Within it's pages, the Bible makes a lot of bold claims about itself.
Take Matthew 24:35 for example, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."
Also 2 Timothy 3:16-17, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."
Then 2 Peter 1:19-21 says, "And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."
Also look at Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."
So, if you're tracking with me, we've read that the Bible is the everlasting Word of God and we would do well to pay attention to what it says because it is spoken from God and has surpassing power in our lives.
There were times and still are times in my life when I question what the Bible says and struggle with doubt. What does God say to me during these times?
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." - Hebrews 10:23
"Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing." - James 1:19-25
"Whoever says 'I know him' but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected." - 1 John 2:4-5
If I believe God is who He says He is, I need to humble myself before the truth and choose to persevere in faith because He is the Lord.
No other religious writings can compare with the Word of God. In fact, "other alleged divine writings are not from God because they are not part of the Bible" - Bodie Hodge (read more here).
God even lays out as part of the qualifications for elders in the church, "He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it" (Titus 1:9) as many writings today, specifically religious or not, contradict what God says.
Take Matthew 24:35 for example, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."
Also 2 Timothy 3:16-17, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."
Then 2 Peter 1:19-21 says, "And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."
Also look at Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."
So, if you're tracking with me, we've read that the Bible is the everlasting Word of God and we would do well to pay attention to what it says because it is spoken from God and has surpassing power in our lives.
There were times and still are times in my life when I question what the Bible says and struggle with doubt. What does God say to me during these times?
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." - Hebrews 10:23
"Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing." - James 1:19-25
"Whoever says 'I know him' but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected." - 1 John 2:4-5
If I believe God is who He says He is, I need to humble myself before the truth and choose to persevere in faith because He is the Lord.
No other religious writings can compare with the Word of God. In fact, "other alleged divine writings are not from God because they are not part of the Bible" - Bodie Hodge (read more here).
God even lays out as part of the qualifications for elders in the church, "He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it" (Titus 1:9) as many writings today, specifically religious or not, contradict what God says.
One of my friends told me that I should read the Apocrypha (other Jewish books not included in the Bible) and I was not sure how I should respond. So I did some research (read this) and decided that I would refrain for now. Though many internet opinions would say that Christians should read the Apocrypha for any number of reasons, I appreciated that one guy said, "We should not read them for theological information. They are not inspired and we have everything we need in the Bible. We should read them to better understand the Judaism of the first century." The rest of the post can be found here.
If I was to read any other religious books, it would have to be for the sole purpose of ministry. To get on a level of understanding so that I could have meaningful conversations with people from other religious backgrounds for example.
Maybe...
Then maybe not...
I am reminded of a story told me by another friend whose mother obtained a copy of the Koran to read in order to help her minister to others. Though her intentions were pure, she found that even having the book in her house caused notable spiritual distress and she decided to destroy it.
So why not let those who have already read their religious books tell you about them rather than delving in yourself? Personally I think that would be a better way to build relationships for ministry.
I have read many books in my lifetime and probably will read many more. Both secular and Christian, fiction and non-fiction. But I know that I need to read them carefully and have biblical truths in mind to keep myself from being deceived because the Bible is the only perfectly trustworthy book in the world that was written with absolutely pure motives for the good of all who would read it.
So why not read the Bible?
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