The Bible

Why Do We Believe the Bible Is the Word of God?

I am very honored for your invitation to come and speak to you on the two very important subjects in the word of God.
First : The Authenticity of the Bible
Second: The Deity of Christ or to make it simpler
The Inspiration of the Word of God and
The Incarnation of the Son of God
But before we start I would like first of all to read to you a portion of scripture taken from  the second epistle of Peter chapter  1:16-21

“For  we have not followed cunningly devised fables,  ,when we made to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty…. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto you do well that you take heed , as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your heart… Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation… For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost”(2Pet.1:16-21).

I was asked to speak on two very controversial subjects in the Bible,
Number one. The Incarnation of the Son of God. And
Number two. The Inspiration of the Scripture.

Now If I were to ask you . Do you believe the Bible is the Word of God? I am sure that all the Christians will say: yes, We believe the Bible is the Word of God.

But suppose I asked you.  Why do you believe the Bible to be the EXCLUSIVE Word of God?

Suppose I am a Hindu or a Buddhist or an unbeliever or a skeptic and I ask you. Why do you believe the Bible is the Word of God ?

How do you know the Bible is the word of God ?

Can you give me a reason why the Bible is the Word of God? Because Every religion in the world will say that their book is the word of God

Why do you believe exclusively that this book the Bible is the Word of God?

Further more
The apostle Peter wrote to us a very important admonishing  by saying:
“Be always ready to give a defense to everyone who ask you a reason for the hope that is in you with meekness”  (I Peter 3:15)

I would like to say that when Paul said to Timothy : “Preach the word”

He did not say preach the word if you find it. But he said  “preach the word”. Which means that he had a copy of the Word of God.

Then he said to him:

“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 complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:16)

Then in Chapter (1:23) The apostle Peter write:

“Having been born again not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever. Because all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever” (1 Peter 1:23-25)

And the Lord Jesus said one of the most startling statement .

“Heaven and earth will pass away…..”

We are living  in a time when the Modernist the atheist, the liberals and the Moslem are working very hard to discredit, and plant doubts in the hearts of the nominal Christians concerning the Bible by saying: the Bible has been tampered with.

Ahmad Deedat for example has written a book entitled “5000 Mistakes in the Bible”. 

Not only Ahmad Deedat but other Christian liberals has written many books to discredit the Bible, but yet the Bible still stands as the best seller, and the most translated book of all the books ever written..

I would like to give you this evening 15 reasons why I believe exclusively that the Bible exclusively is the Word of God.

The 1^st reason why we believe the Bible is exclusively the Word of God  because of its chronological order. 

It begins with the book of Genesis, which tells us about the Beginning of all things and ends with the book of Revelation, which tells us about the end of all things.

It begins with the beginning of all things and ends with the endings of all things

For example

1- In Genesis we read about the beginning of Creation .

2- The beginning of sin.

3- The beginning of prophecies.

4- The beginning of salvation.

5-The beginning of death.

6.The book of Gen. Start with with life and ends with  Joseph’s coffin in Egypt.

It starts with Adam then his children Seth and Enos and Cainan and so on then Noah and then Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph

Then we come to the book of Exodus After Joseph’s death in Egypt we come to the call of  Moses and then Joshua and so on.

2.  The second reason why I believe the Bible is exclusively the Word of God because of its perfect unity.

Forty men from all walks of life over the course of 1500 years.  They wrote without contradicting each other.  Some of the writers include kings, peasants, philosophers, fishermen, tax collectors, poets, musician, physicians, teachers, statesmen, lawyers and shepherds. It has been translated into 2200

Language more than any book in existence.

The entire Bible is one book, has one author, the Holy Spirit, and has one purpose the fall of man, and God’s way to redeem him, one theme.  For example, you cannot understand the book of Revelation in the N.T. unless you study the books of Genesis and Daniel in the O.T..  You cannot understand the book of Hebrews in the N.T. unless you study the book of Leviticus in the O.T..

 The O.T. and the N.T. are one book one complementing the other.

The apostle Paul wrote in his second letter to Timothy 3:16-17.

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete [mature], thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

And the apostle Peter wrote,

The Holy Spirit empowered the writers to write everything that He dictated to them.  For we read,

The Lord Jesus said

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”  (John 14:26)

For example:

The Holy Spirit led Matthew to write to the Jews telling them that Christ is the fulfillment of all their prophecies. as the Messiah..

Mark speaks about Christ as a servant.

Luke speaks about Christ as the perfect Man.(The Son of Man)

John speaks about Christ as the Son of God.

3. The third reason why I believe the Bible is exclusively the Word of God because it predicts the future.

“Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not ye done,….” (Isa. 46:9-10)

“And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the lord has not spoken?’–when a prophet speaks in the name of the lord, if the thing [which he says] does not happen or come to pass,… the prophet has spoken it presumptuously….” (Deut. 18:21-22)

“Known to God from eternity are all His works.” (Acts15:18) God knows the end from the beginning

There is no other book in all the religions of the world that contains specific predictive prophecies. 

Consider, for example, the prophecy in the book of Isaiah concerning the city of Babylon: 

“And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, The beauty of the Chaldeans’ pride, Will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.  It will never be inhabited, Nor will it be settled from generation to generation; Nor will the Arabian pitch tents there, Nor will the shepherds make their sheepfold there.  But wild beasts of the desert will lie there, and their houses will be full of owls; … The hyenas will howl in their citadels And jackals in their pleasant palaces. (Isa. 13:19-22)

Historically, when a city was destroyed, the people would rebuild it on top of the old city.  Babylon was destroyed and was not rebuilt.

Consider also the prophecy of Christ concerning the city of Jerusalem:

“For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another….” (Luke 19:43-44)

In AD 70 Titus the Roman came and surrounded the city and destroyed it and did not leave one stone upon another.

Be sure: “If God said it, it is guaranteed.”

4. The fourth reason why I believe the Bible is exclusively the word of God because of its perpetual survival.

No other book has been attacked over the course of 2600 years more repeatedly and viciously than the Bible, but Jesus said,

The apostle Peter wrote,

“Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because ‘All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.’” (1 Peter 1:23-25)

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” (Matt. 24:35)

In the year AD 303, The Emperor Diocletian, who hated the Christians, ordered that all the Scriptures be destroyed throughout the Empire.  Less than ten years later Constantine became the Emperor of the Roman Empire.  He was converted to Christianity and among the first things he did was order multiple copies of the Scriptures to be produced.

Thomas Paine, the infamous infidel who wrote The Age of Reason, said, “Fifty years after I die, the Bible will be obsolete.”  Paine is in hell, but the Bible still stands.

Voltaire said, “Another century and there will not be a Bible on earth!”  It is reported that the Geneva Bible Society bought his house and used it as a bookstore that sells only Bibles.

The Bible has more manuscript evidence to support it than any other book in the world.

5. The fifth reason why I believe the Bible is exclusively the Word of God because from Genesis to Revelation it testifies of one person and that is the person of Jesus Christ.

The Old Testament says that Christ is coming. And it tells how he is coming.

In the Gospels, we have found Him.

The Epistles let me tell you more about Him.

In the book of Revelation He is coming again.

In Genesis He is the Seed of the woman.

In Exodus He is the Passover Lamb.

In Leviticus He is the ultimate sacrifice.

In Joshua He is called the Redeemer.

In Psalms He is the Good Shepherded.

In Isaiah His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor.

In Jeremiah He is called the Lord of Righteousness.

In Daniel He is called the Anointed One.

In Haggai He is called the Desire of all Nations.

In Zechariah He is called the King of kings and Lord of lords.

In Malachi He is called the Messenger of the Covenant and the Sun of Righteousness.

In Matthew He is called Immanuel.

In Mark He is called the Holy One.

In Luke He is called the Horn of Salvation.

In John He is called the Word, the Lamb of God, the Son of God, the I AM, the Good Shepherd, the Living Water, the Light of the world, the Resurrection and the Life.

In Acts He is called the Judge.

In the Epistles He is called our Passover, The Rock, the Chief Cornerstone, the invisible image of God, the Mediator, the Advocate, the God who was manifested in the flesh.

In Revelation He is called the Almighty One, the faithful and true Witness, The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the bright and morning Star, and the King of kings and Lord of lords.

The writer to the book of Hebrews said

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high….” (Heb. 1:1-3)

6. The sixth reason why I  believe the Bible is exclusively the Word of God because of the fulfillment of over 380 prophecies concerning Christ.  48 of them were fulfilled in the last week of His ministry.

Jesus addressed the Jews of His day and said unto them “Search the Scriptures,…for they testify of me.” (John 5:39)  Luke wrote, “To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name,….” (Acts 10:43)

Because of the lack of time I am going to give few of the 48 prophecies which were fulfilled the last week of His public ministry. (That is the week of His crucifixion).

The first prophecy is mentioned in Gen 3:15 “I will put enmity….”

His death was foretold (Dan 9:26)

The conspiracy against Him (Ps. 2:1-3)

They substituted His love for hate. (Ps. 104:4-5)

They hated Him without a cause. (Ps. 35:19)

False witness against Him  (Ps.35:11-12)

Sold with thirty pieces of silver . (Zach 11:13)

“Then I said unto them, if it is agreeable to you, give me my wages; and if not, refrain, So they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said to me, Cast it unto  the potter- a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver and cast them in the potters in the house of the Lord” (Zech 11:12-13) 

Purchase of the potter’s field with the money .(Zech 11:13)

Betrayed by His friend. (Ps. 69:20)                                         30 pieces not 29

The end of the one who betrayed Him (Ps. 69:25)                            silver not gold

Falsely accused (Is. 53:8)                                                                  cast them in the house

His disciples forsook Him .(Ps. 31:11)                                                       of the Lord

He opened not His mouth. (Ps. 38:13-14)                               purchases pf the

As a lamb led to the slaughter . (Is. 53)                                            potter’s field

Gave His back to the smiters .(Is. 50:5-6)                               (Matt 27:3-7)

The Plower plowed upon His back. (Ps. 129:3-4)

They pierced His hand and feet. (Ps. 22:16)

Casting lot on His garment (Ps. 22:18)

They mocked Him (Ps. 22:7-8)

They gave Him vinegar when He was thirsty.  (Ps. 69:21)

He was wounded for our transgression (Is. 53:

Pierced in His side. (Zech 12:10)

His death was made an offering for sin. (Is. 53:10)

He was numbered with the transgressors. (Is. 53:12)

He bore the sin of many. (Is. 53:12)

Darkness at noon. (Amos 8:9)>

He made intercession for the wicked. (Is. 53:12)

7.  The seventh reason why I believe the Bible is exclusively the Word of God because of its scientific accuracy.

There are many scientific facts recorded in the Bible.

1) The scientific fact concerning the shape of the earth.

When the Italian scientist Galileo announced his finding that the earth was round , the people revolted against him and considered him a blasphemer, and threw him in prison for being a heretic; however, twenty centuries before Galileo, Isaiah the prophet wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit

“ Have  ye not known? Have ye not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have ye not understood from the foundation of the earth? It is He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth” (Is. 40:21-22)

2) The scientific fact concerning the revolution of the earth around itself.

 The prophet Job two thousand years B. C. said “

He stretcheth out the north over an empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing” (Job 26:7)

The American Astronaut, James Erwin said: “The most wonderful thing I saw on my trip to the moon was seeing the earth like a globe floating in a vast space.

3) The scientific discovery of the science of meteorology .concerning the water cycle.

The Lord questioned Job and said to him,

“Who has divided a channel for the overflowing water, or a path for the thunderbolt, to cause it to rain on a land where there is no one, a wilderness in which there is no man. To satisfy the desolate waste, and cause to spring forth the growth of tender grass”(Job 38:25-27)

4) The scientific facts of the importance of the blood.

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the alter to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul” (Lev. 17:11).

5) The scientific fact of the atomic energy.

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” (2 Peter 3:9-11).

6) The scientific facts concerning genetics.(Gen. 1:11-12)

“Then God said , let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed , and the fruit tree that yield fruit after  its kind, whose seed is in itself on the earth and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed after its kind

7) The scientific fact about the effect of the Moon

“The sun shall not smite you by day nor the moon by night” (Ps. 121:6)

8) The scientific Fact that the moon has no light in itself. The prophet Job again said: Behold even the moon, and it shines not”     (Job 25:5).

8. The eighth reason why I Believe The Bible is exclusively the Word of God because of the Evidence of the Many Historical Manuscripts

All the translations of the many versions, which appeared throughout the centuries, confirm the truth of the Bible. However, we shall not attempt to present all the proofs and restrict our presentation to the following:

1.     The Septuagint Version which Batlimus Philadephos asked 70 Jewish scholars to translate the Old Testament from the Hebrew to the Greek language in 285 B. C. This translation was popular before the birth of Christ and is still in existence  today. This is a very clear evidence that the Old Testament is still in tact and was not tampered with.

2.     The Sinai Manuscript It was found by scholar Chandorf  in Saint Catherine’s Convent at the bottom of Mount Sinai in Egypt. It goes back to the 4^th century A.D. and it is kept at the British Museum in London, England.

3.     The Vatican Manuscript, This edition was copied by an order of King Constantine, and it dates back to 328 A. D. It is kept now in the Vatican Library in Rome. This copy contains the Old and the New Testament.

4.     The Ephraim Manuscript, It dates back to 450 A.D. and it is kept in the National House of Books in Paris, France.

5.     The Qumran Scrolls. Found in 1947 by a Jordanian shepherd boy in one of the caves on the hills of Qumran, Jordan a complete manuscript of the book of Isaiah written in Hebrew with other books of the Old Testament except the book of Esther. One of the famous archeologists Dr Albright gave the date of its writing period a few hundred years before Christ.

6.     The Alexandria Manuscript dated 400 AD. This manuscript contains the entire Bible, and it is kept in the British Museum.

7.     The Bezae Manuscript (450 AD) This manuscript contains the four gospels, the book of Acts and it is written in the Greek and the Latin languages and is kept in Cambridge, England

10. The tenth reason why I Believe The Bible is uniquely the Word of God because of the Testimony of the Quran

There are several verses in the Quran that testify of the spiritual value and greatness of the Bible (the Old and the New Testaments), which makes one wonder about those who belittle the Bible and claim it has been altered in spite of all the clear and obvious verses that are mentioned in the Quran such as:

“And dispute ye not with the people of the Book (the Jews and the Christians) Except with means better (Than mere disputation) unless it be with those of them who inflict wrong (and injury) But say, we believe in the Revelation which has come down to us and in that Which came down to you.  Our God and your God is One; and it is to Him we bow” (Sura 29:46).

“But why do they come to thee for decision, when they have the Torah before them” (Sura 5:46)

“It was revealed the Law to Moses and therein was guidance and light”  (Sura 5:47).

“And in their footsteps we sent Jesus the son of Mary confirming the Law that had come before Him; We sent Him the Gospel therein was guidance and light” (Sura 5:49.)

“Say: O people of the Book (Jews and Christians) you have no ground to stand upon unless ye stand fast by the Law,(the Torah) the Gospel and all the revelation that was come to you from your Lord” (Sura 5:71).

“Let the people f the Gospel judge by what God has revealed therein. If any do fail to judge by what God has revealed they are (no better than) those who rebel” (Sura 5:50.

“O ye who believe in God and His apostle, and the scripture which He has sent to His apostle and the scripture which He sent before (him) any who denies God, His angels, His Books, (books in the plural, not just the Quran), apostles and the day of judgment, has gone far, far astray” (Sura 4:136).

“If thou wert in doubt ask to what we have revealed unto you, then ask those who have been reading the book before thee” (Sura 10:94).

“ It is He who sent down to thee in truth, the Book, confirmingwhat went before it; And He sent down the Law (the Torah) and the Gospel before this, as a guide to mankind” (3:3).

“To whom we have give the Book, that it hath been sent down from thy Lord in truth. Never be then of those who doubt” (6:114).

“And before thee also the apostles we sent were but men, to whom we granted inspiration if ye realize this not, ask of those who possess the message” (Sura 16: 43) “The message” here means the Holy Bible as mentioned in (Sura 21:7).

“In the past we granted to Moses and Aaron the criterion (for judgment) and a light and a message for those who would do right” (Sura 21:48).

“Before this we wrote in Psalms after the message (given to Moses) my servants the righteous, shall inherit the earth”        (Sura 21:105).

“We have without a doubt sent down the message and we will assuredly guard it” (Quran 15:9.

 (In Surat the Kahf  verse 27) says “None can change His Words,”

(and in Surat Yasin 64 it  says), “No change can there be in the Word of God”

(and in Surat Alenaam 34, 115it  says “There is none that can alter the words of God.”

There are two verses in which the Quran requests the Muslims to ask the Jews and the Christians when in doubt, thus requesting unequivocally from them to refer to the Bible.

“If thou wert in doubt as to what we have revealed unto thee, then ask those who have been reading the Book before thee”(the Bible) (Sura 10: 94).

Also we read: “This is our way with the apostle we sent before thee: thou wilt find no change in our ways”(Sura  17:77).

The question can be asked who are those who possess the message? Indeed, they are the Jews and the Christians who read the Bible and there shall be no fear on them.

“Say ye: ‘We believe in Allah and the revelation given to us and to Abraham, Ishmael, Jacob, and the Tribes and that given to Moses and Jesus and that given to Prophets from their Lord we make no difference between one and another of them and we bow to Allah” (Sura 2:136).

Many Muslim scholars when faced with the Quranic verse that directs them to the Bible, adhere to the saying that the Bible we have currently in use is tampered with. It is not the true Bible to which Allah in the Quran is pointing. That statement in itself is in dire need of proof. How can they verify beyond the shadow of a doubt that this is true, and that the Bible is tampered with.

Let us examine the evidence and arrive to the logical deduction together.

The primary principle in any court of justice is that  no verdict will be pronounced against any person without hearing all the evidence. On this basis, it is expected from the one who doubts the accuracy of the Bible to examine all the evidences objectively, and gather all the facts and proofs and then decide whether it has been tampered with or not.

God in His Holy Bible has warned repeatedly against altering His Word by saying:

“ Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you. Neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you” (Deut 4:2).

“What things so ever I command you observe to do it; thou shall not add thereto, nor diminish from it: (Deut. 12:32).

“Every word from God is pure; He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him. Add thou not unto His Word, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar” (Prov. 30:5-6).

“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this Book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. And if any men shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the Holy City, and from the things which are written in this book” (Rev. 22:18-19).

“My covenant I will not break, Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips” (Ps. 89:34)

“The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever” (Is.40:8).

Let us suppose that we have accepted the idea of alteration, and then the Jews should have eliminated from their Scripture (The Torah) the parts that describe them in harsh expressions. The Lord says about them that they are a stubborn and rebellious people. Furthermore, they should have omitted the parts which speak about the sins and transgressions of their kings and prophets such as the sins of Abraham, David, Solomon and others. Certainly they did not do that. In addition to the many prophecies concerning the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ; which are written very clearly in more than 48 prophecies in the Old Testament. Just for example Isaiah 53 and Psalms 22.

1. When did the Jews and the Christians tampered with the  Old and the New Testament? Before the time of the Prophet’s or after?

Certainly, the previous Quranic verses prove beyond the shadow of doubt, that it was accepted during the time of Mohammad.

If we say it was tampered with, after the death of Mohammad, then we have to face the fact that Christianity has reached into  Asia, Europe and Africa, and it is impossible to have it changed.

2.  The Jews and the Christians had so many different sects and interpretation of Scriptures.

3. The Christians during 600 AD. had different sects in regard the person of Christ.

4. Christ never accused the Jews of changing the Old Testament.

5. Where is the original Scripture to compare it to what the Christians have.

6.  The Quran never accused the Christians as being infidels.

  7.  For what purpose or benefits did the Jews and the Christians tampered with their Scripture, and how could they pass the tampered Scriptures to their children after them? 

8.The Bible was available IN SEVERAL LANGUAGE  BEFORE Islam. How can all these different translation  contain the same alteration

9.     Did all the different nationalities get together with all their manuscripts in a conference to change the biblical text?

11. The eleventh reason why I believe the Bible is exclusively the Word of God because of its noble teaching.

When Mahatma Gandhi returned from exile, he stood on the shore and read the Sermon on the Mount to his people:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.  For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?” (Matt. 5:43-46)

“Judge not, that you be not judged.  For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.  And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye?  Hypocrite!  First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matt.7:1-5)

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, you shall not commit adultery. But I say unto you that whosoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matt. 5:27)

 “You shall neither mistreat a stranger nor oppress him”… You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child” (Ex. 22:21-22)

“You shall not circulate falls report, Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. You shall not follow a crowd to do evil, nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice. You shall not show partiality to a poor man in his dispute. And you shall take no bribe for a bribe blinds the discerning and pervert the words of the righteous”(Ex. 23:1-3,8).

The Bible is uniquely the Word of God because it contains the greatest teachings of the greatest man who ever lived on earth, the Son of God himself.  Jesus said to his disciples,

“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:12-13)

“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)

See also Col. 3:8-17, Rom. 8:26-39, Eph. 4:25-32.

Why did God give us the Bible?

1. He reveals to us about Himself–His love, His justice, His mercy, and His omniscience.

2. He reveals to us about ourselves.  “The heart is deceitful above all things….” (Jeremiah 17:9)

3. The Bible reveals to us life after death.

12. The twelfth reason why I believe the Bible is exclusively the Word of God because the most influential people in the world believe it.

This book has been published in more editions, it has been printed in more versions, and it has been distributed more widely than any other book. 

“The Bible is no mere book, but a living creature with a power that conquered all that opposes it.”              Napoleon Bonaparte

“The New Testament is the very best book that ever was or ever will be known in the world.”                              Charles Dickens

“That Book Sir, is the rock on which our Republic rest”                                                                           Andrew Jackson

“The Bible is the corner stone of liberty”    Thomas Jefferson

“The Bible is a book in comparison with all others in mine own eyes are of a minor importance On which all my perplexities and distress, has never failed to give me light and strength.”                                                                       Robert E. Lee

“I believe that the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good from the savior of the world has communicated to us through this Book.”                                  Abraham Lincoln

“The basic need of the world is spirituality. The issue between free people and communism is not economic; the issue is the preservation of the freedom of man as a living soul.”                                                                        Douglas Mc Arthur

“Sin will keep you from this Book (the Bible), or this book will keep you from sin.”                               D. L. Moody

“There are more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible than any profane history that was stated.”                          Isaac Newton

“A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.”                                          Theodore Roosevelt

“If a man is not familiar with the Bible, he has suffered a loss which he had better make all possible haste to correct.”                                                                          Theodore Roosevelt

“Sir Walter Scott asked his son-in-law: ‘Would you please read to me from the book.’ But when his son-in-law asked him which book, Sir Walter Scott replied: ‘There is only one book we can call “The Book” the Bible.’

“The Bible and Bible reading is an education itself.”                                                                         Sir Alfred Tennyson

“There is no solid basis for civilization but in the Word of God.”

                                                           Daniel Webster

“The Bible is the revelation of the meaning of life, the nature of God, and the spiritual nature need of men. It is the only guide of life which leads the spirit in the way of peace and salvation.”                                                                       Woodrow Wilson

“I have examined numerous books, wherever my time allowed me, and I found that the Holy Bible is the best book in the world.”                                         John Adams

“It is impossible for the world to enjoy a rule of justice and stability without depending on God and His Bible.”                                                    George Washington

When Queen Victoria was asked: “What is the secret of the greatness of Great Britain? She pointed with her finger to the Bible and said: This is the secret of the greatness of Great Britain.”                                                                   Queen Victoria

“The Bible is the crown of all books, and the Sermon on the Mount is the jewel on the crown.”                              Gandhi

It is impossible that a book so simple  and sublime should be merely the work of man?

                                                                   Jean Jacques Rousseau

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away” (Matt. 24:35)                              The Lord Jesus Christ

13.  The thirteenth reason why I believe the Bible is exclusively the Word of God because it has one theme.  The cross of Christ as the central them and teaching of the Bible.  It is seen in every book of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.

In Genesis, we see the cross in the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son and in God’s provision in providing a ram as a substitute for his son. (Gen. 22:8)

In Exodus, we see the cross in the Passover Lamb.  “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.” (Ex. 12:13)

In Leviticus, we see the cross in the sacrificial offerings. (Lev. 17:11)

In Numbers, we see the cross when Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness. (Num. 21:8-9)  “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up.” (John 3:14)