The Bible is a collection of writings grouped into two parts: The Old Testament is the basis of the Jewish religion, and the Old and New Testaments together are the basis of Christianity. Both testaments together are referred to as “scripture”, or just “The Bible”.
People have different views of the nature of the Bible. Many consider it to be outdated myth. A few see it as historically valuable, with some good moral teaching. The Bible though, describes itself as God’s written word. Jesus believed that view, and it’s generally true that real Christians agree that the Bible is the inerrant word of the living God.
“Wait a minute”, you might say. “You seriously believe that everything described in the Bible is true, and that no error has crept in over the centuries that have passed since it was first written?” Yes, I do, and so do millions of other Christians around the globe. There are two reasons for that: One is that picking and choosing what parts to believe and what parts to ignore is a slippery slope. I don’t want to wonder about every verse and passage I’m reading whether or not I can trust it. The second is even better: God is offering eternal forgiveness and life with him and other Christians forever. The one thing he requires is that we believe him. Faith is a decision, and I’ve made the decision to believe God. Call me foolish. I’m fine with that.
God’s Living Word
In 1972 this writer was an atheist who picked up a New Testament for the first time ever, and began reading with an open mind and heart. Two hours later I was a brand new baby Christian. Here’s why:
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4.12 KJV)
“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55.11 KJV)