The Amazing Book

TRUTH FOR TODAY

Jun Malazo

It is the best selling book in the entire world with over 100 million copies printed every single year.  It has been translated into 698 languages.  According to statistics, over the last 50 years it has been the most read book in the entire world.  It is a book that has over 40 authors from different backgrounds that took over 1500 years to complete.  It was written on 3 continents—Asia, Europe, and Africa.

A.Z Conrad (1855-1937) wrote a poem about this book called, “There It Stands.”

Century follows century - There it stands.

Empires rise and fall and are forgotten - There it stands.

Dynasty succeeds dynasty - There it stands.

Kings are crowned and uncrowned - There it stands.

Despised and torn to pieces - There it stands.

Storms of hate swirl about it - There it stands.

Atheists rail against it - There it stands.

Agnostics smile cynically - There it stands.

Profane prayerless punsters caricature it - There it stands.

Unbelief abandons it - There it stands.

Higher critics deny its claim to inspiration - there it stands.

Thunderbolts of wrath smite - There it stands.

An anvil that has broken a million hammers - there it stands.

The flames are kindled about it - There it stands.

The arrows of hate are discharged against it - There it stands.

Radicalism rants and raves against it - There it stands.

Fogs of sophistry conceal it temporarily - There it stands.

The tooth of time gnaws but makes no dent in it - There it stands.

Infidels predict its abandonment - There it stands.

Modernism tries to explain it away - There it stands.

What is this book that has lasted for centuries and has endured so much criticism and destruction?  What is this book that still exists today?  What is this book that is illegal in 52 countries?  What is this book that men like William Tyndale who in 1536 was burned at the stake for simply because he translated it into English to make it available for the common man?  What is this book that men and women throughout history have been willing to suffer pain or even death in order to have one?  This amazing book is none other than the Bible.  It is the Word of God.

For centuries upon centuries the Bible has been the enemy of many.  Notice these examples given by Dr. Harold L. Willmington:

In AD 303, Emperor Diocletian thought he had destroyed every hated Bible.  After many years of ruthless slaughter and destruction, he erected a column of victory over the embers of a burned Bible.  The title on the column read: “Extinct is the Name of Christian.”  Twenty years later, the new Emperor Constantine offered a reward for any remaining Bibles.  Within 24 hours no less than 50 copies were brought out of hiding and presented to the king.

Almost without exception, the early popes opposed the reading and translating of the Bible.  In 1199, Pope Innocent III ordered the burning of all Bibles.

Mary, Queen of England, also known as Bloody Mary, ordered that anyone possessing a copy of the Bible would be burned.  Five years after her edict, she was dead.

Lenin, the godless Communist leader declared:  “I expect to live long enough to attend the funeral of all religion.”  The communist dictionary issued by the Soviet State Publishing House describes the Bible as “a collection of fantastic legends without any scientific support.”  That dictionary also says “religion is a fantastic faith in gods, angels and spirits, a faith supported and maintained by reactionary circles.” 

What is it about this book that people are so keen on destroying and keeping it from the hands of the common man?  The Bible is not just any other book or ancient literary piece.  It is the Word of God, and it has the power to change lives.  The Bible has impacted even the civilizations of the world in areas of literature, music, art, the value of life, equality of women, and government law.  The Bible has helped to shape some of the most powerful nations of today.

The Bible has withstood the test of time because it is unlike any other book.  Though its writers are human, they were directly inspired by God Himself to write the very words of the Bible.  God is the sole author of the Bible.  Notice what the Apostle Peter says in the Bible:

"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."  (2 Peter 1:20-21, KJV)

To explain the above verse, the Bible did not originate with man as it says, “. . . came not in old time by the will of man. . . .”  The verse continues to explain that holy men of God recorded the words of the Bible.  The verse concludes, “. . . as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”  This means that God is the author of the Bible.  The Bible word for this process is called inspiration.

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"  (2 Timothy 3:16, KJV)

The word inspiration literally means “the drawing of air into one’s lungs; inhaling.”  This is the inspiration spoken of in 2 Timothy 3:16.  The phrase “given by inspiration of God” literally means “God-breathed.”  In other words, God breathed the words of the Bible to human penmen who wrote them down.

How do we still have the Bible, and how do we know that it is the Word of God?  First of all, God promised to preserve His word throughout the generations.  Notice the following verses:

"The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times."  (Psalms 12:6, KJV)

"Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever."  (Psalms 119:160, KJV)

Secondly, God told people to write His Word.  Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiahm, and many others were commanded by God to write His Word.  The following verse gives us an example of this:

"Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:"  (Isaiah 30:8, KJV)

Thirdly, God commanded people to teach His Word.  God specifically commanded that the Bible would be copied in the home by fathers (see Deuteronomy 6:7-9).  Priests and kings were also commanded to copy the Word of God (see Deuteronomy 17:18). 

Perhaps the most amazing aspect of the Bible is the fact that it is timeless.  The principles taught in the Bible are still relevant for today’s 21st-century issues.  It still has the power to change anyone’s life.  It still tells us about the unchanging, all-powerful God Who is the Creator of all things.  Its message is still the same.  Its methods are never outdated.  Its mandate will surely come to pass.  It is the Word of God.

As Christians, it is our spiritual nourishment. It is our source of strength in times of weakness.  It is our weapon against the attacks of the devil.  It is our only hope for victory.  It is our guide to order our steps.  It is our comfort in times of conflict.  It contains the promises of God to every believer.  We have been commanded to read and learn it.  Cherish it.  Share it.  Stand on its truths. Rely on its power and let it transform your life.  It is the Word of God.