Lesson 1 of 3 · 8 min

What the Bible Is

Inspiration, canon and authority in plain terms.

A library, not a single book

The Bible contains law, history, poetry, proverbs, prophecy, gospel, letter and apocalyptic vision. Reading a psalm the way you read a legal code — or Revelation the way you read Kings — produces confusion.

Christians describe Scripture as inspired: God worked through real authors with their own styles and settings so that what they wrote is his word. The canon (the settled list of books) was recognised by the church over the early centuries rather than invented at a single meeting.

Key passages

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.
2 Timothy 3:16
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Psalm 119:105

Reflect

Which genre of Scripture do you find hardest to read? What might help?

Next: The Story in Four Movements

Where this came from

We're not experts — these are the sources we used while researching this page. Read them yourself, keep digging, and hold us to them.

[1]The Holy Bible — Blue Letter Bible interlinear and lexicons
Primary source for every lesson; Strong's and BDB/Thayer entries for word studies.
[2]The Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed (381) — full text and history, Britannica
The doctrinal frame for the lessons on God, Christ and the Spirit.
[3]N. T. Wright, lectures and articles archive (NTWrightPage)
New Testament scholarship drawn on for the gospel, kingdom and resurrection lessons.
[4]Catechism of the Catholic Church (Vatican) and the Westminster Confession of Faith
Consulted side by side wherever a lesson describes how different traditions teach a doctrine.