The Bible is often considered more than just an old book due to its enduring influence, historical significance, and the role it plays in the lives of millions of people around the world. Here are 17 reasons why the Bible is not just an old book:
Cultural Impact
The Bible has profoundly influenced Western culture and beyond. Even more recent pop culture is heavily influenced by the Bible. “Music has such a rich history with having the Bible influence it,” Ilena Madraso, content manager at the Museum of the Bible, recently told PureFlix, noting that there are some truly surprising references, such as rapper Coolio’s 1995 hit, “Gangsta’s Paradise.” The song has its roots in Psalm 23, with lyrics referencing the “valley of the shadow of death.”
Moral Framework
At its core, the Bible is designed to teach people how to live their lives righteously. Even though most do not take it to an extreme literal interpretation, it provides a moral compass that has guided individuals and societies in their ethical decision-making.
Foundation of Faith
For Christians, the Bible is the foundational text for understanding their faith and the nature of God. The book outlines how to live life in a pure and godly way and gives people hope for what may come after death.
Historical Document
While not a history textbook, the Bible contains historical narratives that align with archeological findings and other historical documents. Thirty-nine ancient sources corroborate more than one hundred facts concerning Jesus’s life, teachings, crucifixion, and resurrection. Jewish writers called Jesus a sorcerer, evidence that he performed miracles. Archeologists have also used the Bible as a map of sorts to find archaeological sites.
Literary Significance
The Washington Times says that the Bible is a “literary anthology—a collection of varied literary genres written by multiple authors over the span of many centuries. In its details, too, the Bible is a literary book.” This makes it a great resource for learning different genres of writing, such as narrative, poetry, letters, and visionary writing.
Philosophical Ideas
The wisdom of the Bible is timeless. It presents philosophical ideas about existence, purpose, and the human condition that continue to be relevant. The fourth-century BCE Greek thinker Theophrastus stated, “Jews are a people of philosophers,” when discussing the Torah, which is the Old Testament, or the foundation on which the Bible was written. However, some would argue the Bible is “wisdom literature” and not philosophy.
Personal Transformation
You could call it one of the first self-help books. People either find faith in the religious aspect of the Bible, which changes their lives, or they can find life lessons in smaller parables that relate to their situation. Countless individuals attest to the transformative power of the Bible in their personal lives.
Archeological Corroboration
The Bible isn’t a history or geography book, but archeological discoveries have often corroborated the Bible’s descriptions of ancient places and events. Discoveries continue to validate facts in the Bible once thought to be wrong by secular scholars.
Historical Preservation
The Bible is one of the best-preserved texts from antiquity. Archeologists found biblical fragments dating back to the second century BC, including the entire book of Isaiah and pieces of every Old Testament book except Esther. Because of the similarities between the manuscripts and the Dead Sea Scrolls, it can be deduced that the Old Testament we have today is an extremely reliable copy of the original Hebrew Scriptures.
Global Influence
More than half of the world’s population considers the Bible to be an influence on their faith, going beyond the 2 billion Christians in the world and including 1.3 billion Muslims and 14 million Jews. It is the world’s bestselling book; since 1815, the Bible has sold approximately 2.5 billion copies and has been translated into more than 2,200 languages or dialects.
Source of Hope
Whether you believe in the divine or not, people can look to the Bible for lessons, finding hope and comfort in the Bible’s messages during times of personal or societal crisis. Its stories of redemption, perseverance, and divine intervention remind us that we are never alone in our struggles.
Ethical Teachings
Its ethical teachings have been widely adopted and taught. No matter one’s religion, the “Golden Rule” and other teachings from the Bible are ingrained in us as children.
Community Building
The Bible is the foundation of two major religions; Judaism and Christianity. It brings people together who have common beliefs and values and teaches people to love their neighbor and build community even with those who do not have the same faith.
Educational Resource
It has been used as an educational resource, teaching literacy and other subjects. “Using the Bible as a resource offers teachers the chance to open children’s minds to a wide range of writing styles (e.g., poetry, prose, journalistic reporting, and modern rap),” says TechWire, which they can use to engage with the content. The Bible in its original form allows us to delve into millennia of history and philosophy that have shaped our world today.
Scientific Parallels
The Bible contains scientific knowledge ahead of its time. It claims that all humans are descended from one man and one woman, and genetics has verified that there is only one human race. It also claims that God destroyed the earth and the creatures inhabiting it in a great flood; geology confirms that many rock layers were deposited, burying fossils within only minutes or hours. And it speaks about the pattern of the stars and the orbit of Earth, which were not understood at the time.
Source of Law and Justice
Biblical principles have informed concepts of justice and law enforcement. The Ten Commandments are the most commonly known legal rules found in the Bible. Four of these mandates, prohibiting murder, adultery, theft, and the giving of false testimony against one’s neighbor, became cornerstones of most secular law.
Enduring Questions
The Bible addresses enduring questions, including those about suffering, justice, and the meaning of life. All of these questions remain relevant today.
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