Most of those who wrote the Bible probably did not know they were writing scripture. They wrote histories or song lyrics or letters without knowing their words would be read for thousands of years in the greatest best-seller of all time.
But why write? John, one of the more poetic, “writerly” writers, gives answers. He says, “these [miracles] have been written so you may believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and by believing, you may have life in His name” John 20:31. John writes so readers will be saved.
Then John adds that as a writer, he is limited: “But there are also many other things which Jesus did, which, if they were written in detail, I suppose even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” John 21:25. (That’s a lot of miracles!)
His letters add more insight:
“We are writing these things so our joy may be complete” 1 John 1:4.
“I am writing so that you may not sin” 1 John 2:1.
“I have WRITTEN to you, children, because you have come to know the Father. I have WRITTEN to you fathers, because you have come to know the One who is from the beginning. I have WRITTEN to you, young men, because you are strong, God’s word remains in you, and you have had victory over the evil one” 1 John 2:12-14.
“I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” 1 John 5:13.
Could you ever be a writer? No? Neither could John! He was NOT a writer, he was a fisherman. When Jesus met him, he was mending nets.
Why would a fisherman pick up pen and paper? Based on the passages above, the reasons John became a writer are: 1) So readers will be saved; 2) for the joy of sharing the message; 3) to discourage sin; 4) to encourage people; and 5) so readers could have assurance of their salvation.[1]
God, never let us believe that we cannot write, or that you cannot use us—we surrender our reading and writing to you.
ΑΩ
[1] John also wrote Revelation. But each reference John makes to his writing of the book of Revelation indicates that he was told what to write, for example: “He who sits on the throne said, … “Write, for these things are faithful and true” Revelation 21:5. John does not speak of his personal motivation the way he does in his other books.
Household Words: 