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1 Peter 1:25 – Acknowledgments
In reading an interesting book, The Rescue of Jerusalem – The Alliance Between Hebrews and Africans in 701 B.C., I read the following acknowledgment by the author Henry T. Aubin:
During the years of preparing this book, greatly appreciated encouragement has come from numerous friends and kind….I am particularly grateful to three scholars… (who) showed extraordinary generosity of spirit in reading my manuscripts in its entirety and offered useful suggestions and encouragement. Any errors in the books are, of course, my own doing.
In having an “Acknowledgement Page,” this particular book is no different than many others. Larger books often have a special page gratefully enumerating, thanking and praising those involved whether it be typing, reading manuscripts, giving scholarly help or even just encouragement. Some books even combine an “Acknowledgement Page” with a “Dedication Page” showing the author’s gratitude by actually dedicating the book to someone, often a loved one.
When reading this page, my mind contemplated the greatest book, the most read book, and the bestseller of all time – the Bible. Obviously, God is the author, ultimately, but there were many people involved who assisted. Their part did not consist of reading God’s manuscript or offering useful suggestions and encouragement! But there were people who wrote down the words. No, they did not give assistance to God, so to speak, but rather allowed God to work through them as conduits. And while it is not necessary for God to thank anyone for anything – for He is God – it is proper for us to thank God for His masterpiece leading to eternal life:
- Psalm 119:62 – At midnight I shall rise to give thanks to You because of Your righteous ordinances.
- Psalm 138:4 – All the kings of the earth will give thanks to You, O LORD, when they have heard the words of Your mouth.
It is also proper for us to also thank those who served God in bringing His words of life to life, and to us. Although I personally have never seen a Bible have an “Acknowledgment Page,” I thought it interesting to approach this subject from this perspective. God could have miraculously produced every manuscript Himself by penning it Himself as He did with the Ten Commandments:
- Exodus 31:18 – When He had finished speaking with him upon Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God.
Although God could have chosen that way of transcribing His words, He didn’t. He graciously allowed human beings to share in this labor of love. Let’s spend a moment or two acknowledging those whom God chose to help Him, help us.
The Bible is a complete collection of 66 independent books penned by about 36 different authors. All were men that we know of, and almost all who were Israelites or Jews (Luke was a Gentile, and if Job wrote Job, he probably lived prior to the racial distinction of Israelite and Gentile). Among these writers, not surprisingly, were prophets. God also chose unexpected writers such as fig tree farmer (Amos), a doctor (Luke), a tax collector (Matthew), fishermen (Peter), shepherds (David), philosophers (Solomon), politicians (Nehemiah), etc. All these men deserve acknowledgement and appreciation from us – and I am sure they already have it from God.
Then there are the countless faithful Jews and Christians who copiously copied the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts word for word. Centuries passed with believers in the Almighty God dedicating themselves and their lives to preserving God’s actual words, spurred on by their zeal for truth, and empowered by God’s providence:
- Isaiah 40:8 – The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.
- Isaiah 59:21 – “As for Me, this is My covenant with them,” says the LORD: “My Spirit which is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your offspring’s offspring,” says the LORD, “from now and forever.”
- 1 Peter 1:25 – BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.” And this is the word which was preached to you.
Can we imagine a life-time spent copying manuscripts word for word? Can we imagine the time, patience, and love these servants displayed? All these men deserve acknowledgement and appreciation from us.
There are more we could thank, and that should be thanked. In reading this interesting book there is one quote from the “Acknowledgement Page” that God never could have said: Any errors in the book are, of course, my own doing. And for that, we should thank God in an “Acknowledgement Prayer.”
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