THE BIBLE

     "The law of Jehovah is perfect, restoring the soul: the testimony
of Jehovah is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of Jehovah are
pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of Jehovah is clean, enduring for
ever: the ordinances of Jehovah are true, and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold:
sweeter also than honey and the droppings of the honeycomb. Moreover by
them is thy servant warned: in keeping them there is great reward."
(Psalms 19:7-11). The word "Bible" is the equivalent of the Greek word
biblia, meaning originally books. Biblia occurs with its article ta in
the Septuagint version of Daniel 9:2 for the prophetic writings. It,
with its article, was later applied to both the Old and the New
Testament in a unique sense, becoming the books of the one supreme book
-- the book of and from God.
     This book or the bible has been the guide of man for thousands of
years; it has been providentially copied and recopied by many hundreds
of devoted scribes in order that it might be preserved and transmitted;
it has been on the printing press for more than four hundred years and
it has been translated into more than a thousand languages and
dialects. It continues to be the best seller each year and is the most
widely read and studied book in Western Civilization. Its influence on
mankind cannot be measured. Its beneficent and guiding star will never
set. As long as this creation stands, the Bible will still be guiding
and comforting men. What about this wonderful book and what is its
nature?
              I. The Bible is From God -- Inspired by Him

     The word "inspire" has a multitude of meanings. For example, on a
clear night when one looks into the sky and sees the beauty of the
stars, he is inspired as he is moved by that beauty and the wonders of
the heavens. A painter may stand and look into the colors of a
beautiful sunset and may be inspired to paint a striking picture. One
may see the grandeur of the towering Alps, or view with awe the majesty
of Niagara Falls or the Grand Canyon, and be inspired. One may read a
great masterpieces in literature, or hear an accomplished musician, and
be inspired.  Is this the type of inspiration possessed by the writers
of the Bible? Let us look closely at the question.
     In 2 Peter 1:21, we read: "For no prophecy ever came by the will
of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit." In
this statement Peter had in mind primarily the prophets of the Old
Testament. Each of these prophets when he spoke as a prophet was aware
that it was not he who was speaking, but God speaking through him. In
Exodus 35:1, Moses declared: "These are the words which the Lord hath
commanded." Isaiah urged: "Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for
the Lord hath spoken" (Isaiah 1:2). Jeremiah said, "The word of the
Lord came unto me" (Jeremiah 1:4). Ezekiel declared: "The word of the
Lord came expressly unto Ezekiel" (Ezekiel 1:3). These expressed
convictions, with many similar ones in the Old Testament, indicate that
men of God in Old Testament times spoke and wrote from God, "being
moved by the Holy Spirit." As Peter stated. Thus the Old Testament was
written by men of God, speaking from God, being moved by the Holy
Spirit.
     Near the end of His ministry, Jesus announced His imminent
departure from His apostles. He promised them: "And I will pray the
Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may be with
you forever, even the Spirit of truth" (John 14:16, 17). This Comforter
or Spirit of truth would teach them all things and bring to their
remembrance all that He had said unto them and would guide them  into
all truth. Read John 14:26 and 16:13 for such declarations. This
Comforter came on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Jesus
in the person of the Holy Spirit in fulfillment of the promise of
Jesus. He, the Holy Spirit, guided the apostles into all truth and
brought to their remembrance all that Jesus Christ had said unto them.
This guidance was with them as they wrote the New Testament.
     The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, his son in the gospel: "Every
scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness; that the man
of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work" (2
Timothy 3:16, 17).
     We have learned thus far that both the Old and the New Testament
writers were inspired of God and that all inspired Scripture is
profitable. What is meant by inspiration?  We have seen that
inspiration comes from an influence from without a person who is
inspired whether that influence be from another person or in the
heavens a ceiling of unsurpassed beauty, a gorgeous sunset, or some
other handiwork of God. Does the inspiration which possessed the
writers of the Bible differ from that which comes naturally by beauty
or eloquence? It does differ as far as the east is from the west. The
inspiration of Biblical writers was unique in that they possessed the
Holy Spirit and were inerrantly guided in writing the bible, since they
were inspired of God.

                II. The Bible is the Eternal Word of God

     There are some who believe there is no place for the Bible in our
scientific age. In the past, many attempts have been made to destroy
it, but it is still here. At the turn of the fourth century of our era,
the Roman emperor, Diocletian, decreed death for any person in the
Roman Empire who owned a copy of the Bible. He later boasted: "I have
completely exterminated the Christian writings from the face of the
earth." Some years later when Constantine became emperor he asked
Eusebius, bishop of Caesarea, if he could locate some copies of the
Bible. Within twenty-five hours he found fifty copies.
     Voltaire, the French skeptic of the eighteenth century, boasted
that within fifty years the only Bibles to be found would be in the
large museums of the earth. It is reported that within a short time
after his death the press used to print his writings was employed to
print Bibles and the house from which his writings were distributed was
used by the Geneva Bible Society for the distribution of Bibles.
     Where is Diocletian and where is Voltaire? They are gone and their
influence is scarcely felt. Since Voltaire lived, hundreds of critics
and enemies of the Bible have endeavored to destroy its influence, some
of whom have hoped for its annihilation. Through the centuries the
enemies of the Bible have come and gone, their works are little known,
while the Bible is still here, known, loved and read by increasing
millions as the years come and go.
     Books come and books go, but the Bible lives on. The best seller
today is a back number tomorrow. A best seller may come back
temporarily, but soon will disappear from the book shelves of up-to-
date books sellers. Jesus said: "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but
my words shall not pass away" (Matthew 24:35). The Bible will outlive
the heavens and the earth. When the sea is no more, when the sun will
be turned into darkness, and the heavens rolled up as a scroll, the
Bible will still be here. Jesus stated, "This word that I speak unto
you will judge you at the last day" (John 12:48). The Bible is eternal.
It is here to stay. It will be here when time is no more and beyond
time into eternity.

                    III. The Bible is All Sufficient

     As earlier quoted, the apostle Paul write to Timothy: "Every
scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: that the man
of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work" (2
Timothy 3:16, 17). NOTE: "that the man of God may be COMPLETE,
furnished COMPLETELY unto every good work" by the Bible and not by the
creeds of men. The Bible treats every relationship of life either
directly or indirectly and concerns itself with the age-long and great
questions of life.
     Men have always asked: "Whence came the universe and from when did
man come?" The only true answer to these questions is in the Bible. "In
the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1).
"And Jehovah God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed
into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul"
(Genesis 2:7). Man has also always been concerned with his duty on
earth and has learned that it is to fear God and to keep His
commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
     In the Bible man learns of the Hebrew people through whom the
Messiah of the world came. All the prophets of the Old Testament told
of His coming and pointed toward the birth of the Savior in Bethlehem
of Judea. In the Gospels the story of His wonderful life is told. In
the Book of Acts men and women are informed concerning the
establishment and identity of the church and how to become Christians
or followers of Christ. This they do by belief in Him, repentance from
past sins, the confession of their faith in Him before men, and their
burial in the waters of baptism for the remission of their sis. Letters
to churches and to individual Christians follow the Book of Acts,
telling men and women how to live the life of a Christian.
     There is not a relationship of life for which the Bible is not
relevant. Obedience to its teachings will make a man or a woman what he
or she ought to be: it will make a home right; a community ideal; a
state and a nation a servant of God. Obedience to the Golden Rule will
cause men to "beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into
pruning hooks"; and to learn war no more.
     Not only is the Bible all sufficient in this life, it is the only
book upon which we can rely in the hour of death, and we must all come
to that moment. David said: "Yea, thou I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and
thy staff they comfort me" (Psalms 23:4). Paul exclaims, "Death is
swallowed up in victory, Or death, where is thy victory? O death, where
is thy sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:54, 55). Again he states, "For we know
that if this earthly house of our tabernacle be dissolved, we have a
building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the
heavens" (2 Corinthians 5:1). John saw, by inspiration, that beautiful
city prepared for God's people in Revelation 21:2-4.
     This same all-sufficient Bible tells of the destiny of the unsaved
beyond death. They will be punished with everlasting destruction from
the presence of the Lord, where there will be weeping and gnashing of
teeth, "where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched" (Mark
9:48).
     What a wonderful book is the Bible to tell us of such a wonderful
place as heaven. What a wonderful book to warn us about the horrows
of Hell. The Bible is the all-sufficient guide, inspired by God, able
to supply man's every need. Will you not, my friend, listen to its
teachings, and determine right now, "I am going to follow, to obey its
commands." May God give each of us the courage to so act and pattern
our lives.

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