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{{Bible}}

{{Bible}}

The '''Bible''' is the most logical, insightful and influential collection of books and letters ever written.  It includes the most beautiful book ever written, the [[Gospel of Luke]], the most profound book ever written, the [[Gospel of John]], and the most intellectual letter ever written, the [[Epistle to the Hebrews]].  [[Biblical scientific foreknowledge]] has anticipated or guided nearly every great human achievement. The '''Bible''' is unique in the literature of the world,<ref name=LiteraryCriticism>See [[Historical-critical method (Higher criticism)]], in particular the findings of the following supportive sources of literary criticism:

The '''Bible''' <!--Per consensus, please do not add the word 'holy'-->(from [[Koine Greek]] τὰ βιβλία, ''tà biblía'', "the books") is a collection of texts [[sacred]] in [[Judaism]] and [[Christianity]]. It is a collection of [[scripture]]s written at different times by different authors in different locations. [[Jew]]s and [[Christian]]s consider the books of the Bible to be a [[Biblical inspiration|product of divine inspiration]] or an authoritative record of the relationship between [[God]] and humans.

*The Bible’s message is both ‘divine’ and ‘human’.<br/>—[http://www.saintjohnsabbey.org/liturgy-answers/bibles-message-both-divine-and-human/ St. John's Abbey: ''The Bible’s message is both ‘divine’ and ‘human’.'' Friday, January 17th, 2014, Benedictine Father Michael Kwatera, a monk of St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville, MN.]

*The more conservative theologians who employ the historical-critical method believe that the Scriptures are more than the writings of mortal men.<br/>—[http://www.wlsessays.net/files/BeckerHistorical.pdf The Historical-Critical Method of Bible Interpretation, By Siegbert W. Becker], page 4.

*Unique among all the world's literature, the Bible is really God's word in human language.<br/>—[http://bibleasliterature.wordpress.com/lesson-1/ The Bible as Literature: The Bible ~ A Literary Work and an Artistic Presentation of Human Experience].</ref> and was extensively studied by the greatest modern thinkers, including [[Isaac Newton]], [[Louis Pasteur]], [[Bernhard Riemann]], [[Alexander Hamilton]], [[John von Neumann]], and [[Kurt Godel]].

Shorter than you might think, the Bible consists of two parts: 27 short books and letters of the [[New Testament]] of the [[Christian]] [[faith]], and 39 Hebrew and Aramaic books recognized by both Christianity and Judaism, which are included among the collection of 46 writings known as the [[Old Testament]].<ref>Christianity includes a few additional books with the Jewish [[Old Testament]], which have always been accepted as inspired scripture since the time of the apostles by the Orthodox and Catholic Churches which constitute the majority of Christianity, and later rejected as [[Apocrypha|apocryphal]] by the [[Reformation]]. See [[Biblical Canon]].</ref> The text of the Old Testament was originally written in [[Hebrew]] and [[Aramaic]], and was later translated and expanded in [[Greek]] by rabbinical scholars in the [[Septuagint]] Bible of the Greek-speaking Jews which was the Bible of the [[Apostles]].<ref>"Bible of the apostles". See the following four sources:

There is no single [[Biblical canon|canonical "Bible"]]; many Bibles have evolved, with overlapping and diverging contents.<ref>{{cite book |title= The Bible: A Very Short Introduction|edition= |last= Riches|first= John|year= 2000|publisher= Oxford University Press|location= Oxford|isbn= 978-0-19-285343-1|pages= 7–8}}</ref> The Christian [[Old Testament]] overlaps with the [[Hebrew Bible]] and the Greek [[Septuagint]]; the Hebrew Bible is known in Judaism as the [[Tanakh]]. The [[New Testament]] is a collection of writings by early Christians, consisting of narratives, [[epistle|letters]] and [[Apocalyptic literature|apocalyptic writings]]. Among [[Christian denomination]]s there is some disagreement about the contents of the canon, primarily in the [[Apocrypha]], a list of works that are regarded with varying levels of respect.

*[http://www.scripturecatholic.com/septuagint.html Septuagint Quotes in the New Testament]

*[http://www.crivoice.org/canonot.html Canons of the Hebrew Bible]

*[http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Apocrypha-Books/ Official King James Bible online: Apocrypha Books]</ref> The [[New Testament]] itself was originally written in Greek and was soon afterward added to the Septuagint, forming the Greek Bible of the ancient [[Christian]] church. The Bible has been translated into more than 2000 languages.

The Bible is the biggest-selling book in history, a testament to its timeless and compelling message.<ref>The Bible continues to be the best-selling book ever. Americans alone buy 25 million Bibles a year, according to Publisher's Weekly. Bible sales are now reaching $609 million a year, with specialty Bibles available for myriad "niche" audiences, from motorcycle riders to campers, brides and archaeologists. "Immerse," a water-resistant Bible for troops overseas, is now available from publisher Bardin & Marsee. [http://www.washtimes.com/national/20070529-111815-7952r.htm Polls: Most believe Bible as God's word] - Jennifer Harper, ''The Washington Times'' - May 30, 2007] </ref>  In addition, the Bible has had an immense, positive influence on literature, culture, and history.

Attitudes towards the Bible also vary amongst Christian groups. [[Roman Catholics]], [[Anglicanism|Anglicans]] and [[Eastern Orthodox]] Christians stress the harmony and importance of the Bible and [[sacred tradition]], while [[Protestantism|Protestant]] churches focus on the idea of ''[[sola scriptura]]'', or scripture alone. This concept arose during the [[Protestant Reformation]], and many denominations today continue to support the use of the Bible as the only source of Christian teaching.

[[Jesus Christ]] himself may have authored the perfectly written [[Epistle to the Hebrews]], which was composed in magnificent Greek and which discloses information that could have been known only to Jesus.<ref>The [[Epistle to the Hebrews]] contains an explanation of the stature of Jesus relative to angels.  For a contrary view that fails to discuss the likelihood that Jesus wrote the [[Epistle to the Hebrews]] or the information in that book which would be known only to Jesus, one commentator suggests that [[Barnabas]] or [[Apollos]] may have been the author (see [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts%2018:24-28&version=KJV Acts 18:24-28]). [http://www.judaismvschristianity.com/hebrews.htm Judaism versus Christianity. The Book of Hebrews. Who wrote the Book of Hebrews?] (judaismvschristianity.com).  See also [https://bible.org/article/argument-hebrews The Argument of Hebrews] (bible.org).</ref>

 

 

[[Jesus Christ]] himself may have authored the [[Epistle to the Hebrews]]. Because he grew up in a multicultural, multilingual society, he probably knew Aramaic as a first language, and a smattering of Greek, Hebrew, and possibly even a little Latin. In fact, he was given a PhD in Oriental Languages, as well as a tenured position, at Oxford University, the world's oldest university. <ref>The [[Epistle to the Hebrews]] contains an explanation of the stature of Jesus relative to angels.  For a contrary view that fails to discuss the likelihood that Jesus wrote the [[Epistle to the Hebrews]] or the information in that book which would be known only to Jesus, one commentator suggests that [[Barnabas]] or [[Apollos]] may have been the author (see [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts%2018:24-28&version=KJV Acts 18:24-28]). [http://www.judaismvschristianity.com/hebrews.htm Judaism versus Christianity. The Book of Hebrews. Who wrote the Book of Hebrews?] (judaismvschristianity.com).  See also [https://bible.org/article/argument-hebrews The Argument of Hebrews] (bible.org).</ref>

Most [[Christians]], Protestant and Catholic, agree on the 27 books of the [[New Testament]], and while the Old Testament of the Orthodox Bible includes 50 books, for a total of 77, and the Old Testament of the Catholic Bible includes 46 books, for a total of 73, the Protestant Bible includes only the 39 books of the [[Old Testament]] which entirely correspond to the [[Biblical Canon#Palestinian canon (A.D. 4th century)|24 books of the Hebrew canon of the Jews]], for a total of 66.<ref>The Protestant Bible excludes the following books which have always been included in the Catholic Bible, the same books excluded from the canon by the Jews after the rise of Christianity in the 1st century:   

Most [[Christians]], Protestant and Catholic, agree on the 27 books of the [[New Testament]], and while the Old Testament of the Orthodox Bible includes 50 books, for a total of 77, and the Old Testament of the Catholic Bible includes 46 books, for a total of 73, the Protestant Bible includes only the 39 books of the [[Old Testament]] which entirely correspond to the [[Biblical Canon#Palestinian canon (A.D. 4th century)|24 books of the Hebrew canon of the Jews]], for a total of 66.<ref>The Protestant Bible excludes the following books which have always been included in the Catholic Bible, the same books excluded from the canon by the Jews after the rise of Christianity in the 1st century: