Victoria Avenue Gospel Hall

Why I believe the Bible is the Word of God

Anyone who chooses to read the Bible will soon come to realize that it is a very unique book which claims to be the word of God by using such terms as ‘God said’ and the ‘Lord spoke’.

The word Bible comes from the Greek word Biblios (Hebrews 10:7) meaning books. The Holy Bible is a collection of 66 books written over a period of 1800 years by many different authors. In 2 Samuel 23:2-3, King David made this amazing statement – The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. The voice was the voice of David, but the words were the words of God. Although written over a long period of time it is one coordinate book, for, ‘All Scripture is given by inspiration of God’, 2 Timothy 3:16.

The Epistle to the Hebrews chapter 1 vs.1-2, reads, ‘God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds’. Note three things in this verse, Revelation, Inspiration and Authority.

Revelation
God…hath spoken, man has not discovered God, but God has revealed himself to man. God has revealed himself in the wonders of creation for he made the worlds, and God is speaking to us today by his Son. The gospel message is how God in the person of his son stepped into the history of man for his salvation, ‘This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’ 1Tim.1:15.

Inspiration
God spake by the prophets, this was God’s mode of revealing himself in the Old Testament. ‘All Scripture is given by inspiration of God’ (is God-breathed) 2Timothy 3:16, thus the Bible claims to be of Divine origin. God-breathed, just as breath is necessary for voicing of words so God used certain persons to write but the words of Scriptures are of and from God. They are historical, logical, prophetical, ethical and powerful, written by different writers from all walks of life, yet perfectly harmonious for ‘ALL Scripture is given by inspiration of God’.

Authority
The words, God… hath spoken, indicates absolute authority.The Bible is a divine book, it is called the Word of God therefore is authoritative , Hebrews 12:25, reads, ‘See that ye refuse not him that speaketh … from heaven’. So we emphasise that the Bible is a divine revelation, given by divine inspiration, and possessing divine authority.

Romans 13:1 Says ‘There is no power (or authority) but of God…’, since the Bible is the word of God then its authority is absolute and demands the obedience of man. Some would like to claim there are no absolutes everything is relative, if you feel something is wrong it is wrong to you but may not be so to others. This admits man’s unlimited right to choose for himself so that sin is not sin. This denies the authority of the Bible which says, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23. The Bible will make us ‘wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus’, 2 Timothy 3:15.

What makes the Bible a unique book?

(1) Its unity:- It was written over a period of 1800 years by approx. 40 different writers of vastly different backgrounds and yet there is perfect harmony. It was written in three different languages, in different nations and on different continents without any contradictions.

(2) It is historical:- The Bible is ‘Ethical’ but it is not presented as a book of ethics or rules, it is God revealing himself in the lives of individuals. History and archaeology has proved the Bible correct, a highly respected archaeologist is reputed to have said, “It may be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever contradicted a Biblical reference”. And a number of historians, independent of the Bible, have recorded the events and death of the Lord Jesus at the hands of Pontius Pilate, affirming the accuracy of the gospel records.

(3) It is prophetical:- There are prophecies given and their fulfilment is recorded in Scripture. The first prophecy in the Bible is Gen.3:15 and Gal.4:4 recorded its fulfilment. In 710 B.C. Micah 5:2 prophesied that Bethlehem would be the place of the birth of Christ, and more wonderful it took a decree from Caesar Augustus to get Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem so that the baby Jesus would be born at the very place predicted centuries earlier, and Dan.9:25 in 538 B.C. foretells the exact time of the death of Christ over 550 years before the event.

(4) Its preservation:- It is amazing the way it has been preserved both providentially and through the efforts of believers, many of whom gave their lives for the Scriptures. Bibles have been burnt and many who refused to denounce it were also burnt at the stake, but it has survived and is written in more languages than any other book.

The Bible is truly a remarkable book, it is not only historical and prophetical but is Ethical, Doctrinal, Logical, and Living and Powerful, It has been wondrously preserved against all odds, and remains the best-selling book in the world. It is quick (or living) and powerful, so that it has transformed the lives of men and women and nations.
When Queen Victoria of England was asked, what the secret of Britain’s greatness is, she is reported to have held up a Bible and said “This book is the secret of England’s greatness”.
On his deathbed Sir Walter Scott, the British poet, said, “Bring me the book!” When asked what book he replied, “There is but one book”. – The bible.
The last book in the Bible promises a special blessing to those who read it, Revelation 1:3.

Written by David Persson 2012.