Yes! There is Good News! 3.8.19

As I look back upon the beginning of the articles I have written, it occurs to me that this is just about the third anniversary. Yes, I started writing them in March of 2016. This has been a very enjoyable endeavor for me and I know that many of you have appreciated them for you have stopped me on the street, or spoken to me at the post office. And some have e-mailed me through the newspaper, to thank me for them. I have even talked over the phone with a couple of you.

But only one person has actually asked me a question. We visited face to face and I shared my thoughts to what I believe was a satisfactory conclusion. So let me ask you right now – do you have a question, idea, thought or suggestion? You can write me (anonymously if you wish) at; Bill Rollins, P O Box 85, Elk Horn, Iowa 51531. You can call me at 712-249-1631 or you can send an e-mail to the newspaper and it will get forwarded to me. If it is a personal concern, we can talk privately. Or perhaps it is a suggestion and I can address it in a future column.
In any event, get in touch – if you have the inclination!

The Bible, from Genesis through Revelation, is a unified piece of literature consisting of 66 books with approximately 40 authors. That statement, in itself, is astounding. I do not believe that there is anything like it in all of the world’s literature. The one thing that makes it a unified text is that its editor is God.

Yes, God used humans to pen this tome in order that we might have an instruction manual for life itself!

Paul put it this way, “But as for you, Timothy, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:14-17)

Paul, here, is urging his young assistant to continue to teach the scriptures. These scriptures with which Timothy was acquainted, consisted of the Old Testament; Genesis through Malachi. In his first letter to Timothy, Paul tells him to, “Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.” (1 Tim. 4:13)

The only Scriptures extant at that time were the Old Testament. These scriptures, Paul tells him, were “able to make you wise for salvation through Jesus Christ”. Consider that for the time being – we’ll talk some more about it next time (God willing).