“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17

“Dad, why can’t we speak English at home?” A question both of my children asked often when we first migrated to Melbourne. My wife and I could only tell them, “Please trust us, because one day when you are grown up and look back, you will be thankful to speak more than one language.” Honestly, what would happen if they do not follow our order? Though they will not have the skill to speak more than English, they will still grow up and live their lives. Our advice is a good thing to have, but, in a way, it is not a must, it is not absolute. 

On the other hand, the Word of God is not like that. We, men, were formed from the ground and God breathed into our nostrils the breath of life and we became living creatures (Gen. 2:7). John said, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (Jn. 1:1). Paul wrote, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Hence, we need the Bible. If we run away or do not read the Word of God, we are dead and may hinder God in making us complete. 

Now, even though we know or have known why we need the Word of God, we often struggle to read the Bible. It is not only about time commitment, but there are certainly many things in the Bible that are not easy to understand. For example, who are the Moabites and Amalekites? As we read the Bible and come to Matthew 7:6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you,” we might stumble on what the meaning is. It is common that we end up feeling tired and hopeless, then we leave it once for all. 

But, do not give up.

The seven reasons why we need the Word of God

Richard Chin, a national director of Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students who serves at Crossroads Christian Church and has written Captivated by Christ, and How to Read the Bible Better, said, “Nothing is more life-giving than God’s word (Ps. 119:25). Nothing is more desirable than God’s word (Ps. 19:10). Nothing is more deadly than starvation from God’s word (Amos 8:11).” 

In this article, I would like to share seven reasons Richard has written on why we need the Bible, the Word of God. Then, in the next article, we will learn on the goals of reading the Bible.

1. The Bible is God’s revelations of himself. God, choosing not to remain hidden, has spoken and revealed Himself through Scripture, offering an all-access pass to understand His mind and will. The divine glory, evident in the natural world, is most prominently displayed in Jesus Christ (Jn. 1:14), with both Old Testament (Jn. 5:39) and New Testament Scriptures (1 Jn. 1:3) testifying about Him. 
2. The Bible is exposing. It cuts through our heart, and the Holy Spirit, through the Bible unveils our sins. It hurts, but it is a gracious thing to know our true self. 
3. The Bible is life-giving. Men need bread for physical life, but men are not to live by physical bread alone. Our spiritual life requires spiritual bread, and Jesus, whom the Word became flesh, is the bread of life (Jn. 1:14, 6:35). 
4. The Bible is profitable. The Passion Translation Bible lays it out clearly that the Bible is profitable because “it will empower you by its instruction and correction, giving you the strength to take the right direction and lead you deeper into the path of godliness. Then you will be God’s servant, fully mature and perfectly prepared to fulfill any assignment God gives you” (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
5. The Bible is our only offensive weapon. Though Jesus has won the battle at the cross of Christ (Col. 2:13-15), Satan is still trying hard to tempt us until Jesus’ second return. God graciously equips us with a complete set of armor; we must wear them all to stand against the devil. Among this armor, there is only one offensive weapon: it is “the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Eph. 6:17). 
6. The Bible is our supreme authority in living life for God and his glory. It is common for people to read the Bible with prior presuppositions, knowledge and experiences. However, it is key to understand that the Bible is the supreme authority above all arguments (Col. 2:4) and overrules all worldly authorities. 
7. The Bible is sufficient for all that we need to know about God and how to live for him. The Bible has all the principles we need to make any decision in life.

I hope that this article reminds us once again why we need to read the Bible, the Word of God. Charles Spurgeon once wrote, “Every promise of Scripture is a writing of God, which may be pleaded before Him with this reasonable request, ‘Do as Thou hast said.’ The Heavenly Father will not break His Word to His own child.” 

I pray that the Holy Spirit, whom the Father has sent to us, will give us the desire to read and also teach us His own Word, until we can really taste it “sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb” (Ps. 19:10).

Further reading: 

1. Chin, Richard. How to Read the Bible Better. Matthias Media, 2021.