KNOWING THE BIBLE
Read and pray: "And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers." (1 Thess 2:13)
THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD
The Bible consists of words, yet they are not human words but words of God. The greatest thing in this universe, except God, is the Bible. The Bible tells us that even the universe itself was created by the word of God (Heb 11:3).
The word is above all and greater than all. It is also before all things. Before everything existed, the Word already existed. Even among men, words are very important. Almost one hundred percent of a person and his activities have to do with his words. Imagine where a person would be if he could not speak, write, or use any kind of language to express what is within him. It would seem that such a person does not exist.
If you are someone who cannot speak and are unable to use a language to express yourself, then, even if you are here, it is as if you were not; in short, you would not express yourself. Therefore, the expression of a person’s life, character, and entire history depends totally on words.
How did words come into being? Were they created by God? I do not dare say, nor do I know how words came to be. I think that if I asked scientists this question, they too would find it difficult to answer. How did words come into being? This is a very interesting subject. How did Adam learn to speak in the beginning?
Without a doubt, the ability to speak was created by God, but where did the words he spoke come from? What language did he use in Eden? I believe no one knows the answer. However, if there were no words in the universe, there would be nothing for us to do here today; everything would be finished. All of humanity, society, and the world would be over. Therefore, words are something very important.
The Bible is the word of God. This is something even greater. It is impossible for man to investigate the universe, humanity, and the existence of God today without going to the Bible. The entire history of the universe is contained in the words of the Bible. If you want to know God, the history of the universe, and humanity, you must read the Bible. All these things exist and are contained in the words of the Bible. Furthermore, this word is not the word of men but the word of God.
The Second Epistle of Peter 1:21 says that the prophecy in the Bible, that is, the words of the Bible, were spoken "from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." There are two important points worth noting. One is that the word of the Bible is carried along by the Holy Spirit, and the other is that it was spoken from God. To be carried along by the Holy Spirit, in Greek, means to be borne along. It is like a boat being moved in the water by the driving force of the wind.
Here it says that the words of the Bible were spoken by men carried along by the Holy Spirit. This carrying along is exactly like being borne by the wind. The Holy Spirit is like the wind; He comes upon those who speak for God, to carry them along, guiding them in their speaking. The five books of Moses were written by Moses, but the Holy Spirit was there, guiding Moses as he wrote. It is true that many psalms are the words of David. However, the Holy Spirit was upon him, leading him to speak.
Furthermore, we must also realize that the Bible is the word spoken "from God." Regarding this phrase, Bible translators and manuscript scholars have different opinions. Some say that the words "from God" should refer to the people who spoke, indicating that they were "men of God" speaking while being carried along by the Holy Spirit. Others say that the words "from God" should refer not to the people who spoke but to the things spoken, indicating that what they spoke came from God.
The best translations, such as the Revised Standard Version, agree with the second concept. It tells us that the word in the Bible was not only spoken by people carried along by the Holy Spirit but also by men speaking from God. It is the Spirit of God who moves men to speak. They are also men speaking from God. In other words, God spoke His own word from within man and through the mouth of man. This is the Bible. What is the Bible? The Bible is the Spirit of God coming upon man and carrying man to speak the word of God. When God declares His word in the universe from and through man, we have the Bible.
The second book of Samuel 23:2 says: "The Spirit of the LORD speaks by me; His word is on my tongue." This was spoken by David. David was not only a psalmist but also a prophet (Acts 2:30). He told us that what he spoke was by the Spirit of God and that the word of God was in his mouth. Note that not only did the Spirit of God speak through him, but the word of God was in his own mouth and was spoken through his mouth. This is the Bible. This is something truly impressive.
Today, we must not only admit that the Bible is God’s inspiration but also realize that the Bible is the Spirit of God bringing man into God, and it is from God, declaring the word of God. It is also the Holy Spirit speaking the word of God through the mouth of man. This is the Bible. What is the Bible? The Bible is the word of God spoken through man, carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Acts 1:16 says that the Holy Spirit prophesied in the Scripture through the mouth of David. This shows us that not only did the Holy Spirit speak through the mouth of man, but also that the word thus spoken is the Bible. Therefore, the Bible and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit are brought together here. The Bible is simply the Holy Spirit speaking the word of God through the mouth of man.
Matthew 4:4 says: "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." The word that comes from the mouth of God is each of the words of the Bible. Thus, the Bible is nothing more than the word that comes from the mouth of God.
Therefore, we can reach a very clear, simple, and precise conclusion: the Bible is the word of God spoken by His Holy Spirit through the mouth of man.
Enjoy more:
Hymn: C67 - The Breath of God
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