W.F. Kumuyi needs no introduction. Through the rare combination of God’s grace and the rigorous discipline of the academic, he’s risen from being a former university lecturer to one of the great Christian leaders of the 21st century. He’s the author of many books and Why You Need the Bible, published in 2016, is one of the most recent.
The book’s five chapters are well delineated to address two broad questions: one, what makes the Bible so unique and outstanding in comparison to other books? Two, what promises, prospects and benefits does it have for anyone who reads it? Kumuyi begins by addressing the subject of man’s existence on earth in chapter one. Right from time immemorial, man has always sought to understand the essence of his purpose on earth. But no matter how hard he tries to figure it out by his own wisdom, he’s always ended disappointed, discontent and unfulfilled because of the limit and finiteness of human wisdom, logic and philosophies.
Nevertheless, chapter two argues that God hasn’t “left us in the dark about life here or hereafter.” The Bible is God’s divine blueprint for navigating life’s complex labyrinths. It is the “Word of the eternal, omniscient God given to humanity to solve our problems, resolve our puzzles and help us to success.”
According to him, this divine document reveals the way to freedom from sin, the secrets of a holy, healthy life, illuminates man’s dark path and answers the questions pertaining to life. “Its promises are dependable; its claims are reliable; its truths are infallible and its commands indisputable.”
He submits that no other book fits into this description. The Bible is in a world and class of its own. This is what makes it different from all other books, religious or secular.
No other book in the history of humanity has been so maligned and impugned as the Bible. Yet, in spite of the barrage of criticisms aimed at discrediting and destroying it, the Bible has always come off with more proofs of its authenticity and legitimacy beyond the expectation of its critics. Kumuyi focuses on some amazing proofs that foreground the authenticity of the Bible as the Word of God in chapter three. Some of these internal proofs he mentioned include the credential of the writers, its unity and harmony, its global impact, currency, inerrancy, perfection, superiority, imperishability, permanence fulfilled prophecies and miraculous preservation.
While underscoring the authenticity and infallibility of the Bible, Kumuyi highlights the authority and approval of Jesus Christ who is the Word of God personified. Submitting emphatically in chapter four of the book, he says that “Jesus Christ . . . is the living Word” and by virtue of His position, possesses “absolute authority.”
Therefore, His validation of the Scripture puts a divine seal on its infallibility. He concludes the book in chapter five by pointing out the universal appeal of its precepts and promises.
Although it can be pointed out that the book is quite small in volume, yet this is still to its advantage as it drives straight to the heart of the matter. Even at the first read, the reader is fully persuaded and convinced to accept that the Bible is truly God’s Word for every person of every age in every season.