Bible Society

Why Do I Read The Bible?

It informs my mind about creation, who God is and why I am here. It is a book which teaches me about the Christian faith, from its beginnings in Genesis when God promised Abraham that through one of his descendants all the nations of the earth would be blessed, to its fulfilment in the New Testament. In the Old Testament I find the God of holiness, truth and justice, but also the promise of a Saviour who would bring wonderful groundbreaking news, and would also suffer greatly on our behalf. In the New Testament I find God as one who is more interested in showing love and compassion for the spiritually lost, and putting the needs of people before the letter of the law.

This book, the Bible has been my constant companion, reading a passage from it most days of my life since my teenage years. It keeps me on track spiritually and mentally. It encourages, comforts, informs, guides, strengthens, and yes, rebukes me.

I feel very strongly that as many people as possible should have access to the message of the Bible in whatever format is best for their needs.

Here are some statistics from the Bible Society:

Translation

More than half the world’s languages still wait for even one book of the Bible.

Audio

A billion people in the world are illiterate, but only 3% of these have the Bible in Audio.

Braille

Every 5 seconds someone goes blind - but Braille Bibles exist in only 30 languages.

Poverty

For a billion people the Bible is a luxury they can’t afford.

Culture

The Bible no longer shapes our own nation.

Jesus said, “The scriptures say: ‘No one can live only on food. People need every word God has spoken’” -Matthew 4.4 (CEV).

Sylvia Scott, Bible Society Representative