[cymbeline]

“The bible is exactly what it claims to be.”

I’d say the bible is what it is. The bible contains no preface, introduction or executive summary so the bible as a whole claims nothing.

Today’s world tends to underrate the bible.

[robroys woman]

Today’s world tends to underrate the bible.

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Though I think that is true, I’ve also come across a lot of Christians that virtually, if not literally, worship the bible itself.

It never claims to be “the” word of God, but clearly “contains” the word of God. I have the bible on thumb drive in my dashboard and listen a lot on my 3 hour round trip commute for the last 5 years. It’s dramatically changed my perception of what the bible really is.

I see it as this:
2 Timothy 3:16-17

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

Three things:
1. Scripture means, literally, something written down.
2. The new testament did not exist when the letter was written.
3. The context of 2 Tim 3 amplifies these two verses significantly.

http://biblehub.com/lexicon/2_timothy/3-16.htm