Significance of the Holy Bible

The Holy Bible is a collection of sacred scriptures which dates back to the time of Moses at around 3500 years ago. The Bible is composed of the Old and New Testament. The Old testaments differ when it comes to the Protestant Bible and that of the Catholic. Protestant accepts the Masoretic text -books that are used by Jews in Jerusalem while the Catholics are using the deuterocanonical (Septuagint), books used by the Greek-speaking Jews that were living outside of Palestine which includes the books of Tobit, Judith, 1st Maccabees, 2nd Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, Esther and Daniel. The Old Testament is divided into four parts the Pentateuch, Books of History, Books of Poetry and the Books of Prophets.

The New Testament is composed of 27 books which are categorically divided into four parts The Gospels, History or the Acts of the Apostles, Epistles or letter, and the revelation. The New Testament is just the same for both the Catholics and Protestant.

Early Christians have not used the same bible that we have right now. The early version of the Bible came when the early church leaders compiled a list of sacred scriptures 350 years after Christianity was created. The Basis for choosing the books that were holy or not was based on the biblical canon which is used to distinguish if the books were divine, apostolic in origin or have been used in the Church teachings. Historically, the new testament has been formed during the Council of Carthage where it was clearly defined on what books are going to be used and read within the Churches.

Did The Bible Originated From God?

As we all know, the bible is a collection of sacred scriptures dating back to the time of Moses. The books were written by the people inspired by God through the Holy Spirit. Notable examples would be the Pentateuch Books and the Gospels. Now, did the bible really originated from God? The answer to this question can only be found on the subject itself -the Holy Bible!

What does the Bible say?

From the Book of 2 Peter 1:20-21

"Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."

It has been clearly stated that though it has human writers the Bible has a Divine Author. The arguments proposed by some of the skeptics that the bible was of ungodly origins due to the fact that its creation was supervised by a human emperor and it was not handed down literally from God is immaterial and impertinent. God uses people to convey his message and it has been like that throughout history, He protected those people that he had commissioned from errors so as not to distort any of his messages like the prophets in the old times. In the case of those biblical writers, why would not God do the same to them?

The collection of Books to form the Holy Bible is not done overnight but it has been created through the years and not with money or politics as other skeptics claimed. The first list of Scriptures appeared 393 at the council of Hippo which was translated using the old Latin. It was called Vetus Latina a term used for the early Biblical text used by the Church. It was later revised into a newer Latin translation (Vulgates) under St. Jerome who was commission by the Pope at that time.

Was it Corrupted?

I was never aware that the Bible was corrupted and never was in doubt that it indeed remains in its original sense. The Bible was translated many times but its essence remains. Scholars in the past did not just translate it word for word just like what we do in using Google Translate. They translate it in the manner in which how the word falls, how it is being used and the manner it has been said. There are thousands of original manuscripts that can be the basis of what was written in the Bible is still the same, example to these are the Dead Sea Scroll, Vulgates, Armenian etc.

There is no way that what was written in the Bible could be tampered or edited. What was written in the Bible was pure and authentically from the original writings.

Lastly, I firmly believe that there is no God that would just leave his subject to believe in something that is corrupted.

Even the Bible itself can attest that it has not been corrupted.

"I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book."

Revelation 22:18

How I see the Bible.

The Bible has always been a great source of strength for me with respect to spirituality and life but never a tool to condemn other people and other beliefs. It really saddened me a lot that a lot of the other Christians are using the bible for condemnation and debates. It is through the Bible that I learned to respect the different forms of beliefs may it be Protestants, Muslim, Atheist or Deist all are a creation of God. The Bible for me is a tool to supplement my faith and enough evidence that this world existed because of there is one true Creator who became Human for us to be saved.

How I see the Bible is not as a weapon to attack other church but as a bridge to fill in the gap towards my Master and Friend, The Lord Jesus Christ. I see it also not as the only tool for salvation as I believe that Christ came into this world neither as a writer nor an agent of a book publishing company rather as a Preacher of Love.

In Short, the Bible for me is a symbol and reminder of Love and Respect. to God and to Others.

Matthew 22:36-4

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"

Jesus replied: " Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."