Purpose Statements
Have you ever wondered why the books of the Bible were written? Sure, they were written as part of the whole biblical message, which is intended to reveal God and His message to the world. Why, though, did God choose the people that He chose to write the things that He chose for them to write?
The books of the Bible contain a surprising number of individual purpose statements. Luke, for example, includes a purpose statement at the beginning of both Luke and Acts in which he reveals his intention to deliver to Theophilus an accurate description of Jesus’s life and the history of the early church (Luke 1:1-4, Acts 1:1-3). John also states the goal of his account of the Gospel: to convince its readers of the divinity of Christ and the hope they may have in His
divinity (John 20:30-31). This is mirrored by the stated purpose of John’s first letter, which bears witness to the truth of Christ’s humanity on earth (1 John 1:1-4) and therefore bolsters the confident faith of those who believe in His coming (1 John 5:13).
In addition to these examples, one book that seems especially focused on its own purpose is the book of Ecclesiastes. This book also begins with an express purpose statement. The Preacher and King of Israel – probably Solomon – has set his heart to learn wisdom
(Ecclesiastes 1:12-13). Unfortunately, he finds that the wisdom he seeks is a vanity
(Ecclesiastes 1:14-18), as are the works, wealth, wine, and women that he dedicates much of his life to pursuing and gathering for himself. After making and chronicling his journey through the earthly pursuits of life, the Preacher lands on a final conclusion: respecting and obeying God are the whole duty of man, and the only pursuit which yields anything more than vanity in this world (Ecclesiastes 12:9-14).
What’s the point behind each of the books of the Bible? As you might expect, each one of them has its own answer, and there is a great study to be done about the specific goals of each of the books that make up God’s Word. At the end of the day, though, they are all aimed at the same goal that the Preacher of Ecclesiastes identifies. Each of them contributes to the greater themes of the Bible – the glorification of God, the coming of Christ, and the salvation of His people – in its own way. In doing so, each one reminds its readers of the divine duty to which mankind is called and in which we find our fulfillment.
I myself have two purposes for this article. The first is to appreciate the incredible and multi- faceted library of divine knowledge that is the Bible. The wealth of wisdom, love, and peace
found therein is made all the more beautiful by its ability to connect with all of us in all of the ways in which we need connection from God. My second purpose is to remind myself and anyone else who needs this reminder that the purpose of the Bible reflects my own. Am I intentional about living in the light of God’s glory and giving all glory for all things to Him? Am I mindful in everything that I think, say, and do that Christ has lived, died, and lives again on my behalf? In my daily pursuits, am I proving to God and to others that I am a member of God’s peculiar people? Perhaps if I don’t like the answers to any of these questions, it is worth thinking about my own purpose statement again.
“‘You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp
and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way,
let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your
Father who is in heaven.’” ~ Matthew 5:14-16
AUTHOR: Luke Tatum