Why Did The Bible Become So Popular?

Last updated on: June 23, 2016 at 12:30 pm by Jack Wellman

Why Did The Bible Become So Popular? 2016-06-23T12:30:50-05:00 Jack Wellman

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Why did the Bible become the most well-read, popular book in human history?

Unstoppable

The Bible has been banned, burned, and banished from so many places in the world that we can’t even count them all, but the Bible has never been able to be muted, muffled, thwarted or suppressed. Why? It is God’s Word and no human can stop what God has sent out. The Apostle Paul wrote about the power that’s in the Word of God in Romans 1:16 where he wrote, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” and in 1st Corinthians 1:18 Paul again writes, “the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” Isaiah the Prophet wrote about the Word of God and the power that comes with it in Isaiah 55:11 where he wrote “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” The Word of God has power, it is the very power of God to save, and it always affects those who hear it and God’s Word never returns empty once He sends it out because it succeeds in accomplishing “the thing for which [God] sent it” out to do.

Bestseller of all Time

According to Guinness World Records, the Bible is the best-selling book of all time in all of human history. With over 5 billion copies sold and distributed, there is no book that even comes close, even in regards to the number of books sold from anyone else who’s ever written a book. The nearest book approaching the bestselling Bible is The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien which has sold just over 150 million copies, so compare over 5 billion to 150 million and it is not even close. Clearly we can say with authority that the Bible is overwhelming the bestselling book of all time and nothing will ever outstrip its ranking in human history. Why is the Bible so popular and continues to be? It is the only book ever written by God and it is God Himself speaking. The Apostle Peter said of Jesus, “You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68-69) and the words of life are only found in the Word of God. There is no other book like it because it has the ability to bring eternal life, but only through trusting in Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12).

Hope for the Hopeless

When people lose hope, they lose about everything because when a person’s hope is dried up, so is their life, typically. The interesting thing about the Bible is that it lifts up the downtrodden, the despised, the disenfranchised, the poor, the broken, the weak, and the sick. These are the very ones who God calls and saves. What other book offers such hope beyond this life? There are none! The Apostle Paul contrasts todays troubles with the glory that’s coming and says, it’s no contest (Rom 8:18), and the person who trusts in Christ can know that whatever happens in this life, all things, good or bad, will work out for the ultimate best for those who love God (Rom 8:28), even if it’s something evil (Gen 50:20; John 3:16). What human book could ever bring hope beyond this life and into the next, promising eternal life and being in the presence of God someday (Rev 21:3; 22:4)? The answer is overwhelmingly obvious. Only the Bible can give hope to the hopeless, a future for the lost, and salvation to the weak without having to work for it (Eph 2:8-9).

A Transforming Book

The Bible doesn’t only transform lives, it saves souls. The Bible has transformed people into Christ-likeness but has also transformed nations. It was the first book ever printed, it is in every corner and continent in the world, it is the most frequently held book, it is the bestselling book, and people so believed in this book as the very Word of God that they were willing to die for possessing one (and millions have). It is the most beloved book yet the most despised. People either hate it or love it. The Word of God also sets people free from a life of bondage from other religions of which almost all of them require the person to do good works as a way to gain their salvation but the problem is how many good works does it take? How will a person ever know they’ve done enough? The truth is they won’t. The world’s religions, for the most part, are “do, do, do” but only in Christ, it’s “done” and that is so liberating.

Conclusion

The Bible cannot be stopped because it’s like trying to stop God and that’s humanly impossible. It cannot be done because you cannot separate the Word of God from the God of the Word and when you disparage the Word of God, you are insulting God Himself and God takes that very personally as a personal affront to Him. The Word of God comforts us but it also convicts us and it cuts but it cuts in order to heal. The author of Hebrews wrote, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Heb 4:12-13). Name another book that does that!

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren Church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Teaching Children the Gospel available on Amazon.

Previous Post

June 23, 2016

How Has The Christian Church Changed Over Time?

Next Post

June 23, 2016 What Are The Important Things In Life?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Bible Answers Bible Definitions Bible Story Bible Study Bible Verses Christian Books Christian Entertainment Christian Fathers Christian Mothers Christian Quotes Devotional Famous Christians Music News Parables Prayers Quotes Sunday School Lesson Uncategorized Youth Sermons

Select a Month October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How many men did Gideon initially gather?

Select your answer to see how you score.

20,000 15,000 10,000 32,000