What Does the Bible Mean to Us?

This is a unique question, because various answers are given to it by different persons. The Bible does not have the same meaning for everyone. What is the reason for this? Is the Bible at fault, or are we? Is the Bible a book of divine origin, or of human origin? Does the Bible inform us how man regards God, or does it explain how God regards man? May we exercise authority over the Bible, or does the Bible rule us? Is the Bible a limited book, supplying us with respectable opinions of former ages but not applicable to modern man with his unique problems? Or is the Bible the Word of God, requiring unconditional surrender and pursuance of its guidelines?

Today these are questions which demand an answer and determine our attitude to the Bible. We live in a time of assault upon the Bible. One biblical Standard and rule after another is subverted. An unbiblical, foreign theology slays its thousands. Events occur today which have never had their counterpart in church history. It seems that the results of modern philosophy and the natural sciences with the problem-solving approach of modern man simply compel one to a different interpretation and approach to the Bible than was the case in former times. Modern theology interprets the Bible in a way that coincides with the results of science. However, the Bible is stripped, and its authority undermined, by this approach. It appears that man places more confidence in science than in the Word of God.

But is there conflict between science and the Bible? How would that be possible? Even Galileo observed that the words of God's mouth (His Word) and the works of His hands (His creation) could not contradict each other. We cannot speak of an actual conflict; there can only be a conflict between the Bible and the interpretation of the results of science. This interpretation leads to a position in which science and its hypotheses are overvalued and the Bible undervalued. At the same time, the Bible is misused, because we may not entangle the Bible in various scientific problems. The Bible ascends far above that, and it has a message and a significance which does not depend on its use as a problem-solving tool for science.

We must search for the answer to the question “What does the Bible mean to us?” in the Bible itself. What testimony does the Bible give of itself? It is evident that the Bible reserves its right to be distinct from any other book. This book acknowledges its inspiration by the Holy Spirit, a fact which we may not ignore. Neo-rationalistic theology does not take this inspiriation into account; it regards the Bible as any other product of literature. In its estimation, the Bible is not the Word of God.

However, throughout the Bible we find testimonies of divine inspiration. We often read “And the word of the Lord came…” and “Thus saith the Lord.” The Bible is God's Word precisely because of this inspiration. He who is convinced of this fact listens reverently to the Word of God. Then the Bible is not merely a book of human origin, nor only a worthy substitute for God's Word from which one could extract God's meaning. Then the Bible is not a limited book, but one containing the will ‘of God, applicable to all people of all times. Then the Bible is an authoritative book to which one must unconditionally bow. Therefore we may not make the Bible conform to all questions of the present time, but we must conform ourselves with all the questions of our time to the Word of God.

We must consider that the Bible is not a scientific book, nor is it a book which merely relates the history of the Jewish people. It is a book which contains God's decree of salvation for lost sinners. Perhaps we might have desired that the Bible would have given us more detail; perhaps we would have liked more information concerning certain persons and occurrences. However, the Bible is not written to satisfy our curiosity. Nevertheless, those who have become inquisitive about the fullness that is in Christ Jesus can find in it everything necessary to salvation. John wrote in chapter 20:30-31: “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book: 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.”

Therefore what is most necessary? It is that we earnestly seek to know the God of the Bible in the person of Christ Jesus so that we may become true Christians. This is rooted in a true faith in Him. A life according to God's Word and based on God's Word will not be deficient in bringing forth fruit for ourselves and our environment. We thereby enjoy the only comfort, and our neighbor is edified and won for Christ; above all, God's Name is glorified.

— Rev. J. van Haaren (1933-1983)

The Scripture is the library of the Holy Ghost; it is a pandect of divine knowledge, an exact model and platform of religion. The Scripture contains in it the credenda, “the things which we are to believe,” and the agenda, “the things which we are to practice.”

— Thomas Watson

I know there is nothing in the Word or in the works of God that is repugnant to sound reason, but there are some things in both which are opposite to carnal reason, as well as above right reason; and therefore our reason never shows itself more unreasonable than in summoning those things to its bar which transcend its sphere and capacity.

— John Flavel

Revisions and Corrections Yearbook 2002

Page 12 Phone number: Mrs. Arie (Simonia) Vergunst (616) 345-2871.

Page 125 Change of address: David Koedam 27226 387th Avenue Corsica, South Dakota 57328 (605) 946-5525

Page 13 Change of address: Rev. J. Driessen Bezelhorst 52 7009 KL Doetichem The Netherlands 070-3656395

Page 15 Change of address: Rev. J. Veenendaal Achterbergsestraatweg 178 3911 CX Achterberg The Netherlands 0317-619142

Pages 46-48 and 140-141 Area codes for the Kalamazoo area are to changed effective July 13 to 269 (instead of 616).

25th Wedding Anniversary

On August 10, 2002, the Lord willing, our dear parents, Rev. and Mrs. A. H. Verhoef hope to commemorate their 25th wedding anniversary.

It is our prayer that God will continue to help and bless them in the unknown future.

“Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psalm 107:21).

1142 Lakeshore Road West St. Catharines, Ontario L2R 6P9

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