Why was the Bible written and what is its message?
Written by Aidan Thomas
Brethren Of Christ Articles - The Reliability of the Bible
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Why was it written and what is its message ?
Any book is written to be read, and the Bible is no different.
If you go into a library or reputable bookshop books are grouped on shelves into various categories, between fictional and those of a factual nature.
Some books are written principally to inform, (e.g. history, astronomy, biographies etc.)
Others to provide a basis for dealing with or solving various issues (e.g. diet, medical matters, car and house maintenance, etc )
Some, possibly most, are of a transient nature, written to amuse or gratify the senses, i.e. novels.
And yet others are written offering guidance on how the authors believe we should live and conduct our lives.
These may comprise a whole range of different philosophies and religious or quasi religious systems.
Now the Bible might be said to fall into the last section, but it is unique in the purpose for which it has been recorded. It comprises, in fact, a number of books written at different times and circumstances by different scribes, over some 1100 years.
There are 66 books in all; 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 in the New.
They comprise both the transcription of information orally given to the scribes; and information given directly to the mind of the scribe, as for example through a dream or vision or other means.
It is written that holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1: 21. In other words they were inspired by God to both speak and write, as the Apostle Paul declares “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God.” 2 Tim 3:16.
And here is why the Bible is such a unique book. It is because the scribes were the medium by which God, the Almighty Creator, recorded His plan and purpose with the earth and its inhabitants. Without this record we would be ignorant of why we are here and what is the purpose of life.
The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews has this to say about these books.
“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by a Son.” Ch1:1,2
In other words the author of all these books, which comprise what we call the Bible, is God. And all these books are a record of God’s words spoken at different times and transmitted in a number of ways in the past. And in the first century AD God spoke through and by a Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.