THE UNIQUENESS OF THE BIBLE
The Bible (meaning "the Book") is not only the greatest and most widely read book ever written, but stands in a class altogether by itself in several critical respects;
Unity in Diversity. Consisting of 66 separate books written by about 40 different authors over a time span of at least 2000 yrs, brought gradually together into one volume by a process which no one has ever been able to describe in full, the Book presents a marvellous unity and magnificent development of its great themes from beginning to end, with no errors and no internal discrepancies (alleged ones are claimed but all have sound explanations and are not discrepancies at all). There is nothing remotely comparable to this among all the millions of books written by man.
Fulfilled Prophecy. There are hundreds of prophecies recorded in Scripture which have been meticulously fulfilled, often hundreds of years later. This is a unique characteristic of the Bible, not found in the Vedas or the Koran or any of the other "scriptures" of mankind. The so-called prophecies of Nostradamus, Edgar Cayce, Jeanne Dixon, and others of like kind are of a completely different order than those in the Bible, always dark and ambiguous and, much more often than not, later proved wrong.
Accuracy. Not only has the Bible proved accurate in its prophecies, but also in its very frequent references to matters of history and principles of natural science. Although some problems remain, it is still true that not a single uncontroverted fact of history or science refutes a single statement in the Bible. It is also true that archaeological and historical research has confirmed the biblical references in hundreds of instances and that scores of now-known facts of science were written in the Bible long before men recognized them in nature. Once again, there is no other book ever written of which the above things can be said.
Unique Preservation. No other book has ever been the object of such antagonism as has the Bible. In both ancient and modern times, kings and priests have tried desperately to destroy it and unbelieving intellectuals to ridicule and refute it. Untold numbers of copies have been burned and mutilated, and hosts of its advocates persecuted and killed. But it has only multiplied the more, and today is read and believed by more nations and languages than ever before, continually remaining for centuries the world's best seller.
Claims of its Writers. The writers of the Bible maintain again and again that their writings were inspired (*the word is misleading and truly means absolutely given every word) by God, often even consisting of the directly recorded words of God. Although other writers such as Mohammed have claimed divine inspiration for their writings, the frequency and variety of such assertions are unique to the Bible only. And, still more remarkable, in the same Book and often in the same contexts in which the statements are made, the writers condemn falsehood and hypocrisy in terms of burning fury. It is inconceivable that writings with claims to divine authority could be intertwined with such exhortations to holiness and condemnations of deception unless either the writers truly were writing under inspiration of the Holy Spirit or else were themselves monsters of hypocrisy and evil. The latter alternative, however, is utterly inconceivable in view of the unique character and history of the Book which the produced, and it's force for what can only be called good in countless societies and individuals.
Salvation by Grace
Another proof of the uniqueness is that of the all-important teaching concerning salvation. The Bible uniquely teaches salvation through faith alone. All other religions teach salvation through faith plus works in different ways. Biblical Christianity alone, among all the religions of mankind, teaches that eternal salvation is the free gift of God's grace, to be received by faith alone, apart from works of any kind. The watchword of other religions is "Believe and do"; of Christianity, the word is "Believe and live". With Christianity it is not what you do that saves you however you prove you are saved by who you are and what you do. Christianity teaches that God and His laws are perfect and must be perfectly adhered to otherwise a perfect judgement is eternal punishment, therefore, because no man is perfect (except Christ) man must rely totally on God's mercy in providing a "sin bearer" for mankind to accept individually. The sin bearer is the 'Word' spoken of in the gospel of John chapter 1, Jesus Christ.
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged 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
by John Blanchard
Unity in Diversity. Consisting of 66 separate books written by about 40 different authors over a time span of at least 2000 yrs, brought gradually together into one volume by a process which no one has ever been able to describe in full, the Book presents a marvellous unity and magnificent development of its great themes from beginning to end, with no errors and no internal discrepancies (alleged ones are claimed but all have sound explanations and are not discrepancies at all). There is nothing remotely comparable to this among all the millions of books written by man.
Fulfilled Prophecy. There are hundreds of prophecies recorded in Scripture which have been meticulously fulfilled, often hundreds of years later. This is a unique characteristic of the Bible, not found in the Vedas or the Koran or any of the other "scriptures" of mankind. The so-called prophecies of Nostradamus, Edgar Cayce, Jeanne Dixon, and others of like kind are of a completely different order than those in the Bible, always dark and ambiguous and, much more often than not, later proved wrong.
Accuracy. Not only has the Bible proved accurate in its prophecies, but also in its very frequent references to matters of history and principles of natural science. Although some problems remain, it is still true that not a single uncontroverted fact of history or science refutes a single statement in the Bible. It is also true that archaeological and historical research has confirmed the biblical references in hundreds of instances and that scores of now-known facts of science were written in the Bible long before men recognized them in nature. Once again, there is no other book ever written of which the above things can be said.
Unique Preservation. No other book has ever been the object of such antagonism as has the Bible. In both ancient and modern times, kings and priests have tried desperately to destroy it and unbelieving intellectuals to ridicule and refute it. Untold numbers of copies have been burned and mutilated, and hosts of its advocates persecuted and killed. But it has only multiplied the more, and today is read and believed by more nations and languages than ever before, continually remaining for centuries the world's best seller.
Claims of its Writers. The writers of the Bible maintain again and again that their writings were inspired (*the word is misleading and truly means absolutely given every word) by God, often even consisting of the directly recorded words of God. Although other writers such as Mohammed have claimed divine inspiration for their writings, the frequency and variety of such assertions are unique to the Bible only. And, still more remarkable, in the same Book and often in the same contexts in which the statements are made, the writers condemn falsehood and hypocrisy in terms of burning fury. It is inconceivable that writings with claims to divine authority could be intertwined with such exhortations to holiness and condemnations of deception unless either the writers truly were writing under inspiration of the Holy Spirit or else were themselves monsters of hypocrisy and evil. The latter alternative, however, is utterly inconceivable in view of the unique character and history of the Book which the produced, and it's force for what can only be called good in countless societies and individuals.
Salvation by Grace
Another proof of the uniqueness is that of the all-important teaching concerning salvation. The Bible uniquely teaches salvation through faith alone. All other religions teach salvation through faith plus works in different ways. Biblical Christianity alone, among all the religions of mankind, teaches that eternal salvation is the free gift of God's grace, to be received by faith alone, apart from works of any kind. The watchword of other religions is "Believe and do"; of Christianity, the word is "Believe and live". With Christianity it is not what you do that saves you however you prove you are saved by who you are and what you do. Christianity teaches that God and His laws are perfect and must be perfectly adhered to otherwise a perfect judgement is eternal punishment, therefore, because no man is perfect (except Christ) man must rely totally on God's mercy in providing a "sin bearer" for mankind to accept individually. The sin bearer is the 'Word' spoken of in the gospel of John chapter 1, Jesus Christ.
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged 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
by John Blanchard