The Sunday JOLT:
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. –Romans 15:4
So how relevant is a book written just less than two thousand years ago. Well if we go by book sales, the Bible, year after year is on the best seller list, and has been for centuries. There are about one hundred million copies sold every year, in 3,000 languages. I think that might beat out Steven King or Nora Roberts.
But what makes the bible different than other ‘holy books’? Well let’s see…
The Book of Mormon was written by one man, Joseph Smith, in 1830. The Qur’an was written by one man, Mohammed, over the course of twenty-three years in the 12th century as an addition to the Torah (the Bible’s Old Testament). Those are just two examples. How does the Bible compare?
· It was written over a period of 1600 years. 1,400 BC- first century A.D.
· Written by more than 40 authors - kings, poor people, fishermen, poets, government
officials, teachers, prophets.
· Written in three languages.
· Written on three continents - Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Wow can you imagine forty authors from all walks of life, from different cultures and times of history sitting around to write one book with the same message? My husband and I have a hard enough time deciding what’s for dinner
The Bible is a book whose words speak to me on a daily basis, and even if I’ve read one portion before, I can read it again and receive new insights months or years later. Because it is more than a book, it is a window into the very nature of God, and his will for our lives. For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow...-Hebrews 4:12
And like the verse from Romans above says that the Scriptures are to give us hope. The Old Testament to shows us how God moves among ordinary people to make them extraordinary in His glory. And the New Testament to show us God is faithful to his promises, and will continue day after day. Because He is the same yesterday and today and forever(Heb 13:8).
For more information check these sites out:
http://www.greatsite.com/timeline-english-bible-history/
http://www.greatcom.org/laws/english/flash/
So how relevant is a book written just less than two thousand years ago. Well if we go by book sales, the Bible, year after year is on the best seller list, and has been for centuries. There are about one hundred million copies sold every year, in 3,000 languages. I think that might beat out Steven King or Nora Roberts.
But what makes the bible different than other ‘holy books’? Well let’s see…
The Book of Mormon was written by one man, Joseph Smith, in 1830. The Qur’an was written by one man, Mohammed, over the course of twenty-three years in the 12th century as an addition to the Torah (the Bible’s Old Testament). Those are just two examples. How does the Bible compare?
· It was written over a period of 1600 years. 1,400 BC- first century A.D.
· Written by more than 40 authors - kings, poor people, fishermen, poets, government
officials, teachers, prophets.
· Written in three languages.
· Written on three continents - Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Wow can you imagine forty authors from all walks of life, from different cultures and times of history sitting around to write one book with the same message? My husband and I have a hard enough time deciding what’s for dinner
The Bible is a book whose words speak to me on a daily basis, and even if I’ve read one portion before, I can read it again and receive new insights months or years later. Because it is more than a book, it is a window into the very nature of God, and his will for our lives. For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow...-Hebrews 4:12
And like the verse from Romans above says that the Scriptures are to give us hope. The Old Testament to shows us how God moves among ordinary people to make them extraordinary in His glory. And the New Testament to show us God is faithful to his promises, and will continue day after day. Because He is the same yesterday and today and forever(Heb 13:8).
May you be blessed and encouraged.
For more information check these sites out:
http://www.greatsite.com/timeline-english-bible-history/
http://www.greatcom.org/laws/english/flash/
Labels: Spiritual Java
posted by Valerie at
9:09 AM
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