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 the interaction of God
with historical people and nations. 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 someday.
It chronicles 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.
The Bible explains God's reason for creating
the world, mankind's decision to turn away from God,
and God's plan to redeem those who turn back to Him.
Unlike any other religious document, it points the way
to God as being achieved by God himself rather than
through the work of mankind "earning" their
way to Him. 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 of all time with around
168,000 purchased or given away every day. It has been
translated into more than 1200 languages. It is actually
a collection of 66 different books written over a period
of 1500 years in 3 different languages by over 40 different
authors living in 13 different countries.
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. The result is a remarkable
book that carries a consistent theme throughout though
it was written by such diverse people over such a long
period of time.
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 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,
came back to life, and ascended into heaven. It records
how these Jewish followers of Jesus grew in number and
spread the story of Christ to the rest of the world.
They became known as Christians (Christ followers).
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:
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 Genesisis 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. Other editions of the Bible translate
thought-for-thought so that the words flow better. Still
other editions translate very loosely, paraphrasing
what the original writer said and putting it in general
terms.
For daily reading and scripture memorization,
we recommend the New International Version, which is
considered a thought-for-thought translation.
For in-depth Bible study, we recommend
the New American Standard translation, which strives
for preciseness in word-for-word translation.
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 New Hope, we offer two classes
that help you understand each book of the Bible: Grow
in the Word 1 & 2.
In
these classes, you'll be introduced to the authors,
recipients, and overall themes covered in each book
of the Bible. You'll get a gliimpse into the historical
events that were happening when the book was written.
What's more, you'll see the bigger picture of how all
the books fit together to form a cohesive story about
what God is doing in the world.
Starting Point is a
small group environment where you'll learn more about
how the Bible tells one grand story of God throughout
the ages. Read more here.
To register for any of these classes,
contact us to find out when the next class session will
begin.
We're always happy to talk with
you one-on-one about your questions. Please feel free
to contact
us via phone or email.
The
Bible is the best selling book of all time with around
168,000 purchased or given away every day. It has been
translated into more than 1200 languages. It is actually
a collection of 66 different books written over a period
of 1500 years in 3 different languages by over 40 different
authors living in 13 different countries. 
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. 
In
these classes, you'll be introduced to the authors,
recipients, and overall themes covered in each book
of the Bible. You'll get a gliimpse into the historical
events that were happening when the book was written.
What's more, you'll see the bigger picture of how all
the books fit together to form a cohesive story about
what God is doing in the world.