---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We do not have to make the Bible relevant…"
description: "\"We do not have to make the Bible relevant - it already is! But we do have to show its relevance.\" — Rick Warren"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/112/rick-warren-230_bible_we-do-not-have-to-make-the-bible-relevan_3053092.png"
---

#  We do not have to make the Bible relevant - it already is!…

![“We do not have to make the Bible relevant - it already is! But we do have to show its relevance.” quote by Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/112/rick-warren-230_bible_we-do-not-have-to-make-the-bible-relevan_3053092.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/112/rick-warren-230_bible_we-do-not-have-to-make-the-bible-relevan_3053092.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/112/rick-warren-230_bible_we-do-not-have-to-make-the-bible-relevan_3053092.png)

> “We do not have to make the Bible relevant - it already is! But we do have to show its relevance.”

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The Bible is inherently relevant; the task is to demonstrate its contemporary significance to others.

**In simple terms:** The Bible already matters.

Key Takeaway

Show its modern relevance.

Themes

faith relevance mission

Mood

inspirational purposeful

Type

religious motivational

When to use this quote

- church
- community
- personal faith

Key Concepts

religious teaching public speaking education

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you make ancient texts feel current?
- What stories illustrate timeless truths?

A Different Perspective

Relevance may be contested.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Bible Relevant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible-relevant-1221450/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Make Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-bible-1021564/) [Relevance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relevance/) [Relevant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relevant/) [Relevant Relevance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relevant-relevance-3018616/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/)

## Related quotes

> [We don't have to make the bible relevant-it is-but we have to show its relevance. What is irrelevant, in my opinion, is our style…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/we-don-t-have-to-make-the-bible-relevant-it-is-but-we-have-to-show/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [Do not try to make the Bible relevant. Its relevance is axiomatic. Do not defend God's word, but testify to it. Trust to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/do-not-try-to-make-the-bible-relevant-its-relevance-is-axiomatic-do/)

[Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/)

> [Do not try to make the Bible relevant. Its relevance is axiomatic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/do-not-try-to-make-the-bible-relevant-its-relevance-is-axiomatic/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [“Biblical expositors are not pining away in their studies searching for ways to bring relevancy to their message. They don’t need to. The Bible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-r-helm/biblical-expositors-are-not-pining-away-in-their-studies-searching/)

[David R. Helm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-r-helm/)

> [Long time ago, people would make the Bible, right? The guy said it, somebody wrote it down. And then if you wanted another copy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/long-time-ago-people-would-make-the-bible-right-the-guy-said-it/)

[Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/)

> [It's not so easy to apply to today's society things that were written thousands of years ago. But that's exactly the job of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaka/it-s-not-so-easy-to-apply-to-today-s-society-things-that-were-written/)

[Kaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaka/)

> [People tell me they want to make the Bible relevant. Nonsense. The Bible's already relevant. You're the one that's irrelevant!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-g-hendricks/people-tell-me-they-want-to-make-the-bible-relevant-nonsense-the/)

[Howard G. Hendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-g-hendricks/)

> [I can’t make the Bible come alive for anyone. The Bible is already alive. It makes me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/i-can-t-make-the-bible-come-alive-for-anyone-the-bible-is-already/)

[R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/)

> [When the printing press was invented, it was inspired by the desire to make the Bible accessible to everyone. Today, people of passion who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-moore/when-the-printing-press-was-invented-it-was-inspired-by-the-desire-to/)

[Jay Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-moore/)

> [Now, which am I to believe, a book that any impostor might make and call the Word of God, or the creation itself which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/now-which-am-i-to-believe-a-book-that-any-impostor-might-make-and/)

[Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/)

> [The Spirit is not given to make Bible study needless, but to make it effective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/the-spirit-is-not-given-to-make-bible-study-needless-but-to-make-it/)

[J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/)

> [Make your own Bible. Select and collect all the words and sentences that in all your readings have been to you like the blast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/make-your-own-bible-select-and-collect-all-the-words-and-sentences/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [Every love has a poetic relevance of its own; each love brings to light only what to it is relevant. Outside lies the junk-yard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-bowen/every-love-has-a-poetic-relevance-of-its-own-each-love-brings-to/)

[Elizabeth Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-bowen/)

> [We are not relevant when we mirror secular culture. We are relevant when we are what they long to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/we-are-not-relevant-when-we-mirror-secular-culture-we-are-relevant/)

[Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/)

> [“Bring relevance to people and help them achieve their goals”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/bring-relevance-to-people-and-help-them-achieve-their-goals/)

[Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/)

## More by Rick Warren

> [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [Change always starts in your mind. The way you think determines the way you feel, and the way you feel influences the way you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/change-always-starts-in-your-mind-the-way-you-think-determines-the/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [If Jesus is king in heaven then the Kingdom of God is in heaven. If Jesus is king, reign on earth then the Kingdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/if-jesus-is-king-in-heaven-then-the-kingdom-of-god-is-in-heaven-if/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [“The Bible says, “You must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/the-bible-says-you-must-make-allowance-for-each-other-s-faults-and/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [If it grows on a plant, it's healthy. If it's made in a plant, don't eat it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/if-it-grows-on-a-plant-it-s-healthy-if-it-s-made-in-a-plant-don-t-eat/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [Those that innovate the future understand history the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/those-that-innovate-the-future-understand-history-the-best/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [When you jump across a canyon, cautious small steps and vacillation won't work. Sometimes you just have to go for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/when-you-jump-across-a-canyon-cautious-small-steps-and-vacillation/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [We often miss hearing God's voice simply because we aren't paying attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/we-often-miss-hearing-god-s-voice-simply-because-we-aren-t-paying/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [Law is downstream from culture. By the time you make a law about something, you're reacting, not acting. I'd rather shape the culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/law-is-downstream-from-culture-by-the-time-you-make-a-law-about/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [“If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you’ll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/if-you-look-at-the-world-you-ll-be-distressed-if-you-look-within-you/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [It is mind-boggling to me that the Almighty power created everything I see; the Bible says that God created the entire universe just so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/it-is-mind-boggling-to-me-that-the-almighty-power-created-everything/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [The role of the church and the government are fundamentally different. The church must always show compassion - always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/the-role-of-the-church-and-the-government-are-fundamentally-different/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [We become whatever we are committed to](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/we-become-whatever-we-are-committed-to/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [“but it does mean God is able to redeem any and all situations and use them for his own good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/but-it-does-mean-god-is-able-to-redeem-any-and-all-situations-and-use/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [Well actually I don't think it's a bunch of bad things that send us to hell. I think it is rejection of God's grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/well-actually-i-don-t-think-it-s-a-bunch-of-bad-things-that-send-us/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

[Explore all 847 Rick Warren quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

## More Bible quotes

> [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/)

[Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/)

> [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/)

[Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/)

> [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/)

[Michael Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arnold/)

> [When you put your hand on the Bible, you are saying something much stronger than just telling your peers that you're going to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/when-you-put-your-hand-on-the-bible-you-are-saying-something-much/)

[Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/)

> [“Scripture also teaches that human beings are morally responsible creatures”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-peterson/scripture-also-teaches-that-human-beings-are-morally-responsible/)

[Robert A. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-peterson/)

> [“The wife of a junior officer cooped up in a horrible canvas partition in steerage for five months wrote: "I had enjoyed much peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-taylor/the-wife-of-a-junior-officer-cooped-up-in-a-horrible-canvas-partition/)

[Stephen Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-taylor/)

> [O Word of God incarnate . . . It is the golden casket Where gems of truth are stored; It is the heaven-drawn picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walsham-how/o-word-of-god-incarnate-it-is-the-golden-casket-where-gems-of-truth/)

[Walsham How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walsham-how/)

> [How can I trust that the Bible is reliable?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/how-can-i-trust-that-the-bible-is-reliable/)

[Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/)

> [Every plant which my heavenly father has not planted with be uprooted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/every-plant-which-my-heavenly-father-has-not-planted-with-be-uprooted/)

[Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/)

> [Where I come from you're not raised to think on your own. It's not that you're pushed to read the Bible. The Bible is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/where-i-come-from-you-re-not-raised-to-think-on-your-own-it-s-not/)

[Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/)

> [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/)

[J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/)

> [What comes to mind when you think of heaven? Heaven is referred to in fifty-four of the Bible's sixty-six books, and the final two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/what-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-of-heaven-heaven-is-referred-to-in/)

[David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/)

> [“While it is in one sense a result of God’s presence within us, the New Testament also describes a process involved in our “putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/while-it-is-in-one-sense-a-result-of-god-s-presence-within-us-the-new/)

[Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/)

> [The definition of a Church is crystal clear in the New Testament. We see the picture of it. They came together the first day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-definition-of-a-church-is-crystal-clear-in-the-new-testament-we/)

[John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/)

[Browse all 8,465 Bible quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "We do not have to make the Bible relevant - it already is! But we do have to show its relevance.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Rick Warren"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/we-do-not-have-to-make-the-bible-relevant-it-already-is-but-we-do/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bible"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/we-do-not-have-to-make-the-bible-relevant-it-already-is-but-we-do/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/112/rick-warren-230_bible_we-do-not-have-to-make-the-bible-relevan_3053092.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/112/rick-warren-230_bible_we-do-not-have-to-make-the-bible-relevan_3053092.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/112/rick-warren-230_bible_we-do-not-have-to-make-the-bible-relevan_3053092.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We do not have to make the Bible relevant - it already is! But we do have to show its relevance.” — Rick Warren",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Rick Warren",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "We do not have to make...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/we-do-not-have-to-make-the-bible-relevant-it-already-is-but-we-do/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/we-do-not-have-to-make-the-bible-relevant-it-already-is-but-we-do/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
