There are two perspectives from which one can discern that the Bible is not just another book. First, the Bible considered as simply a specimen of literature is without peers. This primarily pertains to an external analysis of the Book and contrasting it with anything and everything else ever written. Secondly, the Bible is superior as well to every other book from internal evaluation of it and in contrast to every other book ever penned. This pertains to the inescapable acknowledgement by honest hearts of the divine origin of the Bible. From every reflection, the Holy Word of God—the Bible—is not just another book.
The most revered ancient secular manuscripts rely on a handful of copies far removed from the originals for their contemporary existence. On the other hand, the Bible’s contemporary presence and content results from an expansive, incomparable foundation of many thousands of witnesses. The type of witnesses to which we refer are thousands of ancient manuscript copies of the Bible books in the original biblical languages of Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek; thousands of antique translations of the Bible in various languages; numerous lectionaries (worship service Scripture selections); and the writings of the so-called Church Fathers over several centuries following the commencement of Christianity (i.e., defenses of Christianity and early commentaries). The Bible is the best attested literary work on earth with neither peers nor any other writing even close to being as thoroughly validated as it is. Obviously, the Bible is not just another book!
Most books do not claim to be divine in origin, and the few that do miserably fail to prove that they are divine in origin. The Bible, though, not only claims to be inspired of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21), but there is more than enough internal evidence to unquestionably validate its claim. Chief among the internal evidences to the Bible’s divine origin are its hundreds of prophecies, all of which were fulfilled completely, often hundreds of years after the prophetic utterances were made. Mere men are incapable of making accurate predictions hundreds of years prior to their anticipated fulfillment, though the Bible does precisely this. Therefore, writings in which predictions fail are not from God (Deuteronomy 18:22), but the Bible, in which hundreds of prophecies were fulfilled, is clearly divine in origin. The Bible is not just another book.
Over 300 prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah—Jesus Christ—were fulfilled in every detail. That achievement is beyond the possibility of self-fulfilling prophecies (e.g., birthplace, no bones broken). In addition, Old Testament prophecies concerning the redemption of penitent souls being available in the New Testament era (Isaiah 2:2-3; Joel 2:28-3:2; Acts 2:16-21; Ephesians 3:9-11; Hebrews 8:8-13; 9:12-22) confirm the divine origin of the Bible. Yes, the Bible is not just another book.
Since the Bible is divine in origin, it is God speaking directly to mankind. As such, we need to handle correctly its message (2 Timothy 2:15 ESV) and apply its teachings to our lives (Luke 6:46; John 14:15). The Bible is one’s roadmap from here on earth to an eternity in Heaven with God for eternity. We must follow the map! Beyond that, the Bible alone can inform us from where we humans came, why we are here, where we are going and how to get there. Only the Bible can equip us adequately regarding salvation, Christian worship, Christian service, Christian living and Christian doctrine. The Bible, then, is not just another book.
The Bible is not just another book! However, the Bible will remain ineffective for one’s earthly and eternal well-being as long as it—God’s Word—is not applied to one’s life. Anyone who does not acknowledge the Bible as divine in origin and apply its doctrine to his or her life treats the Bible as though it were just another book (Ecclesiastes 12:12). Yet, the Bible is not just another book. It is the Book from God, actually comprised of 66 books, written by about 40 human secretaries over approximately 1,600 years. We dare not treat the Bible as though it were just another book resulting from mortal ingenuity, and thereby, of relatively little consequence.
