The word “Bible” means “book of books.” The Bible is a collection of smaller books written by 40 men of God over a period of 2000 years.

How did all those men of God know what to write? Peter explains in 1 Peter 1:21, “Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” Even though it was men speaking and writing, their words came from the mind of God. The word “prophet” literally means “mouthpiece.” Those who served as prophets were God’s mouthpieces. Their words were not their own, they were God’s words.

One example is when God gave the Old Law to the Children of Israel at mount Sinai. In Exodus 24:3, “So Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the judgments.”

Whose words did Moses give to the People? The Lord’s words. In Exodus 24:4, what did Moses do with the Lord’s words after He spoke them to the people? “And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord.” What Moses wrote became scripture because it was God’s words put into writing.

In similar manner, God used various other ways to communicate to the prophets, but always what they wrote were the words of God. As Hebrews 1:1 puts it, “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets…”  That’s why Paul was able to say “All scripture is inspired of God” or “God breathed” in 2 Timothy 3:16.

Can we understand the Bible?

The Bible can seem intimidating. Some feel it’s too big or too deep to understand. Thankfully, God has told us He wants all men to come to a knowledge of the truth (1Timothy 2:4). He tells us that He revealed His word in a clear and understandable way.

According to Ephesians 3:3-4, the apostle Paul wrote the words of God in letters to the churches. Then he reassured them that when they read his writings they can understand his knowledge. Not only that, in Ephesians 5:17, He commanded them, saying, “Do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

More than that, Paul was able to teach people the gospel by reasoning with them from the Scriptures. Acts 17:2: “Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the scriptures.”  The fact Paul was able to reason with them from the Scriptures tells us that God’s word is reasonable and understandable.

What a relief to know that God’s word is not only reasonable and understandable, but He also commands us to understand His will. God only ever commands us to do what He knows we can do.

What kind of information is contained in the Bible?

In His prayer to the Father, Jesus said, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17). What is God’s word? It is truth. God’s word isn’t someone’s opinion, It is truth.  

In 2 Peter 1:3, Peter says through God’s word, He has given us “all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.” What does that mean? It means God’s word gives us everything we need to learn how to live a life that is pleasing to God.

The Bible is truth and it contains everything we need to be pleasing to God. In many cases, knowing what the Bible says can change or correct a person’s understand about God, about righteousness and many other things. The more we read the Bible, the more our faith or what we believe to be true aligns with what is real. That’s why Paul wrote in Romans 10:17, “So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”

In other words, the Bible gives us the information we need to align our faith with eternal truth. It teaches us how to have faith that leads to salvation.

What does God want us to do with the Bible?

God gave us His word for a reason. People have different ideas about how we should use the Bible, but it is better to let God tell us what He wants us to do with His word.

In James 1:22, James reminds us that God did not reveal His word so we can hear it and walk away. God’s work includes commands and truths that can change our lives if we put it to use. Therefore, James wrote, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

In the Bible, God reveals our need to be saved from our sins. In Hebrews 5:9, that salvation is made available to all, but it will only be received by those who “obey Him.” “And having been perfected, He [Jesus] became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.”

In short, God gave us His word so that we will do it and obey Him in it. When we obey what the Bible says, we will find it can be used for several things in our lives.

Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” That is how God’s word should be used in our lives. “Doctrine” is teaching. God’s word is meant to teach us. “Reproof” is to reaffirm or prove again things previously learned when we sometimes forget or errs. “Correction” means to straighten something that has become crooked or out of place. So if we are doing something wrong, we use God’s word to correct us so we can do it right. And God’s word is meant to instruct us in how to live righteous lives.

The Bible may not talk about everything we want it to. It is not a science book or a book of philosophy. It communicates God’s will to us so we can know how to follow Him as our God. That’s the point Moses makes in Deuteronomy 29:29: “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.”

Lastly, some believe that God’s word is optional, and that God doesn’t really command us obey all of His words but offers it as more of a suggestion. That’s not what Jesus said. In Matthew 7:21, Jesus that if we will not do God’s word, we cannot be with God in heaven. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” 

What can the Bible do for you?

God makes His word understandable and expects us to obey His commands because He wants us to be saved. Learning and obeying the truth by faith is how we come to have that salvation.  “For this is Good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:34)  

For those who obey it, God’s word has the power to transform our lives, but only if we are willing to use it the way He teaches us to in the Scriptures. “The word of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimonies of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.” (Psalm 19:7)

What will you do with God’s word?