Introduction to the Bible

  The Bible plays a central role in the life of Christians. We believe that it is a gift of God to us: it tells us about who He is and who we are; it gives us comfort and guidance in times of need; it proclaims the Truth of Jesus Christ as a witness in the world. We believe that the Bible is without error, was written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and contains the guidance we need for knowing God and living a life pleasing to Him.

  However, understanding the Bible requires the help of the Holy Spirit. Jesus says of the holy Spirit, 'I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority,but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.' (John 16:12-15, NKJV.) 

  Earlier Jesus had said, 'If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.' (John 14:15-18, NKJV.) A couple of points need to be drawn from this: the world - that is, non-believers - cannot receive the Spirit of truth. This is not to say that the Holy Spirit is not at work around non-believers; I believe it is His ministry that softens people's hearts to help them become believers (see Jesus' words about being 'born again' at John 3:1-21). But it does mean that the Holy Spirit is the one who leads people to the truth. Only by becoming a believer and receiving the promised Holy Spirit will you be able to truly understand the Bible. The Apostle Paul says, 'But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.' (1 Corinthians 2:14, NKJV.)

 When Jesus stood before the Roman procurator, Pontius Pilate, Pilate asked Jesus, 'What is truth?' (John 18:38, NKJV.) The answer was standing right in front of him. Jesus had said to His disciples earlier, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.' (John 14:6, NKJV.) Jesus is the truth; if truth is what you really seek, then you will find Jesus. How the Lord speaks to someone is of course up to Him; but the Bible is one of the ways He uses. If you seek the truth, if you seek God, search for Him diligently. 'Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.' (Matthew 7:7-8, NKJV.)

  Lastly, I would like to say a few words about the structure of the Bible to help anyone who is new to it to find their way around. The first five books, known as the Pentateuch or Torah contain the history of God's relationship with Man and His people Israel from the time of Man's creation to the time of Moses. A number of passages, and all of Leviticus, are laws that God gave to the Israelites to live by, which is why these five books are known as the Law. The books of Joshua to Esther contain the history of Israel from the time of Joshua, who succeeded Moses to the return of Israel to their land after their captivity in the Babylonian Empire. Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes are books about life and wisdom, while the Psalms are songs (poetry) in praise of God and reflecting on life and relationships with Him. The Song of Solomon/Song of Songs is a love song. Isaiah to Malachi are prophetic books: these are contain a variety of messages and predictions, some already fulfilled, others awaiting fulfillment  They deal with God's relationship with Israel and mankind, and they reflect the promise of a time when God will be reconciled with Man and all things will be restored. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (the Gospels) are accounts of Jesus' life: they contain many of His teachings, records of how He fulfilled the promises of God predicted by the Prophets, and stories that show His life - the life of God and Man - how he wept, became angry, and rejoiced. The Epistles or letters (Romans to Jude) are letters written by early Christian leaders to the Church. Revelation is about the Second Coming of Jesus and the establishment of His Kingdom in glory - the book ends on the high note of God's desire fulfilled, that he should live among mankind and that the two would know and love each other perfectly.

Search for Jesus in the Scriptures.
God bless.