That’s a beautiful question, and one I’ve been asked many times. When we hold the Bible in our hands, we’re holding something unlike any other book. It’s a collection of writings written over more than a thousand years by many different people — prophets, kings, fishermen, priests, and apostles — yet it speaks with one voice: God’s.
The Bible was written by human authors, but inspired by the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, God spoke through people like Moses, David, Isaiah, and Jeremiah. Each wrote in their own time and style, yet they all revealed the same story — God’s covenant love for His people and His promise of salvation. The Psalms, for instance, carry David’s heart of prayer; the prophets cry out God’s justice and mercy. Every page whispers that God is drawing His people closer to Himself.
In the New Testament, we find the fulfillment of those promises. The apostles and evangelists — Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Peter, and others — wrote about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Each had a different perspective and audience, but the same Spirit guided them. As Saint Paul said, “All Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching” (2 Timothy 3:16). The word “inspired” literally means “God-breathed.” It means the human writers were moved by God to write what He wanted His people to hear.
So while the Bible has many human authors, it truly has one divine Author. God used their lives, languages, and circumstances to reveal His truth in human words. The Church calls this divine inspiration. It’s not dictation — God didn’t simply whisper every word — but rather a cooperation: the Spirit of God working through human hearts to speak eternal truth.
When we open Scripture, we meet not just ancient words, but the living Word — Christ Himself. As Saint Augustine said, “The New Testament is hidden in the Old, and the Old is revealed in the New.” The whole Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, points to Jesus — the Word made flesh (John 1:14). Through Scripture, God still speaks to us today, just as clearly as He did to Moses or Paul, if only we quiet our hearts to listen.
The Bible is God’s love letter written through human hands. When we read it with faith, we don’t just learn about God — we encounter Him. May every page lead us closer to the One who is the true Author of life and truth.
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way
