It’s not just the attacks on the Bible from without that we need to watch for; Satan has also been very busy within Christendom. Anything that distorts the truth of God weakens the Word of God. Paul in writing to Timothy says: “Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them” (2 Tim. 3:13-14). Man is never content with merely taking a position, he will also attempt to deceive others.
In English speaking Christendom we have many different translations of the Bible. These range from faithful renditions of the original text to the most fanciful and blasphemous versions. But it is not simply a question of the integrity of the Word, but also our understanding of it. By and large, Christendom has not rightly divided the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15). The most common interpretations imposed upon the Scriptures have done much to rob Christianity of its distinctive character. To better understand the Word of God, and to be able to provide clear explanations of its key doctrines, these are powerful stones to have in our shepherd’s bag. We don’t learn doctrine, however, by a gentle diet, grazing on the tender green tidbits of truth that God offers in His Word. At some point, we have to exert ourselves and really buckle down and study the Scriptures so that we might truly know them.
In times of darkness the faithful have always returned to the Word of God with a renewed sense of its value. “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O Lord God of hosts” (Jer. 15:16). We see it in Josiah’s day (2 Kings 23:2). Again, in the time of Nehemiah, the remnant in Jerusalem felt the need to have the Word of God brought before them. “All the people gathered themselves together ... and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel” (Neh. 8:1). Nothing changes when we get to the New Testament. The Apostle Paul in his departing words to the Ephesian elders exhorted them: “Brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace” (Acts 20:32). Peter, knowing that his time of departure from this world was at hand, wrote: “I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth” (2 Pet. 1:12). The aged Apostle John wrote: “I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you” (1 John 2:14). As with Job, it is good to cultivate an appetite for the Word of God: “I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food” (Job. 23:12).