The Integrity of the Canonized Bible

A friend asked me, what do you mean by “Canonized Bible? For the benefit of those who are like my friend, “canonized” refers to the 66 books of the Holy Bible (39 books of the Old Testament and 27 books of the New Testament). Why are these books called canonized? Because these books passed certain standards prescribed by a committee of Canonizing Fathers on what books are to be included in the Bible. Those that passed have been referred to by the Lord Jesus Christ in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) or are written by a man of God like Moses (the so-called Pentateuch or the Law of Moses), or written by the Apostles or close to the Apostles like Mark and Dr. Luke.

The Lord Jesus Christ speaking to the eleven disciples (minus Judas Iscariot who committed suicide by hanging himself) after he resurrected on the third day said, “These are the words which I spoke unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses [Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy] and in the Prophets [Isaiah up to Malachi] and in the Psalms [Psalm 1 to 150] concerning me (Luke 24:44 KJV).

Thus, the Bible tells us, “… No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God (Like Moses, all the Prophets from Isaiah to Malachi, David in the Psalms, Solomon in Song of Solomon, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, the Apostles, all Gospel writers and those very close to Jesus like his half-brother James, and those very close to the Apostles like Mark and Dr. Luke), spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:20-21 KJV).

Some people believe that the Bible is merely a collection of ancient writings. But blessed are those who believe that it is God’s inspired Word, which means everything is true and shall be fulfilled or shall come to pass.

For example, the Bible contains prophecies that have already been fulfilled. Several centuries before specific events took place, the writers of Scripture predicted their occurrence, and in the course of time those events came to pass. And those not yet fulfilled, like those in the book of Revelation are still to be fulfilled and will really be fulfilled or shall soon come to pass.

No matter how farsighted we may be, we cannot foretell the future with any precision, like what the holy men of God predicted or prophesied.

Thus, the Bible is filled with dramatic examples of fulfilled prophecy.

For example, the prince of all prophets, Isaiah, about 700 years before Jesus Christ was born, prophesied:

^“6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isa. 9:6 KJV).

And again, Isaiah wrote:

^“2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

³ He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

⁴ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

⁵ But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

⁷ He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

⁸ He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

⁹ And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

¹⁰ Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

¹¹ He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

¹² Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isa. 53:2-12 KJV).

These prophecies are a fulfillment of what the Prince of all Psalmist, King David, earlier prophesied in Psalm 22:1-18 which record details about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ several hundred of years before this cruel form of death by execution took place.

Indeed the Bible, is one and only authoritative divine revelation of truth - a claim verified by fulfilled prophecy.

When we know by experience that someone who makes a commitment or promise will really comply 100%, we trust that someone’s promise shall be done, unless prevented by death or other fortuitous (unavoidable) events.

For example, when my father was still alive, I promised or committed to attend a gathering in our farm at Kapalong, Davao del Norte, 80 kilometers away from Davao City where I had my own residence and law office. In those days, there were no telephone lines in our municipality, and there were no cellphones yet. At any rate, the gathering started though I arrived late past 12:00 noon already due to an emergency engagement that intervened. Everything was prepared including a “lechon” (roasted piglet). When I told my father, it was nice of him preparing everything when I did not arrive on time at 9:00 A.M. as scheduled, he replied with a smile, ‘because I know whenever you make a promise, you will fulfill it’”. This must be how, and even more, we should trust the promises of God now written in the canonized Bible. Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matt. 24:35).

Knowing the Bible is of absolute importance and necessity to all men. Obeying what it says will result to unspeakable joy of blessings: the foremost and best of all is eternal life by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9). Therefore, know the Bible, believe and do what it says, and be BLESSED beyond description in words.

We can trust the canonized Bible, for 100% God (in person Jesus Christ) always keeps his Word.