First Quarter
JanuaryJohn Wesley on the Bible"O give me that book! At any price, give me the book of God! I have it: Here is knowledge enough for me. Let me be a man of one book. Here then I am, far from the busy ways of men. I sit down alone: only God is here. In His presence I open, I read His book -- for this end, to find the way to heaven."
(from John Wesley, "Preface to Sermons on Several Occasions," 1747) The Apostle Paul on Scripture"All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteous-ness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work."
(2Timothy 3:16-17 NRSV) Martin Luther on the Word of God"We must make a great difference between God's Word and the word of man. A man's word is a little sound, that flies into the air, and soon vanishes; but the Word of God is greater than heaven and earth, yea, greater than death and hell, for it forms part of the power of God, and endures everlastingly; we should, therefore, diligently study God's Word, and know and assuredly believe that God himself speaks unto us."
(quote from "The Table Talk of Martin Luther") Jesus on The Law"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these command-ments and so teaches others, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
(Matthew 5:17-19 NAS) John Wesley on The Law"This law is an incorruptible picture of the high and holy One who inhabits eternity. It is He whom, in essence, no man has seen or can see, but is now made visible in this way to men and angels. Here is the face of God unveiled. Here is God manifested to His creatures as they are able to bear it, manifested to give and not to destroy life, that they may meet God and live. It is the heart of God disclosed to man. Yes, in some sense, what Paul says of Christ we may say about the law: It is the streaming forth, or out-beaming, of His glory, the express image of His person."
(John Wesley, "The Nature of Holiness") |
FebruaryJohn Stott on Scripture and the Church"So we affirm first of all that a living church is a learning church, a church submissive to the teaching authority of the apostles. Its pastors expound Scripture from the pulpit. Its parents teach their children out of the Scriptures at home, and its members read and reflect on the Scriptures every day in order to grow in Christian discipleship. The Spirit of God leads the people of God to honor the word of God."
John Stott, The Living Church: Convictions of a Lifelong Pastor The Psalmist on The Law"Happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord... Open my eyes, so that I may behold the wondrous things out of your law... The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces... Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all day long... Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and your law is the truth...Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble."
(Psalm 119:1, 18, 72, 97, 142, 165 NRSV) Moses on The Law"Be careful to obey all these words that I command you today, so that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever, because you will be doing what is good and right in the sight of the LORD your God... Diligently observe the words of this covenant, in order that you may succeed in every-thing that you do... They are not just idle words for you -- they are your life."
(Deuteronomy 12:28 NRSV, 29:9 NRSV, 32:47 NIV) An Affirmation about The Bible"Unto a Christian man there can be nothing either more necessary or profit-able, than the knowledge of holy scriptures, forasmuch as in it is contained God's true word, setting forth His glory, and also man's duty. And there is no truth nor doctrine necessary for our justification and everlasting salvation, but that is, or may be drawn out of that fountain and well of truth. There-fore as many as be desirous to enter into the right and perfect way unto God, must apply their minds to know holy scripture; without the which, they can neither sufficiently know God and His will, neither their office and duty."
(The Edwardian Homilies, 1547) |
MarchOrigen on The Scriptures"The more one reads the Scriptures daily and the greater one's understanding is, the more one is renewed every day. I doubt whether a mind which is lazy toward the holy Scriptures and the exercise of spiritual knowledge can be renewed at all."
(Origen, Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans) What We Believe About the Bible"We believe and confess the Canonical Scriptures of the holy prophets and apostles of both Testaments to be the true Word of God, and to have sufficient authority of themselves, not of men. For God Himself spake to the fathers, prophets, apostles, and still speaks to us through the Holy Scriptures."
(The Second Helvetic Confession,1566) What We Believe About the Bible"We believe the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction; that it has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter; that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us; and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the world, the true centre of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinion should be tried."
(The New Hampshire Confession, 1833) Martin Luther on the Bible"Oh! how great and glorious a thing it is to have before one the Word of God! With that we may at all times feel joyous and secure; we need never be in want of consolation, for we see before us, in all its brightness, the pure and right way. He who loses sight of the Word of God, falls into despair; the voice of heaven no longer sustains him; he follows only the disorderly tendency of his heart, and of world vanity, which lead him on to his destruction."
(quote from "The Table Talk of Martin Luther") William Tyndale on the Bible"It is not enough, therefore, to read and talk of (the Bible) only, but we must also desire God, day and night, instantly, to open our eyes, and to make us understand and feel wherefore the scripture was given, that we may apply the medicine of the scripture, every man to his own sores."
William Tyndale, preface to the translation of the Pentateuch, 1530 |