Discover the Bible
What is the Bible?
Maybe you’ve heard about the Bible, or have seen one in a motel room somewhere. You might even own one. Most people haven’t read it much though and aren’t really sure what it’s all about.
So what is the Bible? Where did it come from? Is it a collection of man-made fables or actual events? Does it just contain helpful truisms or is it the Truth? What difference could such ancient writings have in today’s world?
Where did the Bible come from?
The Bible is the “holy book” of the Christian faith, a recording of the interaction of God with historical people and nations. It’s a story of how humans became estranged from God and how, in response, he took drastic steps to renew that connection. It begins with a description of the creation of the world and ends with the prophecy of how the world will come to an end. It chronicles the good and bad in the lives of people who played important roles in God’s plan for the world. It covers themes that are common to all people regardless of age, race, nationality, or status.
It is the most amazing, greatest and most important book ever written and that you will ever read.
It points the way to God as being achieved by God himself rather than through the work of people “earning” their way to Him. It is a document unique in the whole world that communicates a unique message — grace, that is the undeserved blessing of God. Perhaps it is best described as God’s love letter to the world in hope that they will respond to His love
The Bible is the best-selling book in the world with around 168,000 copies purchased or given away every day. It also is the most banned book in the world. It is the most translated book in the world, having been translated into more than 1,200 languages. It is actually a collection of 66 different books written over a period of 1,500 years in 3 different languages by more than 40 different authors living in 13 different countries on 3 continents. Yet, despite its diversity, it carries a consistent theme throughout.
Though the Bible was written down by men, we hold it to be God’s Word. That is, we believe that the people writing were inspired by God in what they wrote so that it is without error.
What is the Bible all about?
The Old Testament begins with a description of the creation of the world and then details the history of the people who God interacted with most for centuries–a nation called Israel, named for a man who was a key character in the Old Testament and ancestor of the Jewish people. The Old Testament ends with the story of how the ancient nation of Israel was destroyed.
There is a gap of time of around 400 years between the time that the Old Testament ends and the New Testament begins.
The New Testament picks up with the story of the birth of Jesus Christ–the promised Messiah (Savior) who was prophesied to come numerous times in the Old Testament. The first four books–Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John–are historical documents describing what Jesus did during His life.
The next book, Acts (of the Apostles) tells about what Jesus’ followers did after He was killed, rose from the dead, spent 40 days with his disciples and then ascended into heaven. These Jewish followers of Jesus, many of whom were simple, uneducated people who had never traveled more than a few miles from their homes, grew in number and spread the story of Christ to the rest of the world. They became known as Christians (Christ followers) and, according to secular histories as well as the Bible, amazingly chose horrible persecutions and deaths rather than recant their testimonies of what they had witnessed. The end of the New Testament prophesies about how all world events will culminate into a difficult time during which Jesus Christ will return and the world as we know it will end.
How is the Bible organized?
The 66 books are divided into two major sections called the Old Testament and the New Testament. The books within the Bible are organized by type rather than chronologically. In the Old Testament, these “types” are the Law or Pentateuch, consisting of the first five books; the Histories, from Joshua through Esther; the Poetry, or Wisdom, from Job through Song of Solomon; and the Prophets, from Isaiah through Malachi. In the New Testament, the first four books are the Gospels, which tell the story of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection; Acts, which is the story of the next 20 years after Jesus’s ascension; letters, written by leaders of the early Christian movement over 60 years following Jesus’ ascension; and, finally, the Book of Revelation, which tells about Jesus’ return and the judgment of the world.
Where should I start reading in the Bible?
If you’re new to the Bible, try reading about the life of Jesus Christ first. Start in the New Testament and read through the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. You might find it easiest to begin reading just a chapter a day. If you have more time, it may help to read an entire book in one sitting to get a big picture of what’s going on.
You may also enjoy reading the book of Psalms in the Old Testament. It’s a collection of Hebrew songs and poetry written in an honest emotional style. The book of Genesis is a good place to start as well to read about the creation of the world and the stories of those who first walked the earth.
Which translation of the Bible should I use?
The Bible wasn’t orginally written in English, so it has been translated for us. Over the years, newer translations have come out that replace older words and phrases with language that we use today.
Some editions of the Bible were created to give an exact word-for-word translation. These word-for-word translations are sometimes awkward to read, but great for in-depth study. These include the King James Version, the English Standard Version and the New American Standard Bible. Other editions of the Bible translate thought-for-thought so that the words flow better and are put in terms that we can more easily understand. Bibles like these include the New International Version. Still other editions translate very loosely, paraphrasing what the original writer said and putting it in general terms. These are more likely to contain some interpretation by the author. One of these would be The Message Bible.
For daily reading and scripture memorization, we recommend beginning with a thought-for-thought translation, such as the New International Version. For in-depth Bible study, we recommend the New American Standard, English Standard or New King James translations, which strive for preciseness in word-for-word translation in modern-day English. You can shop online for Bibles on the Friedens website through our Online Store.
How can I better understand what I’m reading?
Like any historical document, the Bible makes more sense when the reader understands the context in which it was written. At Friedens, we offer a number of classes or discussion groups to help you understand each book of the Bible. If you’re new to the Bible, a great place to start is our Discovering the Bible group that meets periodically on Sunday morning. In it you’ll learn more about why you can trust the Bible, how all the books of the Bible fit together to tell God’s great love story and how to study the Bible. Contact the church, 284-2471, to find out when the next session begins. Also check out our slate of Growth Groups that meet during the week and our other Sunday morning classes to find out about other groups of like-minded people who get together to study the Bible and grow together as dedicated followers of Jesus Christ.
Also check out the online Bible study tools and resources on the Friedens web site.