Mrs. Clark’s 7th Grade Bible Class Discusses:

One Among Many: The Just-Another-Great-Book Myth

The Bible was written on Three continents in three languages on hundreds of controversial subjects. It contains flashes of inspired poetry as well as detailed history, captivating biography, letters, memoirs, and prophetic writings. Yet this astoundingly diverse book speaks with astonishing continuity. There is one unfolding story from page one to “The End”–God’s redemption of man.

The Bible is not one of many great books. It is the greatest book of all.

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

Study Sessions

Each of the following passages likens the Bible to some other object that is mighty in influence.

Read each carefully. What does the Bible parallel? In what ways is it like that object?

Is there any other book of which such things could be claimed?

Jeremiah 5:14

Jeremiah 23:29

Romans  1:16-17

Ephesians 6:17

Many people believe that the Bible is right up there next to War and Peace, Moby Dick, and Hamlet, but in reality it’s not, it never has been; instead, it’s been a million miles ahead.

As said in Don’t Check your Brains at the Door by Josh McDowell, “The Bible is not one of many great books. It is the greatest book of all.” These words cannot be any more authentic or fitting; it is truly the greatest.
The Bible talks about both evil and good because God wants you to chose Him and to protect your mind against the evil in the world, and from Satan who can draw you easily to the wrong side. When Jesus Christ is in my heart, I am a generally happier person and have more love in my heart due to the greatness of the Bible.
On Debate.org some people have [argued] the fact that the Bible was written by many.

But all the writers, such as John, Luke, Paul, and Peter, all agreed on the facts of the Bible, and because God told them what to write (that is why it is the Word of God) it is all the same story, concept, and facts.

If someone did not know that over 40 people wrote the Bible then they would never be able to tell.
The list for proof and facts on why the Bible is more than just a great book can go on and on–and don’t get me wrong!

The Bible is most definitely a great book, but it is also so much more!

Georgia, age 12

I was never a person to think the Bible was an ordinary book.

I thought the Bible was important for three reasons:

The first was that it always looked important. Most Bible’s covers are made up of leather and a lot of them also have the gold on the edge of the paper.
Secondly, it was this thick book with over a thousand pages, in most Bibles, and the letters were small. I always saw this and thought it made it important.
Lastly, I knew that it had Jesus in it so it knew it was important.

Two of the reasons I thought it was important are really silly. But me thinking that it is important because of Jesus – is true.

I realized in this chapter of Don’t Check Your Brains at the Door, that it is important for other better reasons. Many people wrote is over a long period of time and over one main topic, God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

It is the book of God and is God-breathed, and that’s what makes it important.

Emilio, age 13

The Just-Another-Great-Book Myth states that the Bible is just like other great books. In fact, people think it is a fiction book like Percy Jackson or Harry Potter.
You might even hear people talk about it like this: “The Bible is a really good book. You should totally read it. Don’t worry! It’s just fiction!”
But I am here to debunk this myth.

It is, in fact, an historical book. It had been written by generations and generations of people from different or the same countries and in three different languages.

In fact, God planned for all this to happen. He used man to help Him write the stories and tell His advice to the people of the future, the present, and past.
People might say it was a great book, but in fact, it is the greatest book written by both God AND man.

Sydney, age 14

Some people say that the Bible is just another great book, as the name of the myth implies. But the Bible is so much more — the Bible is inspired by God — God-breathed through the men who wrote the Bible.

Most “great” books are not God-breathed. Great books do not have prophecy in them that is exactly, perfectly executed in the future.

People try to liken the Bible to just being another great book, but it is not just a great book;  it is the greatest book.
People try to liken the Bible to other things that are not close to the power of the Bible, but the Bible likens itself to things like a fire. Jeremiah 5:14: “Therefore this is what the Lord God Almighty says: ‘Because the people have spoken these words, I will make my words in your mouth a fire, and these people the wood it consumes.’”
This means that the fire (the Word of God) that comes out of people’s mouths will consume people to believe and want to know God better.

Can a great book do that? No, only the greatest.

Tyler, age 13