How Do Other Religious Books Compare to the Bible?

 

Big Idea: Most religious holy books reference the Bible, however the Bible singularly points us to Jesus as God who came to make us right with Him.

Question asked recently by a friend: How does the Bible compare with other religious holy books, such as the Talmud and the Koran?

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“Ask Anything About the Bible” has been the current blog series. From her on, the scheduled weekly blog will be discontinued but there will be an occasional posting. The website, scripturespy.com will contine to be a resource on the Bible. 

What’s Unique About the Bible?

There are a number of religious holy books that have been written. The question of the day is, how does the Bible compare to them?

Here is a quick reference chart of five religious groups that have writings read by their followers for wisdom and instruction.






The Buddhist Tripitaka is the only religious body of writing not considered by their followers as a holy book. Rather it is a reference and compendium of reflections about the teachings of Buddha.

Jews consider the Talmud as lesser holy than the Old Testament, but it is widely read for advice on spiritual and practical everyday matters.

All of the books except the Tripitaka reference the Bible and most even recommend reading at least parts of the Bible.

But only the Bible claims Jesus is God

While Muslims consider Jesus as a good prophet that preceeded Mohammed, and the Book of Mormon promotes Jesus as important for life, neither the Koran nor the Book of Mormon sees Jesus as anything more than a man who is a really good man to be admired and studied.

But the Bible shows us that Jesus is God.  While on earth he was equally God and equally man in substance.

On earth, Jesus was a man who lived a sin-free life who died and sacrificed Himself for our sins. 

Because He was and is God, He demonstrated His victory over death.  He took on our sin and became the antidote for them.

There is no other religious book but the Bible that shows us this powerful reality.

To be made in right standing with God because of what Jesus did for me is mind boggling. I am eternally grateful. 

That is how the Bible compares with the other religious books. 



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Previous: What makes one sin greater than the other Part 2
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What Makes One Sin Greater than Another? Part 2

 

Big Idea: Clarifying degrees of sin and where sin rules are in the Bible.

Question asked recently by a friend: What makes one sin greater than another? In the Bible, there are so many things that are considered sins, even wearing fabric that isn’t natural is blasphemous! So where are the rules of sin laid out?

“Ask Anything About the Bible” is our newest blog series

Speaking plainly about the question

All sin reflects a violation against God’s purity.

Some sins are more serious because they are more damaging to our inner being. The seriousness also ticks up with sins seriously damaging to others.

In our justice system we have tiers of crimes. Causing accidental death is treated very differently than a pre-meditated violent murder.

The second is more damaging to the inner soul, leading one to dwell more on evil, in increasing intensity. It is also more damaging to another person and those around them.

Intentionality and continual contemplation, whether against God or in the human experience, is the difference in degrees of sin.

 

An example

Consider the difference between these two stories. The 1st grader who was told not to eat cookies before dinner, but did and disobeyed his mom.

Man of us remember the news story in August of 2023 of a 1st grader who, angry with his teacher, made a plan to go into the top drawer of his mother's dresser, take her gun to school and shoot his first grade teacher.

One was a careless incident of disobedience. The other was planned with malicious intent.

Where are sin rules found in the Bible?

The Old Testament books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy talk a lot about rules/laws and sins. They also talk a lot about how to be forgiven for sin.

As noted in last week's blog, the Ten Commandments is the ultimate standard and guide for rules regarding God and our fellow man.  But there were over 600 other rules/laws given.

The other rules/laws were for different reasons. 

• Some were for health purposes, especially important for them as nomads in the desert with no hospitals.
•  Some were to prevent problems with their fellow travelers, and take care of the most needy. 
• Some rules were about attitudes toward God, about guarding the value of life, and to keep marriage pure.

Some rules, related to murder and other crimes had stronger punishments.

That was the Old Testament. It was to establish a way to live with God and live with others. And there is no denying sin needed to be addressed. 

Other societies dealt with violations similarly. Other kings and emperors of the ancient near east expected a life for a life, blood for a violation; blood sacrifice for indiscretion against him and his people.

Groups that followed pagan gods used sacrifices of food and blood to appease the gods or for forgiveness.  The problem was, they never were sure what the gods wanted and it seemed never enough. 

For the Hebrews, God made the rules and the way for forgiveness very plain. It had a lot to do with blood sacrifice, though there were other kinds of sacrifices and offerings. The blood of an animal was considered a covering over sins. Death for what deserves death. (Leviticus 17:11 NLT, Hebrews 9:22 NLT)

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By the way, all the verses in my articles are Bible references. If you hover over the references with your mouse you should be able to see the verse hover in the article even if it is not written.  

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What about the New Testament?

By New Testament times some Israelites, most notably the Pharisees, were very vigilant sticklers about the rules and laws of the Old Testament.

Jesus acted in ways that seemed to the Pharisees like he didn’t care about those laws. He healed on the Sabbath, which Jewish laws would consider work, for example.

But He explained He did not come to do away with the laws, but to fulfill them. (Matthew 5:17 NLT).

Jesus talked about sin being more than what we do, it starts with what we think and dwell on in our heart. (Mark 7:15 NLT)

He also plainly stated that He came to serve others and give His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20: 28 NLT, Mark 10:45 NLT).

To give one’s life implies death. To ransom implies a rescue.

His death on the cross was the sacrifice in place once and for all.  (See below Hebrews 10:10 NLT) His resurrection from death as God was the final victory over sin and death. (I Corinthians 15:56-57)

Romans and Hebrews

Two New Testament books that talk a lot about sin are the Epistles to the Romans and to the Hebrews. There are so many clear verses of God’s solution to sin, it is hard to narrow down examples!

No one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.  Romans 3:20 NLT 

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.  Romans 3:23-24 NLT

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 NLT

I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. Romans 7:19-20 NLT 

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. Romans 8:1-4  NLT

Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.  Hebrews 9:13-14 NLT

For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. By that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.  Hebrews 10:10, 13a-14 

In last week’s blog I mentioned that our sin is like a toxin in our body, and we need a toxic cleanse from God. This is it. The pure unselfish blood sacrifice of Jesus who represented God Himself, given freely for the benefit for us of being cleansed from our sin once and for all.

This is His gift to us. The rescue, saved as it were, from our sinful separation from Him and inner darkness. We just need to accept the gift.

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT

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Previous: What makes one sin greater than another Part 1
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1. Can you think of an example from your own life with two different levels of wrong? Perhaps something your mother dealt with or at work or in your own family now?

2. Does this help you understand better the idea of Jesus dying on the cross? This is a lot to take in and sometimes takes a while to process. You can also ask God to give you understanding.  Also please feel free to write to me with questions or thoughts dianewido@scripturespy.com.

What Makes One Sin Greater Than Another Part 1

Big Idea: Sin, a major Bible theme, is a flawed relationship with God firstly, but with our fellow man too. All sin pollutes us but some are worse.

Question asked recently by a friend: What makes one sin greater than another? In the Bible, there are so many things that are considered sins, even wearing fabric that isn’t natural is blasphemous! So where are the rules of sin laid out?

“Ask Anything About the Bible” is our newest blog series

Sin at the Core

Human rebellion and separation from God is at the core of the Bible message.

Sin shows up very, very early in the first book of Genesis (Genesis 3).

It is mentioned quite often in the Bible, in some books more than others. See this chart for where the word “sin” is used the most.

Where are the sin rules laid out?

The early chapters of Genesis up through the flood address the beginnings of sin. Then God starts laying out a plan to reestablish the partnership relationship He wants with human beings that began in the Garden of Eden.

From paradise lost God works to communicate and lay out a plan that will eventually connect with all the ethnic groups of the world.

God begins again in a sense, with the man, Abraham.

Abraham’s family is established and the ensuing nation (later called Israel) will represent an example of a people group’s special relationship with God, whether it is deserved or not.

The Ten Commandments and the other 613 laws

Through Abraham’s offspring, rules get established how to live with a holy powerful deity who resides in the middle of their camp. Think Charlton Heston and the pillar of fire in the encampment in the movie, “The Ten Commandments.”

The Ten Commandments (1956)

These commandments and the following 613 rules are not only about a right relationship with Almighty God, but also for a right relationship with those living around us.

Referring to the above chart, notice a lot about sin in the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. The Ten Commandments are found in both of them.

Also, that rule my friend, who asked the question, mentioned, about being blasphemous to wear mixed woven cloth instead of natural fiber, is found in both Leviticus (Leviticus 19:19 NLT) and Deuteronomy (Deut. 22; 9-11 NLT).

That which is most important

A Jewish person recently said the Ten Commandments are really the core, the most important instruction.

The first four commandments are about our relationship to God, and the last six are about living right toward mankind.

Jesus pretty much summed this up too in the Gospels. Love God, love others.

“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” Matthew 22: 36-40 NLT

Is one sin greater than another?

Sin can be in the eye of the beholder. When I lived in West Africa I discovered that a Christian’s idea there of terrible sin was a little different from the way my American friends perceived it.

Yes, people do that!

I believe different generations and different eras of time have viewed sin differently too.

The Bible’s different degrees of sin

In keeping with the Ten Commandments and Jesus’ summary, there are sins against God and sins against our fellow man which are considered worse.

In sins against God, willful intentional defiance repeatedly against Him is considered very grave.

Mankind doing atrocities against fellow human beings breaks God’s heart. Honestly, it should break our heart too.

The LORD observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. So the LORD was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart. Genesis 6:5-6 NLT

Oppressing defenseless widows, children, and those destitute is considered pretty terrible too.

All sin puts us at odds with God

It is true that any sin, any violation, makes us guilty. It is like a legal moral standing before God.

Sin in the world, the bent toward rebellion that unchecked turns violent, is like a poison.

If you were offered a glass of water and you noticed a drop of a toxin fell into it, would you drink it?

Probably not. It does not take much to pollute. In the same way, it does not take much sin to pollute.

Everyone is in need of a toxic sin cleanse from God.

That is the thing. We are all legally sinners in comparison to a pure God. And I, as good as I try to be, am unable to make myself perfect.

That is why all need God’s cleansing solution. He made a way so we can stand as if we are pure in His presence. That is mind boggling.

Stay tuned for Part 2 for the rest of the story!

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Previous: Bible Stories: Fully written stories or fragments?
Up next: What makes one sin greater than the other? Part 2
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Reflection:

Bible Stories: Fully written stories or fragments?

 

The big idea: Since stories make up 43% of literary styles in the Bible, we can assume stories of Bible characters are important, and that our own story is important to God too.

The question asked recently by a friend: Churches tell stories about the Bible. How are they in the Bible? Are they written there as stories, or has the church put these ideas together from fragments?

“Ask Anything About the Bible” is the newest blog series

The Power of Story

We are a story culture.

• Reality TV shows and talk shows
• Ghost stories around the campfire
• Bedtime stories for kids
• Rant blogging and video blogging

Most cultures around the globe value storytelling. It’s especially important in non-literary societies. In ancient days this is how history was kept alive. Oral historians took their role seriously to get it right as they passed the information on.

Genres of Literature in the Bible

The library and bookstore provide different books depending on need. There are genres like mysteries, history, instructive how-to books, and so on.

The Bible is made up of several genres of literature too. There are narrative stories, legal literature such as laws and genealogies, poetry (think the Psalms), instruction like a sermon or letter or advice, and even a genre almost Sci-fi-ish called Apocalyptic literature about dreams, cosmic battles, etc.

The narrative story-telling style makes up the largest percentage. 43%! The ancient periods of the Bible were predominately non-literate, so it is not surprising that storytelling was used so much in the Bible.

Bible Characters

There are many key figures in the Bible. Key figures may use numerous chapters to tell the story.

For example, the life of Abraham covers thirteen chapters from his calling to his death (Genesis 12-25). It is a long narrative. Smaller stories within the big storyline include other characters woven in.

The four Gospel accounts tell the life of Jesus. Each Gospel has a slightly different approach and includes some different details. They each had a different audience in mind.

The Gospel according to Luke was written by a non-Jewish physician. He wrote especially for non-Jewish people. He included more healing stories descriptive of aches and pains than the other three Gospels.

The Bible on the importance of stories

Here are two examples, one from the Old Testament, and one from the New Testament, about the power of stories in the Bible.

Old Testament Example

1 O my people, listen to my instructions.
       Open your ears to what I am saying,
2 for I will speak to you in a parable.
    I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—
3 stories we have heard and known,
    stories our ancestors handed down to us.
4 We will not hide these truths from our children;
    we will tell the next generation
    about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
    about his power and his mighty wonders. 

                                    Psalm 78:1-4 NLT

New Testament Example

Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables. Matthew 13:34 NLT

Jesus used many similar stories and illustrations to teach the people as much as they could understand. Mark 4:33 NLT

Real stories of real people

The Bible is full of stories. They are honest real life portrayals with people who were full of emotion, made mistakes, and ultimately made a choice whether to trust God or go their own way.

I think the raw reality of these Bible characters is a confirmation that these were stories of real people, not fragments doctored up for literary purpose to make a point.

Find an easy-to-read Bible Translation

If you are new to reading the Bible you will find it interesting to read.  Don't start in Genesis with the attempt to read it all the way through. Instead start with the Gospel of Luke or the Gospel of John. It is mostly a storytelling style.

Most people are familiar with the King James Version of the Bible, but it reads like Shakespeare. Most of the big old family Bibles are the King James Version

The Bible is now available in so many accurate easy to read versions. The one I often quote from is the New Living Translation (NLT).

Some think the NLT is someone trying to put it in their own words to make it sound modern, but is not accurate to the original writings. That is not the case. 

Some equate it with the very popular and helpful Bible of the 60s and 70s, the Living Bible. But the New Living Translation was published 25 years after the Living Bible. 

Ninety Bible Scholars worked as a team over six years time (1989-1996) to faithfully study the earliest manuscripts of the Bible and render them in readable English. That is known now as the New Living Translation. 

Some translations easy-to-read for storytelling are: New Living Translation (NLT), The Contemporary English Version (CEV), New English Translation (NET), the Message (MES) and more.

Read it for yourself!   

You do not need to own one of these Bibles to read it. Go to Bible.com. You can then download the app, or click on the word Bible, next to the title YouVersion on the left to read it on the computer.

 

https://www.bible.com/

Try the Bible in a modern version and allow yourself to be surprised!

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Previous: The DaVinci Code: Why were numerous books not included in the Bible?
Up next: What makes one sin greater than the other? Part 1
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Reflection:

What do you like about what you know of Jesus? What don’t you like about Him?

Would you consider reading one of the Gospel accounts in a modern Bible translation? You can find these free online at Bible.com. Start with the Gospel of Luke or John. The New Living Translation is my favorite for reading the stories of Jesus.

The DaVinci Code: Why were numerous books not accepted in the Bible?

 

Big Idea: The Bible differs from The DaVinci Code in that the Bible claims to be inspired by God and books included need to reflect that premise.

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“Ask Anything About the Bible” is our newest blog series. A friend recently presented this question to me.

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How Do the Assertions of the DaVinci Code stack up with the Bible?

The Bible, a tome of sixty-six books, is in sync within itself with God’s core purpose.

The popular book and movie of the early 2000s, The DaVinci Code, strongly asserts that many more books should have been included in the Bible but church leaders have wanted writings to confirm their own agenda.

It is not a new concept as the question has been asked as early as Bible times before Christ.

The DaVinci Code vs. the historical Bible

The Bible and The DaVinci Code start with very different premises.

 

The DaVinci Code claims the Bible is a man made historical record, totally fragmented by gross tweaking and rewriting through the centuries.

Dan Brown’s DaVinci Code character, the historian Sir Leigh Teabing, says in the book:

“The Bible is a product of man, my dear. Not of God. The Bible did not fall magically from the clouds. Man created it as a historical record of tumultuous times, and it has evolved through countless translations, additions, and revisions. History has never had a definitive version of the book...” The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown

The Bible claims all books in it were written by human beings inspired by God to write in their own style the words of God Himself.

Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God. 2 Peter 1:20-21 NLT

The DaVinci Code vs. Bible History

1. The DaVinci Code: The book repeatedly says the church through the years has dominated and re-written the Bible to control their belief structure.

Bible History: The Old Testament was a cohesive body of work chosen by holy men hundreds of years before the New Testament. The New Testament was decided by Christians within a couple hundred years after Jesus’ death and resurrection. Both Testaments had numerous books debated about for inclusion or exclusion.

Book approval was based on cohesiveness to the rest of the Bible. Synchronization was most important to the Torah, to Jesus’ life and teachings, and that of the Apostles. The process was called Canonization and the final product was called the canon.



2. The DaVinci Code: The book claims the Nicean Council in 325 A.D. narrowly voted that Jesus is God. Before that everyone knew He was only a man. Emperor Constantine considered this an agenda for military dominance so he destroyed these conflicting books.

Bible History: The Nicean Council of 325 A.D. narrowly voted on one aspect of Jesus’ deity. Even Arius, who believed Jesus was created by God the Father and not of the same substance of God the Father, still believed Jesus was holy and divine sent from God. Council attendee records we still have today verify this. Constantine is not recorded to have ordered and carried out a mass destruction of religious books.

 

3. The DaVinci Code: The book claims that the Bible has been changed continually to suit the church’s agenda.

Bible History: The Bible has changed very little even in the early first and second century there was predominantly agreement. The final the New Testament Canon, and therefore the entire Bible, was considered complete and closed to additions by the end of the 300s A.D.

The rules to copy had strict codes in both the Old Testament and New Testament period and well beyond.

The Qumran scrolls which The DaVinci Code referred to verified miniscule changes in the Old Testament books. The writings found were written in the pre-New Testament period so stories of Jesus were not in those writings.

New Testament handwritten scrolls were in monumental number until the advent of the Guttenberg printing press. They are incredibly accurate comparing one text to the other. Examples of existing mistakes are on par with a number with an extra zero or a misspelling.

 

4. The DaVinci Code: The book asserts that many gospels were not allowed because Emperor Constantine and the church intentionally silenced them because of conflict with their desire for power and their desired rhetoric.

Bible History: Many extra gospels were scrutinized by early church leaders. Those that did not get added were not added for various reasons.

Some were not in sync with things Jesus and the Apostles taught. A unified message from God was considered important. Gnosticism was a sect in early church history with a lot of writing that was not in sync with the Bible’s view of Jesus (Arian, referred to earlier at the Nicean Council, was a Gnostic).

Some writings were obviously fraudulent. Other gospels showed up in the second and third century claiming to be from eyewitnesses, but were obviously written in a later period.

Some writings provided good background to life in Jesus’ day in the first century but were not considered on par as God’s divine message.

Emperor Constantine had no influence over the Old Testament inclusion. That was decided before the time of Christ. Constantine did initiate the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. for the purpose of a resolution of discord in the church regarding Aryanism. That council did not choose Biblical texts for the Bible. None of those original records and eyewitness writings mention Biblical texts being questioned.

The gamut from many other gods to no God at all

People have come up with their own variation of God since the beginning of the Bible.

In more modern times, people have asked if there even is a God. 

Is this God of the Bible a sham or made up to make weak minded people feel good?

Did He really influence human beings to write the Bible? 

Throughout the Bible there have been many, many gods, powers, and angels, often in conflict with the one referred to as the Lord God Almighty. These have also dominated ancient lore.

They have gone toe to toe with God in various stories of the Bible.  These stories have defined for us that God is much greater is much better than any other powers and deities.

There have always been doubters

The Gospel of John indicated that Jesus said several times there would be doubters. Here is an example.

If you really believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. But since you don’t believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?” John 5:46-47 NLT

For many, the journey to understanding the truth and benefits of the Bible has been a process of sincere seeking and serious study of the Bible itself.

Consider spending some time reading the source directly. If you would like to start reading, I would suggest beginning with the Gospel of John, reading in a more modern Bible translation such as the New Living Translation. Consider downloading this free Bible app from Bible.com.

Have a question to submit for a future Blog (or any other questions for Diane)? Email dianewido@scripturespy.com or post it on the Scripture Spy Facebook page. 

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Previous: What is the Purpose of the Bible
Up next: Bible Stories: In the Bible or fragments pieced together?
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Reflect:

What has influenced you most about your opinion of the Bible? Is it what you watch or read from various sources or have you gone to the Bible itself? 

Would you consider reading it for yourself?

What is the Purpose of the Bible?

 

Big Idea: The Bible is written to communicate that God seeks human partnership with those who trust Him, and these are like sign posts toward Jesus. 

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“Ask Anything About the Bible” is our newest blog series. Normally questions are solicited from people I meet. This first question is one I hear sometimes and thought would be a good first question. 

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The Bible is a large, amazing book

The Bible is a huge tome of writings designed to communicate who God is and His desire to partner with human beings who trust Him.

This remarkable book has over 30 different writers of various nationalities and backgrounds covering about a 1000 year period.

As a total work it is mind boggling that its themes and subthemes are in sync with each other in spite of the wide variety of authors covering a wide time frame.

Each book has sign posts that point to Jesus who is in the Old Testament as part of God’s activity, but specifically as God’s Son born into humanity in the New Testament.

The Bible itself claims it was written by human beings inspired by God.

20 Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, 21 or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God. 2 Peter 1:20-21 NLT

In the Beginning

Genesis, the name of the first book of the Bible, means beginnings. It introduces God as the creator of the universe.

Man and woman were created, introduced to God, and invited to partner with Him in naming the animals and taking care of the world.

Man and woman walked and talked with God. It set the ideal precedent.

Genesis shows numerous beginnings. 

Those who spurned trusting God and working with Him found themselves free to do as they wish. But that lifestyle led to a lot of heartache and pain. Many became mean and evil without any guardrails of morality.

It became obvious that human beings are stubborn and bent toward badness. We see God’s sadness at how bad things got so quickly after Creation.

The LORD observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. 6 So the LORD was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart.  Genesis 6:5-6 NLT

Partnering with People

Throughout the book of Genesis, God reached out to human beings, inviting them to trust Him and work with Him. For example, Adam and Eve, Noah and Abraham.

The people whose stories are featured have real flaws and issues. We see faith as a work in progress, like Abraham for example.

The Bible shows God revealing Himself progressively, coming alongside those who trust Him, and guiding them.

The purpose of the Bible is to show us how to find and appreciate God's love for us.

The purpose plainly stated

This Bible verse tells us plainly how the Bible helps us in this Bible verse.

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 2 Timothy 3:16 NLT

To follow the list in the verse with a simile:

• It teaches us what is true.
• It makes us realize what is wrong. Like looking in a mirror and seeing the smudge on our face.
• It corrects us when we are wrong. Like looking in a mirror and verifying we are removing it.
• It teaches us to do what is right. Like following a YouTube video how to remove a stain.

The benefit

The benefit of reading the Bible provides great comfort as we bring our problems to God and find all we need for a fulfilled life from reading the Bible.

Joyful are people of integrity,
who follow the instructions of the Lord.
Joyful are those who obey his laws
and search for him with all their hearts. Psalm 119: 1-2 NLT

Have a questions to submit? email DianeWido@scripturespy.com or post it on https://www.facebook.com/scripturespy

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Up next: The DaVinci Code: Why were numerous books not included in the Bible?
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Reflect: 

This blog asserts that the Creator of the Universe wants to partner with human beings. It may seem preposterous, but consider this an exercise.  If God came to you and told you that, how would you respond? 

Promise Exercise for Psalm 23

The Big Idea: How to examine the familiar Psalm 23 from the perspective of the promises of God.

Promises In Psalm 23

How can we determine God’s promises keeping true to the Bible? Here is how I have examined Psalm 23.

My 10-step approach to finding the promises in Psalm 23

1. Every time I opened the passage I prayed for God to guide me.

2. I had a notebook and pen/pencil handy.

3. I read the whole chapter a couple of times in a couple of translations.

4. I checked who wrote it. Could I legitimately claim the author wrote it not just for himself but also for the people of God.

5. I listed the attributes and actions of God evident in the verses.

6. I researched if the attributes and actions are in sync with the rest of the Bible citing some references to other passages.

7. I noted the benefits.

8. I looked at conditions and/or circumstances for the recipient.

9. Since this Psalm did not exhibit direct Words of God I wondered what would constitute a promise? The author speaks about God. How does that function as a promise?

10. Lastly I checked other authors online on Promises in Psalm 23.  I worked the passage first. Then I checked for other Christians to verify I was in sync with them. We share the Holy Spirit. This prevents error.

Diane’s Notes

1. Pray.

2. Pencil and paper. 

3. Psalm 23 completely read in NLT, ESV, NIV. 

4. David wrote Psalm 23. He probably initially wrote it for himself, but it was included in the Psalms, a book of worship for believers. I believe he was thinking of building up and teaching others about God when God inspired David to write this. Yes, it can be for me.

5. Going through Psalm 23 I listed attributes and actions. This is a photo of my slip of paper I brought with me to a park using the Bible on my iphone. See how simple it can be?

6. Are these attributes in sync with the rest of the Bible? I list only verses 1-2 for space sake.

• Shepherd – even Jesus identified Himself as our Shepherd. Isaiah 40:11, John 10. Other places
• He leads us – Proverbs 15:24, Isaiah 40:11, 2 Corinthians 2:14
• He provides rest – Joshua multiple times, 1 Chronicles 23:25, Matthew 11:28, Hebrews 4:9
• He restores – Deuteronomy 30:20, Psalm 51:12, 1 Peter 5;10

7. Benefits to the recipient

Needs fulfilled (v1), rest (v2), quiet (v2), refreshing (v3), lead/direction (v3), no fear (v4), not alone (v4), comfort (v4), provision (v5) abundance (v5), goodness and love (v6), my whole life and forever (v6)

8. Conditions to all this abundance and goodness. Yes. I know God is MY shepherd (v1). I allow God to do all these things for me. One can be invited to eat at a table and refuse to come. God benefits those who want His help and seek Him.

9. How do we understand Bible promises where God is not talking?

Promise – n. a declaration or assurance that one will do a particular thing or that a particular thing will happen. Oxford Dictionary

We examine His character and the way He consistently acts. While promises are not negotiable, they may be contingent on our engagement with Him. In Psalm 23, we see declaration after declaration of God’s intent and His ability to help those who seek Him.

10. Online looking for promises of Psalm 23, there are numerous posts that mention Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Some lists are very detailed about who God is to us. The site DesiringGod.org ties it with Psalm 22 quoted by Jesus at the cross. 

Some of the promises I determined:

• God provides for my needs; Not my wants, but my needs.
• God leads me, just like a guide through difficult terrain.
• God provides rest and restoration in His time.
• God is with me. I do not need to be fearful, even when I go through difficult circumstances He is with me through them.
• God is my protector especially as I use His Word (rod and staff)
• God has my entire life and my eternity in view. It is ultimately for good, not evil. Everything is in His time.

Put on your Promise Filter to find God’s promises for YOU!

Enjoy this worship Psalm based on Psalm 23, I am Not Alone

  
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This post is forty-fifth in a series as a Practical Starter Guide for Inductive Bible Study.

Up next: Find the Application: Principle Followed
Previous post: Find the Application: Promise Claimed-3 The Promise Filter


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Reflect:

1. Which of my last list resonates with your need for today?

2. Are you seeking Him? Is He your shepherd always? Do you want Him to restore you? If not, what stands in your way?

3. Consider anything you should tell God right now.

Why Read Through the Whole Bible?

The Big Idea: Reading through the Bible in a year will give you perspective of God at work.

“Daddy, could I read the Bible through in a year, too?”

I was probably about eight years old. My father made a reading program before it was in vogue for the church to read the Bible through in a year.  Our pastor requested he make bookmarks of his reading plan and pass them around at the New Years Eve service. My father loved the Bible and wanted it to be a relevant part of people’s lives.

 

Why Should I Read the Whole Thing?

Reading the whole Bible through helps to see the big picture. We tend to go to our favorite places but the whole of Scripture is from the Lord. 

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT)

Have you used Google Map to find someplace and then decided to click on the satellite view? It explains a few things like why a road curves (mountain) or why the street dead ends (river). The bird’s eye view helps us get a better perspective.

So why read the entire Bible through?

• It gives a clearer view of God and the Bible story.
• It shows God’s bigger plan of Salvation.
• It provides background material for characters referred to in the New Testament.
• It gives fresh insight who God is and His love in a different context.
• It keeps us balanced in our Christian life rather than have our hobby horses.

At Least Try

I’m embarrassed to admit it has been twenty plus years since I read the Bible through. In 2021 I decided I would. But 2021 has been an intense year health-wise for me.  I didn’t start it till March. I realized I just needed to start and then do the best I can. I am currently in Jeremiah. I tell you this goal adaption because sometimes we quit and don’t start again. We feel defeated. An amended plan is still a plan! I am still getting in to God’s Word! I plan to finish reading the Bible in 2022.

 

Then and Now

When my father created his program in the 1960s, we knew no other plan. Today so many are out there it can be overwhelming. There are a few things you can do to search for a plan.

• One of my favorites is the Bible Project plan. An option is to listen to the audio daily.
• Or check the many plans at Bible.com and choose one (the Bible Project one is there too)
• Follow a plan that your church may be using. Doing it as a group provides great support.

 Don’t give up, and don’t settle for doing it just once. My dad read a different version each year and said it was always fresh and new to him!

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Up next: What Does Timeless Truth Mean?

Previous post: Shine: The Christ Candle

Note: We have been in the process of going through a Practical Starter Guide of Inductive Bible Study. We will resume this series in January.

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Reflect:

1. Have you ever tried to read the Bible all the way through? Did you make it? If not, what happened and what might help you follow through?

2. What do you think might be useful in reading the whole Bible?

3. Take a moment to pray about your time in the Word this year. Ask for God’s help and His guidance. As Him to help you stick with it even if you fall behind.

IBS-23 Unraveling Figures of Speech: when not to take the Bible literally

The Big Idea: We believe the Bible is to be the literal word of God but what about figures of speech?

When not to take the Bible literally

I studied French for a year conversing, listening to television, reading the paper, etc. I heard a phrase about a moon of honey on the news. I was stupefied till I realized the story was about newlyweds. That idiom is also used in English!

As serious students of Scripture, we take the Bible at its word. It is not a fairy tale. Interpret it literally most of the time believing it is God’s Word to you. The Holy Spirit inspired writers (2 Peter 1:21) who wrote beautiful ancient literature, but no language is sterile. Figures of speech give it beauty and emphasis. Realize figures of speech paint a picture. Sometimes figurative words of another culture sound odd to us. Bible translators apply modern phrases to express the idea for us which explains the difference in comparing translations. Remember that the cohesiveness of the Bible remains in sync with the rest of it. No strange doctrine emerges from a sentence or verse that is counter to the rest of the Holy Word of God.

Figures of Speech

Figures of speech are words and phrases that express meaning that is not meant to be literal but rather descriptive. It is not intended to be misleading but rather to illustrate like a word picture. Examine this chart to see the more common figures of speech found in the Bible followed by an explanation and an example.

Figures of Speech in the Bible
@ScriptureSpy

Understanding these language variables help us interpret the Word of God better. It is not intended to be mysterious and hard to understand. The Bible is intended for us to learn how to live abundant life in Christ (John 10:10, Ephesians 3:20).

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This is the twenty third in a series called Practical Starter Guide for Inductive Bible Study.
Table of Contents

Up next in the series: What Does Timeless Truth Mean?
Previous post: Strange Bible Verses

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Reflect:

1. Do you enjoy idioms in your language? Does one make you laugh when you hear it? Do you have a story of a funny misunderstanding talking with someone who was foreign to your language?

2. What is a phrase in the Bible that sounds odd? What do you think it is really trying to say?

3. Does this blog on figurative speech give you comfort of more confusion to trust what the Bible says? Why or why not?

Free Ebooks on Deep Questions

 

The Big Idea: Very helpful pastor/author has excellent free series of ebooks on very serious questions for the Christian life. Here's how to get them.

R.C.Sproul Crucial Question Series

There is a series of books that are available in electronic form, that will be free forever. It will help you learn more about who God is, why you should believe, how you should live and how you can share your faith. It is an amazing and valuable series for any Christian or someone interested in the Christian faith.

R.C. Sproul was a conservative, Reformed pastor, author and speaker who passed away in 2017. This valuable series of books are free electronically and you can buy paper versions of them. He started Ligonier Ministries. They have decided to make these books available forever for free. Additionally most are in Spanish. Each book is between 60-90 pages or so. Here is the list of titles taken from their website.

Here is a complete list of the free ebooks in the Crucial Questions series

·         Are People Basically Good? 

·         Are These the Last Days?  (Español)

·         Can I Be Sure I’m Saved?  (Español)

·         Can I Have Joy in My Life?  (Español)

·         Can I Know God’s Will?  (Español)

·         Can I Lose My Salvation?  (Español)

·         Can I Trust the Bible?  (Español)

·         Does God Control Everything?  (Español)

·         Does Prayer Change Things?  (Español)

·         How Can I Be Blessed? 

·          How Can I Develop a Christian Conscience? (Español)

·         How Can I Be Right with God? 

·          How Should I Live in this World? (Español)

·         How Should I Think about Money? 

·          What Can I Do with My Guilt? (Español)

·         What Can We Know about God? 

·         What Do Jesus’ Parables Mean? 

·         What Does It Mean to be Born Again?  (Español)

·         What Is Baptism? (Español)

·         What Is Faith?  (Español)

·         What Is the Great Commission?  (Español)

·         What Is Repentance? (Español)

·         What Is the Church?  (Español)

·         What Is the Lord’s Supper?  (Español)

·         What Is the Relationship between Church and State?  (Español)

·         What Is the Trinity?  (Español)

·         Who Is Jesus?  (Español)

·         Who Is the Holy Spirit?  (Español)

·         Does God Exist? 

·         How Does God’s Law Apply to Me? 

·         What Is Predestination? 

·         Why Should I Join a Church? 

 

You can go to the R.C. Sproul author page at Amazon.com.

There you will find these and more of his books, occasionally offered for free. The way you search on that page (and any author page on Amazon) is using these buttons near the top of the page. Choose Kindle Books and then choose on the drop down menu, Price: Low to High.

R.C. Sproul's book, Abortion: A Rational Look at anEmotional Issue, is also always free.

I have noticed this book from Ligioner Ministry author Keith Mathison is also always free. A Reformed Approach to Science and Scripture.

Logos Bible Software also offers the Crucial Question Series electronically for free.

You may be asking yourself what does a Reformed Christian or pastor mean?

This is a well explained short definition from Gotquestions.org

Generally, Reformed theology holds to the authority of Scripture, the sovereignty of God, salvation by grace through Christ, and the necessity of evangelism. It is sometimes called Covenant theology because of its emphases on the covenant God made with Adam and the new covenant which came through Jesus Christ (Luke 22:20).

 Up Next: No light for my way

Previous Post: My favorite Bible Versions