What Is the Bible?

A Library, Not a Single Book

Many people picture the Bible as one large volume with thin pages and gilded edges. But the word “Bible” comes from the Greek biblia, meaning “books.” That is the first surprise: the Bible is not a single work written in one sitting. It is a library—a collection of texts composed over many centuries, by different authors, in different places, and for different audiences.

Within that library you will find narrative history, laws, poems, songs, proverbs, parables, prophetic oracles, personal letters, and apocalyptic visions. That variety matters because it changes how you read. A poem does not function like a legal code, and a symbolic vision should not be treated like a newspaper report.

Old Testament and New Testament

For most Christians, the Bible is divided into two main parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament contains sacred writings shared in content with Judaism (often called the Hebrew Bible or Tanakh), while the New Testament focuses on Jesus and the early Christian community.

The Old Testament tells stories of creation, covenant, liberation, kingship, exile, return, and hope. It also includes wisdom literature that asks deeply human questions: Why do the righteous suffer? What is a good life? How should power be used? The New Testament includes the four Gospels, Acts, letters to churches, and Revelation. The Gospels are not modern biographies; they are theological narratives aiming to show who Jesus is and what his message means.

Languages and a Long Transmission History

Another key curiosity: the Bible was not originally written in English (or Spanish, French, or Portuguese). Most of the Old Testament was written in Hebrew, with some portions in Aramaic. The New Testament was written in Greek (Koine Greek), the common language of much of the eastern Mediterranean.

For centuries, the Bible circulated as handwritten copies—manuscripts. Because copying by hand is a human process, small variations sometimes appear in spelling or word order. Modern Bible editions are built through careful comparison of ancient manuscripts, a field known as textual criticism. This is why some Bibles include footnotes such as “some manuscripts read…” It is not about hiding changes; it is about transparency regarding the evidence.

Why So Many Translations?

When you compare Bible versions, you are often comparing translation philosophies. Some translations lean toward formal equivalence (staying close to the structure of the original language), while others prefer functional equivalence (expressing the meaning in natural modern language). Neither approach is perfect for every situation: a more literal style can help detailed study, while a more idiomatic style can support smooth reading and public comprehension.

This is why many readers keep two Bibles: one for reading flow, one for study. Comparing translations can also clarify difficult passages, because a different wording can reveal the underlying meaning.

Genres: How to Read Wisely

The Bible contains multiple literary genres. Recognizing them prevents common misunderstandings:

• Poetry (Psalms): uses metaphor, emotion, and imagery. It teaches you how to pray and lament, not how to write a lab report.
• Wisdom (Proverbs, Ecclesiastes): offers general patterns of life, not absolute promises for every case.
• Prophecy: mixes warning, social critique, and hope, often directed to a specific historical crisis.
• Gospels: proclaim good news about Jesus, shaping identity and discipleship.
• Letters: address real community problems and questions, offering pastoral guidance.
• Apocalyptic: speaks in symbols to encourage persecuted communities with hope and perseverance.

Canon: Why Different Traditions Have Different Book Counts

One more curiosity: not every tradition has the same number of books. Protestant Bibles typically have 66 books, Catholic Bibles 73, and Orthodox traditions often have more still, while the Jewish Tanakh is counted as 24 books (the same material as the Christian Old Testament in many cases, but grouped differently). These differences come from historical processes of canon formation—how communities recognized certain writings as Scripture.

Understanding canon helps you avoid confusion when someone quotes a book you cannot find in your edition. It is usually not a “missing chapter” mystery; it is a difference of canonical tradition.

Why It Matters Beyond Religion

For believers, the Bible is Scripture: a foundational text for worship, ethics, and spiritual formation. But even outside faith communities, its influence is immense. Biblical language and stories shape art, music, literature, political speeches, and everyday expressions. To understand much of Western cultural history (and many global movements shaped by Christianity and Judaism), you need at least basic biblical literacy.

At the same time, the Bible is also a mirror of human experience: joy and grief, betrayal and forgiveness, justice and oppression, exile and homecoming. It does not always offer simple answers, but it offers a long conversation about God, humanity, and hope.

A Practical Starting Point

If you are new to the Bible, start with an accessible Gospel (Mark or Luke), then read a few Psalms. Use a reading plan, take notes, and keep the context in mind. The Bible becomes clearer when you read it as a library with multiple voices held together by an unfolding story rather than as a single book of disconnected quotes.