Introduction to God’s Word: The Bible “For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.”(Psalm 138:2)

Psalm 138:2 may be largely overlooked but is a remarkable verse worthy of greater reverence and examination. All of the many names that God has given us beginning in the Old Testament that identify just some of His omnipotent attributes like Elohim (God-Judge-Great-Mighty), Yahweh (Eternal-Everlasting), Jehovah (LORD-Eternal-Self Existent One), El Shaddi (God Almighty), El Olam (Everlasting God), Adoni (Lord) are considered subordinate to God’s magnifying of His Word. A remarkable verse. We can understand this verse as it relates specifically to Christ as the only begotten and eternal Son called the Word of God in John 1:1-3.”In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”  and John 1:14, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” And Revelation 19:13, “And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.” Christ, the Word of God, is one with the Father and the Holy Spirit. (Colossians 2:9) Christ, The Word, is magnified for His work accomplished before the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8) upholding His sacrifice by the power of His Word, Himself. Hebrews 1:3 – “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” Christ’s atoning work as the Word of God before the foundation of the world is magnified above all God’s names or actions. This understanding should give us a far greater appreciation, reverence,  and respect for Christ’s atonement accomplished before the world, and also,  the means by which we know of His Atonement is only found in the Word of God: The Bible. Christ and His Word are synonymous and therefore great appreciation, reverence and respect for God’s Word: The Bible,  is obligatory by all mankind.  God, the Father, in six different verses found in Mathew, Mark, and Luke declared as “a voice from heaven saying, this is my beloved, son, hear ye him.” God, The Father, has indeed magnified His Son, who is the Word of God and therefore so should we as we begin our study of God’s Word: The Bible.

Just prior to last statement “for thou hast magnified they word above thy name,” we read in Psalm 138:2. “I will worship toward thy holy temple and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” No greater lovingkindess exists apart from the work of Christ in performing all that was required in successfully paying for the sins of His elect before He created this world. Another name of Christ is truth. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6. Christ who is the Word is Truth. Truth and the Word are identical. “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” John 17:17

The Hebrew word מְרָה ʼimrâh or אֶמְרָה ʼemrâh(Strong’s H565) is translated “word” 29 times in the Old Testament and also translated “commandment” two times as found in Psalm 119:172 “My tongue shall speak of thy word: H565 for all thy commandments are righteousness.” And Pslam 147:15, “He sendeth forth his commandment H565 upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.” God conjoins His commandments with the law 58 times in 12 verses in the KJV and twice in exact sentences. Here is an example, “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:” Proverbs 6:23. We may also understand “for thou hast magnified they word above all thy name, “ as “for thou hast magnified thy law above all thy name.” God is subject to keeping His commandments, His law, perfectly.  It is by the Law of the Spirit in Christ that His elect are free from the law which must be paid in setting them free from the law of sin and earth. “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2.

The Bible stands apart as the most broadly read and, paradoxically, the most ignored book in history. Practically those who have not read it have an opinion about it.  It has been misinterpreted in countless ways, respected, yet greatly underestimated.

No book has been as manipulated and used to deceive others more than the Bible. No book has been more merchandized and made more money for deceivers and publishers than the Bible.  No book has been more misinterpreted and taught from more incorrectly. No book has been translated into more different languages and been paraphrased as many times as possible. No book has had a greater impact on more lives, nor altered the history of this world more than the Bible. No book has more influence on more people, ever, than the Bible. Despite all these descriptions no book remains the most undervalued, underrated, misjudged, miscalculated, and misunderstood than the Bible.

The Bible is the Word of God and is the only incorruptible object in this world. Every institution, whether familial, political, legal, economic, social and religious institutions are systemically and irremediably corrupt. Man has indeed successfully corrupted the Word of God countless times however only to the extent God has permitted according to His purposes. God commissioned Satan to deceive the non-elect through corrupting His Word with false gospels according to God’s purposes throughout the Church age as we will examine.

How do we know the Bible is the very Word of God? What sets it apart from other religious writings? How do we know the Bible is true? The question, “Is the Bible true”? is certainly the most important question anyone could ever ask. If the Bible is true, we are in the midst of a universal cosmic battle between light and darkness, good and evil, and the outcome, whether cosmic or personal defines our future. Which Bible translation is best? Why so many translations. Was it accurately preserved for thousands of years as a unique revelation from the Creator of the universe or is it just a collection of humanly devised myths and fables. How do we understand what the Bible says? How do we study the Bible? How do we interpret the Bible. These are just a few of the questions this chapter will answer.

The Bible:  The word, “bible” is from the Greek word, “biblios” which means, “book”. Literally, “The Book.” As such it is applied by Christians, by way of distinction, to the collection of sacred writings of the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. The word itself, biblos, is found in Matthew 1:1, “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ...”. It is also known as the “Holy Bible.” “Holy,” means to be “set apart.” That is “set apart” from all other books, one of a kind. It is the “The Set Apart Book,” and as will be demonstrated it is truly “set apart” from any other book without comparison nor equal.

The first section of God’s Word: The Bible will be an apologetic for the Bible. A defense for why, indeed, it is the very Word of God, an examination of the evidence from outside the Bible, the external evidence for why it is indeed from God; “The Set Apart Book.” The evidences provided are a small sampling and by no means exhaustive.

In order to conclude that the Bible is the Word of God, it must be put to all rigorous testing in order for us to know and trust that is indeed, God’s Word. If it is flawed in any way, if it untruthful in any way, whatsoever, than it cannot be from God. Many have said that the Bible is not a scientific book and although this is true in the respect it does not contain the formula for the law of gravity or how fast the speed of light travels, it is demonstrated to be completely accurate with all of mankind’s observed, and limited knowledge of science.

 The Bible is made up of an Old testament and a New Testament, yet both are equal in authority and importance. Both Testaments rely on one another to identify and interpret meaning. The Old Testament is made up information written primarily in Hebrew and some Aramaic, which is a Semitic language, still spoken in the region of Israel. The Hebrew Bible, known by the acronym TaNaKh, has these three divisions, first the Torah or Pentetuch, meaning, “5 books,” which are the first five books of the Old Testament, second the Nevi’im or Prophets, and third the Ketuvim or Writings. The Hebrew Bible was made up of 24 books, later the Protestant translators of the Bible divided some books to make 39, yet both Hebrew and Protestant Old Testaments are the same. The New Testament is made up of 27 books and was written in Kione, “common” Greek. The Bible was written from approximately 1449 BC through 95 AD.

Continue on with us as we study God’s Word: The Bible.