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Christians believe that the Bible is different from any other book because it is God’s word.

In the New Testament, Paul writes:

This passage points to four main ways the Bible is particularly useful:

• teaching – about God and what He wants for, and expects from, His people
• rebuking – challenging people about what is wrong
• correcting – putting people on the right track
• training – helping people to be the best they can

The passage also says the Bible is “God-breathed”. Christians believe this means the Bible was given to human beings to write down, by God. Sometimes Christians refer to this as the Bible being inspired by God.

As a result, Christians believe that the Bible is not just an ordinary human book, but it is exactly what God wants to communicate to them and cannot be changed.

In the Old Testament there are repeated claims that the Bible is given directly from God, and the words written are God speaking. Repeatedly in the Old Testament the phrase “Thus says the Lord” can be found and the reader is to understand that God is speaking.

The belief in the inspiration of scripture leads Protestants to believe that the Bible is fully true and must be the ultimate authority for their lives and in the Church.

In practice, this means that the Church will aim to make all its decisions and beliefs in light of what the Bible says.

This is reflected in the practice of many Protestant Christians upon reading the Bible. It is also reflected in the focus of church services on the sermon, when the minister or pastor explains a Bible passage and how it applies in the daily life of the Christian.

The Bible makes its own purpose and meaning clear through a number of passages. These include:

• The Bible helps Christians to know the gospel – “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
• The Bible helps Christians to have a spiritual life – “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)
• The Bible helps Christians to know God’s will – “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.” (Deuteronomy 29:29)
• The Bible helps Christians to avoid sin – “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.” (Psalm 119:9)
• The Bible helps Christians to gain spiritual guidance – “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
• The Bible gives Christians an accurate record of Jesus’ life – “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:30-31)
• The Bible gives Christians assurance of their salvation – “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13)
• The Bible helps the Christian to assess their own lives – “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)