The Holy Bible
Why the Bible is called the Holy Bible
The phrase biblia sacra (holy books) first appeared sometime in the Middle Ages.
The phrase biblia sacra (holy books) first appeared sometime in the Middle Ages.
In English, one of the earliest - if not the earliest - uses of “The Holy Bible” appeared in 1611 on
the cover of the Authorized Version, known in the U.S. as the King James
Version.
The word holy has several meanings, and, as we will see, all
of them describe the Word of God.
One meaning of holy is “sacred,
sanctified, hallowed.”
This was ground made holy by God’s presence.
Because God is sacred, the words He speaks are also sacred,
and sinful men such as Moses must be mindful of God’s holiness.
In the same way, the words God gave Moses on Mount Sinai are
also sacred, just as all words God has given to mankind in the Bible are holy
and sacred because He is holy and sacred.
Just as God is perfect, so are His words perfect (Psalm 19:7).
Just as God is righteous and pure, so is His Word righteous
and pure (Psalm 19:8).
The Bible is
also holy because it was written by men under the direction and influence of
the Holy Spirit. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be
thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16).
The Greek word translated “God-breathed” is Theopneustos, from theos, meaning “God,” and pneo, meaning “to breathe or breathe upon.”
We get the English
word pneumonia from this Greek root.
So, our Holy God, in the
person of the Holy Spirit, literally breathed the holy words of Scripture into
the writers of each of
the books through supernatural means.
The divine Writer is holy;
therefore, what He writes is holy.
Another meaning of holy is to be “set apart,” just as God set the nation of Israel
apart from her contemporaries to be a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6).
Similarly, Christians are set apart from unbelievers who
walk in darkness, as described by Peter: “But you are a chosen people, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the
praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
This “set apart” aspect of holiness is
true of the Bible because it is a book set apart from all others.
It is the only book written by God Himself, the only book
that has the power to set men free (John 8:32).
It is the only book to change people’s lives and make them
wise (Psalm 19:7).
The Bible is the only book to sanctify them and make them
holy (John 17:17).
It is the only book that gives life, comfort, and hope (Psalm 119:50).
And it is the only book that will endure until the end of
time (Matthew 5:18).
Holiness
is the mark of every true Christian (1 John 3:9-10).
Cultivating
a lifestyle of holiness does not mean that we must draft a list of do’s and
don’ts to live by. We are free from the letter of the law which kills (2
Corinthians 3:6).
And
now live according to the dictates of the Holy Spirit (Galatians
5:16-18).
God’s
ultimate desire for His people is that we be holy—conformed into the image of
His Son, Jesus (Romans 8:29; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4).
Holiness
is the will of God for our lives.
None of us will reach sinless perfection in this world, but
God has made provision for our sin. “If we confess our sins, he
is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all
unrighteousness” (1
John 1:9).
God
was gracious enough to redeem us from sin and death and give us new life in
Christ.
You
can accept God’s mercy and offer of forgiveness now, start a holy life and be
pleasing to Him.
Say
this prayer:
“Father God, I confess I am a sinner
and my sins have separated me from You.
I am truly sorry.
I now want to turn away
from my past sinful life and live a new life pleasing to You.
Please forgive me, and help me avoid
sinning again.
I believe that Your Son, Jesus
Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my
prayer.
I invite Jesus to become the Lord of
my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Thank You that
according to your Word, I am now born again.
Please send Your Holy Spirit to help
me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. I promise to study
Your Word – the Bible.
Please use me for Your glory.
In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.”
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Thy Word
Amy Grant
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lyrics
Thy
word is a lamp unto my feetAnd a light unto my path.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
When
I feel afraid,
And think I've lost my way.
And think I've lost my way.
Still,
you're there right beside me.Nothing will I fear
As long as you are near;
Please be near me to the end.
As long as you are near;
Please be near me to the end.
Thy
word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
And a light unto my path.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
I
will not forget
Your love for me and yet,
My heart forever is wandering.
Jesus by my guide,
And hold me to your side,
And I will love you to the end.
Your love for me and yet,
My heart forever is wandering.
Jesus by my guide,
And hold me to your side,
And I will love you to the end.
Nothing
will I fearAs long as you are near;
Please be near me to the end.
Thy
word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
And a light unto my path.
You're the light unto my path.
And a light unto my path.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
And a light unto my path.
You're the light unto my path.
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