1. It is unique in its continuity.
If just 10 people today were picked who were from the same place, born around the same time, spoke the same language, and made about the same amount of money, and were asked to write on just one controversial subject, they would have trouble agreeing with each other. But the Bible stands alone. It was written overa period of 1,600 years by more than 40 writers from all walks of life. Some werefishermen; some were politicians. Others were generals, kings, shepherds,historians, tax collectors, physician and tentmaker. They were from threedifferent continents, and wrote in three different languages. They wrote onhundreds of subjects like creation, nature of God, man, sin and redemption yet theywrote with agreement and harmony. They wrote in dungeons, in temples, inpalaces, in prisons, on beaches, and on hillsides, during peacetime and duringwar. Yet their words sound like they came from the same source. So even though10 people today couldn’t write on one controversial subject and agree, Godpicked 40 different people to write the Bible—and it stands the test oftime.
2. It is unique in its circulation and translation
The invention of the printing press in 1450 made it possible to print books in large quantities. The first book printed was the Bible. Since then, the Bible has been read by more people and printed more times than any other book in history. By 1930, over one billion Bibles had been distributed by Bible societies around the world. By 1977, Bible societies alone were printing over 200 million Bibles each year, and this doesn’t include the rest of the Bible publishing companies. “The world’s best-selling and most widely distributed book is the Bible, with an estimated six billion copies sold in the last two hundred years (Guinness Book of World Records). About 30 years ago, it was recorded that for the British and Foreign Bible Society to meet its demands, it had to publish one copy every three seconds day and night; 22copies every minute day and night; 1,360 copies every hour day and night;32,876 copies every day in the year.
The United Bible Societies in October 2011 said that there were 469 languages with a complete Bible, and 1231languages have New Testaments and another 827 with at least some portion of scripture translated. So the Bible has been translated into 2527 languages. No other book even comes close. No one who is interested in knowing the truth can ignore such an important book.
- It is unique IT’S Survival
The Bible has survived through time. Being written on material that perishes and having to be copied and recopied for hundreds of years before the invention of the printing press did not diminish the style, correctness or existence of the Bible.
The Bible has survived through persecution. No other book has been so attacked throughout history as the Bible. Many have tried to burn it, ban it, and “outlaw it from the days of Roman emperors to present-day Communist-dominated countries.” In A.D. 300 the Roman emperorDiocletian ordered every Bible burned because he thought that by destroying the Scriptures he could destroy Christianity. Anyone caught with a Bible would be executed. Yet, just decades later, Eusebius under the dictates of Constantine found fifty Bible in just twenty-five hours. The French Philosopher and sceptic Voltaire said the Bible and Christianity would perish within fifty years but he died in 1728 and the Bible survives. Fifty years after his death, the Geneva Bible Society used his printing press and his house to produce Bibles.
The Bible has survived through criticism. No other book has been so chopped, knifed, sifted, scrutinized, and vilified as the Bible. Bernard Ram said, “A thousand times over, the death knell of the Bible has been sounded, the funeral procession formed, the inscription cut on the tomb stone, and committal read. But somehow the corpse never stays put.” The Bible’s critics have tried to explain away every aspect of the Bible to destroy its authenticity but the Bible has withstood every attack by its enemies. It stands today as solid as a rock. Its circulation increases, and it is more loved and cherished and read today than ever before. The Bible is indestructible!
- IT IS UNIQUE IN ITS SCIENTIFIC ACCURACY
Despite popular belief, the progress of science has not undermined the Bible’s accuracy. Not a single scientific fact or discovery has ever disproved anything in the Bible! In fact, they have repeatedly confirmed the scriptures’ accuracy.E.g. the Bible revealed that the earth was round nearly 2,200 years before the15th century explorers realized that the world wasn’t flat after all(Isaiah 40:22). The Hebrew word for ‘circle’ in this verse means ‘sphericity’or ‘roundness’. Before the invention of the telescope, Kepler counted 1,005stars; Ptolemy counted 1,056 stars and Tycho Brahe 777. But in 600 BC, Jeremiah revealed that the number of stars was innumerable, (Jer. 33:22).
5. Unique in its Teaching
The Bible is God’s word to man. God reveals himself to man, his purpose for man, and his plan to accomplish that purpose. There have been many textbooks written for the purpose of instructing man in nearly every aspect of life. However, no book but the bible can tell man where he came from, how to live, and where he is going.
The teaching of God’s word plumbs the depths of all that man desires to know. It reaches heights that none has ever attained. Its wisdom and knowledge proclaim the unsearchable riches of God. It reveals the truth, which can save man and set him free from sin and death. The sum of all the world’s learning cannot compare to the teaching to be found in the Bible.
6. Unique in its Influence
The historian Philip Schaff once said: This Jesus of Nazareth, without money and arms, conquered more millions than Alexander, Caesar, Mohammed, and Napoleon; without science and learning, he shed more light on things human and divine, than all philosophers and scholars combined; without the eloquence of schools, he spoke such words of life as were never spoken before or since, and produced effects which lie beyond the reach of orator or poet; without writing a single line, he set more pens in motion, and furnished more themes for sermons, orations, discussions, learned volumes, works of art, and songs of praise than the whole army of great men of ancient and modern times.
It is impossible to know the impact the Bible has had on the lives of men. Countless lives have been changed for the better. Thousands have been saved from their sins. It has literally changed the course of humanity. The Bible continues to be the number one bestseller every year and affects more lives than any book ever has or will.
The Bible —Yet It Lives
Generations follow generations — yet it lives.
Nations rise and fall — yet it lives.
Kings, dictators, presidents come and go — yet it lives.
Torn, condemned, burned — yet it lives.
Hated, despised, cursed — yet it lives.
Doubted, suspected, and criticized— yet it lives.
Damned by atheists — yet it lives.
Scoffed at by scorners — yet it lives.
Misconstrued and misstated — yet it lives.
Ranted and raved about — yet it lives.
Its inspiration denied — yet it lives.
Yet it lives — as a lamp to our feet.
Yet it lives — as a light to our path.
Yet it lives — as a guidebook for Heaven.
Yet it lives — as a standard for childhood.
Yet it lives — as a guide for youth.
Yet it lives – as a comfort for the aged.
Yet it lives — as food for the hungry.
Yet it lives — as water for the thirsty.
Yet it lives — as rest for the weary.
Yet it lives – as light for the heathen.
Yet it lives – as salvation for the sinner.
Yet it lives – as grace for the Christian.
To know it is to love it.
To love it is to accept it.
To accept its Christ means Life Eternal.
