What Is The Bible?
The Bible is God's message to mankind. It was "given by inspiration of God, and
is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in
righteousness." (2 Ti 3:16)
Bible means "books" and the Bible is a collection of small books. Sixty-six
books make up the one Book, written by forty authors, over the course of about
1,500 years and yet the Bible carries one message: The story of man's
relationship with God.
At the heart of this message is Jesus Christ and how, through his death on the
cross, we may enter into a relationship with God (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). With
Jesus Christ as the main theme, we can divide the Bible into 5 very broad
categories:
1) The Old Testament is the "Preparation For Christ" (Jesus life and ministry is
foretold and the nation he would come from - Israel - is formed.)
2) The
Gospels records the "Appearance Of Christ" (Jesus enters the world, teaches,
dies on the cross for our sins, and is raised from the grave)
3) Acts
tells of the "Preaching Of Christ" (The early Church is formed as the followers
of Christ grow)
4) The
Epistles "Explain Christ's Works" (Jesus' work on the cross is explained)
5)
Revelation is "Christ Judging The World" (Jesus judges the world, creates a new
heaven and earth, and spends eternity with his followers)
Christians believe the Bible is the Word of God because the Bible is:
1) Historically Accurate - The Bible refers to real people, places, and
historical events. Archeology confirms this.
2) Morally Accurate - When the Bible speaks of mankind's condition it is right
on. And even critics acknowledge the effectiveness of biblical ethics.
3) Prophetically Accurate - How does God let us know the Bible is from him? He
writes history in advance. We call this prophecy. The Bible is filled with
prophecy about people and nations that has been fulfilled. The life of Jesus,
for example, is told in advance in the Old Testament, recorded in the New
Testament, and non-biblical history confirms the Bible's message.
* For Further Study:
- An Overview Of The Bible
http://www.biblestudyplanet.com/f7.htm