July 15, 2001, Vol.1, No.2.
Two new articles every two weeks.
Bible Question? E-mail
us.
THIS ISSUE: "The
Greatest Book in the World" (see
below)
and "An Overview of
the Old Testament"
The Greatest Book in the
World
by Keith Sharp
If ever there were a people endangered of being buried alive
beneath the mass of their own writings, it is we Americans. We
are today overwhelmed by an almost infinite number of books about
an almost unlimited variety of subjects. The Library of Congress,
the worlds largest library, contains approximately 18 million
books; and this number grows daily. One is reminded, "of
making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness
of the flesh." (Ecclesiastes 12:12).
This is a book report. But the volume I am to describe is completely
unique in all history. This one book has had more influence on
men and has done more good for mankind than the totality of all
other volumes ever recorded. I want to introduce to you the greatest
book in the world.
Who wrote this wonderful book? Approximately forty men over a
period of around 1550 years, from Moses in ca. 1500 - 1450 B.C.
to John in A.D. 64-96, took part in writing the Book. These men
not only lived in various times, they came from exceedingly different
walks of life - a great deliverer and lawgiver, a shepherd-warrior-king,
a priest, a wise and wealthy king, a statesman, a herdsman, a
fisherman, a medical doctor, a tax collector, a lawyer, and so
on.
What is the Book about? The authors wrote about many different
subjects, such as law, history, love stories, poetry, prophecy
of the future, biography, evidences, conditions of churches,
advice on how to live, and so forth.
Yet these men all wrote with perfect harmony and unity. Impossible?
If they had written without divine aid, yes. For example, do
you think ten men today, from the same profession and period
of time, all writing separately about just one subject, would
agree on every detail? What about forty men from various walks
of life and separate times, writing about a wide assortment of
subjects? Such unity in diversity is possible with this great
Book of books, the Bible, because God is its ultimate author.
The Bible was written by inspiration (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Inspiration
is from a Greek word, theopneustos, meaning "God-breathed."
This means the Bible is the Word of God.
Also, this great volume was given by revelation (Ephesians 3:1-7).
A revelation is an unveiling or uncovering. The Gospel was a
mystery, that is, a hidden purpose or counsel (J.H. Thayer, A
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. 420). But the Holy
Spirit uncovered the mystery to the apostles and prophets, who
in turn wrote it down for us to read and
understand. Every word of this original revelation was God-given
(1 Corinthians 2:9-13).
Furthermore, the Bible was given by prophecy (2 Peter 1:20-21).
When God commanded Moses and Aaron to go to Pharaoh, Aaron was
to be as a mouth, that is a spokesman for Moses, whereas Moses
was to be as God to Aaron (Exodus 4:15-16). When the command
was repeated, Aaron was called a prophet, while Moses was as
God. (Exodus 7:1-2) Thus, the prophets of God, who wrote the
Bible, were God's mouths or spokesmen.
The Book of God is divided into two great categories: the Old
Testament and the New Testament (Hebrews 9:15). The Old Testament
consists of thirty-nine separate books, which may be placed into
five categories: law, history, poetry & wisdom, major prophets
and minor prophets. The New Testament is composed of twenty-seven
books, which may also be divided into five categories: life of
Christ, spread of the Gospel, special letters, general letters
and prophecy.
But, despite the extreme diversity of this divine library, it
has a steel cable of unity tying it all together. God's twofold
physical promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3, 7), that his seed
should become a great nation and inherit the land of Canaan,
provides the outline for the Old Testament, while the spiritual
part of that promise, in you all the families of the earth shall
be blessed (Genesis 12:3), completes the Old Testament and ties
it to the New Testament.
This grand promise also helps introduce the very theme of the
Bible. In Christ we are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to
the promise. (Galatians 3:26-29). Jesus Christ,
the fullness of Gods plan to save the world, is the theme of
the Bible (Colossians 1:19). Christ is the great Keynote of Gods
beautiful Song of Redemption, and every note in the song is in
perfect harmony with that Keynote.
How good is this book? It is the one perfect book in all the
world (Psalm 19:7a), for the Bible is absolutely pure, or flawless
(Psalm 119:140) and is absolutely complete (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
It is the only book which has the power to save your soul (Romans
1:16; James 1:21 ). Nor has that power lessened over the centuries
(1 Peter 1:22-25). This great book of God stands as the unbreakable
anvil that can withstand all the hammer blows of unbelievers.
As John Clifford so beautifully penned in his poem, The Hammer
and The Anvil :
Last eve I passed a blacksmith's door
And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime,
When, looking in, I saw upon the floor
Old hammers worn with beating years of time.
How many anvils have you had, said I
To wear and batter all these hammers so?
Just one, said he, then said with twinkling eye
The anvil wears the hammers out you know.
And so, I thought, the anvil of God's word
For ages skeptics blows have beat upon;
Yet, though the noise of falling blows was heard,
The anvil is unharmed; the hammer's gone!
Will you not make this marvelous book, the Bible, your rule
of life and guide to Heaven?.
~ ~ ~
|
|
