Learn the Value and Power of the Bible
I am surrounded by Bibles.
One day in my office several years ago I counted 22 Bibles on my shelves and desk. I don’t have as many at home, but another dozen or so is likely (I haven’t counted them). I have 20 English translations in my Bible software. I have three different Greek New Testaments with that software, and the Hebrew Old Testament, and the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint), and at least 14 more versions I cannot read (Spanish, German, French, Italian, and Romanian among them). I have a New Testament in my car. And my cell phone has an iOS version of my desktop Bible software, so I have access to all those versions of the Bible on my phone. And I also have a phone app that gives me access to Bible versions in hundreds of languages. And I’m pretty sure I’m overlooking some copies of the Bible somewhere.
I am surrounded by Bibles, and I suspect that you are, too.
The question for most of us isn’t “do we have the Bible?” but “Do we know and believe the Bible?”
Since you are reading a blog about biblical counseling, you likely affirm the authority of the Bible. You probably agree that it is inerrant. You certainly will readily affirm that it is sufficient and powerful. But do you really believe those statements? Does the way you live affirm that the Bible not only has a place of priority in your life, but that you really believe this Book to be true—that it is “the verbally inspired Word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible and God-breathed?”¹ Do you trust this Book so much that it is the first place you turn for help when you have a problem and you allow it to dictate your daily desires, decisions, and deeds? When you counsel others, as you do on a daily basis when you offer opinions, share stories, give feedback, and pray with others, is your counsel saturated with the authority of Scripture? Is your counsel just one more voice of “opinion” or does your counsel carry the weight of God’s authority because it is marinated and wrapped in the grace of the Bible?
Why the Bible is Essential
Disciplers and biblical counselors love people and love Christ and love discipleship and love the Bible. Because biblical counselors love Christ and people, they want to help hurting people in the name of Christ. But biblical counselors are incapable of changing people, and because of this, they are pointers to the one means of change in the life of the sufferer or sinner: the Bible.
Why are biblical counselors so adamant about the necessity of using Scripture as the primary means of ministering to people? Because Scripture itself attests to its power to change individuals and is also the means the Spirit of God uses to change people. Consider just a few examples:
Obedience to the Bible is the mark of prosperity and success (Joshua 1:8)
Scripture is the means to spiritual stability and prosperity (Psalm 1:2–3)
The Word of God is an enduring (eternal) message, in contrast to everything else mankind knows, which is why the teacher and preacher are persistent in proclaiming only the message of God’s Word (1 Peter 1:24–25)
Every part of Scripture is beneficial to grow the believer (1 Peter 1:2–3)
God’s Word is the tool used by the Spirit to bring transformation in the believer (Colossians 3:16)
The Bible restores, makes wise, produces joy, enlightens, warns, protects, and is more desirable than gold or honey (Psalm 19:7–13²).
These are just a few of the compelling reasons Scripture gives on its essential nature. The Bible is unique in its power and abilities. There is no more important weapon the believer has to defend himself and guide his life than the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. It is useful to protect him from the deceiving attacks of the evil one (Ephesians 6:10–11, 17), and it is useful to protect him from the desires of the flesh by helping him understand the inclinations and longings of his soul (Hebrews 4:12). It’s both a life protector and a soul examiner. It is powerful.
Perhaps you are unconvinced. Let’s look briefly at one short passage in Scripture that compels us to trust and use this unique, divinely-given Book.
Why the Bible is Essential—One Example
If John 3:16 is the first Bible verse that most Christians memorize, then perhaps 2 Timothy 3:16–17 is the first Bible verse most fledgling pastors and seminary students memorize, and for good reason. If a pastor’s primary job is to care for God’s people by the ministry of the Word,³ then he must know and believe the Book he dispenses on a daily basis in discipleship and counseling and weekly basis in the pulpit. These two verses are necessary for the pastor and the discipling counselor because they affirm the source of Scripture’s power (God, v. 16a), the nature of its power (sufficiency, v. 16b), and the purpose of its power (equipping, v. 17).
The Source of Scripture’s Power (v. 16a)
When Paul says all Scripture, he is alluding to what he said in verse 14: “continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them.” Why should Timothy continue in his Scripture learning and obedience to the things he has learned in Scripture? He should continue because of what Scripture is—it is inspired by God (v. 16). Not just some Scripture, but all Scripture is inspired by God. The whole of Scripture is from God. We understand that at the time Paul wrote, the New Testament was not yet canonized (or even completely written), so his primary reference is to the Old Testament, though some New Testament writers already considered the writings of their contemporaries to be equal in authority to the Old Testament. Paul means that there is nothing superfluous in Scripture. It is all from the mouth of God.
Specifically he says that Scripture is “inspired by God.” That word (it is one word in Greek) does not refer to something that is inspiring, as in motivational. Scripture is inspired by God in that it originates from Him. More literally, it is “God-breathed.” God breathed out His Word. Every word in the book (and every stroke and mark, according to Jesus in Matthew 5:18) emanates from God. The Bible is sourced in God. The emphasis in this verse is not how God compiled the Scriptures, but that the Scriptures are His. They belong to Him and they come from Him. Because they come from Him, they come with the accuracy and inerrancy that only infinite God can have. Further, they have the authority and power that only the infinite God can have.
Why should the counselor or discipler or pastor or church member take pains to know Scripture? Why should we make the effort to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18)? We should pursue this knowledge with vigor because it is from God and because it is the final authority for faith and life. It stands above all other claims to truth and authority because it is from God’s very mouth. We need and want to know Scripture because it is powerful, and it is powerful because it is from God alone.
This is Part 1 of a 3-part series. Part 2 coming soon.
¹ This is how our church constitution explains our position on Scripture.
² See also Psalm 119 for many additional illustrations of what Scripture is and does.
³ Acts 6:4; 1 Timothy 3:2; 4:16; Titus 1:9. I also believe that the charge made to Peter by Jesus at the Sea of Galilee (John 21:15–17) was by application for all who will care for God’s people as shepherds.
