The Bible

The Bible is our Sacred Scriptures, the Word of God. We treasure God’s Word because it teaches us about eternal life through Jesus Christ. The Word is Gospel (“good news”) because it assures us of God’s love and faithfulness. It inspires us to tell others. It moves us to help people in need.

General Overview

The Bible is like no other book, and it is the most circulated book in the history of the world.  It has shaped our civilization and our language.  It has generated heated controversy.  It speaks to the small child yet challenges the greatest intellects.  It comes from a small part of the world and introduces a new view of history.

Food for thought

Why is it that the Bible has been used, and only the Bible, for the swearing in of Presidents going all the way back to George Washington?  Why is it the Bible what witnesses place their hand upon in promising to tell the "truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God" before giving testimony in court?

What does "Bible" mean?  

The word probably comes from the port of Byblos in Lebanon.  Byblos was known to be an important place for the shipment of papyrus.  "Byblos" in the old Greek language originally meant the inner bark of the papyrus plant.  Papyrus was used for paper in the ancient world.  We get the word paper from papyrus.  It's as simple as that.  "Bible" simply refers to "book," and what we think of as the Bible wasn't even called the Bible until about the 4th century AD.  It is not really a book, but a little library of many books, divided into two major sections--the Old and New Testaments.  "Old" and "New" can be misleading.  We often think of "old" as obsolete.  Perhaps it would have been clearer if the parts of the Bible were called the "first" and "second" testaments, or "earlier" and "later."  Both are still relevant.

Learn More about the Old Testament        Learn More About the New Testament

What the Bible Says About Itself

Profiting - "All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16).

Illuminating - "Thy Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105).

Penetrating - "For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).

Guiding - "How can a young man keep his way pure?  By living according to your Word. . .I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you" (Psalm 119:9, 11).

Enduring - "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets.  I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.  I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished" (Matthew 5:17-18).

God-speaking - "In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed Heir of all things" (Hebrews 1:1-2).