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What Are the Sacred Scriptures of the Baha'i Faith? (1:1)

The flowers fade, but the word of our God endures for evermore. Isaiah 40:8 (1:2)

Never before has such an abundance of Scriptures been entrusted to humankind. Because of the greatness of this day, the Word of God has poured forth like a torrent (1:3)

For the first time in religious history, we have reliable evidence of how the Word of God is revealed. Several independent observers have testified that sometimes the Bab and Baha'u'llah spoke the divine Words with such speed that no one could write them down. The Book of Certitude (257 pages), which resolves the mysteries of past Scriptures, was written by Baha'u'llah within the span of only two days. (1:4)

Authors make corrections, change their minds, modify their styles, and mature with time. Like a candle's flame before the wind, their thoughts flicker and flutter, and die with little impact on their surroundings (1:5)

The Word of God radiates like the sun with unmatched splendor, beauty, and perfection to the farthest reaches of the earth. It is the source of the spiritual life of the world. The winds and whims of time can never touch it (1:6)

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalms 119:105 (1:7)

Kahlil Gibran, the famous author from Lebanon, whose book The Prophet has been hailed as a classic, made this statement about Baha'u'llah's Arabic works, a language Baha'u'llah did not study: (1:8)

He [Kahlil Gibran] said it was the most stupendous literature that ever was written, and that He even coined words. That there was no Arabic that even touched the Arabic of Baha'u'llah.1 (1:9)

In the Baha'i archives are treasured more than 15, 000 Tablets or Epistles written by Baha'u'llah to His disciples. 2 If we assume that each of those Epistles is an average of three pages long, we have a total of about 45, 000 pages. If 450 pages are put in each volume, we end up with 100 volumes. Each of those 15, 000 Epistles reveals a glimpse of God's glory, perfection, and power. Each of those Epistles expresses His unwavering and unfailing love for humanity. And each of them manifests unparalleled authority, beauty, and majesty (1:10)

Those who witnessed the revelation of these sacred writings have testified that they were spoken as fast as they could be recorded. Secretaries could hardly keep up with the speed with which the words were uttered. What is even more astonishing is that they required no correction, modification, or change of any kind (1:11)

All sacred Scriptures testify to the supreme station of the Word of God: (1:12)

The words which I have spoken to you are both spirit and life. Christ (John 6:63) (1:13)

And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times. Psalms 18:30 (1:14)

Both the Bab and Baha'u'llah declare repeatedly that their Words are the surest evidence of their divine distinction: (1:15)

He, the divine King, hath proclaimed the undisputed supremacy of the verses of His Book over all things that testify to His truth. For compared with all other proofs and tokens, the divinely-revealed verses shine as the sun, whilst all others are as stars. To the peoples of the world they are the abiding testimony, the incontrovertible proof, the shining light of the ideal King. Their excellence is unrivaled, their virtue nothing can surpass. They are the treasury of the divine pearls and the depository of the divine mysteries. 3 Baha'u'llah (1:16)

Indeed these manifest verses are conclusive testimony for those who seek true guidance.4 The Bab (1:17)

Certainly God's way of thinking and speaking must be distinct from ours-- as distinct and exalted as the heavens are from the earth: (1:18)

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, ' declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.' Isaiah 55:8-9 (1:19)

Whenever you examine the Writings of the Bab and Baha'u'llah, remember that they were spoken as quickly as the secretaries could record. No human being, other than the One endowed and inspired by God, can claim such distinction. The most talented, seasoned, and skillful authors cannot produce, spontaneously and without pause, even as much as one page that would come close, in beauty and novelty, to the works of the Bab and Baha'u'llah-- neither of whom had any education. When we add the dimension of meaning to the dimension of language, we get peerless pearls of celestial perfection (1:20)

The Word of God, spoken through His great Messengers, is the mightiest miracle. It is not like a meteor that flashes forth and dies in the moments of history. It is a celestial magic that endures for all generations. It is as bright and enduring as the sun, as ever-present as the universe itself. No evidence, no proof can ever compare with it (1:21)

It seems God puts most or all of His miracles in His Word. Consider the Bab. He began His ministry at the age of 25. He had hardly any education. As far as we know, He did not even finish elementary school. His teacher sent Him home, saying that the child knew much more than he did. Imagine a young man, raised in an extremely regressive and repressive culture, who arises with the most incredible news and reveals Scriptures as fast as anyone can write, in the most magnificent and exquisite style, in a language other than His mother tongue-- one that He has never studied! What greater miracle does anyone need? This is an ever-present wonder that we can witness any time we wish. This is the evidence God wants us to depend on (1:22)

How could the Israelites endure so much pain in the desert? What gave them the strength and courage was the 'manna, ' the food from heaven. That food symbolized the Word of God. (See John 6:30-58.) (1:23)

To observe brevity, only a few brief selections from the vast vineyard of Baha'i sacred works are offered here. It is essential for every seeker of truth to devote much time to the study of those sources (1:24)

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