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What is the Bible ?

by Pr Douglas Jenkins

by Pr Douglas Jenkins

Title            What is the Bible?
Theme         Study the Bible for Answers to Life's Meaning

(This is part 2 in the Bible Study series.  Part 1 is found in edition 4 of the online magazine.)

 
Introduction

This is a series of Bible studies and personal experiences relating to everyday living, bringing real-life experiences into perspective from the Bible.

When a topic is presented, a few texts will be used to illustrate what the Bible says about that topic.   Open your Bible, find those texts but read around them to obtain the extended meaning and context of what has been written.  You must check for yourself that the texts have been used correctly according to the meaning found in scripture.  The scripture itself tells us about studying God's word, "Study to show yourself approved, rightly dividing the word of truth, a workman not ashamed".  We must be thorough about checking what we take into our mind as being correct and true.

 
WHAT IS THE BIBLE ?

In answering the Title Question, do I hear you say -- The Bible is a book?

 
What is the Bible?

I used to think it was just another book. Maybe you add -- I have tried to read the Bible many times, in different parts--It's so dry and uninteresting. You are not alone.  When I was a young person I tried to read the Bible- but I could not understand it.

Then, what is the Bible? The Bible is a collection of books written by different authors. Who selected the authors to write? Here is a clue found in the Bible itself:

"For the prophecy [the Bible contents] came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost [ God's Holy Spirit]." 2.Peter 1:21. 

These authors were people faithful to follow God, and they were sensitive to the influence of the Holy Spirit.  They wrote in their own style, their own words, yet guided by the Holy Spirit to ensure the message was all truth and as God needed it to be expressed.

This is further explained in the following text:

"All scripture [the Bible] is given by inspiration of God.." 2.Timothy 3:16.

 
How can I use the Bible in my Life?

Now I began to realize what the Bible was meant to be.  The Bible explains it's own purpose as God wants us to know how to use it.  If you don't read about how the Bible is to be used it does not make sense and you will not know how to understand it or know how it is meant to be read. Here is more information about the purpose of the Bible:

"[..The Bible] is profitable for doctrine [teaching from God], for reproof [where we need correcting] ,for instruction in righteousness [the right principles for upright living ]. That the man of God may be perfect [ we learn more of this later], throughly furnished unto all good works [progressively improving]." 2.Timothy 3: 16.

You can now see real purpose for the Bible.  It shows you how God intended you and I to live our lives.  Why should God tell me how to live my life, I can hear you say.  As we found out in the first series, God is our maker and as our maker he knows how we should live and conduct our lives.  If you want to know how something operates you usually consult the maker.  God is our maker and so He is the logical one to turn to for advice.  If you consult with God about your life, you will find there is a real future for you.

 
What else does the Bible offer me?

The Bible offers a lot more than just personal lifestyle advice: There are three main themes in the Bible, from cover to cover.

GREAT CONTROVERSY BETWEEN GOD AND SATAN [a future article tells you who Satan is.];

THE WAY BACK TO GOD'S FAMILY [also in a future article series];

WHO GOD IS [already published in the April-May issue].

 
The Bible tells me that I am important to God

As I was writing this message my mind switched back to my youth.  Maybe you have had these same feelings too. I felt loneliness, despair, and hopelessness, in living for no tangible purpose. Looking through the Bible I found my thoughts expressed exactly, by God in the Bible :

"That at that time ye were without Christ [because I was estranged from Him]...and without God, in the world [ tiny me, just a speck amongst a huge number of people--Am I even noticed ?] Ephesians 2:12..

Do you at times feel insignificant? Later, as I studied the Bible, I realised I am important to God! I am precious to Him! These messages from God could build in your mind a whole new concept of you and your future, as it did for me. Discover in the following study series what it takes to actually gain that new future.

Look for the next topic in the series.  But before then, take each of the texts and read around them in your Bible to gain a greater understanding of the full meaning of the text.  Remember if you have any questions email the author via the address under the editorial of this on-line magazine.  

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