What is the Bible and its teaching?

A Book of Books:

containing 66 historical books translated from the Jewish/Hebrew-Christian Scriptures
divided into the Old Testament (Covenant)(first 39 books) and the New Testament (last 27 books)
with each named book divided into chapters and verses (or verses only if one chapter) for reference (e.g the text in Matthew chapter 27 verses 33-50 (written Mt 27:33-50) describes the events of the death of Jesus Christ)

The Word of God (the Scriptures)

Paul, a New Testament Christian and writer, wrote to a co-worker, Timothy (2Tim 3:16) ‘All Scripture (Word of God) is given by inspiration of God (God breathed), and is profitable for doctrine (teaching), for reproof (conviction), for correction, for instruction in righteousness (right living) that the man of God may be perfect (complete, fit) thoroughly furnished unto all good works.’ And Peter, a disciple who personally knew Jesus for about 3 years, wrote (2 Peter 1:20-21) ‘Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private (one’s own) interpretation (unfolding). For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost (God’s Spirit)’.

Jesus confirmed the Old Testament Scriptures (the Tanakh) as being a revelation of Himself. Two down-hearted disciples of His, were walking on the road from Jerusalem (in Israel) to Emmaus on the third day after Jesus had been crucified. Jesus walks with them and they tell Him what had happened three days ago in Jerusalem and what they had hoped for; Jesus said to them (Lk 24:25-27) “O fools (senseless), and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: ought not Christ (Messiah) to have suffered these things, and entered into His glory?” And beginning at Moses (the writer of the Torah, 1st 5 books of the Old Testament) and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

The Hebrew Old testament books were written approximately 1660 BCE and 374 BCE and the Greek New Testament books approximately 35CE – 96CE in a non-English language in a culture that thought and wrote differently from our modern 21st century Greek-thinking mind and cultures. Understanding the Jewish culture helps prevent imposing non-hebraic thought onto the Scriptures and getting error. Paul wrote to Timothy ‘study (be diligent) to shew (present) thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth’ (2Tim 2:15). Hence the essential task in reading and studying the Scriptures is ‘rightly dividing the word of truth’ because it can be wrongly divided, resulting in error. To divide, in this context, means to cut.

What is the Bible about?

Relationship: on how to know God and live in relationship with God, fellow humans and creation
Creation of heaven and earth by God
Origin of mankind i.e. Adam and Eve
Eve and Adam’s disobedience to God, provoked by the devil (serpent), and the entrance of sin and death
God’s promise of the ‘seed of the woman’ crushing the serpent’s head (Satan’s)
History of God keeping His promise in the coming of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, dying for our sins, being raised from the dead to bring forgiveness and eternal life
God reconciling His creation to Himself through Jesus’ death, resurrection from the dead and ascension into heaven and seated at the right hand of His Father (God)
The rejection of the Kingdom of God offer, temporarily forestalling the imminent return of the Messiah, by the Jewish nation; the secret of the Church (the Body of Christ) revealed, and the Gentiles (non-Jewish nations) preached to about God’s Grace in Jesus Christ
God, being merciful, revealing His purposes for the future in order for us to avoid God’s judgement on evil doers, oppressors of the poor, injustice and to prepare for the second coming of Jesus Christ in deliverance and judgement when He will make all things right and set up His eternal kingdom in the new Heaven and new Earth
Hope: we are saved from sin and death by the free gift of God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ (not by works i.e. anything we have done)