The Circularity of the Bible

The Bible is a circular book.

It looks nothing like a circle, but its doctrine is circular.

Encompassing sixty-six (66) individual books, they all join hands to form a unified genre of absolute truth. This truth is the line of truth because the Bible is also a linear book following one unique line of truth.

The circular component of the Bible may not be very clear to everyone, therefore, let us take some time to exam this eternal characteristic of the Bible.

I used to walk in a circular path in New York City where there are many entry points which are essentially also exits. Once I began this circle, I would not exit until I finished my laps. Studying the Bible on any topic is similar, we can open the Bible and begin with any book, then make laps reading from book to book, and exit when we have “complete” understanding of the topic we studied. Notice, that while we can walk ten laps in one day, doing the Bible study laps may take, days, weeks, months, even years before we can obtain some closure in understanding a topic.

Bombarded with so many wonderful mathematical theories and amazing relationships, the circle is infinite and mysterious.  Likewise, the Bible is infinite in truth and mysteries that we cannot understand everything in ultimate completion but “all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Pet 1:3) are given to us in the Bible.

Without the math and without the circle, we can wholly admit with confidence that, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim 3:16-17).

However, since many discount the Bible as absolute truth, sometimes, the Holy Spirit can use a practical application such as a circle to help stir unbelievers into conviction.

So, what makes the Bible doctrine circular?

Bible doctrine is so unified that with the right interpretation we can never mess up or break the circle. Imagine riding a bicycle or motorbike with a gap in its tire. Can children effectively play with a hula hoop that is broken?

The key to the Bible’s circularity is this; as the source of eternal truth, Bible doctrine must have no loopholes or contradiction in process, principles or thought. The same truths communicated in Genesis must carry us through to Revelation.  Jesus and His offer of salvation is the center of this circle, and He keeps the circle in motion, remove him and the circle crumbles.

Like chords of a circle, line segments extending from one point to another point on the circle, we can jump from book to book and find the same truth. We must!  Otherwise, we will break the circle.

Here is an example. Marriage was instituted in Genesis as union between a male and female. Search the Bible, circle it multiple times, and we will find that the principal, process or thought has never changed. This is the basic principle of the circle, any point on the circle of Bible doctrine can connect with another point on the same circle. By this method, we connect thoughts, obtain confirmation and mostly these linear connections are our security and our stability.

This is similar to the connection and stability that drive wheels.

Speaking of wheels, in Ezekiel’s first vision he saw four angels, which he referred to as living creatures, and they had wheels. “Their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of the wheel.” (Ez 1:16) No matter how we picture these wheels, and while we can draft many Biblical lessons from these wheels, we cannot escape the circle.  Even the angels follow this circularity in movement and in mission.  They cannot act contrary to the process, principles or thoughts outside of the Bible.

How do they accomplish this circular movement in thoughts, words and actions?

Ezekiel tells us. I will borrow the Living Bible’s plain language to help us understand “When the four living beings flew forward, the wheels moved forward with them. When they flew upwards, the wheels went up too. When the living beings stopped, the wheels stopped. For the spirit of the four living beings was in the wheels.” (Ez 1: 19-20, TLB).

Their spirit was in direct harmony with the Spirit of God, and this is the only way to maintain the circularity of the Bible.

Matthew Henry’s Bible commentary had this to say, “The dispensations of Providence are compared to wheels, either the wheels of a chariot, in which the conqueror rides in triumph, or rather the wheels of a clock or watch, which all contribute to the regular motion of the machine….Providence, represented by these wheels, produces changes; sometimes one spoke of the wheel is uppermost and sometimes another; but the motion of the wheel on its own axletree, like that of the orbs above, is very regular and steady. The motion of the wheels is circular…” (Matthew Henry’s Bible Commentary).

The Lord does not change (Mal 3:6), and so His doctrine must be circular, unified, in every century, in every heart, in every culture, in every nation.

Now, what about other “inspired” books?

Test them with the circular test or the linear test and you will find that books like the Quran fail, it is not circular, exposing gaps in the gospel of Jesus Christ, salvation and grace. It is bombarded with gaps.  The Torah is incomplete, completely leaving out the New Testament, it is like an arc, a portion of a circle, but not a complete circle. Who wants to ride a bike with gaps or one having just an arc for its wheels?

No one will study the Bible and find that it has gaps. Mysteries? Yes, but not gaps.

The question is, who will take some time to enter the circle and do some laps? Who will yield their spirit to God’s Spirit so that they can receive instruction, direction and the correct interpretation?

From my spiritual experience with God, I give the guarantee that our mental, physical, spiritual, emotional well-being will benefit from the Biblical laps.  You do not need my guarantee; the Bible is its own guarantee. Here is God’s promise, “and ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jer 29:13).

Millions focus on the physical, they buff up the chest, trim the waistline, tighten the muscles and the spiritual component is in shambles.

Go! Do some Bible laps.

Explore this Biblical circle and within you will receive, conversation to give you answers, comfort for your troubles, conviction about your sins, courage for your journey ahead and certainty for eternal life through Jesus the Christ.

Art: Created by SSF, Used with Permission.