The Bible, what is it all about?

The Bible is the best-selling book of all time http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_books. And if you haven’t read it yet, you are sure missing out on one of the most fascinating books ever written. It is one of the oldest books in human history that is still in circulation.

The Bible has been translated into more languages than any other piece of literature. It is available in more than 2,000 languages. Today literally thousands of dedicated men and women linguists pour out their lives to provide the Bible into every active language group on the face of the earth.

The Bible is a collection of 66 books divided in to 2 sections known as the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament consists of 39 books, which is the complete collection of the Hebrew Bible. The Hebrew Bible is the main authority of Judaism. The 39 books consist of:

1)      The Law (Torah): 5 books:

1. Genesis
2. Exodus
   

   The Torah at a Jewish Religious observance

3. Leviticus
4. Numbers
5. Deuteronomy

2)      The Prophets: Divided into two categories

1. Major Prophets: 9 books
   1. i.      Joshua
   2. ii.      Judges
   3. iii.      First Samuel
   4. iv.      Second Samuel
   5. v.      First Kings
   6. vi.      Second Kings
   7. vii.      Isaiah
   8. viii.      Jeremiah
   9. ix.      Ezekiel
2. Minor Prophets: 12 books
   1. i.      Hosea
   2. ii.      Joel
   3. iii.      Amos
   4. iv.      Obadiah
   5. v.      Jonah
   6. vi.      Micah
   7. vii.      Nahum
   8. viii.      Habakkuk
   9. ix.      Zephaniah
   10. x.      Haggai
   11. xi.      Zachariah
   12. xii.      Malachi

3)      The Writings: 8 Books

Image of an Old Testament Scroll

1. Psalms
2. Proverbs
3. Job
4. Daniel
5. Ezra
6. Nehemiah
7. First Chronicles
8. Second Chronicles

4)      The Scrolls

1. Song of Songs (or “Song of Solomon”)
2. Ruth
3. Lamentations
4. Ecclesiastes
5. Esther

The writing of the Old Testament took at least a thousand years, from 1400-400 BC, and no doubt considerably more. Though it is referred to as the “Old” Testament, this does not make the 39 books of the Old Testament obsolete. It is proper to say it is the “first” testament or the “earlier” testament.

The New Testament therefore is in proper terminology, the “Second” or the “later” testament. The two can also be distinguished by calling them “the Hebrew Scriptures” and “the Christian Scriptures”.

The New Testament consists of 27 books, spanning a writing period of 50 or so years from probably about 45 to 95 AD.

The 27 books consist of:

1)      The Gospels: 4 accounts of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ on earth, recorded by eyewitnesses.

1. Matthew
   

   The Holy Bible

2. Mark
3. Luke
4. John

2)      The Acts of the Apostles

3)      Letters to believers: 21 in all

1. Romans
2. First Corinthians
3. Second Corinthians
4. Galatians
5. Ephesians
6. Philippians
7. Colossians
8. First Thessalonians
9. Second Thessalonians
10. First Timothy
11. Second Timothy
12. Titus
13. Philemon
14. Hebrews
15. James
16. First Peter
17. Second Peter
18. First John
19. Second John
20. Third John
21. Jude

4)      The Revelation (Or Apocalypse)

Every Scripture is God-breathed and {or, every writing inspired by God is} profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

The bible incorporates interesting information and specifics about many things.

1. The origins of the universe.
2. The beginning of sin and human suffering. Sin results in man being separated from God.
3. The promise of reconciliation through God’s Anointed One who is to come in to the world to take away sin.
4. God interacts with individuals who call on Him. Patriarchs of faith.
5. The inception of Israel. God starts the process of bringing man back to God
6. The nation of Israel disobeys God and rebels against Him.
7. God judges Israel. Foreign armies take the Jews into captivity and eventually dispersion.
8. The era of the prophets, God’s chosen servants, speaking under immense persecution, and pleading the Jewish people to turn from their evil ways and return to God.
9. Continuous correction of the Jewish people even while in exile with promises of a coming King who is to save the world.
10. 400 year period of silence from the Hebrew Scriptures to the Christian Scriptures and Israel no longer a nation.
11. The arrival of a wild man calling for people to repentance and announcing the eminent coming the Anointed One.
12. The coming of Jesus Christ, the Teacher, the Miracle Worker, the Healer, the Servant King, the Savior. Fulfillment of prophecies spoken of the Messiah.
13. the rise to fame of this Jesus, and the envy of the religious people of the day
14. The conspiracy, the betrayal, unjust trial and crucifixion of the King of the Jews. All fulfilling prophecies made hundreds of years ago by the servants of God, the prophets.
15. Jesus Christ takes upon Himself the penalty for the sins of all mankind.
16. The triumphant resurrection from the dead three days after burial. Jesus conquers death. Promises the gift of eternal life to all who come to Him.
17. Jesus teaches the disciples 40 days after His resurrection and opens their understanding to the scriptures. Commissions them to a worldwide mission of reconciling the fallen race of man to God again.
18. Jesus Christ ascends to heaven whilst disciples look on. Promise given of His return as King of kings and Lord of lords to judge the living and the dead.
19. 50 days after Jesus’ ascension, the hiding disciples are endowed with power from Heaven. The coming of the Holy Spirit, with power, wisdom and the presence of God to dwell permanently with believers enabling them to carry out the commission of Christ
20. Disciples forge ahead amidst tremendous persecution. Encouragement to believers. The spread of the Word of God to the ends of the world.
21. The mysterious message of the end times when God will judge the world. The events that precede the judgment. The coming of the Wicked One.
22. The world will enter a period of great suffering in the future, known as the tribulation.
23. The Second Coming of Christ and the restoration of the universe back to what it was before the fall. And man will live happily ever after for eternity.

Interesting? Sounds like a fairy tale doesn’t it? What if it’s not? Could the bible be true? And if it is, then there is so much to be known.

You can never know the truth of anything until you find out for yourself. The world is full of deception, and you know it. So much in this world cannot be trusted. It’s always the best idea to check out something before you buy it. The Bible is no different. You need to first read it cover to cover to decide whether you are going to believe what it says. Don’t be deceived by what you hear about the Bible. Some may say great things about the Bible. Others may say bad things about the Bible. Most people today are tossed to and fro by the opinions of other. They will never check the source, whether it is true or not.

You’ve read Harry Potter; you’ve read the Da Vinci Code. Or maybe you’ve read the Lord of the Rings or the Chronicles of Narnia. Isn’t it worth while reading this book that claims it is the word of the living God?

It gives an idea of how people lived in ancient times, what they believed in. it is a book about human history, about epic wars, rise and fall of empires such as the Babylonians, the Assyrians, the Egyptians, the Medes, the Persians and the Greeks. These are all historically documented empires. The bible is often referred for information when it comes to historical events. The final books of the bible were written during the reign of the Roman Empire and their Caesars.

The Bible has romance, beautiful love stories, tragedies and trials that anyone can relate to. There are books that have timeless wisdom. You will find the supernatural from the first book to the last. For those who are interested in prophecy or what the future hold for humanity, the Bible gives warning and hope. The Bible also speaks of what happens to us when we die. Is there life after death? Surprisingly, the Bible has so much to say about this topic.

One of the most fascinating aspects any interested reader would come across is that the Bible does not bloat about its characters. In many ancient writings and annals, writers inflate their heroes and make them invincible or without weakness. Biblical figures are full of failures. All of us can relate to the trials and temptations faced by these God-fearing men and women. Their failures bring them to the point of quitting. But God reassured them of His everlasting love for them and restores them. God intervenes in the lives of His children.

The Bible is surely fascinating. I have read it over and over again unlike any other book I’ve ever come across. The reason is because it still keeps me drawing to it. The Bible is not meant to be preserved in some glass box in a museum. It is to be read by everyone.

The Bible declares itself as the revealed will of God. How can a document written thousands of years ago, by men, be the word of God? There are many books that are referred to as sacred today. Many of them claim to be the word of God. But all of them, with no exception, contradict each other. How can we know the truth in a jungle of information? The only way is to find out for yourself.

According to the Bible, God can be known in a very personal way. It mentions that He can be known by everyone who seeks Him. He can be known as you know your parents, children, spouse or friends. Isn’t that the greatest proof you will need to believe in God, if He reveals Himself to you through the Bible?

The events mentioned in the bible are documented in archeological discoveries. The Bible doesn’t promise you a good feeling; it promises the reality of experiencing God today. The Bible answers the question of the origins of life, the purpose of life, morality and the destiny of life. These are fundamental questions we all have in one way or another.

Still don’t believe me? Wonderful! Certainly don’t take my word for it. If you do, you will certainly believe anything out there. The Word of God, the Bible, will stand the test of scrutiny. And anything that demands your complete surrender, demands your scrutiny. Read the Bible for yourself and ask questions. Ask God in your own words to open your eyes to understand His word. The Bible will transform your life. If is doesn’t, after you sincerely seek the truth and are willing to go where ever it leads you, then take the path that most agrees with your reasoning.

For the word of God is living and full of power, and is sharper than any two-edged sword, cutting through and making a division even of the soul and the spirit, the bones and the muscles, and quick to see the thoughts and purposes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth. (John 17:17, Psalm 119:142)