God gave us the Bible to teach us, to guide us, to correct us, and to enable us to lead Godly lives. Through the Bible, God reveals Himself and His ways to us.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.” (Psalm 19:7-8)

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17)

“…receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” (James 1:21)

“The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” (Psalm 119:131)

“…If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed: And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32)

“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)

“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35)

“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” (Isaiah 40:8)

“Forever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.” (Psalm 119:89)

If Christianity really works, then it has to work under all circumstances. That includes working for new converts who are isolated in prisons and have no Bible and no fellow Christians to help them. That kind of thing is happening today in some Muslim nations. You can get information about it from a ministry called Open Doors, which ministers to persecuted Christians in many nations.

http://www.OpenDoorsUSA.org

God has provided for such situations by giving us the Holy Spirit, who helps us remember things (especially Scripture) and enables us to understand the things of God. (See John 14:26 and 1 Corinthians 2:9-16.) It is through prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit that we are able to understand Scripture.

Jesus said that the Holy Spirit (the Comforter) “will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13. Also see John 16:7-15). He said,

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (John 14:26)

The Apostle John said,

“But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you; but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” (1 John 2:27)

I don’t really understand what “the anointing” means, but this Scripture clearly shows that in some way God has enabled us to learn what we need to know directly from Him.

The Apostle Peter said:

“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue”. (2 Peter 1:3)

In other words, God has already provided us with what we need for life and godliness. It is valuable to have Bibles and pastors and teachers. If they are available, then we should benefit from them as much as possible. But if those things are not available, then God is powerful enough to enable us to live godly lives without them. Jude 1:24 says that God is able to keep us from falling.

THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE

The Old Testament was written by God’s inspired prophets, patriarchs, psalmists, judges, and kings. It was faithfully copied and preserved by Jewish scribes. The New Testament was written by Christian apostles.

The early Church did not have the New Testament as we know it. Rather, individuals and local congregations had portions of it. They would have one or more of the Gospels, some of the letters which Apostles had written, and perhaps the Book of Acts or the Book of Revelation.

Why weren’t all of these books collected in one place? Look at what the books themselves say. Individual apostles wrote them for specific audiences. For example, the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts were written for Theophilus. (Luke 1:3; Acts 1:1) Most of the Epistles were written to specific churches or to specific individuals. (Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Galatians 1:2; Ephesians 1:1; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1; 1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 1:2; Titus 1:4; Philemon 1:1; 3 John 1:1)

The early Christians expected that Jesus would return for His Church at any moment. As a result, they didn’t see the need for long-term planning for future generations. Furthermore, Christians were persecuted by the Romans. When your life is in constant danger, it is difficult to collect writings which are scattered all over the Roman Empire. So it took time to collect all of these writings, decide which ones were authoritative Scripture, and make complete sets of them.

By the time of Origen (185-254 A.D.), there was general agreement about most of the New Testament. However, there was disagreement as to whether the following six epistles should be included in the New Testament: Hebrews, James, 2 Peter, 2 John, 3 John, and Jude. This was more than 50 years before Constantine became Emperor of Rome. (He ruled from 306 to 337 A.D.)

THE BIBLE IS A PRICELESS TREASURE

I live in America, where Bibles are plentiful and inexpensive. It is easy to take them for granted. However, right now, while you are reading this, there are Christians who are risking their lives to give Bibles to people. The ministry Open Doors has couriers who daily risk their lives to smuggle Bibles into countries where Christians are persecuted. I recently read about a man who was sentenced to death, because he gave a Bible to a Muslim.

Courageous men and women paid for the Bible with their blood. William Tyndale was burned at the stake for translating the Bible into English. Men were burned at the stake for teaching their children to say the Lord’s Prayer in English. Men and women were burned at the stake for possessing an English translation of the Bible. We cannot comprehend the price that was paid to give us the Bible in our own language, or the great privilege of being able to read it without fear.

Here is what the Psalms say about the Bible. When you read the terms, “the law of the Lord,” “the testimony of the Lord,” “the statutes of the Lord,” and “the judgments of the Lord,” remember that these are Old Testament terms for the written Word of God.

May God give us this kind of passion for the Bible! Look at the love and loyalty and gratitude in these Scripture passages:

“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.” (Psalm 19:7-11)

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” (Psalm 1:1-3)

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.” (Psalm 119:9-16)

“For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants. Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction. I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.” (Psalm 119:89-93)

“Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” (Psalm 119:165)

According to “Strong’s Concordance,” the word “offend” in Psalm 119:165 means an enticement, or a stumbling-block. It is something that ruins people, or causes them to fall. So according to this Scripture verse, if we love the Word of God, then it will bring us peace, and it will protect us from temptation and destruction.

The Bible is indeed a priceless treasure!