The Holy Bible is actually a compilation of many books (ancient manuscripts) of people’s spiritual educational experiences. These scriptures are primarily used in Judaism and Christianity religion. The Muslim religion also believes the books are inspired by God but the books are not their primary reference. Most of the books that make up the Bible are named after the one writing it. Men like Moses, Jeremiah and John were instructed to write down those things they saw and heard as they witnessed and experienced the Word of the Lord to them.
Note: The apostle Peter proclaims they received a sure word of prophecy.
2 Peter 1: verses 19 -21
19. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
20. Knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Moses:
Exodus 17:14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.
Jeremiah:
Jeremiah 30: verses 1,2
1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
2. Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book.
John:
Revelation 1:verses 10 – 11,19
10. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
11. Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
19. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter.
Now let us look closer at where all these stories came from; the stories in Genesis to the Revelation of Jesus Christ. According to the books of the prophets and apostles these writings of the bible are:
Truth
The testimony of Jesus
Scriptures of the prophets
Learning the holy scriptures is what makes the heart-wise
Scriptures are divinely inspired
The Word of God
Books are written for our example and admonition
As we progress into what the prophets and apostles say in the writings of the Bible, we will better understand what the books of the Bible actually are. So, let us look at each of the subject matters from these writings.
Truth – All the Works of the Lord are Done in Truth
Although there are many works of the Spirit, all are done in truth. The scripture references will give a clearer understanding of what truth is when we see how truth is being applied. In Psalms and in the book of John they confirm that word of the Lord is truth for when two spiritual authors give the same answer, it is established as a truth.
Psalms 33: verses 1 – 4
1. Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
2. Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
3. Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise.
4. For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.
John records the prayer of Jesus for his disciples before being received into heaven.
John 17: verses 17 – 21
17. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
18. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
19. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
20. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21. That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
Here are a few examples of the application and implementation of truth; the testimony of Elijah when he is sent to a poor widow’s house in the First Book Kings, the prophet Daniel, and the writings of Paul to the Thessalonians.
Elijah [Hebrew word אֱלִיָּהוּ (‘Eliyyahu) meaning “my God is YAHWEH” – the Lord is my God]
1 Kings 17: verses 17 – 24
17. And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him.
18. And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?
19. And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.
20. And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?
21. And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child’s soul come into him again.
22. And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.
23. And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth.
24. And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.
According to the story told here in Kings, what is truth? Truth is the word of the LORD in the mouth of Elijah (a man of God).
A woman’s son is brought back to life after she heard and received the word of the Lord when Elijah spoke what the Spirit gave him to speak, so we compare another event by the prophet Daniel.
The prophet Daniel [Hebrew word דָּנִיֵּאל (Daniyyel) meaning “God is my judge”]:
I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things (the visions).
~ Daniel 7:15, 16 ~
Daniel asked God for the interpretation of his visions because he didn’t know their meanings. So when he gets the interpretation, this is another aspect of truth. Daniel proclaims that he asked the truth of his visions and interpretation was given.
Now let’s look at the third example, the writings of Paul to the Thessalonians.
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
~ 1 Thessalonians 2:13 ~
Apostle Paul is instructing to the church of the Thessalonians, that truth is the word of God spoken by the sent men of God (the apostles).
So what is truth, according to the listed references? The word of God (or the word of the LORD) spoken by sent prophets, apostles or appearance of an angel to give an interpretation of a dream.
The Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy
An angel tells John in dream and vision found in the book of Revelation, the brethren who bear the testimony of Jesus is speaking prophecy. John’s gospel also records that searching the scriptures will testify (give testimony) of Jesus. The visions of John revealed the testimony of Jesus Christ and those who read this testimony will have the opportunity of hearing the words of this prophecy.
Revelation 1: verses 1-3
1. The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servant’s things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
2. Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
3. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
Revelation 19: verses 9 – 13
9. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
10. And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony
of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
11. And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
Scriptures bear the testimony of Jesus
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me (scriptures are testifying of the way, the truth and the life).
~ John 5:39 ~
Scriptures of the Prophets
A couple of things to note here: Matthew and Paul reference the scriptures being “of the prophets” meaning, the books are prophetic words as God revealed his will and desire to men of old. Then, because the prophet was obedient and spoke what God said, their word of the Lord (the scriptures) came to pass in the gospels:
In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me. But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the
disciples forsook him, and fled.~ Matthew 26:55, 56 ~
Romans 16: verses 25 – 27
25. Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26. But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
27. To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever.
Searching the scriptures makes the heart-wise because the scriptures are inspired by God.
Here are a couple of key points concerning the scriptures of the prophet:
Learning the Holy Scriptures is what makes the heart wise.
In his letter to his son in the faith, Timothy, the apostle Paul gives him instructions that the scriptures which enable him to be wise, will bring him to salvation:
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
~ 2 Timothy 3:15 ~
Scriptures are divinely inspired.
Apostle Paul here again tells Timothy that all the scriptures are given by the Spirit of God and explains in more detail what the scriptures will do for 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 perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
~ 2Timothy 3:16, 17 ~
The Word of God – God’s Thoughts
In the writings of the prophet Isaiah and the apostle John, they bring us more understanding of what the Word of God is. By the angel of the Lord visiting them and opening their eyes of understanding, they, in turn, wrote down their record of heaven which shows us that the thoughts and ways of God are God’s Word.
The Word was in the beginning with God and the Word was God, according to the apostle John in the gospel of John 1:1.
Isaiah 55: verses 8 – 13
8. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
9. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11. So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
12. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be
cut off.
According to the vision the Spirit brought John into, the angel told John what he was hearing and seeing are the true (truth) sayings of God as written in the ninth chapter of the book of Revelation. John then experienced seeing heaven open and saw the faithful and true witness in an image called the Word of God.
Revelation 19: verses 9 – 13
9. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
10. And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
11. And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
For Our Examples and Admonition
The apostles James and Paul give additional importance to the scriptures of the prophets. James writes that the prophets are examples of suffering, affliction, and patience. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians affirms that all the experiences of the prophets and the children of Israel are for our examples and for our admonition.
Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
~ James 5:10 ~
Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
~ 1Corinthians 10:11 ~
What the Scriptures are Not
- There NOT of Man’s Wisdom (from apostle Paul):
1 Corinthians 2: verses 4,5,13
4. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
5. That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
13. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual
- Not Fables (stories from man’s imagination- from apostle Peter):
For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
~ 2 Peter 1:16 ~
- Not of any Private (by one’s own) Interpretation:
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
~ 2 Peter 1:20 ~