The Bible: A Blessing to Humanity

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The Bible has been of more benefit to humanity than any other book in history.

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Whether you consider the rule of law, property rights, the rights of all individual citizens, education, charity and charitable institutions, education and the abolition of slavery—all these marvelous benefits to mankind are based on the Holy Scriptures.

Consider the equal status of the citizenry and the abolition of slavery as beginning points. The Bible teaches the fundamental ideal that all are equal before God. The apostle Peter said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation, whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him" (Acts 10:34-35 [34] Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
[35] But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

See All..., emphasis added throughout).

The apostle Paul adds: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Jesus Christ" (Galatians 3:28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
See All...; compare Colossians 3:10-11 [10] And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
[11] Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

See All...). God Himself rescued a large group of slaves from ancient Egypt (Deuteronomy 5:15And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.
See All...).

Slavery has been deeply entrenched in the culture of mankind for several thousand years. Yet a number of Jesus Christ's true teachings were advanced because of the influence of the Bible—resulting in many positive developments in society. Indeed, when efforts were begun to abolish slavery in the Western world, convictions based on the Christian Bible came to the forefront.

"Christians were the first group in history to start an antislavery movement . . . William Wilberforce spearheaded a campaign that began with almost no support and was driven entirely by his Christian convictions . . . Eventually Wilberforce triumphed, and in 1833 slavery was outlawed in Britain" (Dinesh D'Souza, What's So Great About Christianity? 2007, p. 71). The American Civil War was fought largely over slavery, and the slaves were freed after this conflict ended.

Consider also the rule of law and property rights. The Ten Commandments, which constitute the basic law from God for all mankind and provide the bedrock for a proper human legal system, fully support property rights. The Eighth and Tenth Commandments against stealing and covetousness directly address the right to own property (Exodus 20:15Thou shalt not steal.
See All..., 17; Deuteronomy 5:19Neither shalt thou steal.
See All..., 21).

Hospitals and the nursing profession are other examples of how the Bible has benefited mankind. The pagan world had little sympathy for those who were sick. Alleviating their suffering was not a priority. But Jesus was moved with compassion for the sick and healed many who were ill (Matthew 9:35And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
See All...; 14:14). He taught His disciples to follow His example (Luke 9:1-2 [1] Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
[2] And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

See All...). Even today, true ministers of God anoint the sick (James 5:14-15 [14] Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
[15] And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

See All...).

"Charity hospitals for the poor and indigent public did not exist until Christianity introduced them" (Alvin Schmidt, How Christianity Changed the World, 2004, p. 155). As time went by, hospitals were established in greater numbers with the influence of Christianity based on premier biblical commandments like "love your neighbor as yourself" and the Golden Rule (Matthew 22:39-40 [39] And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
[40] On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

See All...; 7:12; Luke 6:31And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
See All...). The entire Bible is built on the foundation of these major sayings alongside the command to love God with all one's being.

Christian charity remains a basic teaching of the Bible that has benefited humanity. The apostle Paul wrote, "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
See All...).

Education is another bulwark of biblical benefits. Jesus Himself was a great teacher (John 1:38Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?
See All...)—and He taught His disciples to teach others what He had taught them (Matthew 28:18-20 [18] And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
[19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
[20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

See All...). One approach of Christianity that was revolutionary at the time was that it offered teaching to both men and women in the same setting. All were expected to learn the principles of the Christian faith. Aquila and Priscilla taught the preacher Apollos "the way of God more accurately" (Acts 18:26And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
See All...).

As time went by, the positive effects of Christianity continued to exert influence in the educational realm of society. Many of the great early universities in Britain and America were established with the express purpose of training men for the clergy or educating young people in the ways of the Bible.

All the inhabitants of the Western world, whether Christian or not, have benefited immensely from the teachings of Scripture. Where would we be without the Bible? GN