The Bible to All the World |
Finally great Bible societies were organized in England, America, and many of the countries of Europe, for the purpose of giving the Bible to the world,—to every nation, kindred, [pg 019] tongue, and people in its own language. Since its organization in 1804, the British and Foreign Bible Society, up to 1912, had published the Scriptures, or portions of them in 440 languages and dialects, with a total of 53,274,516 entire Bibles, 84,059,610 New Testaments, and 89,816,644 portions of the Bible, or a grand total of 227,150,770 copies. The total issue of the American Bible Society in the first ninety-six years following its organization, or from 1816 to 1912, amounts to 96,219,105 copies. It now publishes the Bible in over one hundred languages. These, while the largest of their kind, are but two of the twenty-seven Bible societies now disseminating the Scriptures. Thus is the world being provided with the Word of God, preparatory to the giving of the closing gospel message to all mankind, the ending of the reign of sin, and the advent of the Lord in glory. “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matt. 24:14.
The Value Of Bible Study The Bible is God's great text-book for man. It is His lamp to our feet and light to our path in this world of sin. The value of Bible study cannot therefore be overestimated. Considered from a literary standpoint alone, the Bible stands preeminent. Its terse, chaste style; its beautiful and impressive imagery; its interesting stories and well-told narratives; its deep wisdom and its sound logic; its dignified language and its elevated themes, all make it worthy of universal reading and careful study. As an educating power, the Bible has no equal. Nothing so broadens the vision, strengthens the mind, elevates the thoughts, and ennobles the affections as does the study of the sublime and stupendous truths of revelation. A knowledge of its principles is an essential preparation to every calling. To the extent that it is studied and its teachings are received, it gives strength of character, noble ambition, keenness of perception, and sound judgment. Of all the books ever written, none contains lessons so instructive, precepts so pure, or promises so great as the Bible. There is nothing that so convinces the mind of the inspiration of the Bible as does the reading of the Bible itself, and especially those portions known as the prophecies. After the resurrection of Christ, when everything else seemed to have failed to convince the disciples that He had risen from the dead, [pg 021] He appealed to the inspired Word, and “expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:25-27), and they believed. On another occasion He said, “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” Luke 16:31. As a guide, the Bible is without a rival. It gives a calm peace in believing, and a firm hope of the future. It solves the great problem of life and destiny, and inspires to a life of purity, patience, and well-doing. It fills the heart with love for God and a desire to do good to others, and thus prepares for usefulness here and for a home in heaven. It teaches the value of the soul, by revealing the price that has been paid to redeem it. It makes known the only antidote for sin, and presents the only perfect code of morals ever given. It tells of the future and the preparation necessary to meet it. It makes us bold for the right, and sustains the soul in adversity and affliction. It lights up the dark valley of death, and points to a life unending. It leads to God, and to Christ, whom to know is life eternal. In short, it is the one book to live by and die by. As the king of Israel was instructed to write him a copy of the law, and to read therein “all the days of his life,” that he might “fear the Lord,” keep His word, and thus prolong his days and the days of his children (Deut. 17:18-20), so ought men now to study the Bible, and from it learn that fear which is the beginning of wisdom, and that knowledge which is unto salvation. As an aid and incentive to this, “Bible Readings for the Home Circle” has been prepared and published. |
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