What is the Bible?
- Edward D. Andrews
- Sep 25
- 6 min read
The Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of Jehovah God. It is His self-revelation to mankind, preserved through the centuries as the foundation of true faith, doctrine, and godly living. To understand the Bible rightly, we must view it not as a human book but as the divine communication of Jehovah, transmitted through human writers under the direct influence of the Holy Spirit. Its words are not the product of human imagination, religious speculation, or cultural evolution, but the living expression of the Creator’s will for His creation.
The Meaning of the Word “Bible”
The term “Bible” comes from the Greek word biblia, meaning “books.” This emphasizes that the Bible is not a single book written at one moment in history but a collection of sixty-six distinct writings, composed over a span of more than 1,500 years. These writings were given to different men chosen by Jehovah, yet together they form one unified message. Despite the diversity of time periods, cultural contexts, and human authors, the Scriptures bear witness to one coherent plan of salvation centered in Jehovah’s Son, Jesus Christ.
The Divine Origin of the Bible
Jehovah is the ultimate Author of the Bible. Though He used human writers, the message came directly from Him. The Apostle Paul makes this clear in 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.” The Greek word for “inspired” (theopneustos) literally means “God-breathed.” This indicates that the very words of Scripture were breathed out by God Himself, ensuring absolute truthfulness and reliability.
The Apostle Peter likewise affirms in 2 Peter 1:21, “For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” Human writers did not invent the message; they were guided so that what they recorded was exactly what Jehovah intended. The doctrine of inspiration does not mean that the writers were mechanical instruments, but that Jehovah so directed their minds and words that the final product was His Word, not man’s.
The Canon of Scripture
The Bible is composed of two main divisions: the Old Testament (thirty-nine books) and the New Testament (twenty-seven books). The Old Testament was written primarily in Hebrew, with small sections in Aramaic, and the New Testament was written in Koine Greek. The process of canonization was not arbitrary but divinely governed. Jehovah’s people recognized which writings were inspired by God, preserved them, and used them in worship and instruction.
The Old Testament canon was firmly established by the time of Jesus Christ. He frequently cited from it and treated it as authoritative (Luke 24:44). The New Testament writings, composed between 41 C.E. and 98 C.E., were recognized by the early church as inspired and were copied, shared, and collected widely. By the close of the first century, the canon was complete, and the church received it as the final written revelation of God.
The Unity of the Bible
Although written over many centuries by about forty human authors from diverse backgrounds—shepherds, kings, prophets, fishermen, tax collectors, and physicians—the Bible possesses remarkable unity. Its central theme is Jehovah’s purpose to redeem humanity through His Son, Jesus Christ. From Genesis to Revelation, the narrative unfolds Jehovah’s creation, man’s fall into sin, the promise of salvation, the coming of the Messiah, the establishment of the Christian congregation, and the final restoration of all things under Christ’s Kingdom rule.
This unity is one of the greatest evidences of divine authorship. No other collection of writings, composed over such a long period of time by such a wide variety of individuals, could present such a consistent message without contradiction. The Bible’s coherence testifies that it is not merely a human composition but the Word of God.
The Authority of the Bible
The Bible is not subject to human judgment or cultural revision. It is the highest authority in all matters of faith and practice because it is the Word of Jehovah. Jesus Himself declared in John 17:17, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” The Bible does not merely contain truth—it is truth in its entirety.
The authority of the Bible is absolute because it comes from Jehovah, who cannot lie (Titus 1:2). This means that Scripture is infallible (it cannot fail in its purpose) and inerrant (it is without error in all that it affirms, whether in matters of doctrine, history, or morality). Any tradition, philosophy, or religious teaching must be tested against the Scriptures and rejected if it contradicts them.
The Preservation of the Bible
One of the most remarkable demonstrations of Jehovah’s providence is the preservation of the biblical text. Despite being copied by hand for centuries before the invention of the printing press, the text of both the Old and New Testaments has been preserved with astonishing accuracy.
The Hebrew Old Testament was carefully transmitted by Jewish scribes, with the Masoretes adding vowel points to safeguard correct pronunciation and meaning. The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in the mid-20th century confirmed the reliability of the Hebrew text, showing little variation between manuscripts separated by over a thousand years.
The Greek New Testament enjoys unparalleled manuscript evidence, with over 5,898 manuscripts and fragments, many dating to within decades of the original writings. Textual criticism allows us to compare these manuscripts, ensuring that the text we have today is virtually identical to the inspired originals. The Word of God has been preserved to 99.99% accuracy, with no doctrine affected by the minor variations that exist.
The Clarity of the Bible
The Bible is clear in its essential teachings. While some passages are more difficult to understand and require careful study, the overall message is accessible to all who approach it with faith and humility. Psalm 19:7 declares, “The law of Jehovah is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of Jehovah is sure, making the inexperienced wise.”
This clarity means that every Christian has the responsibility and ability to read and understand the Scriptures for themselves. The Bible was not given to be locked away in the hands of a religious elite, but to be read, studied, and applied by all of Jehovah’s people.
The Purpose of the Bible
The Bible is not a collection of abstract philosophy or human wisdom. It is a practical book given to reveal Jehovah, expose man’s sin, and point to salvation through Christ. Paul states in Romans 15:4, “For whatever was written beforehand was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
The Bible provides guidance for every aspect of life, from moral conduct to family relationships, from work ethics to worship. Most importantly, it leads us to salvation. In John 20:31, the Apostle John explains why he recorded his Gospel: “But these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that, by believing, you may have life in his name.”
The Living Power of the Bible
The Bible is not a dead letter but a living Word. Hebrews 4:12 declares, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” The Scriptures convict, comfort, instruct, and transform lives because they carry the power of Jehovah Himself.
Throughout history, the Bible has changed nations, shaped cultures, and transformed countless individuals. Its message of hope and redemption remains as relevant today as when it was first written. The Bible speaks to the deepest needs of the human heart and provides the only sure foundation for eternal life.
The Finality of the Bible
The Bible is Jehovah’s completed written revelation to mankind. With the close of the New Testament writings in the first century, no further inspired Scripture has been given. Jude 3 urges believers to “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the holy ones.” The canon is closed, and no new revelations, visions, or prophecies can add to or contradict the inspired Word of God.
The Bible alone is sufficient for faith and practice. It contains everything necessary to know Jehovah, to understand His will, and to live in obedience to Him. All human traditions, councils, and religious authorities must submit to the authority of the written Word.
About the author
EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).
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