The Bible is:
“...
supernatural in origin, eternal in duration, divine in authorship, infallible
in authority, inexhaustible in meaning, universal in readership, unique in
revelation, personal in application and powerful in effect.”
― GIDEONS
INTERNATIONAL
1.
Supernatural in Origin
The Bible is a God-breathed document. Those
who contributed were God’s direct messengers. The Bible text transcends that of
human words and wisdom. It is from another world.
2.
Eternal in Duration
Spanning Genesis (the creation accounts in
chapters 1 and 2) and Revelation (Christ’s coming and installation of the New
Heaven and New Earth in Revelation 21) is not the half of it. The Bible
constantly draws attention to another world where there is no time – Eternity.
3.
Divine in Authorship
God breathed through men these living words
for life. Indeed, Christians believe God’s Spirit wrote the Bible. In fact, I
relate it in this: sometimes I can be writing God’s words, almost completely
without intentioned thought, and then, only after having reviewed what was
written, what was written not only made sense, it was not truly of me; the
words were beyond my mind without God. God used biblical authors as mouthpieces
fitted with pens in just the way he uses the preacher. The communication is
very little of the human being communicating. This has to be experienced
personally to be believed.
4.
Infallible in Authority
Those who have written the individual pieces
of the Bible have been anointed as apostles and prophets – people with God’s
message. They speak only the words that God has given them. The Bible’s
standing is its inerrancy, which has been accepted for two millennia at least.
Only in our post-Christendom age do we weaken over such matters. The Bible
speaks for God – there is no equivalent or superior authority.
5.
Inexhaustible in Meaning
It is still so amazing how the Holy Spirit
illumines the verses, chapters and pages of the Bible for fresh insight – yes,
twenty, thirty, and forty years hence. God’s Word speaks in new ways all the
time, and this is simply a mystery to us.
6.
Universal in Readership
No other document has been translated into
more languages than the Bible. More people from more nationalities have read of
the Bible than any other literary work. God’s Word is clearly intended for
everyone.
7.
Unique in Revelation
Firstly, the Bible proclaims the Incarnation
– God coming to earth to live as the man, Jesus, the Christ, and to die for
humankind’s sin. Secondly, as we read from the Bible, revelation comes to us
via the Holy Spirit, the Spirit living in us, and the Spirit brings the words
of the Bible alive in our lives, by faith. Thirdly, the Bible reveals every
part of God’s redemptive plan so we understand the fuller picture. Each of
these three standpoints is unique to Christianity and the Bible.
8.
Personal in Application
The Christian worldview is that religion and
spirituality have their connecting point in a personal relationship with the
risen Lord Jesus. We who believe actually know God, and our Lord makes it
personal by the fact we cannot get away from God. We can run and we can hide,
but both of those are futile. Facing God, we realise there are life lessons
made apparent if we will only work justice, love mercy and walk humbly.
9.
Powerful in Effect
Evidence of life transformations is
poignant. The Bible, like no other book or program, sets people free to live as
they always knew they should. People are set free by their faith to discern and
trust in biblical truth. But life transformations are the best gauge.
© 2013 S. J. Wickham.
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