The blessings of God fall upon
us in more ways than we can count or imagine. Through the sacrifice of His Son,
Jesus Christ, God gave us salvation and the promise of eternal life, and through
His provision our life on earth is made possible and pleasant. Of all His
blessings, the revelation of Himself through the Bible is surely unique, because
it comes from God Himself and thus stands high above all other books on earth.
No other book makes the claim to
have been authored by God for repeatedly the prophets say, “Thus says the Lord
God,” and Jesus says that God “who sent me is true; and the things which I
heard from Him, these I speak to the world” (John 8:26) and “I speak the
things which I have seen with My Father” (John 8:38). We could add many more
passages to these, but space does not permit this.
No other book was as precisely
written as the Bible. Its original languages, Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek, were
advanced above their contemporary languages and accurately expressed God’s
message to mankind. Faithful copies of the original texts are the basis for the
many translations into thousands of the tongues and languages of mankind — a
work that continues to this day. Translators are constantly seeking for more
accurate ways of expressing the original so that all men may have access to the
Word of God.
No other book is as widely read
in as many different languages as the Bible. Because of the work of translators
it is possible for most people on earth to be able to read for themselves the
very Word of God so that they can learn of His blessings and discover what He
requires of them. Many of mankind’s languages had no written form prior to the
arrival of missionaries carrying the gospel’s message of salvation. These
missionaries had to learn the language of the people among whom they wished to
spread the gospel, give that language a written form, translate the Bible in
that language and teach the people how to read it. Because of these translations
no one needs to know Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek in order to learn how to be saved
and to live a godly life.
No other book makes the
Bible’s demands that it be read, taught and heeded! From the required reading
of the Law (Exodus 24:7) to Paul’s instructions to the Colossians to read his
letter publicly and interchange it with the Laodiceans, it is a book to be read
publicly and, of course, privately. It is also a book to be taught and thus
studied and for this reason one of the church’s reasons for existence is to
give instruction from the Word of God. This we do in sermons, in Bible classes,
through this bulletin and by means of correspondence courses and the support of
mission work.
No other book has had as great
an effect on mankind as the Bible. Wherever the Bible is read, believed and
acted upon, the lot of man has improved. As men come under the influence of the
Word, they not only obey the gospel and receive salvation but develop their
spiritual natures and improve their social and economic status. We are truly
privileged to hold in our hands this miracle of God — the Bible.
Mel