The Uniqueness of the Bible

Introduction

The Bible is the eternal word of God. It's unchanging, absolute, supreme, authoritative, infallible, and the pure standard for faith and practice. The Bible is by far the most important book ever written in the history of the word. It is the most loved and hated book of all. There is no question of the Bible's veracity

•       It consists of 66 books and took 1600years to create
•          The authors include 40 people of a multitude of backgrounds like prophets, priests, cupbearers, a king, judges, fishermen, apostles, etc
•         And it was written on the three continents of Africa, Asia, and Europe.

The Bible has been translated in over 1,200 different languages or dialects along with being faithfully preserved for this long. Theological, Philosophical, and Scientific arguments from both sides have existed in fierce debate of it. Newer archaeology has found more evidence to confirm the Bible more than any ancient document of ancient history. The Bible has the total divine revelation from God to man to use and follow.

Bible doctrines are the teachings of the Word of God which have been organized in a logical fashion and given for our spiritual benefits and to know the God whom we worship personally. Theologians commonly summarize Bible doctrines under 10 headings. Some subdivide one or two (angelology vs. Satan & demons; soteriology vs. Christian life), while others may combine the doctrine of sin into the doctrine of man. These titles are based on Greek terms.

1.       Bibliology - The doctrine of the Bible
2.       Theology Proper - The doctrine of God
3.       Christology - The doctrine of Christ
4.       Pneumatology - The doctrine of the Holy Spirit
5.       Angelology - The doctrine of angels, including Satan and demons
6.       Anthropology - The doctrine of man
7.       Hamartiology - The doctrine of sin
8.       Soteriology - The doctrine of salvation
9.       Ecclesiology - The doctrine of the church
10.       Eschatology - The doctrine of last things

Here in this paper let us take a brief tour on the Doctrine of the Bible first of all to know its uniqueness second, for our spiritual benefit third, to encounter the people who vaguely argue that the Bible is rewritten innumerable times and corrupted by human beings with the valid and solid defense.

Bible is the Word of God

Many critics argue that Bible is not the Word of God but it contains the word of God this statement is not acceptable because this statement doesn't fit what the Bible says about itself.  The collection of 66 books that the Christian Church recognized as being inspired speaks as the very words of God in many places.

2 Tim. 3:16-17 says, "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." The word "inspired" is literally "God-breathed."  This is an interesting phrase, since it implies that the Scriptures are from the mouth of God. Likewise, Peter says in 2 Pet. 1:21, "for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God."  Notice that Peter is stating that prophecy is not the product of human will.  Instead, prophecy occurs by those moved by the Holy Spirit.

The Reliability of the Bible

The reliability of the Bible is crucial because of its implications. Throughout human history virtually all people have searched for God at some point in their lives, because apart from God they intuitively sensed that their lives lacked ultimate meaning. Yet the Bible claims to be the revealed Word of God to man. Further it tells us how we may come to know God personally.

• John 12: 12-13. 12. But as many as received him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
• John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
• If the Bible is true, then in its pages we can find ultimate meaning for our lives and the God we have searched for. We can read of His mighty and gracious act among people and nations in the Old Testament, and we can especially see His love and compassion in the New Testament. For it is undeniably true that if we want to know who God really is, and what He is really like, we are to look at Jesus Christ (John 14:6-11; 12:44,45).
• John 14:6-11 6. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 8. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou  then, Shew us the Father? 10. Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
• John 12:44, 45. 44 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. 45. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. 

The Uniqueness of Bible

The uniqueness of the Bible motivated many prominent people of this planet to confess that the Bible is the true and reliable Word of God given for mankind to know the true and eternal God who eternally exist as triune God. Abraham Lincoln called it “The best gift God has given to man.”Patrick Henry said, “It is worth all other books were ever printed.” Noted British Statesman William Gladstone wrote that “an immeasurable distance separates it from all competitors” while the famous philosopher Immanuel Kant declared, The Bible is the greatest benefit which the human race ever experienced.” A.M. Sullivan observed, “The cynic who ignores, ridicules, or denies the Bible, spurning its spiritual rewards and aesthetic excitement, contributes to his own moral anemia.” Even Muhammad Nabi, founder of Islam, held both the Hebrew and Christian scriptures in high regard. While Islam’s stance is that the Bible has been corrupted over the years, Muhammad urged his followers to read and familiarize themselves with the Bible.

1. It is unique in its continuity.

If just 10 people today were picked who were from the same place, born around the same time, spoke the same language, and made about the same amount of money, and were asked to write on just one controversial subject, they would have trouble agreeing with each other. But the Bible stands alone. It was written over a period of 1,600 years by more than 40 writers from all walks of life. Some were fishermen; some were politicians. Others were generals or kings, shepherds or historians. They were from three different continents, and wrote in three different languages. They wrote on hundreds of controversial subjects yet they wrote with agreement and harmony. They wrote in dungeons, in temples, on beaches, and on hillsides, during peacetime and during war. Yet their words sound like they came from the same source. So even though 10 people today couldn’t write on one controversial subject and agree, God picked 40 different people to write the Bible—and it stands the test of time.

2. It is unique in its circulation.

The invention of the printing press in 1450 made it possible to print books in large quantities. The first book printed was the Bible. Since then, the Bible has been read by more people and printed more times than any other book in history. By 1930, over one billion Bibles had been distributed by Bible societies around the world. By 1977, Bible societies alone were printing over 200 million Bibles each year, and this doesn’t include the rest of the Bible publishing companies. No one who is interested in knowing the truth can ignore such an important book.

3. It is unique in its translation.

The Bible has been translated into over 1,400 languages. No other book even comes close.

4. It is unique in its survival.

In ancient times, books were copied by hand onto manuscripts which were made from parchment and would decay over time. Ancient books are available today only because someone made copies of the originals to preserve them. For example, the original writings of Julius Caesar are no longer around. We know what he wrote only by the copies we have. Only 10 copies still exist, and they were made 1,000 years after he died. Only 600 copies of Homer’s The Iliad exist, made 1,300 years after the originals were written. No other book has as many copies of the ancient manuscripts as the Bible. In fact, there are over 24,000 copies of New Testament manuscripts, some written within 35 years of the writer’s death.

5. It is unique in withstanding attack.

The Bible has been burned and outlawed, yet it still continues to be the most beloved book in the world. In 303 A.D., the Roman emperor Diocletian issued an edict to stop Christians from worshiping and to destroy their scriptures. Greenslade wrote, “An imperial letter was everywhere promulgated, ordering the razing of the churches to the ground and the destruction by fire of the scriptures, and proclaiming that those who held high positions would lose all civil rights, while those in households, if they persisted in their profession of Christianity, would be deprived of their liberty.” Eusebius records the amusing historical footnote that after Diocletian’s death, Constantine issued an edict ordering that 50 copies of the Bible would be prepared at the government’s expense.

Voltaire, the famous French infidel who died in 1778, predicted that within 100 years of his death, the gospel would cease to exist. However, few people remember Voltaire and the Bible’s circulation continues to climb and now reaches to virtually every corner of the globe. Someone once said, “We might as well put our shoulder to the burning wheel of the sun, and try to stop it on its flaming course, as to attempt to stop the circulation of the Bible.” Ironically, only 50 years after Voltaire’s death the Geneva Bible Society used his press and house to produce stacks of Bibles. The Bible’s enemies come and go, but the word of God will remain forever (Matthew 24:35).

6. Its Scientific Accuracy

Despite popular belief, the progress of science has not undermined the Bible’s accuracy. Not a single scientific fact or discovery has ever disproved anything in the Bible! In fact, they have repeatedly confirmed the scriptures’ accuracy. E.g. the Bible revealed that the earth was round nearly 2,200 years before the 15^th century explorers realized that the world wasn’t flat after all (Isaiah 40:22). The Hebrew word for ‘circle’ in this verse means ‘sphericity’ or ‘roundness’. Before the invention of the telescope, Kepler counted 1,005 stars; Ptolemy counted 1,056 stars and Tycho Brahe 777. But in 600 BC, Jeremiah revealed that the number of stars was innumerable, (Jer 33:22).

7. The Fulfillment of its Prophecies

Throughout the Bible there are prophecies concerning nations, historic events and individuals. But what lends such overwhelming creditability to the divine origin of these prophecies is the fact that hundreds have been literally fulfilled in the minutest detail. God Himself established the issue of prophetic fulfillment as a legitimate test of divine authorship and authenticity, Isaiah 41:21-23, 26. E.g. The Old Testament, written over a 1,000 year period, contains several hundred references to the coming Messiah -- all of which were fulfilled exactly in Jesus Christ. The chance that all these predictions could come true exactly as written is beyond most human's comprehension, giving to any honest enquirer undeniable proof that God inspired the writing of the prophecies in the Bible.

8. It is unique in its higher Criticism

Throughout the centuries, critics and skeptics have sought to overthrow the Bible, but it just continues to be more loved, cherished, and read than ever before. Centuries of criticism has not made a dent in its popularity. If the Bible had not come from God, men would have destroyed it long ago.

Higher criticism has tried to dismantle the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch and of the existence of the Hittite nation, but archaeology has shown that the Bible is accurate! Bernard Ramm wrote, “No other book has been so chopped, knived, sifted, scrutinized, and vilified. What book on philosophy or religion or psychology or belles letters of classical or modern times has been subject to such a mass attack as the Bible? Bible is the one and only book that which highly criticized yet survived with such venom and skepticism, with such thoroughness and erudition upon every chapter, line, and tenant.

No book has been more attacked for its accuracy. And yet archeologists are proving every year that the Bible’s detailed descriptions of historic events are correct. Even in the midst of higher criticism Bible is still loved by millions, read by millions, and studied by millions.”

Conclusion

We just learned about the uniqueness of the Bible therefore let us not despise to read it and to apply the teachings of the Bible in our day to day life. Let us delight in the Word of God and inscribe its teachings deep at the bottom. When we do so we will become like a righteous person described in Psalms 1 who was like a tree planted by the rivers of water and brings forth his fruit in his season and whose leave shall not wither and prospers whatsoever he does.

Note: Watch the video uploaded in this blog to know about the uniqueness of Bible and Christianity presented by famous Christian apologist Dr. Ravi Zachariah. 

Ravi Zacharias Q & A: The Uniqueness of the Bible, God vs Allah, Those W...

Dear brothers and sisters please watch this video presented by Dr. Ravi Zachariah to know the The Uniqueness of the Bible.

Dear viewers watch this short video and know the difference between the Biblical teaching and the contemporary teaching about the manifestation of God the Holy Spirit. Thank you.