History & Hype
Where did the Bible come from?
The Bible has heritage behind it. Over 4000 years of it. It’s the story of humankind.
It was originally written in Classical Hebrew, Aramaic and Koine Greek. Today it exists, at least in part, in over 2300 languages and dialects. In English alone it has over a hundred versions!
The Old Testament traces the history of Israel, painting a picture of a God who is truly great. You get a sense of how mighty he is. And you are aware of how much he cares for His people; then and now. This section of the Bible is written in many styles: narrative prose, poetry, wisdom literature, apocalyptic, prophetic and legal.
The New Testament, while never forsaking Israel, demonstrates the activity of God for all people. It is in the New Testament that we witness God sending His only Son Jesus, that all humankind may be saved and given the opportunity for a close relationship with God. This opens the doors to understanding God on a far more personal level without the need for some of the ritual acts discussed in the Old Testament. This section of the Bible is written in narrative prose as well, but then also in direct instructive letters to various churches or Christians groups – these are commonly referred to as the letters of the epistles.
Many people often think that the Bible, broken into two parts discusses two different gods – or at least one who has had a personality change. Others think that the New Testament makes the Old Testament redundant or at least less important. These two ideas are completely untrue.
There is one God of the Bible.
There is one Bible that has stood the test of time - and it will continue to stand.
Why has it lasted the distance?
It has lasted the distance for one reason: God wrote it. It’s got power in it. It’s changed the shape of the world, people have died for it, and people have lived because of it.
He wrote it. Once. For all time.
Can we really trust what it says?
The Bible has had its fair share of criticism. And not just in recent times. But after standing for 2000 years in the best sellers list, what wouldn’t?
We can trust what it says because of its historical prominence, alignment with tradition, formation by a broad council of Christian ‘fathers’, the constant striving of translators to maintain original accuracy and consistent cleaving of theologians to this book as the most important book in the Christian tradition. Its constructs for living have informed our judicial and moral codes since the beginning of time. It’s proven itself through longevity, continuity, resilience and transformational power.
And, we trust it because it has spoken personally into our lives on many occasions.