The Bible is the Word of God. Within its pages is the insistent claim that God is its Author. Around the Bible is a wall of evidence proving this statement. Many millions have staked their lives on the truthfulness of this claim.
In literally hundreds of verses the Bible declares itself to exactly that which God spoke. While there are approximately forty human authors of the Bible, still the testimony is that they spoke only the words that God inspired in them. Note the claims of Moses 1, Joshua 6, Samuel 3, Isaiah 4,
and Jeremiah.5
In the New Testament the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles is said to be with authority. Without hesitation Christ speaks as God Himself.6
While the Bible’s writing extended over a period of 1600 years, and while there were many authors who often had no knowledge of each other, still the finished Book is an orderly whole with progression of thought, continuity of purpose and achievement of result.
The method of God’s inspiration was not always the same. With some He spoke face-to-face. With others He revealed His purposes by means of visions and dreams. Still others had God’s truth impressed upon their hearts. With some, God’s plans appeared as the handwriting on the wall. But whatever the method, the net result of the revelation was the Word of God.7
One of the final tests of the inspiration of the Bible is in the reading of it. The Lord Jesus declared that His Words were both Spirit and Life.8 In addition, the Bible declares itself that it is living and powerful, and able to do what nothing else can do, namely, to see and judge the thoughts and intents of the heart of people.9
The external evidence surrounding the Bible is none the less convincing. It is rightly stated that the Bible is a reasonable gift from God. We are His creatures; He has a plan for us; so what better way to reveal this plan than by means of a Book?
The amazing composition of the Bible is nothing short of a miracle. The very way it was put together should lead to a lack of continuity, yet the Book is one, a complete, systematic, related, orderly whole.
The teachings of the Bible are unique. Subjects are commonly discussed there which are found nowhere else in all literature. Themes such as God, eternity, heaven, hell, Satan, angels, future events, to mention a few, are presented.
The Bible has universal appeal. Here is a Book with portions some three thousand years old. Yet it is not an ‘old book’. It has blessed the hearts of men of all ages. It still continues to be a best seller simply because it meets the needs of today’s hearts and lives.
This is the age of science and information. Although the ages in which the books of the Bible were written were unscientific ages, there are no scientific errors in the Bible. Rather, the Bible amazingly anticipated many of the discoveries of modern science.
One fourth of the Bible was prophetic when written, not in a loose, careless sense, but prophecies were given minutely naming times and places. As time moved on reaping the fulfillment of these prophecies, they were fulfilled accurately and to the letter (i.e., the birth, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus).
Perhaps the best proof of the genuineness and authority of the Word of God is its continual power to transform lives. Consistent with its teaching that people are born in sin, the Bible first speaks to hearts and then through the power of the gospel (gospel means ‘good news’) of Christ, to transform them into ‘new people’ who know a new King and Lord...Jesus Christ.
The Bible’s claim for its inspiration includes its very words, not merely thoughts. For apart from words no precision could be expected such as demanded by the Scriptures.
The Bible is divided into books this way:
OLD TESTAMENT
Books of Law: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
Books of History: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings,
2 Kings,
1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther
Books of Poetry: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon
Books of the Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel
Books of the Minor Prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah,
Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
NEW TESTAMENT
Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
Book of History: Acts of the Apostles
Letters: Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians,
Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus,
Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John,
2 John, 3 John, Jude
Prophecy: Revelation of Jesus Christ
1. Exodus 3:14
2. Joshua 1:1
3. 1 Samuel 3:11
4. Isaiah 6:8
5. Jeremiah 16:1,5,9,14
6. John 5:33-46, John 8:51-58, 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:21
7. 2 Peter 1:21
8. John 6:63
9. Hebrews 4:12
