It is needful in these dark days to have the Holy Scriptures constantly before us. “Lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes” (Deut. 11:1818Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. (Deuteronomy 11:18)).
While the world is tossed to and fro, ever learning yet never coming to a knowledge of the truth, we have a sure resource in the Bible. May we heed the exhortation given by the Apostle Paul to Timothy: “Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 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 Tim. 3:14-1714But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:14‑17)).
At one time, the immense cost of producing books limited access to the Bible for most. Today, we are deluged with the printed word, most of which occupies our minds and time with pursuits other than the Holy Scriptures.
The enemy also seeks to undermine the authenticity of the Scriptures. If failing in that, he seeks to revise and paraphrase its words to suit men’s minds that are at enmity with God. How careful we must be in handling the Word of God. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Tim. 3:1616All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16)). “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 1:2121For 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)).
In this humanistic age, freedom of thought encourages each to come to a personal interpretation of Scripture, but the Bible says: “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation” (2 Peter 1:2020Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. (2 Peter 1:20)). We are to “have an outline of sound words, which [words] thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which [are] in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 1:11Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, (2 Timothy 1:1)3 JnD) and to be “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:1515Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)).
The word of God cannot be studied in a rationalistic way, for “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2:1414But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)). “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things” (John 14:2626But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)). Though a babe in Christ has, by the Spirit, an understanding of the Holy Scriptures, none can plumb its infinite depths.
Major Divisions
The Scriptures are divided into two—the Old and New Testaments. There is a gap of some 400 years between the last book of the Old Testament and the birth of Christ, which marks the beginning of the new.
The arrangement and titles for the books of the Old Testament follow that of the Septuagint (a Greek translation of the Old Testament dating from 280 B.C.). First, the five books of Moses, second, the historical books (Joshua through Esther), third, the poetical books (Job through the Song of Songs), and fourth, the prophetical books (Isaiah through Malachi). Within each group, the books are generally chronological—though the minor prophets (so-called) are grouped together after Daniel.
In the Hebrew Scriptures, the books of the Old Testament are divided into three groups. It is perhaps this arrangement that the Lord Jesus refers to when He says: “These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me” (Luke 24:4444And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. (Luke 24:44)). The groupings are firstly the Law (Torah)—the five books of Moses; secondly the Prophets—Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the twelve minor prophets; and thirdly the Writings—the Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles.
Christ and that which concerns Himself form the grand theme of all Scripture. Another has written, “He is the center of all revelation and the burden of all Scripture”. “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:3939Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. (John 5:39)).