Why Read the Bible?
Why is the Bible worth reading?
Rick Warren once wrote, "Reading the Bible generates life. It produces change. It heals hurts. It builds character. It transforms circumstances. It imparts joy. It overcomes adversity. It defeats temptation. It infuses hope. It releases power. It cleanses the mind."[1] Consistently reading the Bible can profoundly impact every aspect of our lives.
Yet, many American Christians don’t read the Bible regularly, if at all. We struggle to find time or don't know how to get started.[2] This is the first in a series of articles aimed at helping us overcome these obstacles, offering practical steps to begin reading the Bible and experiencing a deeper relationship with God. Let’s begin with the why.
Why read the Bible?
Many things could be said about the uniqueness of the Bible. Each one is a reason to read it. Here are just three:
The Bible is inspired by God.
The apostle Paul writes that “All Scripture is inspired by God” (2 Timothy 3:16). Literally, this could be translated as “God-breathed.”
But let’s be clear. The Bible was written over 1600 years by at least 40 human authors. These ordinary people were kings, teachers, fishermen, poets, doctors, and musicians. They wrote with human hands in the human languages of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. They wrote in the human literary styles of their day, like narratives, poetry, and letters.
The Bible is 100% the work of human authors and it is 100% inspired by God. How can this be?
Construction on the Washington National Cathedral in Washington D.C. began in 1907 and wasn’t completed until 1990, 83 years later. It’s the second-largest church building in America today, an architectural marvel featuring intricate Gothic designs, detailed stone carvings, and massive stained glass windows.
George Frederick Bodley, the architect of the Washington National Cathedral, didn’t lay a single stone. Instead, he inspired and guided a team of masons, painters, carpenters, and many more craftspersons to bring his vision to life. The cathedral’s construction was a true partnership between the architect and the artisans, much like the creation of the Bible is a partnership between God and human authors.
The Bible is both God-breathed and human-crafted.
The Bible is a revelation of God.
Nicky Gumbel, the founder of Alpha, once said, “Sometimes people ask, ‘If there’s a God, why doesn’t he show himself? Why doesn’t he reveal himself?’ The answer is, ‘God has!’”
Jesus said that anyone who has seen him has seen God the Father and doesn’t need to say, “Show us the Father” (John 14:9). The primary way we know what God is like is by seeing what Jesus is like. The primary way we see Jesus is through the pages of the Bible.
The Bible is guidance from God.
Through the Bible, God leads people like Nicky into life at its fullest (John 10:10) through a relationship with Jesus. Near the conclusion of his biography of Jesus, the Apostle John writes, “These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” Just as the Gospel of John was written to inspire belief and give life, all of Scripture points us to life in Jesus!
The Apostle Paul writes that all Scripture is inspired and “useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16—17). The Bible guides us into life through Jesus and teaches us how to live like Jesus. This is life to the fullest!
[1] Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002), 186.
[2] Lifeway Research. "Lifeway Research: Americans Are Fond of the Bible, Don’t Actually Read It." Lifeway Research, April 25, 2017. https://research.lifeway.com/2017/04/25/lifeway-research-americans-are-fond-of-the-bible-dont-actually-read-it/.
