Over the last 30 plus years to studying and teaching The Word I’ve come across many people who know about the Bible but don’t actually know it. They’ve never opened it for themselves and have sat somewhere like little birds in a nest seeking out their pre-chewed spiritual food.

The Bible’s 66 books – 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament – were written by 40 different authors over a period of 1,500 years. These authors lived in different places at different times, in different cultures and in most cases no proximity to the writings that came before. They did not have the books, commentaries and access to knowledge that we do today. They were from many different occupations and lifestyles, but the focus of what they have written is the same – to reveal God’s heart and will for mankind.  One collection of diverse books that coalesce into the story of God’s love for His children and His attempt to be reconciled to them at all costs. Even if He’s the one that has to pay it.

These human authors were varied in their levels of education and knowledge. We have writing from Solomon, the wisest king who ever lived. There are historical accounts from Moses, who was raised and trained in the Egyptian palace. It contains letters from Paul, who learned under Gamaliel, a leading authority in the Sanhedrin, before his conversion. On the complete other end of the spectrum, the Bible includes writings from unschooled fishermen like Peter and John.  And yet all these books come together into a cohesive narrative from beginning to end.

These writers believed that their writings did not come from training or knowledge but were  “by inspiration of God” 

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV) ¹⁶ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

That means it was not their own ideas they were writing down. The source of the information was outside of their natural ability to create.

2 Peter 1:20-21 (NKJV) ²⁰knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, ²¹ for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

They believed that it was inspired by God and did not come from one’s own personal or special interpretation as no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.  This is shown from Moses, to Samuel, to Elijah and all the prophets as well as the writers of the New Testament.  This wasn’t their story they were telling but God’s.  To listen to those who say ignore any part of The Bible because it doesn’t line up with their paradigm would be the height of intellectual and spiritual ignorance.  You cannot ignore the cohesive connected nature of The Bible from Genesis to Revelation.

The Bible’s collection of 66 books written by those 40 different authors, on three different continents, in three different languages, over a period of 1500 years have a marvelous, supernatural unity.  40 men of such diverse backgrounds and experiences could never have written with such unity and agreement without Divine assistance. The Bible has proven itself to be from God theologically, scientifically, archaeologically, historically and even medically.  How could these men of such diverse backgrounds know the things they did without the help of the Holy Spirit?  References to astronomy and even quantum physics before they were discovered are filtered throughout The Bible.  Men from such various cultures such as the Egyptian culture, Jewish culture, Greek and Roman culture, and even some with no culture at all coming together into a cohesive writing that even with a 400-year gap of silence stayed in perfect unison and clarity makes no sense in the natural.  That’s because it’s not natural.  It’s SUPERnatural!

No, any effort to ignore or diminish the value of The Bible is done from personal preference and with specific prejudicial intent.  God inspired these writings to communicate to humanity His heart and mind.  Offering them a plan of redemption and restoration that only He could offer in a way that only He could fulfill.  The knowledge and answers are there for anyone who wants them.  Lack of the knowledge of God and His Word have sent people into bondage and led to their destruction.  

The choice is ours whether to be willfully ignorant or spiritually awake.  He can be found by all who seek Him so seek Him while He may be found.  Don’t just know about The Bible.  Know The Bible by reading it for yourself. Open your heart and mind to what He has to say.  You won’t regret it doing so as much as you will regret someday not doing it. The choice is yours.

Richard J Grund

Minister, Author and Speaker. Host of The Porch on Firefall Talk Radio, a nondenominational Bible Study broadcasting since March 2010.  The Porch can be heard on various streaming platforms whose links are found on the Firefall Talk Radio main page.