The Bible is considered by Christians to be the Word of God, divinely inspired and written by human authors. It consists of the Old Testament and the New Testament, with the Old Testament containing 39 books and the New Testament containing 27 books. The Bible serves several key purposes:
Revealing God’s Character and Will
The Bible reveals who God is – His character, nature, and attributes. Through its pages, we come to know God’s righteousness, faithfulness, justice, mercy, love, and holiness. The Bible also communicates God’s will for human beings. It provides guidance on how to live, act justly, care for others, and honor God with our lives. Key verses that discuss God’s character and will include Exodus 34:6-7, Psalm 86:15, Micah 6:8, and 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
Providing an Authoritative Rule for Faith and Life
The Bible serves as the ultimate authority and standard for Christian beliefs and practices. It is the rule book by which Christians order their faith and conduct. The apostle Paul declares that “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Bible is the measuring rod by which all doctrines, teachings, and practices are evaluated.
Recording God’s Covenants and Promises
A covenant is a formal agreement between God and humans, where God makes certain promises based on certain conditions. The Bible records the various covenants God entered into throughout history, such as with Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and finally through Jesus Christ (Genesis 6:18; Genesis 15:18; Exodus 19:5; 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Luke 22:20). God’s covenants demonstrate his faithfulness in keeping his promises despite humans breaking covenant repeatedly. His greatest covenant was through Christ, offering redemption to all who place their faith in Jesus.
Revealing the Person and Work of Jesus
The Bible progressively reveals the coming of the Messiah who would save humanity from sin. Jesus fulfills hundreds of Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah. The four Gospels record Jesus’s life, ministry, death on the cross, and resurrection from the dead. The rest of the New Testament explains the theological significance of Jesus’s life and work. Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God and the only means of salvation. The Bible testifies about him from beginning to end (Luke 24:27; John 5:39; Acts 10:43).
Providing Wisdom for Living
In addition to theological truths, the Bible contains extensive practical wisdom for daily living. It speaks to matters like family, work, speech, finances, sexuality, stewardship of resources, caring for the poor, handling adversity, and relating to authorities. Books like Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7 offer extensive life wisdom rooted in God’s values. The Bible teaches believers how to love God and neighbor in daily tangible ways.
Conveying the Gospel of Salvation
The core message of the Bible is the gospel – the good news of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Due to human sin, no one can earn salvation on their own merits. But through Jesus’s atoning death and resurrection, God has made a way for people to be forgiven and reconciled to God. The Bible calls everyone to repent of their sins and trust in Christ alone for salvation. It outlines the path to restoration, hope, and eternal life made possible by God’s grace (Romans 3:23-26, Ephesians 2:8-10, John 3:16).
Instructing and Exhorting Believers
The Bible contains extensive instruction for those who follow Jesus Christ. Its teaching and exhortation are meant to equip Christians for godly living amidst a fallen world. It covers matters like prayer, fellowship, stewardship, spiritual gifts, church order, suffering, perseverance through trials, discernment of truth versus error, and relying on the Holy Spirit. It teaches believers how to live in a way pleasing to God and that brings him glory and honor (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 Peter 2:2-3).
Imparting Hope
Amid the brokenness of the world, the Bible offers profound hope, both now and for eternity. It teaches that God is sovereign, he will ultimately defeat evil, and Jesus will return to usher in a new creation. Believers can have confident assurance of spending eternity in God’s presence, free from sin and death. This hope sustains Christians in the ups and downs of life (Lamentations 3:21-24; Romans 15:4; Hebrews 6:18-20; 1 Peter 1:3-5).
Recounting God’s Faithfulness to Israel
A majority of the Old Testament tells the history of God’s chosen people, Israel. It recounts God’s faithfulness generation after generation despite Israel’s repeated disobedience. Through Israel’s history we witness the seriousness of sin, the judgment of God, his mercy toward the repentant, and his covenant love for his people. Israel’s history prepares the way for the coming of the Messiah. It provides a rich foundation for understanding the New Testament and God’s redeeming work throughout history on behalf of his people (Joshua 24:31; Nehemiah 9; Psalm 78; Acts 13:17-23).
In summary, the Bible is God’s authoritative, inerrant word to humanity. It reveals who God is and his purposes. It communicates God’s will, records his promises, testifies about Jesus, offers wisdom for living, conveys the gospel message, instructs and exhorts believers, imparts hope, and recounts God’s faithfulness through history. For all these reasons, the Bible is cherished by Christians as their spiritual nourishment and guide for faith and life.