Dear friends in Christ,
At some point, every searching heart comes to a simple but profound question: what is the Bible?
For some, it is a familiar book resting on a shelf since childhood, opened mainly at Christmas, Easter, weddings, funerals, or difficult times. For others, it is a source of comfort carried through years of grief, illness, uncertainty, and prayer. Some know it through a few beloved passages: the Twenty-Third Psalm, the Lord’s Prayer, the story of David and Goliath, the birth of Jesus, the Sermon on the Mount, or the promise that God is love. Others may feel intimidated by its size, its ancient language, its many books, and the fact that Christians seem to read and understand it in different ways.
The Bible is more than a single book, though it is often held together in one volume. It is a sacred library, written across many centuries by many human authors, yet received by Christians as the inspired Word of God. It tells the great story of God’s love: the creation of the world, the calling of a people, the struggle of human sin, the promise of redemption, the coming of Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection, the birth of the Church, and the hope of a renewed creation.
At the heart of the Bible is not merely information about God. It is an invitation to know Him.
The Bible does not hide the reality of human life. It speaks of joy and sorrow, courage and fear, faithfulness and failure, family conflict and friendship, injustice and mercy, sin and forgiveness, birth and death, exile and homecoming. It tells the truth about human weakness, but it also tells the greater truth that God does not abandon His people.
For Christians, the Bible is not a collection of isolated verses to use when convenient. It is the living witness to God’s saving work, reaching its fullness in Jesus Christ. The Scriptures lead us toward Him. They teach us to see the world through His mercy, to recognize our need for grace, to pray honestly, to love more deeply, and to hope even when life seems dark.
The Apostle Paul wrote, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). These words remind us that Scripture is not given simply to make us knowledgeable. It is given to form us.
The Bible forms a heart that can repent.
It forms a mind that can seek truth.
It forms a conscience that can recognize injustice.
It forms a life that can learn forgiveness.
It forms a people who can bear witness to Christ in a wounded world.
To understand what the Bible is, we must look at its structure, its history, its place in Christian faith, and the gentle but serious way it is meant to be read.
The Bible Is a Library of Sacred Books
The Bible may look like one large book, but it is really a library.
It contains history, poetry, songs, wisdom, prophecy, letters, prayers, laws, parables, visions, and Gospel accounts. Some parts tell stories of families, kings, prophets, wars, journeys, and nations. Some parts give voice to human sorrow and praise. Some speak of justice, mercy, repentance, and hope. Some are letters written to Christian communities facing questions, divisions, suffering, and persecution.
This variety is one reason the Bible can feel difficult at first. A person may open the Book of Psalms and find a prayer that speaks directly to a hurting heart. Then he may turn to Leviticus and encounter ancient laws that seem unfamiliar. He may read a Gospel and feel close to Jesus as He speaks to the poor and heals the sick. Then he may come to the Book of Revelation and wonder how to understand its powerful visions.
The Bible is not meant to be read carelessly or rushed through as though every page were written in the same style.
A Psalm is not read in the same way as a letter from Saint Paul.
A parable is not read in the same way as a historical account.
A prophecy is not read in the same way as a proverb.
A poetic image is not always intended as a scientific explanation.
God speaks through many forms of human language because human life itself is complex. We need stories when we are confused. We need prayers when we are grieving. We need commandments when we are tempted. We need wisdom when we must make decisions. We need the Gospels when we want to know the heart of Jesus.
The Bible is rich because life is rich. It is deep because the human heart is deep. It is ancient because God has been working in history long before our own brief moment in time.
Yet all its different books belong to one great story: God creates, humanity falls into sin, God calls and saves, Christ comes, death is defeated, and the world is invited toward redemption.
The Two Great Parts: Old Testament and New Testament
Christians usually speak of the Bible in two great sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament.
The word testament can also be understood as covenant. A covenant is a sacred relationship of promise and faithfulness. In the Bible, God makes covenants with human beings, calling them into communion with Him and promising His mercy.
The Old Testament tells the story of God’s relationship with Israel before the coming of Jesus Christ. It begins with creation and continues through the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, the prophets, and the people of Israel. It contains stories of faith, failure, exile, worship, struggle, deliverance, and hope.
The New Testament tells of Jesus Christ and the early Christian Church. It begins with the four Gospels, which proclaim the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus. It continues with the Book of Acts, which tells of the Church’s growth after Pentecost. It includes letters from apostles and early Christian leaders, and it ends with the Book of Revelation, a book of hope that points toward the final victory of God.
The Old Testament and New Testament should not be treated as enemies or as though one matters while the other does not.
Jesus Himself knew and quoted the Scriptures of Israel. He prayed the Psalms. He spoke of Moses, Abraham, David, Isaiah, and the prophets. He taught that the Scriptures pointed toward the saving work of God.
When Jesus met two disciples on the road to Emmaus after His resurrection, the Gospel says that He began “at Moses and all the prophets” and explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures (Luke 24:27).
This is a beautiful key for Christian reading.
The Old Testament prepares the way for Christ.
The New Testament reveals Christ as the fulfillment of God’s saving promise.
The Old Testament teaches us about creation, covenant, worship, sin, justice, mercy, faithfulness, and hope.
The New Testament shows us the Word made flesh, the Savior who enters human history and brings the promise of God to its fullness.
The Structure of the Old Testament
The Old Testament is a vast and holy collection of writings. Its books are often grouped into several broad sections.
The first five books are commonly called the Pentateuch, which means “five books.” They are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
Genesis begins with the creation of the world and tells the stories of Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and the beginnings of God’s covenant people. It reveals both the beauty of creation and the reality of human sin. It speaks of faith, family, promise, failure, forgiveness, and the mysterious faithfulness of God.
Exodus tells the story of Israel’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt. It introduces Moses, the burning bush, the plagues, the crossing of the Red Sea, the giving of the law, and the covenant at Mount Sinai. It is one of the great stories of liberation in Scripture. God hears the cry of the oppressed and calls His people into freedom.
Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy continue the story of Israel’s journey, worship, laws, wilderness struggles, and preparation for life in the promised land.
These books can feel difficult to modern readers because they include ancient laws and rituals. Yet they reveal an important truth: God cares about holiness, justice, worship, community, and the way people treat one another.
The Old Testament then includes historical books. These tell the story of Israel’s life in the promised land, its kings, judges, victories, failures, divisions, exile, and return.
Books such as Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther show that the Bible does not present God’s people as perfect heroes. It tells the truth about their weakness.
Kings fail.
Leaders become proud.
People forget God.
The strong exploit the weak.
Communities turn toward idols.
Yet God remains faithful.
This is one of the great mercies of Scripture. It does not pretend that faith makes people instantly perfect. It shows us that even those called by God can fail deeply, and yet grace can still work through imperfect lives.
The wisdom and poetry books include Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. These books speak directly to the inner life.
The Book of Job wrestles with suffering. It asks why good people sometimes endure pain and why life can seem unfair. It does not give easy answers, but it brings the suffering heart before the mystery of God.
The Psalms are the prayer book of the Bible. They contain praise, lament, anger, gratitude, longing, repentance, trust, fear, and hope. They give believers words when they do not know what to say.
A person can pray the Psalms in every season of life.
When joyful, there are Psalms of praise.
When afraid, there are Psalms of protection.
When guilty, there are Psalms of repentance.
When grieving, there are Psalms of sorrow.
When tired, there are Psalms of trust.
The Book of Proverbs offers practical wisdom for daily life. It speaks about work, speech, money, friendship, discipline, family, honesty, and the fear of the Lord.
Ecclesiastes speaks to the restless heart that has tried to find ultimate meaning in success, pleasure, wealth, and achievement. It reminds us that nothing temporary can fully satisfy the soul.
The prophets form another great section of the Old Testament. They include Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and the twelve shorter prophetic books.
Prophets were not merely people who predicted future events. They were men and women called to speak God’s truth into the life of the people.
They confronted injustice.
They warned against idolatry.
They spoke against exploitation of the poor.
They called people back to repentance.
They reminded Israel that worship without mercy is empty.
They carried hope when the nation was broken.
The prophets taught that God desires not only sacrifices and outward religion, but hearts that seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly before Him.
Their words still speak powerfully today.
A world filled with greed, violence, dishonesty, loneliness, and injustice needs the courage of the prophets. We need voices that remind us that faith is not merely personal comfort. It is a call to love God and neighbor with sincerity.
The Structure of the New Testament
The New Testament begins with the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
These are not four unrelated biographies of Jesus. They are four witnesses to the one Lord.
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised Messiah, deeply connected to the story of Israel and the fulfillment of God’s promises.
Mark is often direct and urgent, showing Jesus moving with compassion, authority, and power through a world in need of healing.
Luke gives special attention to the poor, the outcast, women, children, prayer, mercy, and the work of the Holy Spirit.
John speaks with profound spiritual depth about Jesus as the eternal Word made flesh, the Light of the World, the Good Shepherd, the Bread of Life, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Together, the Gospels lead us toward the center of Christian faith: Jesus Christ.
They show Him healing the sick, forgiving sinners, welcoming children, teaching crowds, calming storms, praying in solitude, confronting hypocrisy, carrying the cross, rising from the dead, and sending His followers into the world.
The Book of Acts comes after the Gospels. It tells the story of the early Church after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus.
Acts begins with Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit comes upon the disciples. Those who had once been afraid become bold witnesses to Christ. The Gospel begins to spread from Jerusalem outward into the wider world.
The Book of Acts shows that Christianity was never meant to remain locked inside one city, nation, culture, or language. The Gospel is for all people.
The letters, sometimes called epistles, make up a large portion of the New Testament. Many were written by Saint Paul, while others are connected with Peter, James, John, Jude, and the early Christian community.
These letters were often written to churches facing real struggles.
Some believers were divided.
Some were confused about salvation.
Some were struggling with immoral behavior.
Some were facing persecution.
Some were waiting impatiently for Christ’s return.
Some were trying to understand how Jews and Gentiles could belong together in one Church.
The letters teach about faith, grace, love, Christian freedom, holiness, prayer, marriage, ministry, suffering, hope, and life in the Church.
They are deeply practical. They remind Christians that faith must be lived in homes, workplaces, friendships, communities, and difficult relationships.
The final book of the New Testament is Revelation.
Revelation can feel mysterious because it uses visions, symbols, images, numbers, angels, beasts, heavenly worship, judgment, suffering, and hope. It is not meant to become a source of fear or endless speculation.
At its heart, Revelation is a book of hope.
It was written for Christians living under pressure and persecution. It reminds them that evil does not rule forever, Christ is victorious, and God will make all things new.
Its final vision is not one of despair, but of a renewed creation where God dwells with His people and wipes away every tear.
How the Bible Was Written
The Bible was written over many centuries.
Its human authors lived in different places, cultures, and historical moments. Some were kings, prophets, priests, fishermen, poets, teachers, shepherds, apostles, and leaders of early Christian communities.
Most of the Old Testament was written in Hebrew, with some portions in Aramaic. The New Testament was written in Koine Greek, the common Greek language of the eastern Mediterranean world in the first century.
The Bible did not appear suddenly as one finished book bound in leather and printed in many languages. It was written, copied, read aloud, prayed, preserved, and shared among communities of faith.
For much of history, people encountered Scripture through worship. They heard it read aloud in synagogues, churches, homes, and communities. Many people could not read, but they knew the stories of Scripture through prayer, preaching, songs, icons, art, and memory.
This reminds us that the Bible belongs not only to scholars. It belongs to the whole people of God.
A child listening to the story of Noah belongs to the story.
An elderly woman praying the Psalms belongs to the story.
A grieving family hearing Jesus say, “I am the resurrection, and the life” belongs to the story.
A young person opening a Gospel for the first time belongs to the story.
The Bible is a gift for the learned and the simple, the strong and the weary, the confident and the questioning.
At the same time, the Bible should be approached with respect. Its ancient setting matters. Its languages matter. Its historical context matters. Its literary forms matter. A faithful reading seeks to understand what a passage meant in its original setting before rushing to apply it to modern life.
This does not make Scripture distant. It helps us hear it more clearly.
How the Biblical Canon Was Received
The word canon refers to the collection of books recognized as Holy Scripture.
Christians do not all have exactly the same list of Old Testament books. This can surprise people, but it need not become a source of fear.
Most Protestant Bibles contain sixty-six books: thirty-nine books in the Old Testament and twenty-seven books in the New Testament.
Catholic Bibles contain seventy-three books: forty-six books in the Old Testament and twenty-seven books in the New Testament.
Eastern Orthodox Bibles include the same New Testament but may include a wider collection of Old Testament writings, depending on the local Orthodox tradition and the ancient Greek Scriptures used in worship.
The books that Catholics call deuterocanonical are often called Apocrypha in many Protestant traditions. They include books such as Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, First and Second Maccabees, and additional portions of Esther and Daniel.
These differences developed through the long history of how Jewish and Christian communities received, translated, and used sacred writings.
Catholics and Orthodox Christians generally receive these books as part of Scripture.
Many Protestants value them as ancient Jewish writings that can be helpful for instruction and historical understanding, while not receiving them as equal to the other books of the Bible.
This difference should be discussed respectfully.
The most important truth is that Catholics, Orthodox Christians, and Protestants share the same twenty-seven books of the New Testament. They read the four Gospels, proclaim the death and resurrection of Jesus, receive the letters of the apostles, and hope in the final victory of Christ.
The differences in the Old Testament canon are meaningful, but they do not erase the great faith Christians share.
The Bible and Jesus Christ
For Christians, the Bible is ultimately read in the light of Jesus Christ.
This does not mean that every verse can be reduced to a simple slogan about Jesus. It means that the whole story of Scripture finds its center in Him.
Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham.
He is the true Passover Lamb.
He is the Son of David.
He is the suffering servant spoken of by Isaiah.
He is the Good Shepherd described in the Psalms and prophets.
He is the Word made flesh.
He is the One through whom God reconciles the world to Himself.
When Christians read the Old Testament, they see preparation, promise, longing, and hope.
When they read the New Testament, they see the promise fulfilled in Christ.
This is why the Gospels hold such a central place in Christian life.
A person who does not know where to begin with the Bible can begin with one of the Gospels.
Read slowly.
Read prayerfully.
Notice what Jesus says.
Notice whom He welcomes.
Notice what makes Him angry.
Notice how He treats the poor, the sick, the proud, the guilty, the frightened, and the forgotten.
Notice how often He calls people to faith, repentance, mercy, courage, and love.
The Bible is not meant to leave us merely informed about Jesus. It is meant to bring us into encounter with Him.
The Bible in Christian Worship
The Bible has always held a central place in Christian worship.
Catholics hear Scripture readings at Mass. Orthodox Christians hear Scripture proclaimed in the Divine Liturgy and other services. Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, Pentecostals, and many other Protestant traditions read the Bible in worship, preach from it, sing its words, and pray its Psalms.
The Bible is heard in Advent as Christians wait for Christ.
It is heard at Christmas as the Church remembers His birth.
It is heard during Lent as believers prepare their hearts through repentance.
It is heard on Good Friday as Christians remember the cross.
It is heard at Easter as the Church proclaims that Christ is risen.
It is heard at funerals when mourners need hope.
It is heard at baptisms when new life in Christ is celebrated.
It is heard at weddings when couples promise faithfulness.
It is heard in hospital rooms, prison cells, homes, schools, and quiet places of prayer.
The Bible is not meant to remain silent on a shelf.
It is meant to be heard.
The words of Scripture shape the language of Christian prayer. The Psalms teach believers how to praise, cry out, complain, repent, and trust. The Gospels teach them how to follow Jesus. The letters teach them how to live together as the Church.
When Scripture is read in worship, it reminds Christians that they are not gathered merely around their own opinions. They are gathered to hear the Word of God.
How Christians Should Read the Bible
The Bible should be read with faith, humility, patience, and love.
A helpful beginning is prayer.
Before reading, a person may simply say, “Lord, open my heart. Help me hear what You want to teach me. Give me wisdom, humility, and courage to obey.”
The Bible is not a magic book. It should not be opened randomly as though every sentence were a private message detached from its context. It should be read carefully.
Read a passage in its larger setting.
Ask who is speaking.
Ask who is being addressed.
Ask what kind of writing it is.
Ask what the passage reveals about God, humanity.
Ask who is speaking.
Ask who is being addressed.
Ask what kind of writing it is.
Ask what the passage reveals about God, humanity, sin, grace, and Christ.
Ask how it calls you to live.
A person should not become discouraged when some parts feel difficult. The Bible has been prayed and studied for centuries because it is deep. Even wise teachers and saints have continued to learn from it throughout their lives.
It can help to begin with a Gospel such as Mark, Luke, or John.
It can help to pray through the Psalms.
It can help to read a short passage each day rather than trying to understand everything at once.
It can help to join a Bible study, speak with a pastor or priest, or read with a trusted Christian community.
The Bible is personal, but it is not meant to be read only in isolation.
Christians need one another.
We need the wisdom of those who have gone before us.
We need the Church’s memory.
We need teachers who can help us understand difficult passages.
We need humility when our own opinions are challenged.
We need courage when Scripture calls us to change.
Difficult Passages and Honest Questions
Many people carry difficult questions about the Bible.
Why are there wars in the Old Testament?
Why are some laws unfamiliar to modern readers?
Why do some passages seem hard or severe?
Why do Christians disagree about interpretation?
Why are there different translations?
Why does God sometimes seem silent?
These questions should not be treated as signs of weak faith. Honest questions can become part of a deeper faith.
The Bible itself contains people who ask difficult questions.
Job asks why he suffers.
The Psalmists ask why God seems far away.
Jeremiah complains to God.
Habakkuk asks why injustice continues.
The disciples ask Jesus questions they do not understand.
Thomas struggles to believe after the resurrection.
God is not frightened by honest questions.
The Bible should not be used to silence people who are hurting. Nor should it be used to justify cruelty, violence, prejudice, or pride. Any reading of Scripture that makes us colder, harsher, or less merciful should lead us back to the life and teachings of Jesus.
Christ is the light in which Christians read the Scriptures.
He teaches us that the greatest commandments are to love God and love our neighbor.
He teaches us to forgive.
He teaches us to care for the poor.
He teaches us to seek truth.
He teaches us to resist hypocrisy.
He teaches us to pray.
He teaches us that mercy is greater than judgment when the heart turns toward God.
This does not mean difficult passages should be ignored. It means they should be read carefully, prayerfully, and in the light of the whole story of salvation.
The Bible in Daily Christian Life
The Bible is not meant only for Sunday worship or formal study. It is meant to enter daily life.
A Psalm can become a prayer during anxiety.
A proverb can bring wisdom before a difficult decision.
A Gospel passage can help a parent speak more patiently to a child.
A letter from Saint Paul can challenge a believer to forgive someone who has caused pain.
A story from the Old Testament can remind a weary heart that God remains faithful in seasons of exile and uncertainty.
A verse remembered in the middle of the night can become a source of strength.
The Bible meets people in ordinary places.
It meets the worker trying to remain honest.
It meets the parent who feels exhausted.
It meets the student who is anxious about the future.
It meets the elderly person who feels lonely.
It meets the person facing illness.
It meets the grieving heart.
It meets the sinner who longs to begin again.
Scripture does not always remove the difficulty of life. But it gives people a place to bring that difficulty before God.
The Psalms teach us that faith is not pretending everything is fine. Faith is bringing the truth into God’s presence.
Some days, the most faithful prayer may be joyful praise.
Other days, it may be only this: “Lord, have mercy.”
Both belong in the life of faith.
The Bible and Christian Unity
Christians do not all interpret the Bible in exactly the same way.
Catholics, Orthodox Christians, Anglicans, Lutherans, Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists, Pentecostals, and other traditions may differ in how they understand Church authority, sacraments, saints, Baptism, Holy Communion, predestination, spiritual gifts, and many other questions.
These differences matter. They should not be ignored.
Yet the Bible itself calls Christians to humility.
The Apostle Paul writes, “Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth” (1 Corinthians 8:1). A person can know many verses and still fail to love. A person can argue about doctrine and still forget the mercy of Christ.
The purpose of Scripture is not to give Christians a weapon against one another. It is to lead them toward truth, repentance, faith, and love.
The Bible belongs to the whole Church.
It calls Catholics to deeper faithfulness.
It calls Orthodox Christians to deeper repentance.
It calls Protestants to deeper humility.
It calls every believer back to Christ.
When Christians disagree, they should still remember that the Bible commands them to speak truthfully, listen carefully, forgive generously, and love one another.
Reflect and Pray
What is the Bible?
It is the sacred library of the Christian faith.
It is the story of creation, covenant, sin, promise, redemption, cross, resurrection, Church, and hope.
It is the witness of prophets, poets, apostles, teachers, and believers who encountered the living God.
It is the Old Testament, which prepares the way for Christ.
It is the New Testament, which proclaims Christ as Lord and Savior.
It is a source of wisdom for the confused, comfort for the grieving, correction for the wandering, strength for the weary, and hope for those who long for new life.
The Bible is not meant to be read with pride or fear. It is meant to be received with humility.
It is not meant to remain closed on a shelf. It is meant to open the heart toward God.
It is not meant to make us feel superior to others. It is meant to make us more faithful, more merciful, more truthful, and more loving.
Above all, the Bible leads Christians toward Jesus Christ.
He is the Word made flesh.
He is the Light of the World.
He is the Good Shepherd.
He is the Bread of Life.
He is the One who forgives, heals, restores, and saves.
Let us pray:
Lord God,
You have spoken to Your people
through the Scriptures
and revealed Your love most fully in Jesus Christ.
Open our hearts when we read Your Word.
Give us wisdom when we are confused,
comfort when we are grieving,
courage when we are afraid,
and humility when we think we know enough.
Teach us to hear Your voice
not only with our minds,
but with lives ready to obey,
to forgive, to serve, and to love.
May Your Word become a lamp to our feet
and a light to our path,
leading us ever closer to Christ.
Amen.
— Fr. John Matthew
