The Value of the Bible

Throughout history, no book has been the target of more attacks and controversies than the Holy Bible.
Although in Brazil — as is common in the West in general — owning a Bible may seem trivial, this is not the rule in other parts of the world: for example, in the so-called "10/40 Window," which encompasses the region of the Earth where approximately 90% of the planet's inhabitants live, the Bible is discouraged and even prohibited in several countries, where simply possessing a Bible… can send its owner to jail!

In a country where Christianity is not yet the target of persecution, the Bible is not prohibited and owning one becomes almost trivial—many families even have more than one copy at home. Therefore, the tendency is for many to end up considering its possession, and even its reading, something commonplace.
However, the Scriptures, as they are called in the text itself, possess a value that many fail to realize.

This is not simply a book of guidance or instruction, although that is also part of its content: it is divine revelation, the most important message that humanity has received throughout its entire existence, revealing the person and work of the Savior Jesus Christ.
The Bible was written over approximately 1500 years—from 1400 BC to around 100 AD—and it is estimated that it had 44 different writers during this period, few of whom were contemporaries: most of the writers of the text never met, and yet, to impress even the most skeptical, there are the...

CROSS-REFERENCES

Many statements in the biblical text are separated by centuries and even more than a millennium, yet they are nonetheless fulfilled.
In the very first pages, for example, there is the promise of the coming of the Savior (Genesis 3:15), something that only came true thousands of years in the future!
There are over 63,000 cross-references in a collection of books containing approximately 30,000 verses, demonstrating that there is more than one affirmation regarding prophecies and teachings that are confirmed over time.
A study conducted some time ago shows that such references are so numerous that, when grouped in a graph, they form a pattern resembling a rainbow.

However, the greatest proof of the Bible's value lies in Him of whom it is a witness, the Lord Jesus Christ himself: He affirmed that the Scriptures testify of Him (r); He answered the three temptations of the devil with the Scriptures (Matthew 4:1-11); he stated, in his priestly oration, that Judas was lost so that Scripture might be fulfilled (John 17:12), in addition to the use of various passages from Scripture that he made (Luke 3:4, 4:17; Matthew 24:15, (among many other examples), his great testimony to the value of Scripture is found on the eve of his crucifixion, more precisely at the moment he was arrested:

And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off one of his ears.
But Jesus commanded him:
“Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword! Or do you think that I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?”
But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled, which state that everything must happen this way?”

(Matthew 26:51-54 – KJA)

Having the power and even the right to ask the Father to send more than twelve legions of angels (that is, a number greater than 72,000, since a Roman legion had 6,000 soldiers), the Son of God himself did not do so, in order that the Scriptures, which foretold his death and resurrection, might be fulfilled… and humanity redeemed from sin.

Therefore, never underestimate the privilege you have of owning a Bible, much less the opportunity to read it!
It is God's revelation to humankind, a precious word that gives hope found nowhere else, a treasure so valuable that God himself, in the person of his Son, submitted to it even unto death and resurrection.
God bless us.

In the Bonds of Calvary

Eduardo Pydd Teixeira

It seems that the end times are unfolding ever more rapidly, and before the Lord returns like a thief in the night, we can already observe signs of the prophesied reign of the Antichrist consolidating not only in Brazil, but throughout the world!
In the 2023 phase of "The Worst Gospel," I decided to use new formats in the hope of helping to increase the reach of content related to the Scriptures—stories, videos, shorter texts, guest authors…—and this publication, which I took the liberty of revising and illustrating, is part of that project.
Thank you for reading this far.
I still need all the help I can get: comments, shares, and reactions help spread this content, which was entirely produced with the intention of contributing to the edification of the Body of Christ in the world.