we know the Bible as the Word of God and is valuable in the life of the believer, although often taken for granted. If there is a book that the Christian should become intimate with, it is the Bible. We have to remember that the Bible is a book of covenants between God and man. The Old Testament lists Adam, Abraham, Moses, Noah, David, and Solomon, in the New Testament God establishes his covenant with man through Christ.
In my opinion, in order for the Bible to be beneficial to its reader one must ensure that they are in covenant with its author, the creator of heaven and earth. God has given us a model to use through his son, Jesus Christ, how to effectively use his word. The context of the scripture in Luke 4:1-13 points out how Christ utilized scripture to triumph over temptation. The key principal I would like to highlight is how Christ used scripture.
Practical application is essential in order for the Bible to be effective and Christ is the standard for all to follow. In order to get results from application of scripture a believer must always refer back to the text as highlighted in Christ's example "For it is written."
In closing, I leave the audience with this food for thought. Whenever confronted with the troubles of life always make it a priority to consult the "greatest book ever written." Often everyone wants to consult a psychiatrist, counselor, physician, friend, or relative. I am not dismissing these, but if one is absolutely sure that they are in covenant with God, then it would be wise to see what God has to say about the issue.
