OBSERVATIONS CONCERNING THE BIBLE 
(John Humphries)

Any helpful discussion of the Bible must be based on this fundamental premise: God’s word is not in the Bible; it is the Bible. No, it isn't that the material pages and the physical bindings are sacred. The print, no matter if it is red or black, is not holy ink! No, indeed, it is the message of Scripture (verbal inspiration) that is divinely given (1 Cor. 2:13). The Bible (all of it, plenary inspiration) is the Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16-17). God has spoken (Heb. 1:1-2) and we had better listen and obey for our own eternal well-being. The Bible is not just another book. It is the only Book that has come to us by the inspiration and preservation by the Hand of God! Even the Biblical record of the actions and words of the wicked are accurate accounts. The Bible does not gloss over the sins and weaknesses of anyone. There are lessons to gleam from all of these narratives. We are to learn to follow the good examples and to reject or avoid the bad. No indeed, the Bible is not structured like the books of the world. It has several unique characteristics. We will observe three.

(1) In spite of the grand scope of material, the Bible is brief. The first 31 verses tell the story of the creation of the material world, plant life, animal life, and man. Genesis covers at least 2,500 years of history in just 50 chapters. Jesus’ baptism is recorded in only five verses (Matthew 3:13-17). By contrast, a bill in congress (H.R. 6800) is 1,815 pages long! And some are even longer!

(2) What the Bible omits reveals a “need to know” intention. The gospel of John covers about 20 days of Jesus’ three-plus years of ministry. We know very little of the lives of most of the apostles. We have no detailed physical description of Jesus. It is clear that, through inspiration of the Spirit, the Bible writers recorded what was needful and not any more (John 20:30-31; 21:25; Deut. 29:29). There is an implicit warning here for Bible teachers not to speculate concerning unrevealed details (James 3:1). We are told all that we need to know. We had best stay with what is revealed (2 John 9). Take care and make applications accurately (2 Tim. 2:15)!

(3) The Bible also shows remarkable restraint. Not only does the Bible omit things that uninspired writers might include, it also describes dramatic events in nondramatic ways. Examples of this restraint would be the brief account of the transfiguration, the feeding of the 5,000, and the Lord Jesus walking on water. All are recorded in a brief and to the point narrative. Uninspired writers may well have elaborated for chapter upon chapter concerning these and other remarkable events (Eccl. 12:12). We should learn from this brevity and not get carried away with uninspired additions to the narrative.

There are other observations that could be made concerning the Word of God. The list goes on and on.

The Bible, therefore, is not just another book among books. There is something unique and special about the Bible. And there is nothing that any human can say or do to lessen the power and authority that undergirds God’s word. The Bible teaches us that there are only two choices regarding our attitude towards Scripture. One can either fully and totally embrace it for his salvation, or reject it for his eternal condemnation (John 12:48). There is no middle ground or compromise with God (John 7:17)! 

A most critical question faces each of us concerning the Word of God. That soul-searching question is “what is my attitude towards the Bible?” Do I feed my soul with the daily bread of the Word of God? (Matt. 4:4).

The apostle John reminds us that what he wrote, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, was “written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God” (John 20:31). And the apostle Paul warns us to not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is for us (Eph. 5:17). “Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read” (Isa. 34:16). Soul saving advice!