Introduction
Books function as powerful time machines, transporting us to the time, circumstances, and culture of the writer. Yet, no book holds greater significance or power than the Holy Bible. In our hands, we possess a unique library—a compilation of 66 divine writings collected into a single, cohesive volume. This volume provides us with God's complete revelation. This article explores the structure and profound value of this divine library, emphasizing the profound responsibility laid upon all believers who possess the entirety of God's written word.
The foundational importance of Scripture is established in the Psalms:
- Psalm 119:89 (ESV): "Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens".
- Psalm 138:2 (ESV): "I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness. For you have exalted above all things your name and your word".
The Supreme Valuation of God’s Word
We must recognize the immense value God places on His word. According to some versions of Scripture, God has exalted His word even above His own name. While God’s name is high above everything (which is why many laws protect against blasphemy), God views the violation or disobedience of His word as much more serious. Therefore, we must see how valuable Scripture is in God’s sight and apply that same high value in our own lives.
The Bible: A Unique, Interconnected Library
The Bible is a compilation of 66 books, written by approximately 40 different people over a span of 1,600 years. Despite the diversity of authorship and time periods, a unique quality of God’s word is that every book is intimately interconnected and interrelated. This interconnectedness is why the Bible is the only book in the whole world that has cross-references.
The 66 books are divided into the Old Testament (39 books) and the New Testament (27 books). The books are arranged by their type, mirroring the logical structure of a university or college library, where books of one department are grouped together.
Old Testament Structure (39 Books)
- Law: The first five books, written by Moses.
- History: Twelve books (from Joshua to Esther).
- Poetry: Five books.
- Prophets: Seventeen books, divided into Major Prophets (five books) and Minor Prophets (twelve books). (The terms "major" and "minor" relate only to the length of the books, not the relative importance of the prophets themselves).
New Testament Structure (27 Books)
- Gospels: Four books.
- History: The Book of Acts (one book).
- Letters: Twenty-one letters in total (thirteen written by Paul and eight general letters).
- Prophecy: The Book of Revelation (one book).
The Focus Shift: From Past and Future to Present Practice
By examining the structure of the two testaments, we observe a significant shift in emphasis:
- Old Testament Emphasis: The majority of the Old Testament focuses on what happened in the past (12 history books) and what is going to happen in the future (17 prophecy books).
- New Testament Emphasis: While the NT includes history (Gospels and Acts, 5 books) and future prophecy (Revelation, 1 book), the bulk of its importance is given to the letters. Out of 27 books, 21 are letters (13 by Paul and 8 general letters). This means that approximately three-fourths of the New Testament speaks about the day-to-day Christian life—how we should live today.
The New Testament emphasizes that while the Lord will return when He chooses, but we must give importance to our practical life now.
The Nature of Progressive Revelation
When the 40 authors wrote their contributions, they were not aware they were writing the Bible; they were simply recording what God was revealing to them. Therefore, the Bible is a progressive revelation of God about himself to God’s people.
To properly understand God’s self-disclosure, we are required to know the revelation in the order of time and in chronological context. For example, Psalm 90, written by Moses, was composed around the same time as the first books of the Bible. Understanding when a book was written helps us understand how God revealed Himself to His people over time.
Accountability for Complete Revelation
Because God has given us the complete written revelation, we face a specific responsibility.
The Apostle Paul noted this clearly:
- Acts 17:30 (ESV): "The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,".
Because we have a fuller revelation than those in olden days, God commands us to respond, repent, change our lives, and live according to the complete truth given to us.
This responsibility is amplified even in Christ’s teaching:
- Luke 12:48 (ESV): "...everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more".
God expects more from us today than He did from those in the times of old.
There is a danger, as seen in the Israelites (Romans 10:2), who possessed zeal for God but lacked the necessary knowledge, causing them to miss recognizing Christ when He came.
Likewise, we are commanded to avoid being like the hypocrites Jesus condemned, who knew how to interpret the appearance of the weather but failed to interpret the "present time":
- Luke 12:56 (ESV): "You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?".
It is our responsibility to understand and respond to how God is revealing Himself in our own time.
General Revelation: The Example of Job
To understand the progressive nature of revelation, we can look at the Book of Job first. Chronological analysis suggests that Job was a contemporary of Abraham and that the book itself was written around the same time Moses was writing Genesis. During Job's lifetime, the Law (the first five books), the history books, or any part of the Bible as we know it today, were not yet available.
This helps explain why Job’s friends had a totally wrong understanding of God. God specifically chastised them, stating:
- Job 42:8 (ESV): "...For you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has".
Job, despite lacking written Scripture, had a correct understanding of God according to the revelation available at that specific time. He gained this understanding because God’s character and nature are revealed through creation.
- Romans 1:19-20 (ESV): "For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse".
If Job lived such a life that God praised Job as "blameless" and "righteous" with only the general revelation of creation, how much more is expected from us who have the complete provision of God’s written word? Understanding the full scope of God's continuing revelation is essential for our spiritual growth and for living the righteous life God commands.
Conclusion
The Bible is an interconnected, progressive, and exalted revelation of God Himself. We are supremely blessed to possess this divine library. Because we have been given "much" through the completed Scripture—the full story from creation to the command for repentance—God expects a deeper commitment and more complete obedience from us than He required in previous eras. We must continually strive to understand and respond daily to the exalted word that God has given to us.
(To be continued...)
