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The Bible—A Perfect Whole, April 13
Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
2 Peter 1:21
.
Before the entrance of sin, Adam enjoyed open communion with his Maker; but
since man separated himself from God by transgression, the human race has been
cut off from this high privilege. By the plan of redemption, however, a way has been
opened whereby the inhabitants of the earth may still have connection with heaven.
God has communicated with men by His Spirit, and divine light has been imparted
to the world by revelations to His chosen servants. “Holy men of God spake as they
were moved by the Holy Ghost” (
2 Peter 1:21
).
During the first 2,500 years of human history, there was no written revelation.
Those who have been taught of God communicated their knowledge to others,
and it was handed down from father to son, through successive generations. The
preparation of the written word began in the time of Moses. Inspired revelations
were then embodied in an inspired book. This work continued during the long
period of 1,600 years—from Moses, the historian of Creation and the law, to John,
the recorder of the most sublime truths of the gospel.
The Bible points to God as its author; yet it was written by human hands; and in
the varied style of its different books it presents the characteristics of the several
writers. The truths revealed are all “given by inspiration of God” (
2 Timothy 3:16
);
yet they are expressed in the words of men. The Infinite One by His Holy Spirit
has shed light into the minds and hearts of His servants. He has given dreams and
visions, symbols and figures; and those to whom the truth was thus revealed have
themselves embodied the thought in human language.
The Ten Commandments were spoken by God Himself, and were written by
His own hand. They are of divine, and not of human composition. But the Bible,
with its God-given truths expressed in the language of men, presents a union of the
divine and the human. Such a union existed in the nature of Christ, who was the
Son of God and the Son of man. Thus it is true of the Bible, as it was of Christ, that
“the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (
John 1:14
).
Written in different ages by men who differed widely in rank and occupation, and
in mental and spiritual endowments, the books of the Bible present a wide contrast
in style, as well as a diversity in the nature of the subjects unfolded. Different
forms of expression are employed by different writers; often the same truth is more
strikingly presented by one than by another.... And the truths thus revealed unite to
form a perfect whole, adapted to meet the wants of men in all the circumstances and
experiences of life (
The Great Controversy, v, vi
).
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