"For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." The Apostle Paul expresses confidence in the Old Testament scriptures indicating that that all of the Old Testament was written down for the instruction and encouragement of God's people. In making this statement Paul implies that all the words written in the Old Testament scriptures are the words of God that He providentially directed to be written not only for His purposes at the time they were written but to endure for the instruction and encouragement of later generations of God's people. According to the Apostle Paul, you can have confidence that what the Bible says, including the Old Testament scriptures, should be understood as God's instructions for building your faith and hope in Him. Therefore, let us put considerable effort into studying and understanding the Bible.
