What Is the Bible?

All of what you find on this website will stand or fall based on one important question: What is the Bible?

What is the Bible?

We believe the Bible to be inspired by God. By this we mean that the source of the Bible is ultimately God himself. Even though men wrote it, God produced it. The word "inspired" is the traditional term for expressing this doctrine. A better way of describing is to say it is "God-breathed", which is what the original language says in 2 Timothy 3:16, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness."

The point is that God is the source, God spent the energy, God is the one who produced it. God worked miraculously in the minds of the men who wrote it such that they wrote down everything he wanted them to write. This does not just apply to general ideas, but to the very words. (Obviously, it is the words of the Greek NT, and the Hebrew and Aramaic OT and not our translations that were inspired. As much as a translation faithfully represents the original languages, we have the right also to say it is God's word.)

In other words, the Bible does not contain God's words, it is God's words.

If the Bible were not God's word, then Christianity is empty of meaning, and all of what you're reading on the website is opinions. But if it is God's word—as it is indeed—then it is truth with authority. Not only does it have authority, it has final authority. That means there is no authority that can trump it or stand beside it. The Bible is the only thing able to command belief and practice, it is the only source of divine truth.

How can we know?

How can we know the Bible is indeed God-breathed? The ultimate answer is that the Bible is self-authenticating. You do not have to tell Taipei 101 that it is Taipei 101. You do not have to tell the Golden Gate Bridge that it is the Golden Gate Bridge. It will say, "I know! And I don't need you to validate me! I validate myself!" You just know it when you see it.

The same is true for the Bible. If it is indeed the final authority, then it cannot be proven! Any proof offered to validate it simply reveals there is a further authority that can be appealed to. But it is its own authority. Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice." (John 10:27) I believe the Bible is the word of God because God opened my eyes to believe in Jesus Christ. That is the ultimate reason. He saved me. I trust him.

Beyond that, I read it and see it explains this world better than anything else can. It is not weird myths like other books I've read. It does not glorify its heroes, but reveals them as weak from the beginning. It records Israel's history as a history of failure, something that countries in the Ancient Near East simply did not do. It reveals a God that is more holy than anyone would invent, and more loving than anyone could imagine—combining justice and righteousness in a way too genius and remarkable and scandalous, that both humbles man in the "foolish" simplicity of the message and exalts God in his mercy.

It explains the world and it even knows you better than you know yourself. Read it and see. Try starting with one of the "gospel books" (i.e. records of Jesus' life), perhaps John. Then read Romans and see a detailed explanation of the gospel, or Colossians and read about Christ and Christian living. Read the other gospels, read the Psalms, read Genesis, Exodus, read Isaiah, Jeremiah.

Read the Bible

To understand the Bible, you must read it. The Bible is God's revealed will. Understanding this book means understanding the will and character of Almighty God! He revealed himself and his plan of salvation. People spend so much time trying to get "more information" from God, forgetting he has already given them so much! Stop trying to get new revelation, and get to know the revelation he already gave you!

Humble yourself before the Lord by trembling at his word; this draws the gaze of God.

"All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word." (Isaiah 66:2)