Essence of the Holy Bible

Are you privy to the essence of the Bible? According to the dictionary, essence is the fundamental nature or most important feature of something. This is significant because the nature of something dictates how it is approached. Therefore, comprehending the essence of the Bible serves as a pivotal factor in how we interact with it.
Understanding it requires a critical eye
When we examine an orange, we notice its circular form, its vibrant orange color, and its velvety surface. While these are all valid observations, if we lack an understanding of the orange’s fundamental nature, we may use it in ways that deviate from its intended function. For instance, we might use it as a toy because of its ball-like shape or as an ornamental piece to adorn a space. However, by doing so, we miss out on the true essence of the orange!
Once we understand the true value of an orange – its juicy and nutritious fruit – our approach towards it changes significantly. We no longer view it as a plaything or a decorative item to be put on display. Rather, we desire to consume it or extract its juice in order to experience its essence and derive maximum benefit from it.
It is important to approach the Bible with a certain level of depth. When we simply read it on the surface level, we may perceive it as a collection of captivating stories, a guidebook for leading a moral and ethical life, a handbook for religious rituals, or a reference for religious doctrine. However, if we limit our understanding of the Bible to these interpretations, we fail to fully appreciate its true value.
Although all these things can be found in the Bible, they do not define what the Bible truly is. In order to fully grasp the intended benefits of God’s Word, we must understand the essence and crucial element of the Bible.
What is the essence of the Bible?
The answer can be spotted at 2 Timothy 3:16:
“All Scripture is breathed out by God.”
The passage in question does not explicitly state that every word in Scripture is directly mandated or given by God. Rather, it emphasizes that all of Scripture is inspired by God’s breath. The first portion of the second note on the concept of “God-breathed” in the New Testament Recovery Version provides further explanation.
“This indicates that the Scripture, the Word of God, is the breathing out of God. God’s speaking is God’s breathing out. Hence, His Word is Spirit (John 6:63), or breath. Thus, the Scripture is the embodiment of God as the Spirit. The Spirit is therefore the very essence, the substance, of the Scripture.”
The original languages of the Bible equate Breath and Spirit as one and the same. When the apostle Paul stated that all Scripture is God-breathed, he was emphasizing that the core of the Bible is rooted in the Spirit.
John 6:63 says:
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words which I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.”
The words of the Bible alone do not bring life, but it is the Spirit, the very essence of those words that gives life. When we understand this truth, we will approach the Bible not just to gain knowledge but to connect with the life-giving Spirit present within the Word.