What do you think the Bible is? Is it a good book to follow for morals? Is it a book from which we can pick and choose what we like or dislike? Is it good for children but not so much for adults? Is it helpful but not binding? Is it just the thoughts of a bunch of religious people trying to control people?

The Apostle Paul wrote this about the Bible:

“For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.”
– 1 Thess. 2:13 NKJV

The Bible was written/spoken by men.

In the beginning, there was no New Testament of the Bible. It was passed along by word of mouth and verified by the Old Testament scriptures. God sent out apostles like Paul to preach God’s message to people all over the world. No doubt, his spoken messages included topics like God’s view of man’s sin, God’s love for the world, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, and the need for repentance and faith in Jesus. These doctrines were later written down and compiled into what we now call the New Testament.

The Bible is God’s Word.

In the verse quoted above, Paul commended the Thessalonian believers for receiving his teaching as not just the teaching of men. The messages shared with them were not his own thoughts, but what was given to him by God. That is what the Bible is—God’s Words for mankind. (See also 2 Pet. 1:19-21; 2 Tim. 3:13-17.)

The Bible works in the lives of those who believe.

The response of the Thessalonian people was life changing as indicated in Paul’s description of them (1 Thess. 1:6-10). They turned away from worshiping idols to serve the one, true God. They became joyful people, model Christians, and effective speakers of the truth to many others in their area. The Bible is effective in the lives of those who hear it and especially in those who believe it and live by it.

Conclusion

The Bible is more than just a book written by religious people. It is a collection of God’s Words to people. In this book, God lays out his teaching about everything. It includes hard-to-take descriptions of our own sinfulness. But it also includes the cure for our sin — Jesus himself. If you have received Him, you understand the wonderful message of the Bible and have seen it change your life. It is God’s Word to us. So, read, believe, and obey it and you will discover the blessing of God’s perfect plan for your life. Then share it with others with the expectation that God will use it in their lives as well.