1
<chapter id="h2-importance"><title>Importance of God's Word</title>
2
<para>Understanding God's word is of great importance to all who call on
3
God's name. Study of the Bible is one of the primary ways that we learn to
4
communicate with God.</para>
6
<sect1 id="h2-importance-unique"><title>A Book that is Unique</title>
7
<para>The Bible stands alone in many ways. It is unique in:</para>
12
popularity. Bible sales in North America: more than $500 million per
13
year. The Bible is both the the all-time and year-to-year best seller!
18
authorship. It was written over a period of 1600 years by 40 different
19
authors from different backgrounds, yet reads as if written by one.
24
preservation. F. F. Bruce in <emphasis>Are New Testament Documents Reliable?</emphasis>
25
compares New Testament manuscripts with other ancient texts:
29
<table id="h2-importance-manuscripts-table">
30
<title>Comparison of New Testament manuscripts with other ancient texts.</title>
35
<entry>When Written</entry>
36
<entry>Earliest Copy</entry>
37
<entry>Time Lapse</entry><entry>Number of Copies</entry>
41
<entry>Herodotus</entry>
42
<entry>448-428 B.C.</entry><entry>900 A.D.</entry>
43
<entry>1300 years</entry><entry>8
46
<entry>Tacitus</entry>
47
<entry>100 A.D.</entry><entry>1100 A.D.</entry>
48
<entry>1000 years</entry><entry>20
51
<entry>Caesar's <emphasis>Gallic War</emphasis></entry>
52
<entry>50-58 B.C.</entry><entry>900 A.D.</entry>
53
<entry>950 years</entry><entry>10
56
<entry>Livy's <emphasis>Roman History</emphasis></entry>
57
<entry>59 B.C. - 17 A.D.</entry><entry>900 A.D.</entry>
58
<entry>900 years</entry><entry>20
61
<entry>New Testament</entry>
62
<entry>40 A.D. - 100 A.D.</entry><entry>130 A.D. Partial manuscripts 350
63
A.D. Full manuscripts</entry> <entry>30 - 310 years</entry><entry>5000 Greek & 10,000 Latin
65
</tbody></tgroup></table>
66
<para>Ten copies of Caesar's <emphasis>Gallic War</emphasis> exist, the earliest of which was copied
67
900 years after Caesar wrote the original, etc. For the New Testament we have
68
full manuscripts dating to 350 A. D., papyri containing most of the New
69
Testament from the 200s, and a fragment of John's gospel from 130 A. D. How
70
many manuscripts do we have to compare to each other? 5,000 in Greek and 10,000
72
<blockquote><attribution>Textual critic F. J. A. Hort, "The New Testament in the
73
Original Greek", vol. 1 p561, Macmillan Co., quoted in <emphasis>Questions of Life</emphasis> p.
74
25-26</attribution><para>"In the verity and fullness of the evidence on which
75
it rests, the text of the New Testament stands absolutely and unapproachably
76
alone among other ancient prose writings." </para></blockquote>
79
<sect1 id="h2-importance-breathed"><title>A Book that God Breathed</title>
80
<para><emphasis>Heb.4:12 </emphasis>"<emphasis>For the word of God is living and active...
81
</emphasis>" Jesus said <emphasis>(Mt.4:4),</emphasis>
82
"<emphasis>It is written, Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that
83
proceeds [lit., is proceeding] from the mouth of God.</emphasis>"
84
As we read the Bible, God's Spirit is there to speak it to our hearts in a continually-fresh way.
86
<para>2 Tim.3:16 declares, "<emphasis>All scripture is inspired by God [lit.,
87
God-breathed].</emphasis>" Do you believe this? Before you answer, consider Jesus' attitude
88
toward the Scriptures. </para>
89
<blockquote><attribution>John R.W. Stott, <emphasis>Christ the Controversialist</emphasis>,
90
InterVarsity Press 1978, pp.93-95 </attribution><para>He referred to the human authors, but took it for
91
granted that behind them all was a single divine Author. He could equally say
92
'Moses said' or 'God said' (Mk.7:10). He could quote a comment of the narrator in
93
Genesis 2:24 as an utterance of the Creator Himself (Mt.19:4-5). Similarly He
94
said, 'Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written', when what He
95
went on to quote is the direct speech of the Lord God (Mk.7:6 & Is.29:13). It
96
is from Jesus Himself that the New Testament authors have gained their
97
conviction of the dual authorship of Scripture. For them it was just as true to
98
say that 'God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets' (Heb.1:1) as it was to
99
say that 'men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God' (2 Pe.1:21). God did not
100
speak in such a way as to obliterate the personality of the human authors, nor
101
did men speak in such a way as to corrupt the Word of the divine Author. God
102
spoke. Men spoke. Neither truth must be allowed to detract from the other. ...
105
This, then, was Christ's view of the Scriptures. Their witness was God's
106
witness. The testimony of the Bible is the testimony of God. And the chief
107
reason why the Christian believes in the divine origin of the Bible is that
108
Jesus Christ Himself taught it. </para></blockquote>
110
<para>2 Tim.3:16 goes on, "<emphasis>and profitable for teaching, for
111
correction, for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be adequate,
112
equipped for every good work.</emphasis>" If we accept that the Bible really is God
113
speaking to us, it follows that it will be our authority in all matters of faith
117
<sect1 id="h2-importance-works"><title>A Book that Works</title>
119
What will studying the Bible do for you? 1 Thess.2:13 says that the Bible
120
"<emphasis>performs its work in you
121
who believe.</emphasis>" Beside each scripture, write down the work the Word
124
<table id="h2-importance-results-table">
125
<title>What does Bible study do for Christians?</title>
129
<entry>Reference</entry>
130
<entry>Action</entry>
137
<entry>cleanses -- "...having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word."
147
...the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the
148
inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
157
encourages -- "that through perseverance and the
158
encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
168
"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of
179
"Now these things happened to them for an example,
180
and they were written for our instruction"
190
"But He answered and said, 'It is written, Man shall not live on bread alone,
191
but on every word that proceeds out of the
200
<sect1 id="h2-importance-liberates"><title>A Book that Liberates</title>
202
Jn.8:32 "<emphasis>and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you
203
free.</emphasis>"This is usually quoted by
204
itself. Is this a conditional or unconditional promise? Would it apply to
205
all kinds of knowledge? Find the answers by examining the first half of the
206
sentence, in v.31. "<emphasis>If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of
207
Mine... </emphasis>"</para>
208
<para>We see that this is a conditional promice, specifically speaking of the truth of God's word.</para>
210
<para>The Greek word for "wind" used in Eph.4:14 means a <emphasis>violent wind.</emphasis>
211
"<emphasis>As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by
212
waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine...</emphasis>"One
213
thing studying the Bible does for us is to ground us in the truth, with the
214
result that we won't be easily "blown away."</para>
216
<para><emphasis>But Jesus answered and said to them, </emphasis>"<emphasis>You are mistaken [KJV Ye do err], not
217
understanding the Scriptures, or the power of God.</emphasis>"Mt.22:29</para>
218
<para>What 2 things do we need to know to be kept from error?</para>
220
<listitem><para>God's word</para></listitem>
221
<listitem><para>God's power </para></listitem>
225
<sect1 id="h2-importance-wars"><title>A Book that Wars</title>
227
Eph.6:10-18 is one picture of our spiritual armament.</para>
228
<table id="h2-importance-armor-table">
229
<title>Spiritual Armor</title>
233
<entry>Question</entry>
234
<entry>Answer</entry>
237
<row><entry>How many of the weapons listed here are defensive weapons?</entry><entry>5</entry></row>
238
<row><entry>How many are offensive?</entry><entry>One</entry></row>
239
<row><entry>Which one(s)? </entry><entry>the word - <foreignphrase>rhema</foreignphrase></entry></row>
240
</tbody></tgroup></table>
243
<sect1 id="h2-importance-exhortations"><title>Exhortations</title>
245
2 Tim.2:15 (KJV) "<emphasis>Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly
246
dividing the word of truth.</emphasis>"
249
Col.3:16 "<emphasis>Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you; with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another
250
with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.</emphasis>"
253
<para>If you're rich in something, how much of it do you
259
Eccl.12:11-12 "<emphasis>The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these
260
collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd. But
261
beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and
262
excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.</emphasis>"
265
<sect1 id="h2-importance-once"><title>Appendix: "Once for
268
<attribution>John R. W. Stott, <emphasis>Christ the Controversialist,</emphasis>
269
InterVarsity Press 1978, pp.106-107</attribution> <para>The truth regarding the
270
finality of God's initiative in Christ is conveyed by one word of the Greek
271
Testament, namely the adverb <foreignphrase>hapax</foreignphrase> and
272
<foreignphrase>ephapax</foreignphrase>. It is usually translated in the
273
Authorized Version once, meaning once for all. It is used of what is so done as
274
to be of perpetual validity and never need repetition, and is applied in the NT
275
to both revelation and redemption. Thus, Jude refers to the faith which was
276
once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3), and Romans says,
277
"<emphasis>Christ also died for sins once for all</emphasis>"
278
(Rom.6:10, see also 1 Pe.3:18; Heb.9:26-28). </para> <para>
279
Thus we may say that God has spoken once
280
for all and Christ has suffered once for all. This means that the Christian
281
revelation and the Christian redemption are both alike in Christ complete.
282
Nothing can be added to either without being derogatory to Christ... These are
283
the two rocks on which the Protestant Reformation was built -- Gods revealed
284
word without the addition of human traditions and Christ's finished work without
285
the addition of human merits. The Reformers great watchwords were <foreignphrase>sola
286
scriptura</foreignphrase> for our authority and <foreignphrase>sola gratia</foreignphrase> for our salvation.</para>
290
<sect1 id="h2-importance-supplement"><title>Supplement: Bible Reading
291
Programs</title> <para> Here are some easy programs to systematically read your
292
Bible. You can do more than one at a time if you like, for instance #1 with #4,
293
or #2 with #5. Vary the program from year to year to keep it fresh!
295
<orderedlist numeration="arabic">
296
<listitem><para>New Testament in a Year: read one chapter each day, 5 days a
297
week.</para></listitem>
298
<listitem><para>Proverbs in a Month: read one chapter of Proverbs each day,
299
corresponding to the day of the month.</para></listitem>
300
<listitem><para>Psalms in a Month: read 5 Psalms at intervals of 30 each day,
301
for instance on the 20th you read Ps.20, 50, 80, 110, & 140.</para></listitem>
302
<listitem><para>Psalms & Proverbs in 6 months: read through Psalms and Proverbs
303
one chapter per day.</para></listitem>
304
<listitem><para>Old Testament without Psalms & Proverbs in 2 years: if
305
you read one chapter a day of the Old Testament, skipping over Psalms & Proverbs, you will read the Old Testament in 2 years and 2 weeks.
1
<chapter id="h2-importance">
2
<title>Importance of God's Word</title>
3
<para>Understanding God's word is of great importance to all who call
4
on God's name. Study of the Bible is one of the primary ways that we
5
learn to communicate with God.</para>
6
<sect1 id="h2-importance-unique">
7
<title>A Book that is Unique</title>
8
<para>The Bible stands alone in many ways. It is unique in:</para>
11
<para>popularity. Bible sales in North America: more than $500
12
million per year. The Bible is both the all-time and
13
year-to-year best seller!</para>
16
<para>authorship. It was written over a period of 1600 years by
17
40 different authors from different backgrounds, yet reads as
18
if written by one.</para>
21
<para>preservation. F. F. Bruce in
22
<emphasis>Are New Testament Documents
23
Reliable?</emphasis> compares New Testament manuscripts with
24
other ancient texts:</para>
27
<table id="h2-importance-manuscripts-table">
28
<title>Comparison of New Testament manuscripts with other ancient
34
<entry>When Written</entry>
35
<entry>Earliest Copy</entry>
36
<entry>Time Lapse</entry>
37
<entry>Number of Copies</entry>
42
<entry>Herodotus</entry>
43
<entry>448-428 B.C.</entry>
44
<entry>900 A.D.</entry>
45
<entry>1300 years</entry>
49
<entry>Tacitus</entry>
50
<entry>100 A.D.</entry>
51
<entry>1100 A.D.</entry>
52
<entry>1000 years</entry>
57
<emphasis>Gallic War</emphasis></entry>
58
<entry>50-58 B.C.</entry>
59
<entry>900 A.D.</entry>
60
<entry>950 years</entry>
65
<emphasis>Roman History</emphasis></entry>
66
<entry>59 B.C. - 17 A.D.</entry>
67
<entry>900 A.D.</entry>
68
<entry>900 years</entry>
72
<entry>New Testament</entry>
73
<entry>40 A.D. - 100 A.D.</entry>
74
<entry>130 A.D. Partial manuscripts 350 A.D. Full
76
<entry>30 - 310 years</entry>
77
<entry>5000 Greek & 10,000 Latin</entry>
82
<para>Ten copies of Caesar's
83
<emphasis>Gallic War</emphasis> exist, the earliest of which was
84
copied 900 years after Caesar wrote the original, etc. For the New
85
Testament we have full manuscripts dating to 350 A. D., papyri
86
containing most of the New Testament from the 200s, and a fragment
87
of John's gospel from 130 A. D. How many manuscripts do we have to
88
compare to each other? 5,000 in Greek and 10,000 in Latin!</para>
90
<attribution>Textual critic F. J. A. Hort, "The New Testament in
91
the Original Greek", vol. 1 p561, Macmillan Co., quoted in
92
<emphasis>Questions of Life</emphasis>p. 25-26</attribution>
93
<para>"In the verity and fullness of the evidence on which it
94
rests, the text of the New Testament stands absolutely and
95
unapproachably alone among other ancient prose writings."</para>
98
<sect1 id="h2-importance-breathed">
99
<title>A Book that God Breathed</title>
101
<emphasis>Heb.4:12</emphasis>
102
"<emphasis>For the word of God is living and active...</emphasis>"
104
<emphasis>(Mt.4:4),</emphasis>"
105
<emphasis>It is written, Man shall not live on bread alone, but on
106
every word that proceeds [lit., is proceeding] from the mouth of
107
God.</emphasis>" As we read the Bible, God's Spirit is there to
108
speak it to our hearts in a continually-fresh way.</para>
109
<para>2 Tim.3:16 declares, "
110
<emphasis>All scripture is inspired by God [lit.,
111
God-breathed].</emphasis>" Do you believe this? Before you answer,
112
consider Jesus' attitude toward the Scriptures.</para>
114
<attribution>John R.W. Stott,
115
<emphasis>Christ the Controversialist</emphasis>, InterVarsity
116
Press 1978, pp.93-95</attribution>
117
<para>He referred to the human authors, but took it for granted
118
that behind them all was a single divine Author. He could equally
119
say 'Moses said' or 'God said' (Mk.7:10). He could quote a
120
comment of the narrator in Genesis 2:24 as an utterance of the
121
Creator Himself (Mt.19:4-5). Similarly He said, 'Well did Isaiah
122
prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written', when what He went
123
on to quote is the direct speech of the Lord God (Mk.7:6 &
124
Is.29:13). It is from Jesus Himself that the New Testament
125
authors have gained their conviction of the dual authorship of
126
Scripture. For them it was just as true to say that 'God spoke of
127
old to our fathers by the prophets' (Heb.1:1) as it was to say
128
that 'men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God' (2 Pe.1:21).
129
God did not speak in such a way as to obliterate the personality
130
of the human authors, nor did men speak in such a way as to
131
corrupt the Word of the divine Author. God spoke. Men spoke.
132
Neither truth must be allowed to detract from the other.
134
<para>This, then, was Christ's view of the Scriptures. Their
135
witness was God's witness. The testimony of the Bible is the
136
testimony of God. And the chief reason why the Christian believes
137
in the divine origin of the Bible is that Jesus Christ Himself
140
<para>2 Tim.3:16 goes on, "
141
<emphasis>and profitable for teaching, for correction, for training
142
in righteousness, that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for
143
every good work.</emphasis>" If we accept that the Bible really is
144
God speaking to us, it follows that it will be our authority in all
145
matters of faith and conduct.</para>
147
<sect1 id="h2-importance-works">
148
<title>A Book that Works</title>
149
<para>What will studying the Bible do for you? 1 Thess.2:13 says
151
<emphasis>performs its work in you who believe.</emphasis>" Beside
152
each scripture, write down the work the Word performs.</para>
153
<table id="h2-importance-results-table">
154
<title>What does Bible study do for Christians?</title>
158
<entry>Reference</entry>
159
<entry>Action</entry>
164
<entry>Eph. 5:26</entry>
165
<entry>cleanses -- "...having cleansed her by the washing
166
of water with the word."</entry>
169
<entry>Acts 20:32</entry>
170
<entry>builds up -- " ...the word of His grace, which is
171
able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among
172
all those who are sanctified. "</entry>
175
<entry>Rom. 15:4</entry>
176
<entry>encourages -- "that through perseverance and the
177
encouragement of the Scriptures we might have
181
<entry>Rom. 10:17</entry>
182
<entry>gives faith -- "So faith comes from hearing, and
183
hearing by the word of Christ."</entry>
186
<entry>1 Cor. 10:11</entry>
187
<entry>instructs -- "Now these things happened to them for
188
an example, and they were written for our
192
<entry>Mt. 4:4</entry>
193
<entry>nourishment -- "But He answered and said, 'It is
194
written, Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every
195
word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.'"</entry>
201
<sect1 id="h2-importance-liberates">
202
<title>A Book that Liberates</title>
204
<emphasis>and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make
205
you free.</emphasis>"This is usually quoted by itself. Is this a
206
conditional or unconditional promise? Would it apply to all kinds
207
of knowledge? Find the answers by examining the first half of the
209
<emphasis>If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of
210
Mine...</emphasis>"</para>
211
<para>We see that this is a conditional promise, specifically
212
speaking of the truth of God's word.</para>
213
<para>The Greek word for "wind" used in Eph.4:14 means a
214
<emphasis>violent wind.</emphasis>"
215
<emphasis>As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here
216
and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of
217
doctrine...</emphasis>"One thing studying the Bible does for us is
218
to ground us in the truth, with the result that we won't be easily
221
<emphasis>But Jesus answered and said to them,</emphasis>"
222
<emphasis>You are mistaken [KJV Ye do err], not understanding the
223
Scriptures, or the power of God.</emphasis>" Mt.22:29</para>
224
<para>What 2 things do we need to know to be kept from
228
<para>God's word</para>
231
<para>God's power</para>
235
<sect1 id="h2-importance-wars">
236
<title>A Book that Wars</title>
237
<para>Eph.6:10-18 is one picture of our spiritual armament.</para>
238
<table id="h2-importance-armor-table">
239
<title>Spiritual Armor</title>
243
<entry>Question</entry>
244
<entry>Answer</entry>
249
<entry>How many of the weapons listed here are defensive
254
<entry>How many are offensive?</entry>
258
<entry>Which one(s)?</entry>
260
<foreignphrase>rhema</foreignphrase></entry>
266
<sect1 id="h2-importance-exhortations">
267
<title>Exhortations</title>
268
<para>2 Tim.2:15 (KJV) "
269
<emphasis>Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that
270
needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of
271
truth.</emphasis>"</para>
273
<emphasis>Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you; with all
274
wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns
275
and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to
276
God.</emphasis>"</para>
277
<para>If you're rich in something, how much of it do you
279
<para>Not a little!</para>
280
<para>Eccl.12:11-12 "
281
<emphasis>The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of
282
these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one
283
Shepherd. But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many
284
books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to
285
the body.</emphasis>"</para>
287
<sect1 id="h2-importance-once">
288
<title>Appendix: "Once for All"</title>
290
<attribution>John R. W. Stott,
291
<emphasis>Christ the Controversialist,</emphasis>InterVarsity
292
Press 1978, pp.106-107</attribution>
293
<para>The truth regarding the finality of God's initiative in
294
Christ is conveyed by one word of the Greek Testament, namely the
296
<foreignphrase>hapax</foreignphrase>and
297
<foreignphrase>ephapax</foreignphrase>. It is usually translated
298
in the Authorized Version once, meaning once for all. It is used
299
of what is so done as to be of perpetual validity and never need
300
repetition, and is applied in the NT to both revelation and
301
redemption. Thus, Jude refers to the faith which was once for all
302
delivered to the saints (Jude 3), and Romans says, "
303
<emphasis>Christ also died for sins once for all</emphasis>"
304
(Rom.6:10, see also 1 Pe.3:18; Heb.9:26-28).</para>
305
<para>Thus we may say that God has spoken once for all and Christ
306
has suffered once for all. This means that the Christian
307
revelation and the Christian redemption are both alike in Christ
308
complete. Nothing can be added to either without being derogatory
309
to Christ... These are the two rocks on which the Protestant
310
Reformation was built -- Gods revealed word without the addition
311
of human traditions and Christ's finished work without the
312
addition of human merits. The Reformers great watchwords were
313
<foreignphrase>sola scriptura</foreignphrase>for our authority
315
<foreignphrase>sola gratia</foreignphrase>for our
319
<sect1 id="h2-importance-supplement">
320
<title>Supplement: Bible Reading Programs</title>
321
<para>Here are some easy programs to systematically read your
322
Bible. You can do more than one at a time if you like, for instance
323
#1 with #4, or #2 with #5. Vary the program from year to year to
324
keep it fresh!</para>
325
<orderedlist numeration="arabic">
327
<para>New Testament in a Year: read one chapter each day, 5
331
<para>Proverbs in a Month: read one chapter of Proverbs each
332
day, corresponding to the day of the month.</para>
335
<para>Psalms in a Month: read 5 Psalms at intervals of 30 each
336
day, for instance on the 20th you read Ps.20, 50, 80, 110,
340
<para>Psalms & Proverbs in 6 months: read through Psalms
341
and Proverbs one chapter per day.</para>
344
<para>Old Testament without Psalms & Proverbs in 2 years:
345
if you read one chapter a day of the Old Testament, skipping
346
over Psalms & Proverbs, you will read the Old Testament in
347
2 years and 2 weeks.</para>
added
removed
docs/howto/en/docbook/howto-importance.docbook
