The Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is the written HOLY SCRIPTURES, the Word of God. It is inspired by the Holy Spirit and is without error in the original manuscripts. The Bible is the revelation of God’s truth and is infallible, sufficient, and authoritative in all matters of faith and practice.
The Bible was written by forty (or more) different authors over a period of 1600 years. Yet it is clearly ONE book, with perfect unity and consistency. The Bible was written in three different languages. These include Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. It has been translated into other languages more than any other book in all of human history. It has been read by more people throughout the world than any other book. It is certainly a unique book and has survived the test of time in spite of attempts to criticize and destroy it.
There is one consistent theme throughout the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, the story is about God’s work in creation and redemption (the scarlet thread). This is through the Lord Jesus Christ, Who as the Son, is God manifested in the flesh. The Bible has supernatural power which works to transform the lives of people.
“For the word of God is LIVING AND POWERFUL, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12).
“but these are written that you MAY BELIEVE that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and THAT BELIEVING you MAY HAVE LIFE in His name.” (John 20:31).
“and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are ABLE to make you wise FOR SALVATION through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Tim. 3:15).
““Most assuredly, I say to you, he who HEARS My word and BELIEVES in Him who sent Me HAS EVERLASTING LIFE, and shall NOT come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” (John 5:24).
“So then faith comes by HEARING, and hearing by the WORD OF GOD.” (Rom. 10:17).
The Bible has a living Author, God the Holy Spirit. The Bible speaks with authority. It declares the absolute truth, without apology, yet is still full of the love and compassion of God for the sinner to repent and come to salvation in Christ.
“who desires ALL MEN to be SAVED and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Tim 2:4).
““Come now, and LET US REASON TOGETHER,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.” (Isa. 1:18).
“For I HAVE NO PLEASURE in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord GOD. “Therefore TURN AND LIVE!”” (Ezek. 18:32).
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is LONGSUFFERING to us-ward, NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH, but that ALL should come to repentance.” (2 Pet. 3:9).
“And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. WHOEVER DESIRES, let him TAKE the water of life FREELY.” (Rev. 22:17).
“And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and NOT FOR OURS ONLY but ALSO FOR THE WHOLE WORLD.” (1 John 2:2).
“For GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER BELIEVES in Him should not perish but HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.” (John 3:16).
“And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as SAVIOR OF THE WORLD.” (1 John 4:14).
The chosen nation of Israel preserved the Old Testament as no other manuscript has ever been preserved. They kept tabs on every letter, syllable, word, and paragraph. The Old Testament was verified as reliable by the Prophets, Priests, and writers. When the Messiah, Jesus Christ, came as prophesied, His ministry was recorded in the common language of the people, which was Greek, in the Roman Empire.
In the first century after Christ’s first coming in AD 26-30, the apostles wrote that the words of the New Testament were inspired by the Holy Spirit. The writers of both the Old and New Testaments were accurate in what they recorded. Consider the following:
PETER: “15Moreover I WILL BE CAREFUL TO ENSURE THAT YOU ALWAYS HAVE A REMINDER OF THESE THINGS AFTER MY DECEASE.” (2 Pet. 1:13-14).
PETER: “16For we DID NOT FOLLOW CUNNINGLY DEVISED FABLES when we made known to you THE POWER AND COMING of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were EYEWITNESSES of His majesty.” (2 Pet. 1:16).
PETER: “20knowing this first, that NO PROPHECY OF SCRIPTURE is of any private interpretation. 21for prophecy never came by the will of man, but HOLY MEN OF GOD SPOKE AS THEY WERE MOVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.” (2 Pet. 1:19-21).
PETER: “15and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our BELOVED BROTHER PAUL, according to the wisdom given to hint, HAS WRITTEN TO YOU, 16as ALSO IN ALL HIS EPISTLES speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also THE REST OF THE SCRIPTURES.” (2 Pet. 3:15-16).
PAUL: “15Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the WORD OF TRUTH.” (2 Tim. 2:15).
PAUL: “16ALL SCRIPTURE is given by INSPIRATION OF GOD, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Tim. 3:16).
PAUL: “13These things WE ALSO SPEAK, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the HOLY SPIRIT TEACHES, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” (1 Cor.2:13).
JOHN: “3that which we have SEEN and HEARD we declare to you.” (1 John 1:3).
JOHN: ‘‘1The REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant JOHN, 2who bore witness to the WORD OF GOD, and to THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST, to all things that he saw.” (Rev. 1:1-2).
JESUS: “35Heaven and earth will pass away, but MY WORDS WILL BY NO MEANS PASS AWAY.” (Matt. 24:35).
JESUS: “8For I have given to them THE WORDS WHICH YOU HAVE GIVEN ME: and they have received them’ and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.” (John 17:8).
JESUS: “17Sanctify them by Your truth. YOUR WORD IS TRUTH.”(John 17:17).
Jesus confirmed that the Old Testament Scriptures were true. “44Then He said to them, ‘These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled WHICH WERE WRITTEN IN THE LAW OF MOSES AND THE PROPHETS AND THE PSALMS CONCERNING ME.’” (Luke 24:44).
We can know that the Bible (both Old and New Testaments) that we hold in our hands has been supernaturally written and protected by the HOLY SPIRIT. It is the Word of God, the HOLY SCRIPTURES. We have this inspired book from God Almighty that dates back 3400+ years to Moses.
See also related “Topic Studies & Terms”:
“Canon”