That's a question everyone can answer, yet few truly understand. We all know the Bible is a religious book for Christians that contains guidelines on how to live in accordance with God. Right?
At face value, that is exactly what it seems to be. But when we look deeper, we uncover fascinating insights and captivating details that left me in awe. So, what is the Bible, you ask? I too have my subjective claims in regards to what the Bible really is.
What would you say the Bible is? Or more personally—what do you see when you look at it? I asked my friends this question, and these were their responses:
I see a book of life filled with rules and guidelines to live and die a godly life.
It’s communication through God …basically him responding to every question you have about being a Christian and how to live like one
A book that guides, grows and educates a person through their journey with Christ or the covenant in general
All responses were different—none of my friends knew the others were asked, and none of them know each other—yet each answer touched on the same truth: the Bible is a book that guides our lives so we can live well—in Christ.
This is true. The Bible is unique in the world; it contains guidance for nearly every situation and emotion. It’s almost as if aliens wrote it—like the pyramids, as my uncle would jokingly say.
Most Christians I’ve encountered describe it as the Word of God, inspired by Him through human authors. That is also true. But I love to see the Bible as a collection of stories about humans—this aspect is very important—who lived in fear or trouble but found light in the presence of the Lord. These stories teach us valuable lessons that God commands.
Why is the human element so important? Because the Bible is fundamentally about humans. That may sound obvious, but it’s crucial. We relate deeply to the Bible because it speaks not only about every circumstance but about real people who lived those experiences. What is said was lived by humans, so we can follow their example. Through faith, Moses parted the sea, Elijah called down fire from heaven, and Peter walked on water—all done by humans.
While there are many subjective definitions of the Bible, one definition unites us all: it is a collection of inspired books, written in different languages and continents, yet all pointing to God. It contains guidance on how to live a fruitful life according to His will. Why is this the definition most would agree on, you ask?
The first five books of the Bible are believed to have been written between the 15th and 13th centuries BCE according to tradition¹. As for the rest of the Bible, it was composed by approximately 35 to 40 different authors. These authors lived across three continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe, and wrote in three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Koine Greek.
There are over 66,000 manuscripts, fragments, and portions of the Bible that have been preserved throughout history. These manuscripts were gathered, compared, and compiled to form the book we now know as the Bible. With such vast differences in geography, language, and time periods, it would seem unlikely for these writings to align toward a single message—yet, remarkably, they do.