What Is the Bible?

What is the Bible? It is, first of all, words. It is a written record. That the Bible is written gives it permanence and extension. Though it records events that took place thousands of years ago, it makes them accessible to us today. Only a few people experienced the lives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Because the written nature of God’s word gives it permanence, we are able to see God’s will revealed through their stories. That God’s word is written also gives it extension. It enables people around the world to hear the good news. Most of the events of the Bible took place in a small region of the Middle East. Because of the Bible, however, the gospel reaches around the world. It is a great endeavor of evangelism that the Bible continues to be translated into the various languages of the world.

What are the words in the Bible about? They are God’s revelation of himself to the world. As in all relationships, we cannot know a person unless they reveal themselves. We can know some things about various acquaintances, but a person only becomes a friend when they open their life to us. This is even more true with God. God dwells in a realm to which we have limited access. Who can ascend to heaven to discover God? Who can search God out with our limited human abilities? The good news is that God has made himself known. God is not silent. He has chosen to reveal himself to his creatures. The Bible is one of the ways in which God has done so.

In what sense are the scriptures infallible? They are infallible in teaching us what to believe and how to live. These are often called “faith and practice.” We live in a world that is more open to being told what to do than what to believe. We are open to suggestions for how to better our life, improve our health, make more money, and enhance our relationships. Human pride, however, resists being told what to believe: “Who are you to tell me what to believe?” When it comes to God, however, our wisdom is insufficient. Since we cannot find God on our own, we must learn from him. God has told us who he is. It is foolish not to accept and receive his revelation, especially since understanding God is one of the most important areas of knowledge that we need.

Who is the author of scripture? Though it was written by many different people over a period of about 1400 years, the Holy Spirit is the ultimate author of scripture. This is the same Spirit who overshadowed the virgin Mary and who illumines the hearts and minds of people. The Holy Spirit illumines us to be able to believe the Bible, understand its meaning, and embrace Jesus Christ through it. Without the illumination of the Holy Spirit, one cannot understand the Bible rightly. This is why the theology of the church always comes from within the church rather than outside it. Those outside the faith—while they may write many things about Christianity—always misjudge its essential character. Apart from faith in Jesus Christ and the help of the Holy Spirit, our minds are darkened and our hearts dulled so that we misunderstand and misrepresent God.

How do we know that the Bible is God’s word? The Holy Spirit testifies to its authority. The Bible is not authoritative because the church has declared it to be so. The Bible is authoritative because God inspired it and speaks through it. The Bible testifies to its own authority. God is the author of the Bible. Believers sense this when they read the Bible because God speaks to them through it. In this sense the Bible is “self-authenticating.” That is, it does not need the approval of a church governing body to be the word of God. It speaks to the hearts of Christians in such a way that they find God in it and through it. This is a great gift from God. God’s Spirit illumines our hearts so that we hear God speaking to us when we read the Bible. The classic way to put this is that when we pray, we speak to God, but when we read the Bible, God speaks to us. This is a good reason to read the Bible regularly and devotionally. God guides our lives when we do, through his comfort, instruction, warning, and inspiration. Thanks be to God for this wonderful gift.