A Few words about the Word

Maybe you've stopped at this page out of curiosity.  Perhaps you want to ask questions about the Bible but don't know who to ask--or feel embarrassed.  Maybe everyone around you seems to know more about God's Word than you do. Whatever the reason, we hope the information on this page answers your questions, helps you grow in your knowledge of the Word, and brings you closer to God.  The Bible is one of the ways God speaks to us, reveals Himself, and shows you His will for your life.  The Word is critical to your Christian life.  If you have not read the Bible (perhaps ever) or do not read it regularly, we encourage you to start and spend time in God's Word everyday. 

What We Believe About the Bible

The Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture of error. It is inerrant (without error in its original form).

Lookup a word or passage in the Bible

A Short Guided Tour

The Bible is divided into two general parts:  the Old Testament and the New Testament.  Each section is divided into "books."  Within these "books," the scripture is broken down into "chapters," and these "chapters" are divided further into numbered "verses."  When you see a citation to the Bible, like Proverbs 30:5 for example, the citation is referring to the scripture in the Old Testament book of Proverbs, chapter 30 of that book, and verse 5 of that chapter.

The Old Testament

This section of the Bible contains 39 "books" and is concerns the time prior to the coming of Christ.  Generally, these books are grouped by scholars into four categories.  The first group (sometimes referred to as the Pentateuch) contains God's laws for the ancient Jewish people.  Examples of these books are Genesis and Exodus.  The second group contains the history of the Israelites prior to the coming of Jesus Christ.  Some books included in this group are Joshua, Judges, and 1 Samuel.  The third group is usually called the "Poetic" or "Lyrical" books and include Job, Psalms, and Proverbs.  The final group is called the "Prophets."  These books predict the fall of ancient Israel and the coming of the messiah, Jesus Christ, and include Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel.

The New Testament

This part of the Bible is shorter than the Old Testament and contains 27 books.  The New Testament is divided by scholars into three sections.  The first group of books is referred to as "historical" books.  These books are the "Gospels," Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John and also include the book of Acts.  The Gospels provide four first-hand accounts of the life of Jesus Christ and His teaching.  The book of Acts tells of events in the lives of the apostles and the early church after the death of Christ.  The next group of books is called the "Letters" or the "Epistles."  These books contain the writings of the Apostle Paul, and others, to the leaders of the early, fledgling Christian churches.  Finally, the last book of the New Testament, Revelation, is referred to as a book of "Prophecy" because it predicts the return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Where Did the Events of Described in the Bible Happen?

Most of the events in the Old and New Testaments took place in modern day Israel, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq.

Are There Different Versions of the Bible?  Which One is Best?

There are many different "versions" of the Bible.  No single version is the "best" or the "proper" version.  The Bible was written originally in Hebrew and Greek.  These languages differ significantly from English.  Over the years, Bible translators have chosen to translate the languages into English either on a "word for word" or a "thought by thought" basis.  In very general terms, these two "schools" of translation account for most of the different versions of the Bible available today.  The result:  almost all of the Bible versions available in bookstores differ only in terms of the "readability" of the contents.

The choice of which "version" of the Bible you own and use comes down to what you prefer in terms of readability.   For example, the King James Version, which is more of a "word for word" translation, contains language not commonly used today, such as "shalt," "thee," and "thou."  In contrast, the "NLT," or New Living Translation, does not preserve these old-English words and uses more of a "thought by thought" translation style.  Below are four versions of the same passage from the book of John:  one from the King James Version (KJV), one from the New King James Version (NKJV), one from the New International Version (NIV), and one from the New Living Translation (NLT).

John 1:22

• KJV:  The said they unto him, "Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us.  What sayest thou of thyself?"
• NKJV:  Then they said to him, "Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us?  What do you say about yourself?"
• NIV:  Finally they said, "Who are you?  Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us.   What do you say about yourself?"
• NLT:  Then who are you?  We need an answer for those who sent us.  What do you have to say about yourself?

The passages all contain and convey the same principles.  Some people simply prefer the older, more stylized language of the KJV while others find the NLT to be easier to understand.  

The versions mentioned here are some of the more popular but are only a handful of those available.  If you are in the market for a Bible, we suggest that you spend some time the Bible section of your local Christian bookstore and read from several different versions.  Pick the one that you understand and enjoy reading.

What's the Difference Between a "Study" Bible and Other Bibles, Like a "One Year" Bible?

Bibles come in all shapes and sizes.  Like many other texts, Bibles also often include references and other resources, like an index or a list of definitions, to make the substance of the text more accessible.  While there is not "definition" of a "study" Bible, those that carry the label usually include resource and reference materials as well as commentary on the contents.  For example, a study Bible may contain an outline and commentary on each book and a map of the area discussed in the book.  If you are new to reading God's Word, or just want to have a more fulsome understanding of the time and place the texts were written, a "study" Bible may provide additional information and context that will make your journey with God more contextual and enjoyable.

Many Bible publishers also publish "One Year" Bibles.  These versions are designed to help you read the whole Bible in 365 days.  They can be very simple, breaking up the Word into 365 readings starting at "page 1."  Other versions, in contrast, organize the text into 365 readings that combine different parts of the Old and New Testaments each day. 

If I Have Never Read the Bible or am a New Christian, Where Do I Start?

A Christian comes to know God only through His Son, Jesus Christ.  You can know God by knowing Jesus.  If you want to get to know Jesus right away, you should begin with the history of his life and teachings.  These can be found in the New Testament and specifically in the first four books or the "Gospels:"  Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. 

What is a Bible Study?

The term "Bible Study" means different things to different people.  If you asked four different Christians what the term means, you are likely to hear four different answers. Most of the answers, however, likely will include the notion of Christians gathering to discuss their faith, Christian issues, and often specific parts of the Bible.  Sometimes the people gathered may read parts of the Bible and "study" them by discussing how the passage applies to everyday life or what the passage means to specific people.  Other times, the gathering may be more of an informal discussion about how to apply Christian principles to some aspect of life and may not include reading the Bible.