Thoughts on the Bible as the Word of God

Written by Gail Powell

The Bible is the voice of God, in a text compiled by human hands. Think of the Bible as "an anthology of literature made over the course of many centuries by different people," says Michael Coogan, professor of religious studies at Stonehill College.

The central message of the written word of the Bible is that there is a God who is deeply, passionately involved in human history. From before 1000 BC until the AD 2nd century, what ties the Bible together is the fact that it documents the actions of God in the world. The major theme in both Old and New Testaments is covenant. (The word Testament is an archaic word for covenant.)

Therefore the written word involving covenant is found in the Old Testament, written to God's chosen Jewish people, through whom Jesus would come. The New Testament was written by and for the followers of Jesus in the 1st century, and it too knits together covenants between followers of Jesus.

The New Testament begins with the birth of Jesus, and proceeds through 27 books written by eight or nine authors. These biblical wordsmiths include the gospel writers: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The book of Acts begins with the epistles or letters of the apostles. The following 21 books (Romans through Jude) are writings to churches or individuals; they reveal the work of Christ and how believers should conduct themselves accordingly.

The final book of the Bible is Revelations, in which the Apostle John shares a glorious vision of the future of Christ's return to earth. The power of Revelation's word is to reassure Christians that Christ will triumph over evil. The final victory is with Jesus at the end of time.

The Bible is the word of truth and life. It is where God can be discovered in the written treasures of his scripture. It is entirely evident how vital writers and the written word are to God's plan. With the Bible in hand, we walk strong in the Word of the Lord.