The Unity Of The Bible
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin ArticlesAnyone who is a student of the Bible can readily see the great unity and harmony that exists within the pages of God’s inspired word. Today, it would be virtually impossible to find forty uninspired men, separated by centuries and from all walks of life, to have the ability to write sixty-six books void of contradictions and united in harmony and purpose. This thought causes us to ask this question: How can we explain the amazing unity of the Bible? God’s word answers our question in 2 Peter 1:20-21 – (ESV) by stating: “Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
Many historical events documented by inspired Old Testament writers can be validated as being true by the inspired writers of the New Testament. We can plainly see the authenticity of these events verified in the following list:
Creation of the universe – Genesis 1; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16.
Creation of Adam and Eve – Genesis 1:27; 1 Tim. 2:13-14.
Marriage of Adam and Eve – Genesis 1:24-25; Matthew 19:5.
Temptation of Eve – Genesis 3:1-6; 2 Corinthians 11:3.
Disobedience and sin of Adam – Genesis 3:6; Romans 5:12.
Sacrifices of Abel and Cain – Genesis 4:4-5; Hebrews 11:4.
Murder of Abel by Cain – Genesis 4:4,8; 1 John 3:12.
Translation of Enoch – Genesis 5:22-24; Hebrews 11:5.
Marriage before the flood – Genesis 6:3-5; Matthew 24:38; Luke 17:27.
The flood and man’s destruction – Genesis 7; Matthew 24:39.
Preservation of Noah and his family – Genesis 7:1; Genesis 8; Genesis 9; 2 Peter 2:5.
Call of Abraham – Genesis 12:1; Hebrews 11:8.
Tithes to Melchizedek – Genesis 14:18-20; Hebrews 7:1-3.
Justification of Abraham – Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:3; Gal. 3:6; James 2:23.
Birth of Ishmael – Genesis 16:15; Gal. 4:22.
Promise of Isaac – Genesis 21:1-4; Acts 7:8; cf. Genesis 17:19-21.
Lot and Sodom – Genesis 19:16,24; Luke 17:28,29.
Offering of Isaac – Genesis 22:1-14; Hebrews 11:17-18.
The burning bush – Exodus 3:2; Luke 20:37.
Exodus through the Red Sea – Exodus 14:22; 1 Corinthians 10:1-2.
Provision of water and manna – Exodus 16:4,15; Exodus 17:6; 1 Corinthians 10:3-5.
Lifting up serpent in wilderness – Numbers 21:9; John 3:14.
The fall of Jerico – Joshua 6:20; Hebrews 11:30.
Miracles of Elijah – 1 Kings 17:1; 1 Kings 18:1; James 5:17.
Jonah in the great fish – Jonah 1:17; Matthew 12:40.
Three Hebrew children in the furnace – Daniel 3:27; Hebrews 11:34.
Daniel in lion’s den – Daniel 6:23; Hebrews 11:33.
The slaying of Zechariah – 2 Chronicles 24:20-22; Matthew 23:35.
What greater evidence could be provided for the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures than we see in the perfect harmony between Old and New Testament writers (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20).