Subj : Many Books
To   : All
From : Newborn
Date : Fri Sep 16 2005 00:17:00

"And further, by these, my son, be admonished; of making many books there is no
end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh" (Ecclesiastes 12:12)

It seems amazing, at first, that we should be reading a complaint from almost
3,000 years ago that too many books were already being published.  The greatest
book, of course, is the collection of 66 books known as the "Bible"-that  is,
the Book (which is the meaning of "Bible".  This Book has been "for ever...
settled in heaven" and endureth for ever"  (Psalm 11:89,160)

The first mention of "book" in the Bible is found in Genesis 5:1. "This is the
book of the generation of Adam."  Similarly, the first mention of "book" in the
New Testament is Matthew 1:1, "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ."
These "book" are now incorporated into Book and, in a striking way, emphasize
the continuiity of Old and New Testaments: the one dealing with the first Adam,
the other with the Last Adam.

The final mentions of "book" also are very important, again dealing not with
books that are temporal, but with books that are eternal.  In the Old Testament
we have the beautiful promise of Malachi 3:16: "Then they feared the Lord spake
often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of
remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that
thought upon His name."

The final mention of "book" in the Bible, on the other hand, is a sober warning
not to tamper with the Book.  "If any man shall take away from the words of the
book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life,
and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book"
(Revelation 22:19).  Let is honor it, guard it, believe it, and follow it.

Newborn

Christianity is a personal relationship, not a religion

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