The Bible
The Word of God

• Most of the quotations are taken from the New International Version of the Bible.
• Sections on this page contain footnotes that look like this:[1]. The footnotes are at the end of each section.
• Many Bible references are given. It is well worth looking them up for yourself.

A Book Like No Other

Though the Bible is an old book, it repeatedly moves people to action. Men and women throughout the world read it, and change their lives!

What motivates these many people? Why is the Bible such a powerful book? How does such a book create happiness and contentment in so many lives? This web page will answer these questions, as well as covering the following topics:

• Where did the Bible come from?
• When was it written?
• Is the Bible believable?
• What is the Bible's content?
• Why was it written?

A Collection of Writings

The Bible is composed of two sections: Hebrew Jewish writings, known as the Old Testament, and Christian Greek writings, known as the New Testament.

Although many men wrote the Bible during a long period of time, the message is consistent throughout. The reason for this amazing harmony is because the one living God inspired these writers. In other words, God gave them the words to write and speak. Therefore, the Bible is unique, in that it is the only writing to mankind from the one true God.

Though the Bible was originally written in Hebrew and Greek, the message of the Bible is for everyone. There is no "respect of persons" [1] with God. Strong or weak, wise or foolish, rich or poor, [2] the good news in this book is for all nations and languages.

Sections within the Bible

Both the Jewish and Greek parts of the Bible are made up of individual sections called books. There are 66 books in the Bible. Some are short and can be read in a few minutes, others are much longer. For convenience, the books of the Bible have been divided into numbered chapters (usually about a page) and verses (one or two sentences).

Passages of the Bible are referred to by book, chapter and verse. For example, Isaiah 45:6 means the book of Isaiah, chapter 45 verse 6. If you have a Bible, you can look a verse up by referring to the table of contents at the beginning of most copies. You are encouraged to look up the Bible passages contained in the footnotes at the end of each section.

Myth or Truth?

There are many old books in the world. How can we tell if the Bible is myth or truth?

There are several important reasons why confidence can be placed in the message of this book.

First of all, the Bible is an accurate history book. Its description of kings and events can often be verified independently by other ancient histories. In addition many places mentioned in the Bible have been rediscovered in modern times by archaeology, where teams of people have dug into the earth and uncovered old cities of Bible times. Such teams of people have always verified the Bible descriptions of these cities, both their location, and other clues.

Again, the Bible is believable as truth because it makes bold predictions about future events, which are always accurate.

For example, just like today, there were many nations in Bible times. One of these nations was Edom, the descendants of Esau. The God who caused the Bible to be written predicted with certainty that this nation would not survive, but would become extinct in the earth, so that they would no longer be a people. The Bible confidently says in the book of Obadiah, "there shall be no survivor to the house of Esau; for the LORD has spoken". [3]

In contrast, the God of the Bible specifically said to the Jews, "I am with you, says the LORD, to save you: though I make a full end of all nations where I have scattered you, yet I will not make a full end of you: but I will correct you in measure, and will not leave you altogether unpunished."[4]

These are not the predictions of men. If we were to pick which nations of today would exist one or two thousand years from now, it would be difficult to predict. We can have confidence in the Bible as the word of God because of this and many more prophecies about the future.

Another reason to believe that the Bible is truth and not myth is because its books agree and harmonize. Even though parts of the Bible were written in many different places and at different times, its message is in agreement of the truth about God, rather than endless contradictions.

The Bible is not a mysterious book, only for a select few, but is about mysteries revealed[5] by God to those who are willing to read its messages. What does the Bible contain?

The Beginning of the Bible

This book tells about God. It shows his character and his greatness as well as his creative power and his immortality. It reveals God's interest in mankind as his children, and his longing for their love and obedience. It confirms that he is the only God: "I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me".[6]

Life on earth began[7] when God created every plant and animal species. He also created the conditions that ensured life would thrive and multiply on the earth. The beginning of the Bible tells about these things.

The Origin of Evil, Suffering and Death

The Bible explains that Adam and Eve lived in a garden paradise that God had prepared for them. They had plants and fruit trees for food, but were not allowed to eat of a certain tree in the middle of the garden. God told them that the consequences of eating this tree would be death.

The first people on earth therefore had a choice of whether to obey God's instructions, or to follow their own cravings. God did not make them choose one way or another, but gave them a free choice either to love him, and act upon his rules, or to go their own way, and follow their own desires.

There was a creature in the garden that was cleverer than any of the other animals - a snake. God had given this snake the ability to speak. Looking at the tree that God had forbidden, the snake gave its opinion to Eve that the fruit would be good for Eve to eat, and that Eve would not die if she did. At this, Eve chose to follow her own desires instead of God's wishes, and ate of the fruit of this tree. Adam also ate of it as well.

God gave them a free choice to eat of it, or not. This same idea occurs throughout the Bible. God does not force anyone to follow him, but he wants his children's love and submission. Sadly, during the days of the Bible and still today, most people choose their own way instead of his. The cravings and appetites of man such as greed, selfishness and personal pride are preferred above the things of God.

Adam and Eve were punished, true to God's warning. They became mortal - dying creatures. Mankind has since been subject to death as a consequence.

God also brought suffering upon them. God's verdict was that the woman would have pain during child bearing, and would be subject to her husband. The man would have to sweat, working hard to produce enough to eat for his family.

The snake too was punished, because it had told a lie - that Adam and Eve would not die if they ate of the tree. The snake from then on was cursed by God, and had to crawl on its belly.

Remorse and Forgiveness

The Bible teaches about God's truth and mercy. Truth, in that he is true to his rules, or commands, and mercy, in that he loves men and women, and wants them to be sorry when they have not done what is right. God will forgive when his children repent, and ask for his forgiveness.

Before the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, broke God's rule, they were naked in the garden, and were not ashamed. Once they disobeyed, they felt shame at their nakedness.

God provided animal skins[8] as a covering for Adam and Eve. Nakedness itself had not been sin to them. However, God taught them that the shame they felt at nakedness was the same shame they should feel when they sinned, or disobeyed him. Just as God provided the covering of skins, so he would provide a covering for sin. Not physical clothes, but a way that God would forgive them when they disobeyed, if they later repented and asked for his forgiveness.

A New Hope

God's plan for the earth was not finished when the first man and woman disobeyed him. He promised that a child would come who would crush the snake. Throughout the Bible, the snake came to stand for sin, and the impulses within all people to disobey God.

Eve hoped that one of her children would be the one that God had promised. However, it was not until many, many years later that the promised saviour appeared on the scene.

A New Start

Adam and Eve had children, and their children also had children, until there were many people in the world. Some were very evil, and others tried their best to obey God. After several hundred years, however, there was only one family left that truly obeyed God.

It grieved God to his heart that people were so wicked,[9] and he decided that there was going to be a fresh start, and that all of the wickedness of the world would be destroyed. The father of the only good family was named Noah. God told Noah of his plan to destroy the living things on earth with a flood. He asked Noah to build a very large boat, large enough for his family, and the many animals that God also wanted to save.

God did send the flood, and destroyed everyone but Noah, his wife, his three sons and their wives. They were saved because they built the boat according to God's specifications, and lived in it during the flood. Because they believed God and acted on what he said, they lived to make a new start on the earth.

After the flood, the population of the earth grew once again. At first, instead of spreading over the whole earth, the people lived in one place and spoke one language. They agreed together to build a large tower in order to make a name for themselves. God was not pleased with this, and confused the languages of the different families of people. In the following bewilderment, families left, and populated different regions of the world, and nations were started, some of which can still be traced today.[10]

A Nation Separated for God's Purpose

Some time later, God chose to call a man that he wanted to separate from other men, and make into a nation for his purpose. His plan was also that the promised saviour would one day be born to this nation.

The man he called was named Abram, whose name was later changed to Abraham. He lived in an ancient city named Ur, which was located in the borders of modern day Iraq. God told this man to move away from his relatives to a new land that he would show him. [11]

Abraham crossed over the Euphrates River. He was therefore called a "Hebrew" or "someone who crosses over", and became the father of the Hebrew nation, or the Jews. God brought him to a land called Canaan, since peo-ple called Canaanites were then the inhabitants.

Although Abraham was old, God promised that he and his children would inherit the land, and that his descendants would some day be as numerous as the stars in the sky. God also promised that because of Abraham, all families of the earth would be blessed. Abraham never did inherit the land. God would raise Abraham from the dead to receive it at a future time - a message of hope that the Bible repeats many times for other faithful believers.[12]

Abraham did beget a son named Isaac as well as other descendants that grew into great nations. Later, a grandson named Jacob was born. God called this grandson "Israel". God's purpose was to be shown in the nation of this name - Israel.

At first the children of Israel lived as wandering shepherds in the land of Canaan. Eventually after there was a severe famine, they settled in the land of Egypt where the Egyptians after a while made them slaves. God looked after them, however, and raised up a man to deliver them from slavery named Moses.

God showed mighty miracles in the land of Egypt[13], eventually forcing the king of Egypt to let the children of Israel go free. Moses led them through the Sinai desert back to the land of Canaan. God gave them special laws while they were in the wilderness. These laws showed the nation how they were to live once they inherited the land that God was to give them. Moses died just before they crossed into the new land, and another man, Joshua, led Israel into the land, and in battles against the Canaanites. God was with Israel, and gave the Canaanites' land to them as promised.

For a number of generations[14] , Israel lived in their land and were ruled by judges who tried to keep them worshipping God, though they often turned to other gods of the nations around, which God was very displeased with.

Eventually the nation of Israel asked for a king who could lead them into battle like kings of the other nations. The first king, Saul, started off fairly well, but ended up disobeying God, and was rejected. God called the next king, whose name was David, "a man after God's own heart"[15]. This king, and his son Solomon, made Israel into a great nation. A great temple for God was build, and people came to pay tribute from all around, and to see God's glory in his kingdom on earth.

Sadly, subsequent kings were not all as good, and the nation itself was split into northern and southern kingdoms. Not one king from the northern kingdom of Israel was ever good, even though God sent many prophets to tell them of his ways. The words of these prophets form some of the books of the Bible, for example Ezekiel, Hosea and Amos. Eventually the northern kingdom was taken into captivity by the armies of Assyria.

Some of the kings in the southern kingdom of Judah were good, but others were evil. God sent many prophets to this kingdom too such as Isaiah, Jeremiah and Micah. Eventually, Judah too was taken into captivity as slaves by the armies of Babylon.

Later, Jews from the ancient empire of Persia returned to the land of Israel. Back in Jerusalem, God's temple was rebuilt, though without the splendour of the old temple built by king Solomon.

The Promised Saviour

The Persians, then the Greeks, and finally the Romans ruled over the land of Israel. There was no Jewish king in Jerusalem, as God had foretold[15] that this would not take place until a future date, with a king of his choosing.

In the days of the Roman Empire, something very special happened in the land of Israel. For many generations, the Bible had promised a Messiah or saviour. This person would bring to pass what God had promised, that all countries of the world would have a hope because of a descendant of Abraham, if they believed God's promises.

The saviour was named Jesus. He was also given the title of Messiah or "Christ" which means, "anointed". This was because God had anointed him with power to do God's work, and to show mankind God's ways.

The Birth of Jesus

A baby boy was born to a young woman named Mary in the land of Israel. God's power, or Holy Spirit, came upon her. The child - Jesus - was therefore the Son of God. He was a man, however, because he was the son of a human woman. Throughout his life, he was subject to the problems, trials and temptations of all other men.

Jesus was born in the days of Augustus Caesar, the Roman emperor, in a small village named Bethlehem near Jerusalem. Mary his mother was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph. About the time of Jesus' birth, a Roman census took place. Mary and Joseph travelled to Bethlehem for the census because they were descended from king David, who was from Bethlehem. [17]

When Mary and Joseph arrived, the city was crowded and there was no place to stay. They finally found a place to sleep in an animal barn. There, Jesus was born, and spent his first night in a feeding trough as a makeshift bed. Thus, the saviour of the world was born in poverty, in humiliating circumstances.

The Teaching and Work of Jesus

Jesus the saviour grew up in a small village named Nazareth in northern Israel. He learned the trade of Joseph, a carpenter. When he was thirty years old, he began to preach and teach about God's coming kingdom. With God's power, he also healed sick people, and showed those who would listen the way to live, and prepare for this kingdom. Jesus showed God as a father to his children, and taught his disciples to say "Our Father" when speaking to God in prayer.

A number of disciples followed Jesus. He travelled throughout Israel, showing the people God's ways. The religious Jews, however, envied him because so many people listened to his teachings, and plotted to kill him.

Jesus often spoke in stories, or parables. He explained the meaning of these parables to his disciples. The parables were often about God's coming kingdom on earth, and what it would be like, who would be there, and how to be ready. The New Testament contains four accounts or gospels[18] of the life of Jesus.

After about three and a half years of preaching, the chief priests and rulers in Israel succeeded in arresting Jesus. They accused him of many things, condemning him to death. After a quick trial, they handed him over to the Roman governor, demanding his execution. After some hesitation, the governor had Jesus killed in the Roman way, by crucifixion, nailing to a cross of wood dropped into a hole in the ground. The victim died after hours of suffering. Jesus died a sinless man, never having disobeyed God. Even so, he showed in a public way what humanity deserved - to die.

The Resurrection

After three days God raised Jesus from the dead. The Jews who had killed him were perplexed, as Jesus' body was missing, and his disciples insisted that he was alive.

Jesus appeared to over five hundred disciples during the few weeks that followed, before ascending to heaven. Angels of God promised that Jesus would return, the same way he had gone into heaven.

Jesus' disciples were now very bold to preach the good news of the kingdom as Jesus had, and that all men could be saved by Jesus' work. The Jews could not show that Jesus was still dead, and could not disregard God's power shown by the disciples in miracles of healing.

The Spread of Christianity

Christianity soon spread through the Roman world, and congregations known as sprang up in many cities. Much of the New Testament of the Bible is made up of letters from Jesus' disciples to these new believers, showing them God's teachings, and helping them live in Godly ways.

The preaching of Jesus' disciples showed that God's purpose was with men and women everywhere, not only the Jews. The message was that individuals everywhere should learn about God, repent of their evil deeds and be baptised into the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins. The disciples also preached about the kingdom of God, and showed that God would keep all of his promises to Abraham, and those of the Old Testament.

The End of the Bible

The last book of the Bible contains a message from God and Jesus Christ to seven first century congregations. This book, called Revelation, speaks of future events in sign and symbol. There are many illusions to previous parts of the Bible, including many from Genesis, the Bible's first book.

Following Revelation, the Bible was complete. There are no other holy writings from God. The Bible is the only source of truly being saved from permanent death.[19] It is a book for wise and foolish, rich and poor, weak and strong. It contains the words of life, and is truly able to transform people who read it.

Why was the Bible Written?

The Bible is a very special book, which has been preserved for many ages. It has been translated into hundreds of languages and dialects. Very old copies of parts of the Bible have been discovered, and the words have not changed.

God caused the Bible to be written because he wants to be known. He is not interested in those who pursue strength, wisdom or riches, but in him who "understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practice steadfast love, justice and righteousness in the earth."[20] God wants those who know him to turn away from their own ways, and to his. God is looking for those willing to believe him, to put their trust and faith in him. God wrote his word in order to show that he has a plan for mankind, and wants as many as possible to turn to him and be saved, and to live forever in his kingdom on earth.

What Must I Do To Be Saved?

Jesus' disciples preached repentance to the Jews in Jerusalem soon after his ascension to heaven. Many of the Jews realised that they had contributed to the death of the Son of God, and were pricked in their conscience. They asked the disciples, "what shall we do?"[21]

The answer was clear and simple. "Repent and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins". In another situation, it was asked, "what is to prevent me from being baptised?"[22] The answer this time was, "if you believe with all your heart, you may".

The same applies today. It is important to read the Bible to understand and know the true and living God. Just like Adam and Eve at the beginning, he gives us a free choice. We can understand and accept his message, be baptised, and to join a group of world-wide believers dedicated to following him.

Read the Bible today for yourself. Plan to read from it every day, and discover why it has changed so many lives for the better.

God as a father has called you as one of his children. Will you answer?

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