Recently a local church posted billboards around the city declaring that the Bible is God's editorial or love letter to humanity. This view of the Bible as a fiery or affectionate, informative message is undoubtedly true. In some ways, the Bible does resemble a newsy letter from a distant loved one. The Bible is informative, explaining: 

• creation of both the universe and mankind (Genesis 1-2), 
• God's concern and interest in mankind (Genesis 1:28, Micah 6:8), 
• the introduction of sin and death (Genesis 3),
• and information about long-lost relatives (2 Samuel, book of Chronicles). 

 However, the Bible is more than just a compilation of written records collected some 2000 years ago. It is more than an affectionate letter or a fiery editorial about modern behavior. Unlike other collections of writings, the Bible is more than just paper, cloth, animal skins, and various inks. The Bible is not like any other ancient or modern book; the Bible speaks to the ages.

...

The Bible claims to be a unique writing, a writing that contains the thoughts and plans of the Elohim. This Biblical claim forces humanity to face a series of “If” questions: 

• If the Bible is the Word of God, then a person had better pay attention to It (Isaiah 34:16). 

• If the Bible is truly God's Word, then this communication from God is more important than one's home, job, or present circumstances. Even one's concern for others whom one might love or hate pales next to the significance that Almighty God desires to instruct an individual (Isaiah 1: 18-20). 

• If the Bible is God's Word, it is vitally important that the individual knows what information is in the book (Psalms 119:104). 

• If the Bible is God's Word, then the Bible alone can fully explain man's feelings of confusion and lostness over his existence (Genesis 3), and the Bible alone will contain the solutions to the questions one faces. 

• If the Bible is God's communication to...

In our last discussion, we looked at how the Jews of the Old Testament, especially the Psalmist, viewed the Scriptures as the "Word" of God in written form. This reverence and respect for the Scriptures carried over to believers in the New Testament era. 

In the Acts of the Apostles, two words, "λόγος," [logos] and "ῥῆμα" [rhema], are words that translate into English as the term "word." However, only three times—in Acts 10:37, 11:16, and 28:25—does the word "ῥῆμα" appear. The Greek word ῥῆμα means ".. …an utterance (individual, collective, or speculative). . .used to refer to matter or topic . . ." (Strong's Concordance). Throughout the rest of Acts, Luke uses the term "λόγος." To Luke, the term Greek word "λύγος

referred not only to specific individual words said by  Christians (Acts 8:25, 10:44, 13:5.7) but also to a topic “. . . of...

Like Moses, David, and even Jesus, the Psalmist treasured the written Word of God.

The Psalmist also knows that he can trust God to protect him and © fulfill His promises (Ps. 56:4). God had already demonstrated the power of His truth (Ps. 33:4) and His covenant promises. God had spoken and acted upon these promises throughout the ages (Ps. 105:8, 147:19). Thus, the promises of God, contained in His Word, give men hope during various trials. "My soul fainteth for salvation, but I hope in Thy Word." (Ps. 119:8l see also 119:116. 107, 154, 41). Over and over again, the Psalmist declares that

• " I hope in Thy Word." (Ps. 118:81).
• "I trust in Thy Word." (Ps. 119:423).
• "I have hoped in Thy Judgements" (Ps. 119: 43),
• and "in His Word do I hope." (Ps. 130:5).

God's Word also brings comfort and renewal during trials and afflictions (Ps. 119:50, 67, 82). Thus, when the Psalmist needs God's help and protection, he turns to God's Word and His promises as a basis for his pleas for help....

Bible Trivia:

Bible study can be more enjoyable if you break up your serious study with some fun trivia. Do you know, for example, what Bible chapter and verse is at the very center of the Bible? The fact can vary a little bit based on what Bible version you are using, but by most reckoning, the very center of the Bible [when measured by chapter count] is Psalms 118.

Here are some other fun facts surrounding Psalm 118:

• The longest chapter of Psalms falls just after this center chapter--Psalm 119.
• The shortest chapter of Psalms falls just before this center chapter--Psalm 117.

Have fun testing yourself on these other Bible trivia questions [the answers are at the end, so don’t peek!]

1. What is the longest book of the Old Testament [by word count]?
2. What is the shortest book of the Old Testament [by word count]?
3. What is the longest book in the New Testament [by word count]?
4. What is the shortest book in the New Testament [by word count]?
5. Do you know the...

Psalm 119 is the longest in the Bible. This psalm speaks of the power of God's Word and the blessings of studying the Bible. A study of God's Word fills a person's heart-hunger to know more about God. The examples of past saints and sinners found in God's Word reveal how one should act in a given situation and reassures one that there is always hope in God.

Ps. 119:30—I have chosen the way of truth; Thy judgments have I laid before me.

When a person makes Jesus his Lord and Savior, the Scriptures show that person how to obey and please God. The Scriptures direct our actions and give us a standard of accountability.

Ps. 119:34—Give me understanding, and I shall keep Thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart,

Man must have the eyes of his understanding opened (Ep. 1:18)to gain spiritual insight. It was through the guidance of the Holy Spirit that the Scriptures were given, and the Holy Spirit alone can reveal the true meaning of the Scriptures.

Ps....

We have looked at various issues concerning the Bible--Its revelatory nature, Its authority, Its inspiration, etc. But how did the Bible become the Bible? Why were Isaiah, Nahum, and Revelation included in the Bible but the Gospel of Thomas Book of Jasper omitted? In answering these questions, we are discussing the canonicity of the Bible.

The canonicity of the Bible refers to the authoritative books inspired by God for inclusion in Holy Scripture. C. The antiquity or authenticity of a book [nor the prestige of a religious community] could make a book canonical or authoritative. A book is valuable because it is canonical and not canonical because it is or was considered venerable. Its authority is established by God and merely discovered by God's people. [Dr. Norman Geisler, 2005. https://jashow.org/articles/the-canonicity-of-the-bible/]. In other words, the Holy Spirit revealed which books were to be made part of the Canon and included within the...

It was recently revealed that Communist China is rewriting the Bible to control Christians and deceive them into giving their allegiance to the Communist Chinese party.

• The Chinese Communist Party, China's ruling regime, has been on a mission to rewrite the Bible. This quest has reportedly resulted in shocking distortions of Scripture and Gospel truth. [https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/cwn/2022/february/china-rsquo-s-communist-government-is-reportedly-rewriting-the-bible-and-calling-jesus-a-lsquo-sinner-rsquo-but-that-rsquo-s-not-all-hellip,
• "The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) announced plans to update the Bible to 'keep pace with the times.' The revisions will include adding 'core socialist values' and removing passages that do not reflect communist beliefs," a VOM Facebook post read.
  [https://gospelnewsnetwork.org/2022/02/18/chinas-communist-government-is-reportedly-rewriting-the-bible-and-calling-jesus-a-sinner-but-thats-not-all/]
• The Chinese Communist Party is demanding that the...

One aspect of the Bible that creates stumbling blocks for many folks is the Bible's accounts of miracles. Many non-believers and Liberal theologians doubt the veracity and inspiration of the Biblical record because the Bible recounts various miracles.

What is a miracle? According to the Bible, a miracle is an event or activity only God can perform. It involves the direct and decisive action of God. This action usually supersedes one or more natural laws. Miracles defy behavioral expectations [such as the plague of frogs] or natural laws [Jesus' walking on the water]. Miracles testify to the supernatural work of God. Miracles demonstrate God's mastery over the physical universe and His interest in the lives of individuals and groups.

The incredible nature of some of these recorded miracles leads some people to reject the Bible. However, these miracles are actual historical events. Although these occurrences may appear fantastic and almost unbelievably extraordinary to man's limited...

The early Church Fathers accepted the Old Testament Scriptures based upon the testimony of Jesus. Jesus had revealed to His disciples that His life and ministry fulfilled the Old Testament Scriptures.

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever, shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. [Mt. 5:17-19, KJV]

Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!  Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?”  And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He ...