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Answer
The Bible is exceptional literature and the all-time bestseller. It encompasses history, captivating stories, poetry, philosophy, and personal correspondence. However, beyond that, the Bible represents God’s Word. If we were to pinpoint a singular purpose of the Bible, it would be to unveil God to us. There are numerous aspects of God that would remain unknown to us unless He chose to disclose them. The Bible serves as God’s self-disclosure to humanity. Additionally, it enlightens us about our identity, revealing our sins and God’s redemption plan through Jesus Christ.
Second Timothy 3:15–17 contains one of the most comprehensive statements regarding purpose found in the Bible. The apostle Paul communicates to his young protégé Timothy, “From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is beneficial for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Some parts of the Bible are directly from God Himself, while others are conveyed by men under His guidance—but all of it is His Word, carrying authority and benefit. Scripture guides us on the path to salvation. Moreover, it instructs us, corrects us when we err, and trains us in righteousness to prepare us for God’s work.
Here are a few additional verses from the Bible that elucidate its purpose in our lives:
It steers us away from sin: “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word” «Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. », (Psalm 119:9).
It provides us with spiritual guidance: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” «Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path.», (Psalm 119:105).
path. », (Psalm 119:105).
Some of the Bible was written specifically to provide an accurate account of Jesus so that we might believe in Him and have eternal life: “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31).
It assures the believer of their salvation: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” «These things have I written unto you who believe in the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe in the name of the Son of God. », (1 John 5:13).
David delights in the Word of God and its purpose in his life:
“The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
and all of them are righteous.
They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.
By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward” (Psalm 19:7-11).
When Jesus was tempted by Satan to turn stones into bread, He responded, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but onEvery word that comes from the mouth of God’” «But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. », (Matthew 4:4). Not only does Jesus profess that the Word of God is more important than physical food, but He also refutes Satan’s temptation by quoting from God’s Word. One of the Bible’s purposes, then, is to provide all-important spiritual sustenance and help us defeat temptation.
The Bible can help us see ourselves in perspective and cut through the distractions of pop culture that would lead us away from God. “The word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” «For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. », (Hebrews 4:12).
It is not human cleverness or willpower that will change lives. God accomplishes His purposes when His Word (the Bible) is faithfully proclaimed. He will take care of the result:
“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10-11).
The Bible is not just a list of wise sayings that can be pulled out as if from a fortune cookie.
Although we can benefit from all of the Bible, not all of it is directly written to us. The Bible is a unified work and must be carefully read and studied in context.
Christians who desire to please God in their lives need to maintain a regular spiritual diet of God’s Word. Those who are not believers but who may be interested or even skeptical should read the Bible for themselves and discover its essence.
