Why the Bible is the best book about God

Kelli Crawford

Some of the Bible is hard to understand, so why can’t we just read great books about the Bible instead? Is that not just as helpful?  

There’s nothing wrong with a good book, but the Bible is more than a good book. The Bible is God’s voice in our lives. No book or study can take its place.

Hearing From Someone vs. Hearing About Someone

Pretend for a minute that you’re a newlywed. Prior to marriage, you spent months communicating likes, dislikes, philosophies, ideas, and so on. That courtship built the foundation for your life-long commitment in marriage.

However, shortly after the honeymoon, your spouse goes into military service. As the months of separation pass, your spouse’s commanders send you emails, praising your husband or wife as a hero.  Reporters on the front lines blog about your spouse as a strong but compassionate leader.  Occasionally, you even catch a glimpse of your spouse in an Instagram or tweet from his or her military buddies.

You treasure every word and picture about your spouse, but hearing about your spouse is not the same as hearing from your spouse. The same is true when it comes to us and the Bible. Just like there’s no substitute for hearing from your spouse, there’s nothing quite as powerful as hearing straight from God.

What It Means To Be God’s Word

John 1:1 says the Bible is God’s voice: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” This means that when we read the Bible we are hearing from God directly.

Just because we can’t see God doesn’t mean we can’t sit with Him daily. Every word of the Bible is “God-breathed,” according to 2 Timothy 3:16.  As we read the Bible, we learn about God’s character, His plan for our lives, and how to follow Jesus step by step.

In the pages of the Bible, God reminds us:

• We are loved.

In Jeremiah 31:3, He says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.”

• He gives us the ability to be wise.

In Ephesians 5:15-16, God says, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise …”

• We have reason to hope.

In Isaiah 41:10, God says, “…do not be dismayed, for I am your God…”

• He has great plans for our lives.

His best is “immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20).

Good books about the Bible are helpful, but nothing can substitute for hearing from God directly. Just as spouses grow closer through direct communication, we grow closer to God as we read the Bible. He is with us, loving us and teaching us as we read through the pages of His Word.