The Bible - II. How the Bible Came to Be and Its Purpose

Christians believe that the Bible is The Word of God. We often refer to it as The Scriptures. We believe God inspired the writers of The Scriptures when to write and what to write. We believe we as human beings have all been alienated from God.  We believe The Scriptures tell the story of God’s interaction with humankind.  The main purpose of The Scriptures is to tell us how we can re-establish ourselves in a right relationship with God in spite of our being separate from Him because of our sin. The Scriptures then also tell us how we can live as Christians. They also tell us what is going to happen with us in the future, even after death. All of this is a message of love, peace and hope. It all requires faith on our part.

One of he most amazing things about The Bible is how it has what we call internal consistency. That is, there is agreement on its main themes and key points from beginning to end, in spite of the number of separate books written at different times and by different authors, sometimes hundreds of years apart. The most important part of this is how many prophecies and predictions made at one time and recorded in the Bible came true, some times hundreds of years later, and the stories of the fulfilment are also recorded. The most important of these, of course, are about the coming of Jesus to earth as The Son of God, the Anointed One (Jewish - Messiah, Greek - Christ). Jesus himself pointed out these passages to those who listened. One of the most interesting stories about this concerns two followers he met on the road after his resurrection. He told them:

         Beginning at Moses and all the prophets he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. 

         - Luke 24:27

This is what The Apostle John wrote at the end of the book he wrote:

30  And many other signs Jesus really did in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:

31  But these are written, so you can believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that by believing you can have life through his name.                                             

      - John 20:30-31

This is what The Apostle Paul wrote to a young student of his named Timothy:

15 And that from a child thou have known The Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16  All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is of good use for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17  That the person of God may be perfect, thoroughly equipped for all good works.

         - II Timothy 3:15-17

The Apostle Peter wrote this about Paul, supporting Paul’s place of authority in The Church:

2 Peter 3:15 And accept that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given to him has written to you

referring to Paul’s being given wisdom, being inspired in what he wrote to The Church.