"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Christians believe that the Bible is true, accurate, and indeed the word of God. We accept this by faith. Contrary to what many who do not understand Biblical faith think, to accept something by faith does not mean that we merely guess or hope that something is true. We know that it is true by the proof offered by God within the Bible. Biblical faith is knowledge of what God has said to be true. Faith and knowledge go together. They complement each other. Notice what the Bible says about these two qualities of Christianity:
"Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we have believed and know that thou art the Holy One of God" (John 6:68-69).
"Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by them that believe and know the truth" (1 Timothy 4:3).
"And many more believed because of his word; and they said to the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy speaking: for we have heard for ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Saviour of the world" (John 4:41-42).
The Bible itself gives testimony that it is from God even as our lesson began. Also see what Peter said: "And we have the word of prophecy made more sure; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts: knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of private interpretation. For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:19-21).
Jesus said often that His word was the same as God's word. The words He spoke are truth, life, and will last forever.
Because the Bible is truth, it will set us free from sin and spiritual death (John 8:32). This you know, for you have obeyed the Gospel and have had your sins washed away when you obeyed what the Bible taught. Paul told the Roman Christians, "But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered" (Romans 6:17). "That form of teaching" is that "pattern" described in the Bible (that is of course, being baptized into Christ and His death, burial, and resurrection).
Historians, also, give testimony as to the Bible's accuracy. One Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus, wrote of Jesus and his teaching. This Josephus was not a Christian, yet, admitted that Jesus was much more than a man. In facts he wrote, "if he could truly be called a man." The Bible is a book about God's dealings with mankind. It is not a text book dealing with science or geography but it does contain certain facts in these subjects that were not known to man during the age of its (the Bible's) production. For example, there is a four hundred year period of history that the Bible alone records. Though scoffed at, through archaeology the Bible has been vindicated and shown to be true.
The word "inspiration" literally means "breathed into" and refers to the placing of God's thoughts and directions for man into the minds of His writers to record. The Bible is truly inspired (God breathed)! Before Magellan sailed around the world in 1522, people believed the world was flat. Magellan proved that it was not. Yet, the Bible spoke of the spherical nature of our world in Isaiah 40:22. Contrary to the thought of Magellan's day, the earth did not rest upon a pillar, man, nor beast (Job 26:7).
Seven hundred years before Christ, the Bible foretold the birthplace of Jesus (Micah 5:2). This prophecy was fulfilled and recorded for us in Matthew 2:6. Seven hundred fifty years before the destruction of the great city of Babylon, Isaiah the prophet said it would be destroyed. This city had walls 350 feet high and 87 feet thick. Yet today, nothing remains of it and only wild beasts live where it once stood.
These are but a small sample of the thousands of prophecies that the Bible records and they came to pass. This surely tells us of One who, as Isaiah says, is wise enough to "declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done; saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure" (Isaiah 46:10). Perhaps now the words of the apostle Peter carry more meaning and validity to us when he said, "knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of private interpretation. For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit" (2Peter 1:20-21).
Now, study the lesson sheet and answer the questions regarding this lesson. God bless you in your continued study and understanding of His word!