In a world full of opinions, advice and competing voices, many people are looking for a fixed point, something they can truly rely on. Seventh-day Adventists believe that this fixed point is the Bible. It is not just an ancient book or a collection of beautiful stories, but the written revelation of God’s will, through which He still speaks to us today.
A book inspired by God
The apostle Paul wrote to young Timothy that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The words of the Bible were written by people, in different times and languages, yet they come from one source. Peter explains it simply: “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1:21).
A light for every day
The Bible was not given only to theologians, but to ordinary people with worries, questions and decisions to make. The psalmist describes it as a lamp lighting the next step: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105). We do not always see the whole road, but God’s Word shows us enough to take the next step with confidence.
A word that endures
Trends, ideas and philosophies come and go, but Scripture remains. “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” (Isaiah 40:8). Jesus Himself, praying for His disciples, said: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17). When we read the Bible with an open heart, we do not just receive information; we are transformed.
How the Bible has been preserved
The Bible was written over about 1,500 years by more than forty authors: shepherds, kings, fishermen, a doctor and a tax collector. Even so, it tells one coherent story, the story of God’s love seeking to bring humanity back home. Manuscripts discovered over time, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, show how carefully the text was copied and preserved from one generation to the next.
Jesus Himself treated the Scriptures with the utmost seriousness. When He was tempted in the wilderness, He did not answer with His own arguments but with the Word: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4). If the Son of God relied on Scripture in hard moments, how much more do we need it.
How to read the Bible well
Many people start reading the Bible from the first page and stop somewhere in Leviticus. A better place to begin is the Gospel of Mark or John, where we meet Jesus directly. Read a little, but every day, and ask God to open your understanding, as the psalmist prayed: “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” (Psalm 119:18).
Ask yourself simple questions: What do I learn about God in this passage? What do I learn about myself? What can I put into practice today? Write down a thought, a verse or a prayer. Over time you will discover that the Bible is not just a book you read, but a book that reads you and shows you what is in your heart.
The Word that gives life
The ultimate purpose of the Bible is not to make us better informed, but to bring us to life. John explains why he wrote his Gospel: “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” (John 20:31). Every page of Scripture leads us, in one way or another, to Jesus.
That is why Adventists do not see the Bible as a cold rulebook, but as a love letter from our heavenly Father. When we open it with humility and trust, the Holy Spirit turns the written words into a living voice that comforts us, corrects us and guides us along the path of life.
For reflection
Think about the place the Bible has in your ordinary day, and which passage has helped you through a difficult time. As a challenge this week, read one chapter of the Gospel of Mark each day and write down one thought that touched you.
Bible verses are quoted from the King James Version.