How is the Bible relevant for today?

Answer 1

In the context of the end times where evil actions and ideas abound The Bible is a corrective source of eternal wisdom. It is able to guard against the many deceptions which abound and to give positive advice on how to live and respond. The Bible also states God's unchanging standards for men which are still applicable in this world of moral and other relativisms.

Since the God of the Bible is the eternal and living God and can be known by people today, the Bible clearly states how He can be known and what can be known about Him. It also shows how to maintain a living relationship with this loving and all-wise God, who even cares for those who despise Him and who are themselves deceived as described in its pages. The God of the Bible would not only free such from their deception but would warn others lest they go the same way.

Apart from the Timothy passage below a number of other Bible passages point to its usefulness, especially the entire Psalm 119, a few verses of which are mentioned below.

13But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 11Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.98Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. 99I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. 100I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. 105Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. 12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Answer 2

The good news "according to Mark" can perhaps be read through entirely in one or two hours, giving the reader a thrilling, quick, and dynamic review of Jesus' ministry. Such straight reading of this inspired account, as well as closer study and meditation on it, will always prove beneficial. Mark's Gospel is of benefit to persecuted Christians today in the same way as in the first century, for true Christians now face "critical times hard to deal with" and have need for such inspired guidance as is found in this record concerning our Exemplar, Jesus Christ. Read it, thrill to its dramatic action, and draw encouragement to follow in the steps of the Chief Agent and Perfecter of our faith, Jesus, with the same invincible joy that he showed. (2 Tim. 3:1; Heb. 12:2) Yes, see him as a man of action, be imbued with his zeal, and copy his uncompromising integrity and courage amid trial and opposition. Gain comfort from this rich portion of the inspired Scriptures. Let it benefit you in your pursuit of everlasting life!

Answer 3

The Bible never goes out of style. It is a history book; a book of wisdom (how to live); it's what our laws are based on - well it was what ignorant, Bronze Age desert wanders based their laws on, but thankfully we've left most of that "eye for an eye" nonsense behind; but most importantly, it tells how we can have eternal life.

Another answer:

The Bible is unique among the books of the world. The Bible is the Word of God. Christians come to the Bible for understanding and direction. It is God's multi- faceted instrument for conforming us to the image of His Son. Understanding the nature of the Bible and approaching it with the right attitude is the first step. Our attitude in approaching Scripture should be a humble desire that the Holy Spirit help us to understand the text. Modern society would not be so modern if it had not adhered to the moral codes outlined in scripture. Many of our laws today find their origin in the Ten Commandments.

Another answer:

The Bible was written for "people"... not societies. It's written for those whom God is calling in these last days, to grow in His Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding. It's personal, intimate instruction for the mind and heart of the humble, faithful believer.

"...but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My Word." (Isa.66:2)

Societies merely benefit or suffer according to the number of people in it that "believe" or "fail to believe," as the case may be, in the Bible's instruction.

As for its importance to "modern society"... the humble reader can watch Bible prophecy being fulfilled through the works of the Godless leaders and failing systems of "modern society"... its increasing rejection of the Bible and the name of Jesus Christ. If "modern society," as a whole, had the eyes to see... it could see the signs of the onset of the last days and the unprecedented time Jesus calls "Great Tribulation," for which He warns His humble servants to watch, that they might beware, take heart, and believe.

"Behold, I have told you before." (Matt.24:25)

Jesus warns His servants of an end time worldwide hatred [by all societies on earth] of Christianity, Christians, and the very name of Jesus Christ [including the Words of Christ - the Bible].

"Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and you shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake." (Matt.24:9)

That is Jesus' early sign to watch for for the onset of the Great Tribulation [see the "5th seal" of Revelation 6].

To the people of the world and their "modern societies"... the Bible means less and less to them as the last days draw to a close and God's plan nears its completion.

The Bible's True Importance won't be truly understood until "Judgment Day" when its "books" will be opened... and all the generations of man from all societies [old and modern] will have the Truth of the Bible revealed to them, and every man will give account of his life to his Creator, measured against the instruction found in the Bible.

"...I saw the dead... stand before God; and the books [of the Bible; see John 12:48] were opened: and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." (Rev.20:12-13)

God isn't going to judge "societies" when He opens the books of the Bible on Judgment Day... He's going to judge "each and every man" according to his personal works.

Whatever sorts of societies there have been throughout history have resulted from the combined beliefs of many individuals... believers and non-believers, alike.

"And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man [not every society] according as his work shall be." (Rev.22:12)

Another view:

The Bible is no more important to modern society than any other religious text, be it Muslim, Jew, Hindu, Jain, Buddhist, Sikh, or in fact any other religion.

It has historical value in so much as it was originally compiled several thousand years ago, and a tiny percentage of the original writing has survived in to the modern era.

It has been suggested that The Bible serves as a moral and legal guide for modernity, however the contents of the Bible hardly serve as a positive framework in this capacity as it encourages slavery, incest, rape, pillage, genocide, torture and many more horrors besides.

Also, to make the claim that The Bible reveals some secret guide to eternal life is clearly bunkum. Frankly, it carries about as much revealed truth as Tolkein disclosed in his novels about Middle Earth, when he described the Elves setting sail in to the West.

In a nutshell, The Bible offers a violent world view that's mired in superstition and which is about 2010 years out of date. Consequently, it is only important to modern society as a historical footnote, and should not be taken literally.

Answer 4

Well, the Bible says that God is perfect, however man sinned and the price of sin is death. Someone with sins cannot stand before God. However, Jesus is the son of God who came to Earth as a man and died for the sins of mankind. By accepting Jesus' sacrifice, our own sins are washed away in the sight of God and we are able to stand before Him in Heaven. That's a pretty big deal. If you believe that (I, personally, do) then your sins would be forgiven if only you would follow Jesus.

The bible is also extremely timely in that many of the issues of the day can easily be applied to today and the instruction given can also be used practically for living a Christian life.

Answer 5

A:The Bible is just as important to Christians in the contemporary world as it was in times past. However, Christianity itself is becoming less relevant in much of the contemporary Western world. For example, preliminary census figures suggest that only around 54 per cent of British people identify as Christians. A follow-up survey by IpsosMORI says that 24 per cent of those who identified as Christians (13 per cent of Britons) actually believe in the teachings of Christianity. Of those who identified as Christians, only 22 per cent read the Bible more or less regularly - about 12 per cent of the British population. Similar results are expected in most Western nations.

Additional Answer:

Many modern nation states, particularly in the Western Hemisphere, have the Bible teachings as part or most of their foundational laws of governing. Here in the USA, there are numerous quotes from the founding Fathers on how this government must adhere to the biblical teachings in order to continue. They may of had a premonition of things to come as the biblical moral teachings of family, neighbor, and lust/greed are breaking down and many citizens are becoming concerned with the future outlook of this great Nation.

Similarly, this seems to be the case with the British peoples who at one time ruled 1/4 of the World's land and most all of the Oceans 'sea gates.' In their heyday, they were quite a bible centered people but no so much so today.

The USA is still predominantly a people of the Bible with a December 2011 UPI poll indicating that 78% claim to be Christian while 15% claim no religion, agnostic or atheist. A separate poll of these 15% revealed that 92% believe in God. There are 1.6% Jewish, 0.5% Muslim, and 2.4% unaffiliated Christian.

Answer 6

The bible is very relevant today. Regardless of whether or not you're Christian, many people are Christian- and to better understand them, it helps to understand the bible.

That said, many Christians don't even read the bible, but just repeat small little bits of it that they've heard a religious figure (such as their pastor) say. In cases like this, the bible is very important, because it allow atheists who have read it (most) to win any argument, ever, because the bible is just so ridiculous.

Answer 7

A:

Since it is the basis of their faith, Bible scriptures are as important to Christians today as at any time in the past. To society as a whole, and to non-Christians in particular, Bible scripture has no real value.

Another answer:

To those who Believe the Words of Scripture and place their Faith in it... it is a constant Source of Hope of the future that this world cannot provide. It's the Spiritual Nourishment of the Bread of God's Word that sustains the struggling, growing, developing Child of God.

This spiritually slumbering world, lost in continuous wars, famines, pestilences, disease; in conjunction with the hopelessness of evolutionary thought, where the Darwinian concept of "survival of the fittest" speaks not to the future, but to the here-and-now; offers no such hope -- with the possible exception of idealistic thoughts of the future coming together of the "brotherhood of man."

The Bible speaks to the future birth of God's Family... the "rebirth" of mankind created in God's image... to the final excruciating "birth pains" at the time of the end of God's plan.

"Why, what we suffer now I count as nothing in comparison with the Glory which IS SOON TO BE MANIFESTED IN US. For all creation, gazing eagerly as if with outstretched neck, IS WAITING and LONGING TO SEE the manifestation of THE SONS OF GOD. For the creation fell into subjection to failure and unreality (not of its own choice, but by the will of Him who so subjected it). Yet THERE WAS ALWAYS THE HOPE that AT LAST the Creation itself would also be set free from the thralldom of decay so as to enjoy the Liberty that will attend the Glory of the Children of God.

"For WE KNOW [those whose Faith and Belief are in the Scriptures] that the whole of Creation is groaning together IN THE PAINS OF CHILDBIRTH UNTIL THIS HOUR. And more than that, we ourselves, though we possess the Spirit as a Foretaste and Pledge of the GLORIOUS FUTURE, yet we ourselves inwardly sigh, as we wait and long for open recognition as sons THROUGH THE DELIVERANCE OF OUR BODIES.

"It is IN HOPE that we have been saved. But an object of Hope is such no longer when it is present to view; for when a man has the thing before his eyes, how can he be said to Hope for it?

"But if we Hope for something which we do not see, then WE EAGERLY and PATIENTLY WAIT FOR IT." (Rom.8:18-25 WEY Weymouth's New Testament)

The whole world is struggling toward the same end... the revealing of the plan of the God of the Scriptures... whether the whole world knows about it or believes in it.

To the world in general, those Scriptures indeed contain no discernible value or hope... and shall remain utterly meaningless to it to the end of its ever-growing pains.

But to those servants whom God is calling out of the world, to one day teach the world of the value of the Scriptures; their Faith in those same Scriptures provides them with the Hope and Power they need to overcome the struggles in life... whether it's over the rigors of today's fast-paced, technologically-advanced world, or over the unchanging "spiritual" struggles endured by all the past generations of man: the Scriptures are priceless.

"Nay, I even reckon all things as pure loss because of the priceless privilege of knowing Christ Jesus my LORD. And for His sake I have suffered the loss of everything, and reckon it all as mere refuse, in order that I may win Christ and be found in Union with Him, not having a righteousness of my own, derived from the Law, but that which arises from Faith in Christ - the Righteousness which comes from God through Faith."

(Philippians 3:8-9 WEY)

Answer 8

For Christians, Mark's Gospel is relevant simply because it is in the Bible, and will remain relevant.

Mark's Gospel is especially relevant to New Testament scholars because it was the first New Testament gospel to be written, and the later gospel writers all relied on Mark for everything they knew about the life and mission of Jesus. By studying Mark, they hope to find out more about the very origins of the gospel story.

Answer 9

because no one follows the ten command ments and society has changed in the last 2000 years since the bible was written