What Is the Bible?
The Bible is a collection of religious texts sacred in Judaism and Christianity. The word “Bible” comes from the Greek biblia (“books”). It is not a single book written at one time, but a library of writings composed by many authors across different periods, places, and genres.
For Jews, the core collection is the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh). For Christians, the Bible includes the Old Testament (largely corresponding to the Hebrew Bible) and the New Testament, which centers on the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus and the early Christian movement.
Structure of the Bible
Old Testament / Hebrew Bible
The foundation shared (with differences in order and content) by Judaism and Christianity. In Jewish tradition it is called the Tanakh and is divided into:
- • Torah (Law / Pentateuch) – Genesis through Deuteronomy
- • Nevi’im (Prophets)
- • Ketuvim (Writings)
New Testament
Unique to Christianity. It contains 27 books written in the first century CE (primarily in Greek):
- • Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)
- • Acts of the Apostles
- • Epistles (letters) of Paul and others
- • Revelation
Major Sections and Content
Pentateuch / Torah
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. Contains creation narratives, the stories of the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob), the Exodus from Egypt, the giving of the Law at Sinai, and Israel’s wilderness journey.
Historical Books
Joshua through Esther (in Protestant ordering). Narrate the conquest of Canaan, the period of the Judges, the united and divided monarchies, the exile to Babylon, and the return.
Wisdom & Poetry
Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs. Explore suffering, worship, practical wisdom, the meaning of life, and human love.
Prophets
Major Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel) and the Twelve Minor Prophets. Contain calls to justice, warnings of judgment, promises of restoration, and visions of the future.
Gospels & Acts
Present the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and the spread of the early Christian movement from Jerusalem outward.
Epistles & Revelation
Letters addressing theology, ethics, and church life in early Christian communities, concluding with the apocalyptic vision of Revelation.
Languages and Transmission
Original Languages
Most of the Old Testament was written in Hebrew; portions of Daniel and Ezra in Aramaic. The New Testament was written in Koine Greek.
Ancient Translations
Important early versions include the Greek Septuagint (LXX) and the Latin Vulgate. These shaped later Christian reading and theology.
Modern Translations
The Bible has been translated into thousands of languages. Major English versions include the King James Version, RSV, NIV, ESV, NRSV, and many others.
Canon and Different Collections
A “canon” is the official list of books regarded as authoritative scripture. Jewish, Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox canons differ in the number and arrangement of books, especially regarding the Deuterocanonical books (called Apocrypha in many Protestant traditions).
Protestant Bibles typically contain 66 books. Catholic Bibles include additional Old Testament books (Tobit, Judith, 1–2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, and additions to Esther and Daniel). Eastern Orthodox canons include still further writings in some traditions.
Central Themes
Covenant
God’s binding relationships with humanity, Abraham, Israel, and (in Christian reading) the new covenant through Jesus.
Law & Justice
Moral and ritual instruction, concern for the poor, and calls for righteousness.
Faithfulness & Mercy
God’s steadfast love and human response of trust and obedience.
Kingdom & Messiah
Hope for God’s rule and, in Christian interpretation, fulfillment in Jesus as Messiah.
Community & Ethics
How God’s people are to live together, worship, and treat outsiders.
Redemption & Hope
Deliverance from bondage, forgiveness, restoration, and future hope.
Historical and Cultural Influence
The Bible has profoundly shaped Western (and global) civilization. It has influenced law, ethics, literature, art, music, political thought, education, and language. Biblical phrases and stories permeate everyday speech and cultural references.
It remains the most widely distributed and translated book in history and continues to be central to the faith and practice of billions of Jews and Christians worldwide, while also being studied as literature and historical source material.
Key Takeaways
- 1. The Bible is a library of books written over many centuries, not a single work.
- 2. It contains diverse genres: narrative, law, poetry, prophecy, gospel, letter, and apocalypse.
- 3. Jewish and Christian canons overlap significantly but are not identical.
- 4. Original languages are primarily Hebrew and Greek, with some Aramaic.
- 5. Central themes include covenant, justice, mercy, faithfulness, and hope.
- 6. Its influence on religion, culture, and language is immense and ongoing.