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The Holy Bible is the text book of Christianity. Described
as - "The word from the beyond for our human predicament."
It stands out in literature in its elevated conception of
mankind in character and conduct. It assures us that God who
made all things cares for all things. And that He proved it
by having done something worthy of God. The assurance is in
John 13:16.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have everlasting life."
Here indeed is the word from the beyond for our human predicament.
It says not only God is, not only that He cares for us, but
that once in history He came to men as a man, took our humanity
upon Him to show us what He is like and to die as a man to
bind us to Himself forever. The Bible says that God came as
Jesus Christ into our world, to live among us so that we would
see that God is like Jesus.
The scriptures are a record of progressive revelation. It
describes how in all ages God revealed Himself to men. He
spoke by Abraham, the prophets and His Son. The Bible claims
that in Jesus Christ we have the answer to the questions people
are asking about God, the world and their place in it; that
behind everything is not chance or fate but a Father; that
His will is that people should live for Him and in fellowship
with Him and with one another; that He gave His Son to make
these relationships possible.
The realisation of the truth of this stupendous claim has
made all the difference to people whenever and wherever they
lived in the world. They recognised that by His life and in
His death on the Cross on Calvary Hill He brought God and
man together in atonement, at-one-ment.
The scriptures speak and they tell us about Jesus, how God
deals with people and what He requires from those who respond
to Him. They are God's ordinary means of conversation with
us.
They are about faith in God and morality, for they teach
us about our individual and collective responsibilities, personal
dignity, and equality with our fellowmen. They are opposed
to man's inhumanities, sins and evil against hatred, persecution,
tyranny, injustice and every sort of human malevolence.
The emphasis of the Bible is on the goodness of God who always
seeks and acts to the advantage of people, and on the need
of people to have faith and total trust in Christ. It makes
clear that He wants us to be in close relationship with Him.
He takes the initiative when He says: "Come unto me ...."
and the response is with us. When the reply is positive we
can say with John:
"We love him because he first loved us." 1 John
10.
That is the message the Christian is commissioned to pass
on to others. It is the message Christians have taken to the
world, sometimes at the cost of their lives. Their Bible is
with them to encourage, sustain and strengthen them.
The intrinsic worth of the Bible has been recognised in the
determination of Bible scholars and translators to ensure
that not only is it available to more and more people but
that it is obtainable in words and thought-forms commonly
used by them. This is not to doubt the special place of the
Authorised Version with its magnificent English and memorable
rhythmic use of language. It is to concur with the sentiments
in the Preface of the American Revised Standard Version:
"Men need the Word of God in our time and hereafter
as never before. That Word must not be disguised in phrases
that are no longer clear; or hidden under words that have
changed or lost their meaning. It must stand forth in language
that is direct and plain and meaningful to people today."
What is of primary importance is the need to read the Bible,
to live by its principles and to trust the God of whom it
speaks. It is the fount of wisdom and it has the unique distinction
that : "nobody ever outgrows Scripture, the book widens
and deepens with the years."
Charles Hadden Spurgeon in saying that echoed the prophet
Isaiah: "the word of our God will stand forever."
Rev. Canon Dr. S.E. Long
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