For centuries, you had to be rich or... - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2024

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12

For centuries, you had to be rich or live in a monastery to even see a Bible. And you had to know Latin to read it. Then Johannes Gutenberg (ca. 1400–1468) invented letterpress printing with movable type and printed the Bible. It first cost 70 florins (but a handwritten one cost 400–500 florins!), then 16 florins (in around 1500), and later only 1–3 florins. Thus, many people were able to buy a Bible.

When Martin Luther (1483–1546) translated the New Testament into German a few years later using words and terms from everyday language, even a layman could read it. It was a reading revolution, the first in Germany! Because reading and studying the Bible was no longer a privilege of experts – now everyone could read it.

In most of our countries today, no one has to make sacrifices to acquire a Bible. Many also own it but do not read it. For them it may be a document of cultural history, a family heirloom or even a dust collector, perhaps even an imposition which one regards with a weary smile. Yet the Word of God is “living” (full of life, not antiquated), “powerful” (has power and impact), “sharper than any two-edged sword” (speaks the truth: honestly and unvarnished), and “piercing,” judging the “thoughts and intents of the heart”.

Reading the Bible is vital! Through it, God speaks to us and reveals the truth about Himself and about mankind.

Today’s reading: 2 Kings 24:1-20 · Psalms 110:1-7