Why Study the Bible?

The following are biblical statements compiled that tell us things about the Bible and the power of God’s written word.

God’s Word…

• Gen. 1:3ff – was used to create light and the world
• Deut. 6:6-9 – is meant to be in our heart, taught to children, talked about, and guide our work and our minds (bound on hand and forehead)
• Deut. 10:13 – are to be known, are to be obeyed…for our good
• Deuteronomy 17:18-20 – teaches us fear of God; teaches us to be careful to observe everything it says; keeps us humble; keeps us focused and obedient; gives life to us and those after us 
• Josh. 21:2 – Gives counsel and correction to leadership and actions
• Josh. 23:6-13 – keeps us from mixing with world and being overcome by our enemies
• Josh. 23:14 – never fails
• Psalm 12:6 – Clay furnace = human element (see 2 Cor. 4:7); silver = divine message coming through human element; fire = Holy Spirit; 7 = perfection of God’s word
• Psalm 19:7 – is perfect; converts our souls; makes the simple wise
• Psalm 19:8 – is right; brings joy; is pure; brings light and understanding
• Psalm 19:9 – true; righteous
• Psalm 19:10 – more desirable than fine gold; sweeter than sweet honey
• Psalm 19:11 – warns; brings rewards to those who keep it
• Psalm 29:3-4 – powerful; full of majesty
• Psalm 29:5 – breaks the tallest cedars
• Psalm 29:6 – energizes
• Psalm 29:7 – gives order to fire
• Psalm 29:8 – overcomes forests
• Psalm 29:9 – gives life; brings death
• Psalm 107:17-20 – Saves, heals, delivers
• Psalm 119:18 – has wonderful things
• Psalm 119:9,11 – brings victory over sin
• Psalm 119:24 – brings delight; gives counsel
• Psalm 119:39 – is good
• Psalm 119:49 – gives hope
• Psalm 119:50 – gives comfort in affliction; gives life
• Psalm 119:105 – reveals light and truth; gives perspective and guidance; helps us discern between truth and circumstance
• Psalm 119:130 – brings light and mental illumination
• Prov. 1:4 – gives wisdom, knowledge and discretion
• Prov. 1:9 – gives us grace and beauty when we listen to them
• Prov. 1:23 – if you heed them, you will receive God’s Spirit and He will make his words known to us
• Prov. 1:33 – if we listen to them, we will dwell safe and secure and not fear evil
• Proverbs 4:20-22 – brings physical healing
• Isaiah 55:8-11 – reveals God’s thoughts; reveals God’s ways; does not return void; accomplishes what it sets out to do; prospers; brings fruit
• Zech. 7:12-13 – God’s own words; we are judged by our obedience to them (even prayers withheld on account of disobedience)
• Matt. 1:22 – God’s own words
• Matt. 3:3 – is truthful; is predictive; will be fulfilled
• Matt. 4:3-11 – Authoritative; nourishment – gives spiritual nourishment as we mature (= bread); God’s own words; brings victory over Satan
• Matt. 5:17 – Christ fulfilled the O.T. Scriptures
• Matt. 12:3 – Jesus expects us to read/know word
• Matt. 15:1-9 – keeps us from becoming hypocritical; are expected to be obeyed; expose man’s wisdom
• Matt. 19:4-5 – God’s own words; they hold authority
• Matt. 21:42 – Jesus expects us to read/know word
• Matt. 22:29-32 – God’s own words that rule us today
• Mark 12:35-36 – is truthful; will be fulfilled
• Luke 1:70 – God’s own words
• Luke 4:16-21 – is truthful; will be fulfilled
• Luke 7:24-28 – is truthful; will be fulfilled
• Luke 11:29-32 – Jesus believes it to be literal and truthful
• Luke 24:25-27 – Reveals Christ; is reliable; understanding of Scriptures gives you and understanding of God’s plan
• Luke 24:32 – gives us burning in our hearts when it is understood
• Luke 24:44 – “must be fulfilled”
• John 1:1,14 – Christ is the Word personified
• John 5:45-47 – God’s own words
• John 6:63 – is the sustenance of your life and spirit
• John 6:68 – brings eternal life and keeps us following Christ
• John 10:27 – the more we read the Bible, the more we will recognize it is God’s Word, not man’s
• John 10:34-35 – They are God’s own words
• John 10:35 – holds authority
• John 12:48 – God’s Word is our Ultimate Judge
• John 12:50 – is everlasting life; comes from the Father
• John 14:25-26 – Spirit is agent by which gospel writers remember the words and deeds of Jesus
• John 16:12-14 – Things Jesus was not able to teach during His earthly ministry were to be taught later by apostles through Holy Spirit
• Acts 1:16 – God’s (i.e. the Holy Spirit’s) own words
• Acts 2:16-17 – God’s own words
• Acts 2:42 – Apostles words were to be studied and spread as God’s words
• Acts 3:18 – God spoke through writers of O.T.
• Acts 3:21 – God’s own words
• Acts 4:25 – God’s own words
• Acts 13:47 – God’s own words
• Acts 26:14-18 – Jesus commissions Paul to teach what He reveals
• Acts 28:25 – God’s own words
• Romans 1:2 – God’s own words
• Romans 3:2 – God’s own words
• Rom. 4:3 – source of truth
• Romans 9:17 – God’s own words
• Romans 10:17 – Produces faith
• 1 Cor. 2:13 – Apostles’ words came from Holy Spirit
• 1 Cor. 2:13-14 – We are convinced that the Bible is God’s Word because Holy Spirit reveals this to our hearts
• 1 Corinthians 9:8-10 – God’s own words
• 1 Cor. 14:37 – Paul recognized his words as God’s words
• 2 Cor. 7:1 – Understanding God’s word encourages and empowers us to live a holy life
• 2 Cor. 13:3 – Christ speaks in Paul
• Eph. 5:25-27 – cleanses us
• Eph. 6:17 – Bible is sword that comes from the Spirit; weapon against the enemy
• 1 Thes. 2:13 – the words of Paul are God’s words, and work effectively in those who believe
• Hebrews 1:1-2 – God’s own words
• Heb. 1:3 – upholds world
• Hebrews 1:6-7 – God’s own words
• Hebrews 3:7 and 4:7 – God’s (i.e. the Holy Spirit’s) own words
• Hebrews 4:12-13 –  is sharper than sword; living; powerful; exposes our hearts
• Hebrews 5:12-14 – Gives spiritual nourishment at full maturity (= solid food)
• Heb. 11:3 – created world
• James 1:18 – puts a seed of new birth in us
• James 1:23-25 – is a mirror that does not lie
• 1 Thess. 2:13 – the apostles’ words = God’s words, not man’s
• 1 Thess. 5:27 – Apostles words were to be studied and spread as God’s words
• 1 Timothy 5:18 – Luke’s gospel is called Scripture
• 2 Tim. 3:14-15 – can make us wise for salvation through faith in Christ
• 2 Tim. 3:16-17 – Comes from God; is useful to correct, instruct, equip, and Rebuke
• 1 Pet. 1:22-23 – incorruptible seed which produces incorruptible fruits (see also Luke 8:11)
  • Warning: Deut. 22:9 – having any starting point other than the Bible for your thoughts and actions will corrupt the fruit you could produce
• 1 Pet. 1:10-12 – the O.T. came from prophets who searched and inquired carefully through Christ’s Spirit upon them.  They received revelation that their words served Christians hundreds of years later (instead of themselves).  Likewise, the message of the N.T. has also been preached by the Holy Spirit through people.
• 1 Pet. 1:24-25 – is everlasting (does not fade with time); humbles us
• 1 Pet. 2:2 – Gives spiritual nourishment at beginning of maturity (= milk)
• 1 Pet. 2:2 – allows us to taste God’s goodness
• 2 Pet. 1:21 – Comes from God, not man
• 2 Pet. 3:2 – words of Apostles carry same authority as O.T.
• 2 Pet. 3:15-16 – Paul’s writings carry same authority as O.T.
• Rev. 1:19; 2:1,8,12,18; 3:1,7,14 – Jesus commissions John to write what He reveals to him
• Rev. 19:10 – the spirit of prophecy reveals Jesus
• Rev. 19:11-15 – Christ Judges according to the words He speaks (compare with Eph. 6:17 and Heb. 4:12)
• Rev. 22:18-19 – God endorses the words of Revelation (and by implication the other Scriptures too)