For prophecy did not come from the will of common man, but men spoke from God as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit.  

2 Peter 1:21

 

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. 

2 Timothy 3:16

 

 

God gave the Bible to us because He wants us to know Him and love Him and serve Him.

Most of all, He gave it to us so we can become more like Christ.

 

The Bible is somewhat like a library because it is actually a collection of books.

Those books were written over many centuries, and they were only gradually brought together into their present form. The first "collection" was probably the first five books of the Bible (often called the "Torah," which is the Hebrew word for God's Law). As time went on, other books were added.

 

The whole Old Testament was finished about four centuries before the time of Jesus. Only a few decades after His ministry, the books of the New Testament were written and then accepted by Christians. The most important fact about the Bible, however, is that God watched over its writing, and He has preserved it down to the present time.

 

The Bible isn't just another ancient book of human wisdom – it is God's Word, given to us to tell us how we can know God. The Bible says, "For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21). God guided the authors as they wrote the different books.

 

What place does the Bible have in your life? God wants to speak to you through its pages; are you listening? Most of all, He wants you to come to know Him by discovering Jesus Christ, who is at the center of the Bible. 

 

The Bible isn’t just for preachers and scholars! God wants to speak to you through His Word, and no matter who you are, the Bible can come alive to you. You may never understand everything in the Bible, but you can understand something. Samuel was still a boy when God answered his simple prayer: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:9). Make that your prayer as well.

 

So why does the Bible remain a closed book to many? One reason is because we don’t realize how much we need it. If I suggested you stop eating for a few months, you’d ignore me – and rightly so. We need food in order to survive, and without food we’ll grow weak and eventually die. Yet many Christians are spiritually starved and weak because they ignore the spiritual “food” God has provided in the Bible. The Bible is not an option; it is a necessity. You cannot grow spiritually strong without it.

 

Job said, “I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread” (Job 23:12).  

 

*http://goingfarther.jesus.net/basics-of-christianity/