The Miracle Book
Devotions for Growing Christians
The Miracle Book
2 Peter 1:19-21 - “And so we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of the human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”
Once again the school year has begun. Football and field hockey have replaced free time and foreign travel. Course assignments are already backlogged. Everything about the campus is in full swing. Unfortunately, there’s another characteristic of the fall season: a renewed attack on the Bible in the classroom.
As students turn on the brain power again, the Enemy is waiting to plug in any way he can. By a wide variety of approaches, the Miracle Book is attacked and torn apart in the classroom. By ridicule: “The Bible is a crutch for weak and gullible people!” By ignorant statements: “The Bible is a bunch of old wives' tales and full of mistakes.” By guilt-by-association techniques: “The Bible is used by religious extremists.” By deceptive questions: “Why do you believe the myths of the Bible instead of the facts of science?”
Against these attacks stands the the Bible’s claim to be a revelation, written in human words, from the one and only true God of the universe. What an audacious claim! So how should a wavering Christian handle the Bible’s claim? Just the way we should handle any other claim: take a careful look at the claim and at the One making the claim, and then see if the Claimer lives up to His claim!
For example, if I told you that I was the world's greatest football quarterback, you could easily squash my claim by either looking up my record (there isn't any!), or by putting me to a simple backyard test! The Bible has an excellent "track record," and when put to the test, the Bible consistently proves itself to be more than a human book. The problem with many Bible demolition experts is that they haven't taken a close enough look at the Book that’s making the claim. They haven't taken the time to put this Book to the test. How much of the Bible has the opposition actually read?
The Sure Word
In 2 Peter 1:19-21 the Bible makes a few claims about itself. First of all, the Bible claims to be the sure prophetic word from God Himself. Does this Book live up to the claim. In verses 16-18 of this chapter, Peter discusses his experience on Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8). There, on the slopes of Mount Hermon in northern Israel, the divine glory of the Lord Jesus was seen by three of His disciples. They also heard the approving voice of God the Father from Heaven. What an amazing experience!
Then in verse 19 Peter says that "we have the prophetic word made more sure." What does that mean? There are two possibilities. It may mean that the Old Testament prophecies about Jesus, the Messiah, being the Son of God were confirmed ("made more sure") by what the disciples saw and heard on the "holy mountain." However, it may mean that although the disciples had been privileged to actually see the glorified Christ with their own eyes, and hear the voice of God with their own ears, the written prophetic Scripture was even "more sure." (Maybe the vision-seekers and sign-seekers of today should read this verse!)
Notice that in either of the above cases, prophetic Scripture is being proclaimed as sure word. It is firm and steadfast, trustworthy and reliable, certain and indisputable. It is sure! Has the Bible lived up to this claim? Just a quick examination of the Dead Sea Scrolls should be enough to convince any hard-nosed skeptic that something supernatural is going on! The scrolls are manuscript copies of almost the entire Old Testament Scriptures (including specific messianic prophecies and other fulfilled prophecies). The scrolls are well-known to be dated to over 100 years before Christ.
There are a number of reasons why this "sure word" claim should not be limited only to specific Old Testament prophecies. All of the Old Testament is "prophetic word," in that it lays the groundwork for the coming Christ. Furthermore, when Peter speaks of the "prophetic word" he is probably thinking not only of isolated prophetic texts in the Old Testament. He was likely thinking all the Old Testament Scriptures. The Jews of Peter's day considered all the Old Testament writers as prophets to one degree or another - even the writers of the Psalms (see Matthew 13:35 and Psalm 78:2).
What about the New Testament? Based on what Peter says in chapter 3, the "sure word" claim can be very reasonably applied to the New Testament as well. Notice that in 2 Peter 3:2 the words of the New Testament apostles are given the same status and authority as the words of the Old Testament prophets. Notice further that in 2 Peter 3:15-16 the New Testament writings of Paul were already recognized by Christians as Scripture. They were given the same position and rank as the Old Testament ("the rest of Scripture"). The "sure word" claim applies to all of the Bible! When put to the test, the entire Bible lives up to this claim.
The Bible has proved itself to be reliable and trustworthy, not only in matters of "faith and practice" but in historical and geographical data as well. Recent archaeological finds continue to confirm even small details of Scripture. (For example, have you read about the Ebla tablets?) The critic of the Bible is forced, time and time again, to back down and alter his or her destructive theories. Faced with mounting evidence, it is harder and harder to deny that there is something supernatural about the sure Word.
A Shining Lamp
A second claim the Bible makes about itself is found in verse 19. The Bible is a "lamp shining in a dark place." This world is in spiritual darkness, but God has given His Word as a light so that people may see and understand things as they really are. Apart from the light of Scripture, we grope in darkness. Without revelation from God, one person's speculative philosophy is as valid as another's. If it's only guess-work, it doesn't really make any difference whether your philosophy is reincarnation or "you only go around once." "Whatever works for you" may feel like "enlightenment," but without the foundation of Scripture it's only a leap in the darkness.
Does the Bible live up to its claim of being a lamp shining in a dark place? The Bible sheds light on all kinds of areas. It gives the history of the material universe and knowledge of the immaterial world. It relates the origin of mankind, as well as what life is all about. It tells us of the past, present and future. No wonder it's called the "prophetic word." Like no other book, the Bible gives us the what, where, when, why - and Who! Specifically, the Bible ties it all together by giving us the focus of human history - Jesus Christ and His redemptive work.
Many disagree with the Bible's world view, but everyone (including teachers and professors of every classroom) must agree that the Bible, consistently and without compromise, sheds light on everything. - even the hard questions, like miracles and the problem of evil. The Bible’s philosophy holds together. It doesn’t break down at some point, as do other philosophies. Where can we find judgment for ultimate evil in the philosophy of existentialism, for example? The main reason why unbelievers don't want to accept the Bible's philosophy is that they must then admit that they are guilty before a holy God!
The skeptic must also agree that without the Judeo-Christian contribution to mankind's history of thought (which is obviously based on the precepts and principles of the Bible), the world would certainly be more "in the dark." Wherever the light of the Bible has penetrated around the world, it has the effect of helping people to see and understand things as they really are. Those who have searched for the light in countless other ways finally "see" when they come to the Bible. Little wonder, then, that we are exhorted to "pay attention" to the light of Scripture (Psalm 119:105). When Christ returns in glory, the "day will dawn" and all will clearly see that the lamp of Scripture was right in what it revealed. At present, Scripture is the means by which we come to know the living presence of the Lord in our lives. He is the Morning Star - the Star that pledges daybreak! (See Revelation 22:16.)
A Unified Book
In verses 20-21 the Bible makes a third claim about itself: the Bible is one Book because its origin is the Spirit of God. When we, as Christians, pay attention to the lamp of Scripture, we must realize and understand that no Scripture is of "one's own interpretation." This doesn't mean that the Bible is so complicated that the individual Christian must rely on theologians for interpretation! No! It means that we can't interpret any one Scripture without taking all the rest of Scripture into account.
Every Christian should be very aware of the danger of taking a Scripture out of the context of the entire Bible. No Scripture explains itself. Every Scripture must be interpreted in the light of all Scripture. Why? Because the Bible is not just 66 different books by different authors - it is one book written by one Author.
You can't get the full picture and interpret any part of the Bible properly apart from the whole Book. The Bible is not like a patchwork of isolated "units of truth." It is more like a tapestry, designed and woven by God Himself. Yes, He used human weavers - but each one was "moved by the Holy Spirit."
Has the Bible lived up to its claim of being one Book? Is there any other work of literature that has the unity of the Jewish and Christian Scriptures? The Bible was written over a period of 1600 years, by more than 40 different authors, from all walks of life, under all kinds of conditions, on many controversial subjects - yet it is one Book in theme, purpose, structure and agreement! The Bible’s unity is unique! It is a Miracle Book!
- Dave Reid