The term "Bible" derives from the Greek biblia, meaning "books" or "scrolls." This collection of sacred writings, also called "the Scriptures" or "the Writings," forms the foundation of Christian faith and practice. The Bible divides into two major sections: the Old Testament, documenting God's covenant relationship with humanity before Christ, and the New Testament, describing the new covenant established through Jesus.
Two Authors, One Book
Christian scholarship has long recognized Scripture as possessing both human and divine dimensions. Carl F.H. Henry described Scripture as God's Word delivered through inspired prophets and apostles, with the Holy Spirit awakening faith through that Word. J.I. Packer observed that while each biblical book represents its human author's literary work, theologically speaking, the writers contributed nothing of their own—Scripture is entirely God's creation. F.F. Bruce captured this balance succinctly: Scripture is not merely human product but equally God's Word, spoken through human lips or written by human hands.
This understanding of "double authorship" holds that God works as the primary author through the Holy Spirit's initiative and superintendence, while the human writer serves as the secondary author.
The Bible's Central Message
According to David Pawson, the Bible's narrative ultimately reduces to two essential themes: what has gone wrong with the world, and how it can be put right.
Languages of Revelation
The Bible was written in three original languages, each suited to conveying divine revelation. Hebrew serves as the primary language of the Old Testament, sometimes called "the language of Canaan." This Semitic language is known for being vivid, concise, and direct—qualities that can make translation challenging. The Hebrew alphabet consists of twenty-two consonants, with vowel markings added much later. Written from right to left, the language lacks a neuter gender, classifying everything as either masculine or feminine. Aramaic appears as a secondary Old Testament language, closely related to Hebrew in vocabulary and structure.
This language became the everyday speech of Palestine during Jesus' time, and many New Testament personal names reflect Aramaic influence alongside Greek, Latin, and Hebrew elements. Latin, by contrast, remained largely confined to Roman military and governmental circles. Greek serves as the New Testament's language. This rich, expressive tongue carried one of the ancient world's great civilizations. Alexander the Great's conquests spread Greek throughout the Mediterranean, with regional dialects giving way to "Koine" (common) Greek—a simplified yet powerful form retaining classical Greek's clarity and rhetorical force.
Unprecedented Influence
According to Geisler and Nix, the Bible stands as history's best-selling book, with approximately five billion copies sold. It has been translated more extensively than any other work—into over a thousand languages representing more than ninety percent of the world's population. No other book has comparably influenced world events, inspired art, or motivated discovery.