THE BIBLE - A STORY FOR SURVIVAL

WHY THE BIBLE HAS SURVIVED 

The Bible has survived. As a result, you can obtain and read a copy of it today.  And when you choose a good translation of the Scriptures, you can be certain that you are reading a dependable copy of the original writings.  But why has the Bible endured despite natural decay, fierce opposition, and deliberate tampering with its message, often with its astounding accounts of survival?  What is so special about that book? 

Many students of the Bible have come to the same conclusion as the apostle Paul, who wrote:  "All Scripture is inspired of God."  (2 Timothy 3:16) They believe  that the Bible has survived  because it is the unique Word of God and because  God has preserved it until today.  Faizal, quoted in the opening  article  of this series, eventually decided to investigate those claims for himself by studying the Bible.  What he discovered surprised him. He soon learned that many of the teachings that are prevalent in Christendom are not found in the Bible.  Furthermore, he was touched by God's purpose for the earth as revealed in His Word.

"I am now convinced that the Bible that I have is a gift from God," he says.  "After all, if God  can make the universe, wouldn't he have the power to give us a book and preserve it for us?  To say otherwise would be to limit God's power.   To limit the power of the Almighty-who am I to do that?" -Isaiah 40:8. 

This series of articles has discussed the preservation of the Bible.  But how can you be sure that the Bible is really  "the word of God"  and not just a collection of myths and legends?  ( 1 Thessalonians 2:13)  Watch the short video How Can We Be Sure the Bible is True? at www.jw.org. (Click the Search button, and enter the title) 

Next time: Cities Why in Crisis? - "EXPLODING CITIES" 

From The Watchtower magazine