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.
- Bibliology - The doctrine of the Bible
- Theology Proper - The doctrine of God
- Christology - The doctrine of Christ
- Pneumatology - The doctrine of the Holy
Spirit
- Angelology - The doctrine of angels,
including Satan and demons
- Anthropology - The doctrine of man
- Hamartiology - The doctrine of sin
- Soteriology - The doctrine of salvation
- Ecclesiology - The doctrine of the
church
- 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 15th
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.
