1, 2. Why do we say that the Bible is a fascinating gift from God?
DO YOU REMEMBER a special gift made by a good friend? Surely it filled him with joy and moved him. After all, with that detail your friend showed that he valued their friendship, and without a doubt you thanked him.
2 Well, the Bible is a gift from God for which we can be very grateful. This unique book reveals information that we would never know otherwise. For example, it tells us about the creation of the heavens and the stars, the Earth and the first human couple. In addition, it teaches reliable principles that allow us to face the problems and concerns of life. The Bible also tells us how God will fulfill his purpose for better conditions on Earth. What a fascinating gift!
3 The Bible is also a moving gift, as it teaches us something about the person who did it, Jehovah. By giving us this book, God showed that He wants us to know Him well. In fact, the Bible helps us get closer to him.
4 If you own a Bible, it is not the only one, far from it. This book has been published, in whole or in part, in more than 2,300 languages, so more than ninety percent of the world's population has it at their fingertips. Each week an average of more than one million copies are distributed, and in total there have been billions of Bibles and portions of the Scriptures. There is no doubt that it is a book without equal.
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The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures has been published in many languages.
5 In addition, the Bible "is inspired of God" (2 Timothy 3:16). What does this expression mean? The Bible itself makes it clear: "Men spoke on behalf of God when they were led by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21). It's like when a boss asks his secretary to write a letter. Since the ideas or instructions belong to the boss, the letter is from him, not from the secretary. In the same way, the Bible contains the message of God, not that of the men who wrote it. Therefore, the whole Bible is truly "the word of God" (1 Thessalonians 2:13).
6 The Bible was written over a period of one thousand six hundred years by men of different ages, social conditions and professions: from farmers, fishermen and shepherds, to prophets, judges and kings. Likewise, the writer of one of the Gospels, Luke, was a doctor. But despite the different origins of these men, the Bible teaches the same ideas from the first page to the last, and does not contradict itself. *
7 The first book of the Bible tells how the problems of humanity began, while the last shows that the whole Earth will become a paradise, or garden. The pages of the Bible span thousands of years of history, and their content always has something to do with the fulfillment of God's purpose. This unity of ideas is impressive, as we would expect from a book that comes from God.
8 The Bible is also scientifically accurate. He even came a long way ahead of his time. For example, the book of Leviticus contained laws for ancient Israel on quarantine and hygiene, issues that the neighboring nations of the time were completely unaware of. Also, at a time when there were misconceptions about the shape of the Earth, the Bible indicated that it had the shape of a circle, or sphere (Isaiah 40:22). He also affirmed exactly that 'hangs over nothing' (Job 26: 7). Of course, the Bible is not a science book, but it is accurate when it deals with scientific issues. Is not that what we would expect from a book from God?
9 The Bible is also accurate and reliable when it provides historical data. Their stories are specific, and not only indicate the names of the characters, but also those of their ancestors. * Unlike many historians, who often do not mention the defeats of their people, the writers of the Bible were so honest that they even put in writing their own faults and those of their nation. For example, Moses confessed in the biblical book of Numbers a grave error for which he was severely censured (Numbers 20: 2-12). This honesty is very rare in other historical works, but we find it in the Bible for a reason: because it is a book that comes from God.
10 Since God inspired it, the Bible is "profitable to teach, to censure, to rectify things" (2 Timothy 3:16). It is a practical book. It is noted in its pages that the Author understands perfectly the nature of human beings. And it is not surprising, because said Author is Jehovah God himself, our Creator. He understands what we think and feel even better than we do. In addition, he knows what we need to be happy, and also the behavior that we should avoid.
11, 12. a) What themes did Jesus deal with in the Sermon on the Mount? b) What other practical issues does the Bible touch, and why have your advice always been and will be profitable?
11 Think of the Sermon on the Mount, the discourse of Jesus found in chapters 5 through 7 of Matthew. In this masterpiece of teaching, Jesus addressed many issues, including how to find happiness, how to resolve disputes, how to pray and what attitude we should have towards material goods. Well, today his words have the same strength and usefulness as the day he pronounced them.
13 The Bible contains many prophecies, many of which have already been fulfilled. Let's see an example. Through the prophet Isaiah - who lived more than seven hundred years before our era - Jehovah predicted what would happen to the city of Babylon: it would be destroyed (Isaiah 13:19; 14:22, 23). But he also explained that it would be conquered and how it would happen. The invading armies would dry the river that passed through the city and enter it without having to fight. And that's not all. The prophecy revealed even the name of the king who would conquer Babylon: Cyrus (Isaiah 44: 27-45: 2).
14, 15. How were some details of Isaiah's prophecy about Babylon fulfilled?
14 Some two hundred years later, on the night of October 5 to 6, 539 BC, an army was encamped near Babylon. Who commanded it? A Persian king named Cyrus. In effect, everything was arranged so that the astonishing prophecy would be fulfilled. But would Cyrus's army succeed in conquering the city without even fighting, as had been predicted?
15 The Babylonians were having a party that night and they felt safe behind the huge walls of the city. Meanwhile, Cyrus ingeniously diverted the waters of the river that crossed Babylon, so that the water level dropped low enough for his men to approach the walls advancing along the river bed. However, how did they manage to cross the walls? The gates of the city had been left open unintentionally!
16 Jehovah had said the following about Babylon: "It shall never be inhabited, nor shall it reside for generation after generation. And there the Arab will not settle his tent, and there will be no shepherds who let their flocks lie there "(Isaiah 13:20). The prophecy not only indicated that the city would fall, but also that it would be uninhabited forever. You can verify that these words have been fulfilled. About 80 kilometers south of Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, are the remains of ancient Babylon. The place is uninhabited, which proves that the prediction that Jehovah had made through Isaiah was made: "I will sweep it with the broom of annihilation" (Isaiah 14:22, 23).
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17 Truth that strengthens the faith to verify that the Bible is a book of reliable prophecies? Certainly, the fact that Jehovah God has fulfilled his promises in the past gives us the assurance that he will also fulfill his promise to turn the Earth into a paradise (Numbers 23:19). Indeed, we have the "hope of eternal life that God, who can not lie, promised before times of long duration" (Titus 1: 2).
18 What we have seen in this chapter leaves no doubt that the Bible is a truly unique book. But its value is not only due to its unity of ideas, scientific and historical accuracy, practical advice and reliable prophecies. It still offers much more. The apostle Paul wrote: "The word of God is living, and it exercises power, and it is sharper than any two-edged sword, and penetrates even to dividing between soul and spirit, and between joints and its marrow, and can discern thoughts and intentions. of the heart "(Hebrews 4:12).
19, 20. a) How does the Bible help us examine ourselves? b) How can you show your gratitude for the Bible, the unique gift that God has given us?
19 The reading of "the word" or message of God found in the Bible can change our lives. It helps us examine ourselves like never before. It is not enough to say that we love God. In reality, what will reveal our true thoughts and intentions will be the way we respond to the teachings of his inspired Word, the Bible.
20 The Bible really comes from God. We must read it, study it and love it. Keep examining it and you will show that you appreciate this divine gift. In addition, you will appreciate the importance of God's purpose for humanity. In the next chapter we will see what that purpose is and how it will come true.
God inspired the Bible, and that is why it is accurate and reliable (2 Timothy 3:16).
The advice of the Bible is practical for daily life (Isaiah 48:17).
The promises of God found in the Bible will be fulfilled without fail (Numbers 23:19).
