Book Review: The Bible

Some things in life are so commonplace that everyone takes them for granted. Few people think about the fact they wake up each morning, or about the air they inhale and exhale. The same seems to hold true about the book we find in most hotel rooms, churches, and a majority of North American homes. It may even seem strange that anyone would undertake a book review of the Bible. But oddly enough, even though most people have a general understanding that the Bible is God's Word, few appear to know, or want to know what that really means. Many have flipped through the pages of a Bible, but few actually stop long enough to read or understand it. That is precisely why it was felt a synoptic review might be timely. The Bible is a book about redemption and atonement. To be more accurate, the

Bible is a bundle of books referred to as Holy Scripture dealing with these topics. Although there are numerous themes running throughout its content, the Bible's central plot addresses Man's separation from God, the reasons for it, and the way in which this can be rectified. Essentially it is the age-old story of good versus evil in which good wins out in the end. All those who are on the wrong side are judged and cast into an eternal lake of fire called hell, while the redeemed spend eternity with God. The Old Testament portion of the Bible deals primarily with God's "Chosen People" the Israelites. It relates their history and defines their place within God's plan for reconciliation with mankind. It describes in much detail the way in which the nation Israel were given "God's Law", a prescribed way in which to live, then deals with the ways in which they were blessed or cursed, depending on how they chose to relate to God and His Law. In a sense it is God's prequel to the New Testament as it establishes the need for a Savior for both God's chosen people, and the world. It becomes clear in the Old Testament that mankind is in need of God's help to deliver us from the evil that resides in each individual's heart and manifests itself in subtle and not so subtle ways. This evil is referred to as sin. The New Testament deals with the consummation of the process of reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ by His act of redemption. This involves dying on a cross to pay the price required by God to save all people from their sin. We are told that Jesus is God's one and only begotten Son, and that His death constitutes the only perfect and acceptable sacrifice as the penalty for the sins of the world. This opens the door to reconciliation with God for those who choose to believe in Him as their Savior. Faith plays a crucial role as it is the voluntary means that mankind has with which to accept or reject God on His terms. There are two basic components to the New Testament. They are the gospel, and then its application which is fleshed out in the letters of Paul and other apostles. The story of Jesus is told in the first four gospel books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. From the 'Acts of the Apostles' onward, we find both a history of the Church founded on Christ, and instructions for how Christians are to live and build God's kingdom. Although the Bible transcends the definition of classical literature, it can be described as such in that it communicates on more than one level. As well as telling a story, it can be viewed as God's "Instruction Manual" for life. Furthermore, it is the ultimate history book. It traces man's story from the very beginning, and describes things yet to come in the apocalyptic scenario found in Revelation and other prophetic books throughout the Bible. As an Instruction Manual, the Bible has a profound and undeniable track record prophetically. It instructs Israel how to live in a way that will bring about God's blessings, then logs the results when they fail to do so. It is quite forthright in its

portrayal of good and evil and the consequences of choosing one over the other. In this way it is timeless as it introduces a moral code which can apply universally to all generations and peoples. This latter quality is significant in light of the fact that the Bible, unlike any other book, claims that it is written by men by the unction, or inspiration of the Holy Spirit and is therefore the actual Word of God. It is a sobering book in which terminologies such as sin and righteousness, heaven and hell, Almighty God and Satan, the devil and angels, find their roots. It also challenges all others who would speak on behalf of God to be tested with regard to their qualifications as prophets. Meanwhile, it severely warns those who would tamper with the content of Scripture. In the last chapter of the last book of Revelation it states: "I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God shall add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book". Finally, the Bible is the greatest love story ever told. It is about the love of God for humankind. We read that He is prepared to go to great lengths to woo people to Himself. This is epitomized in Christ's parable about the prodigal son. All are familiar with this term referring to a Father's love for a son who strays and then returns to find a father accepting him with open arms. But God's love is still deeper in that He ultimately refers to His Church as His bride for whom Christ will return at His second coming. This is found in the final pages of the book of Revelation. Consequently marriage between a man and woman is held in high esteem within the Bible and all forms of immorality and impurity condemned. Purity and faithfulness are persistent themes throughout the Bible, and this is how Christ's bride is depicted as a result of Christ's purifying act of atonement on the cross where He died. As formidable as it may be, the Bible is a must-read for those who believe that truth needs to be defined as an absolute, and by its very nature cannot be considered otherwise. In other words, relative truth is not only an oxymoron, it is a misnomer. Given the unsettling times we live in, the Bible can prove to be a lifelong source of comfort and joy for those who personally discover its claims to be real, or it can be a troubling harbinger of unimaginable proportion and consequence for those who set it aside as fiction or mythology.