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Why is the Bible important?

What language was the bible originally written in, how is the bible organized, when was the bible written, what does the bible say.

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The Bible contains the sacred scriptures of  Judaism  and  Christianity and has long been the most available, familiar, and dependable source and arbiter of intellectual, moral, and spiritual ideals in the West. The great biblical themes are God, his revealed works of creation, provision, judgment, and deliverance, his  covenant , and his promises. The Bible sees what happens to humankind in the light of God’s nature, righteousness, faithfulness, mercy, and love.

The Hebrew Bible was written in Hebrew . Its Greek translation, the Septuagint , made it accessible in the Hellenistic period (c. 300 BCE–c. 300 CE) and provided a language for the New Testament and for the Christian liturgy and theology of the first three centuries CE. The Bible in Latin, the Vulgate , shaped the thought and life of Western people for a thousand years. Bible translation led to the study and literary development of many languages.

The  Hebrew Bible  has three divisions:  Torah  (Instruction, or Law; also called the Pentateuch), Neviʾim (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings). These books are known to Christians as the Old Testament . The Christian Bible consists of the Old Testament and the  New Testament . In the  Roman Catholic  and  Eastern Orthodox traditions, the Old Testament includes writings considered  apocryphal  by  Protestants . The New Testament contains four  Gospels  (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John),  Acts , 21 letters, and  Revelation .

Parts of the Hebrew Bible were written in perhaps the 10th century BCE. The final redaction and canonization of the Torah (the first five books of the Bible) most likely took place during the  Babylonian Exile  (6th–5th century BCE). The entire Hebrew Bible was complete by about 100 CE. The books of the New Testament were written in the 1st and 2nd centuries CE.

The Bible centres on the one and only God, the Creator of all that exists. God’s will and purpose are viewed as just, loving, and ultimately prevailing. The Hebrew Bible starts with an account of God’s creation of the world, and it tells the story of the Israelites and the Promised Land. The New Testament deals with the life, the person, and the teachings of  Jesus and the formation of the Christian church.

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Bible , the sacred scriptures of Judaism and Christianity . The Christian Bible consists of the Old Testament and the New Testament , with the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox versions of the Old Testament being slightly larger because of their acceptance of certain books and parts of books considered apocryphal by Protestants . The Hebrew Bible includes only books known to Christians as the Old Testament. The arrangements of the Jewish and Christian canons differ considerably. The Protestant and Roman Catholic arrangements more nearly match one another.

A brief treatment of the Bible follows. For full treatment, see biblical literature .

Traditionally, the Jews have divided their scriptures into three parts: the Torah (the “Law,” or Pentateuch), the Neviʾim (“Prophets”), and the Ketuvim (“Writings,” or Hagiographa). The Pentateuch, together with the Book of Joshua (hence the name Hexateuch), can be seen as the account of how the Israelites became a nation and of how they possessed the Promised Land. The division designated as the “Prophets” continues the story of Israel in the Promised Land, describing the establishment and development of the monarchy and presenting the messages of the prophets to the people. The “Writings” include speculation on the place of evil and death in the scheme of things ( Job and Ecclesiastes ), the poetical works, and some additional historical books.

In the Apocrypha of the Old Testament, various types of literature are represented; the purpose of the Apocrypha seems to have been to fill in some of the gaps left by the indisputably canonical books and to carry the history of Israel to the 2nd century bce .

The New Testament is by far the shorter portion of the Christian Bible, but, through its associations with the spread of Christianity, it has wielded an influence far out of proportion to its modest size. Like the Old Testament, the New Testament is a collection of books, including a variety of early Christian literature. The four Gospels deal with the life, the person, and the teachings of Jesus , as he was remembered by the Christian community . The Acts of the Apostles carries the story of Christianity from the Resurrection of Jesus to the end of the career of St. Paul . The various Letters, or Epistles , are correspondence by various leaders of the early Christian church , chief among them St. Paul , applying the message of the church to the sundry needs and problems of early Christian congregations. The Book of Revelation (the Apocalypse) is the only canonical representative of a large genre of apocalyptic literature that appeared in the early Christian movement.

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The Bible is the written Word of God and thus the ultimate set of guiding principles governing all areas of life for the people of God. Through these writings, God communicates his will, his laws, his nature, and his saving purpose to humanity.

The Bible is a compilation of 66 books and letters written by more than 40 authors during a period of approximately 1,500 years. The original text of the Bible was communicated in just three languages : Hebrew , koine or common Greek, and Aramaic. The Old Testament was written for the most part in Hebrew, with a small percentage in Aramaic. The New Testament was written in Greek.

'Bible' Definition

The English word "Bible" comes from bíblia in Latin and bíblos in Greek. The term means book, or books, and may have originated from the ancient Egyptian port of Byblos (in modern-day Lebanon), where papyrus used for making books and scrolls was exported to Greece. Other terms for the Bible are the Holy Scriptures, Holy Writ, Scripture, or the Scriptures, which means "sacred writings." For Christians, the simplest definition of the Bible is "the Word of God to humankind."

Beyond its two main sections (the Old Testament and the New Testament), the Bible contains several more divisions: the Pentateuch , the Historical Books , the Poetry and Wisdom Books , the books of Prophecy , the Gospels , and the Epistles .

Originally, the Holy Scriptures were written on scrolls of papyrus and later parchment, until the invention of the codex. A codex is a handwritten manuscript formatted like a modern book, with pages bound together at the spine within a hardcover.

The Inspired Word of God

Christians and Jews have been called "people of the Book" throughout history. Both Judaism and Christianity are based on the Bible. A key doctrine of Christianity is the Inerrancy of Scripture, meaning the Bible in its original, handwritten state is without error. Since the Bible contains the word of a wholly truthful God, all of its teachings are true.

The Bible itself claims to be the inspired Word of God , or "God-breathed:"

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. ( NLT )

2 Peter 1:16–21 For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes when he received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice from the majestic glory of God said to him, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” We ourselves heard that voice from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain. Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts. Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God. (NLT)

The Bible unfolds as a divine love story between the Creator God and the object of his love, humankind. In the pages of the Bible, we learn of God's interaction with humans. We discover his purposes and plans from the beginning of time and throughout history.

The Canon and Apocrypha

The word canon means "a rule" or "standard for measurement." The Canon of Scripture refers to the list of books that officially measured up to the standard, and, therefore, were worthy of inclusion. Only the canonical books are considered the " divinely inspired " authoritative Word of God, and, thus, rightfully belong in the Bible.

Both Jews and early church fathers agreed on 39 divinely inspired books as comprising the Old Testament Canon of Scripture. Augustine (400 A.D.), however, included the books of the Apocrypha. A large portion of the Apocrypha was officially recognized by the Roman Catholic Church as part of the biblical Canon at the Council of Trent in A.D. 1546. Today, Coptic , Greek, and Russian Orthodox churches also accept these books. The word Apocrypha means "hidden." The books of the Apocrypha are not considered authoritative in Judaism and Protestant Christian churches.

The Story of Salvation

The central message or theme of the Bible is God's plan of salvation —his way of providing deliverance from sin and spiritual death through repentance and faith . In the Old Testament, the concept of salvation is rooted in Israel's deliverance from Egypt in the book of Exodus .

The New Testament reveals the source of salvation: Jesus Christ . By faith in Jesus, the promised Messiah, believers are saved from God's judgment of sin and its consequence, which is eternal death.

In the Bible, God reveals himself to humankind. We discover his nature and character, his love, his justice, his forgiveness, and his truth. Many have called the Bible a guidebook for living the Christian faith . Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." (NIV)

History of the Bible

On so many levels, the Bible is an extraordinary book, from its diverse content and literary styles to its miraculous preservation down through the ages. While the Bible is certainly not the oldest book in history, it is the only ancient text with existing manuscripts that number in the thousands.

In ancient days, the authors of the Bible recorded its messages with whatever resources were available at the time. The Scriptures themselves reveal some of the materials used: engravings in clay, inscriptions on tablets of stone , ink and papyrus, vellum, parchment, leather, and metals.

For a long period in the history of the Bible , common men and women were forbidden access to the Scriptures and their life-transforming truths. The first full copy of the Bible was completed in the Greek language around A.D. 312. It was called the Codex Vaticanus, as it was kept in the Vatican library. By 405 A.D., Jerome had translated both Old and New Testaments into Latin, which the Catholic church made the official language of the Bible in A.D. 600. It wasn't until the 16th century that the entire Bible was translated into English.

Today the Bible is the best-selling book of all time, with billions of copies distributed throughout the world in more than 2,400 languages.

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By: History.com Editors

Updated: April 23, 2019 | Original: January 19, 2018

The Bible is the holy scripture of the Christian religion, purporting to tell the history of the Earth from its earliest creation to the spread of Christianity in the first century A.D. Both the Old Testament and the New Testament have undergone changes over the centuries, including the the publication of the King James Bible in 1611 and the addition of several books that were discovered later.

Old Testament

The Old Testament is the first section of the Bible, covering the creation of Earth through Noah and the flood, Moses and more, finishing with the Jews being expelled to Babylon .

The Bible’s Old Testament is very similar to the Hebrew Bible, which has origins in the ancient religion of Judaism . The exact beginnings of the Jewish religion are unknown, but the first known mention of Israel is an Egyptian inscription from the 13th century B.C.

The earliest known mention of the Jewish god Yahweh is in an inscription relating to the King of Moab in the 9th century B.C. It is speculated that Yahweh was possibly adapted from the mountain god Yhw in ancient Seir or Edom.

It was during the reign of Hezekiah of Judah in the 8th century B.C. that historians believe what would become the Old Testament began to take form, the result of royal scribes recording royal history and heroic legends.

During the reign of Josiah in the 6th century B.C., the books of Deuteronomy and Judges were compiled and added. The final form of the Hebrew Bible developed over the next 200 years when Judah was swallowed up by the expanding Persian Empire .

Following conquest by Alexander the Great , the Hebrew Bible was translated into Greek in the 3rd century B.C.

Known as the Septuagint, this Greek translation was initiated at the request of King Ptolemy of Egypt to be included in the library of Alexandria. The Septuagint was the version of the Bible used by early Christians in Rome.

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The Book of Daniel was written during this period and included in the Septuagint at the last moment, though the text itself claims to have been written sometime around 586 B.C.

New Testament

The New Testament tells the story of the life of Jesus and the early days of Christianity , most notably Paul’s efforts to spread Jesus’ teaching. It collects 27 books, all originally written in Greek.

The sections of the New Testament concerning Jesus are called the Gospels and were written about 40 years after the earliest written Christian materials, the letters of Paul, known as the Epistles.

Paul’s letters were distributed by churches sometime around 50 A.D., possibly just before Paul’s death. Scribes copied the letters and kept them in circulation. As circulation continued, the letters were collected into books.

Some in the church, inspired by Paul, began to write and circulate their own letters, and so historians believe that some books of the New Testament attributed to Paul were in fact written by disciples and imitators.

As Paul’s words were circulated, an oral tradition began in churches telling stories about Jesus, including teachings and accounts of post-resurrection appearances. Sections of the New Testament attributed to Paul talk about Jesus with a firsthand feeling, but Paul never knew Jesus except in visions he had, and the Gospels were not yet written at the time of Paul’s letters.

The Gospels

The oral traditions within the church formed the substance of the Gospels, the earliest book of which is Mark, written around 70 A.D., 40 years after the death of Jesus.

It is theorized there may have been an original document of sayings by Jesus known as the Q source, which was adapted into the narratives of the Gospels. All four Gospels were published anonymously, but historians believe that the books were given the name of Jesus’ disciples to provide direct links to Jesus to lend them greater authority.

Matthew and Luke were next in the chronology. Both used Mark as a reference, but Matthew is considered to have another separate source, known as the M source, as it contains some different material from Mark. Both books also stress the proof of Jesus’ divinity more than Mark did.

The Book of John, written around 100 A.D., was the final of the four and has a reputation for hostility to Jesus’ Jewish contemporaries.

All four books cover the life of Jesus with many similarities, but sometimes contradictions in their portrayals. Each is considered to have its own political and religious agenda linked to authorship.

For instance, the books of Matthew and Luke present different accounts of Jesus’ birth, and all contradict each other about the resurrection.

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Book of Revelation

The Book of Revelation is the final book of the Bible, an example of apocalyptic literature that predicts a final celestial war through prophecy. Authorship is ascribed to John, but little else is known about the writer.

According to the text, it was written around 95 A.D. on an island off the coast of Turkey. Some scholars believe it is less a prophecy and more a response to the Roman destruction of the Great Temple and Jerusalem .

This text is still used by Evangelical Christians to interpret current events in expectation of the End Times, and elements of it find frequent use in popular entertainment.

Biblical Canon

Surviving documents from the 4th century show that different councils within the church released lists to guide how various Christian texts should be treated.

The earliest known attempt to create a canon in the same respect as the New Testament was in 2nd century Rome by Marcion, a Turkish businessman and church leader.

Marcion’s work focused on the Gospel of Luke and the letters of Paul. Disapproving of the effort, the Roman church expelled Marcion.

Second-century Syrian writer Tatian attempted to create a canon by weaving the four gospels together as the Diatessaron.

The Muratorian Canon, which is believed to date to 200 A.D., is the earliest compilation of canonical texts resembling the New Testament.

It was not until the 5th century that all the different Christian churches came to a basic agreement on Biblical canon. The books that eventually were considered canon reflect the times they were embraced as much the times of the events they portray.

During the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, books not originally written in Hebrew but Greek, such as Judith and Maccabees, were excluded from the Old Testament. These are known the Apocrypha and are still included in the Catholic Bible.

Gnostic Gospels

Additional Biblical texts have been discovered, such as the Gospel of Mary, which was part of the larger Berlin Gnostic Codex found in Egypt in 1896.

Fifty further unused Biblical texts were discovered in Nag Hammadi in Egypt in 1945, known as the Gnostic Gospels.

Among the Gnostic Gospels were the Gospel of Thomas—which purports to be previously hidden sayings by Jesus presented in collaboration with his twin brother—and The Gospel of Philip, which implies a marriage between Jesus and Mary Magdalene . The original texts are believed to date back to around 120 A.D.

The Book of Judas was found in Egypt in the 1970s. Dated to around 280 A.D., it is believed by some to contain secret conversations between Jesus and his betrayer Judas.

These have never become part of the official Biblical canon, but stem from the same traditions and can be read as alternative views of the same stories and lessons. These texts are taken as indications of the diversity of early Christianity.

King James Bible

The King James Bible is possibly the most widely-known edition of the Bible, though in England it is known as the “Authorized Version.”

First printed in 1611, this edition of the Bible was commissioned in 1604 by King James I after feeling political pressure from Puritans and Calvinists demanding church reform and calling for a complete restructuring of church hierarchy.

In response, James called for a conference at Hampton Court Palace, during which it was suggested to him that there should be a new translation of the Bible since versions commissioned by earlier monarchs were felt to be corrupt.

King James eventually agreed and decreed the new translation should speak in contemporary language, using common, recognizable terms. James’ purpose was to unite the warring religious factions through a uniform holy text.

This version of the Bible was not altered for 250 years and is credited as one of the biggest influences on the English language, alongside the works of Shakespeare. The King James Bible introduced a multitude of words and phrases now common in the English language, including “eye for an eye,” “bottomless pit,” “two-edged sword,” “God forbid,” “scapegoat” and “turned the world upside down,” among many others.

The Oxford Illustrated History of the Bible. John Rogerson, ed . The Book: A History of the Bible. Christopher De Hamel . New Testament History and Literature. Dale B. Martin . The Gnostic Gospels. Elaine Pagels . From Jesus To Christ. Frontline.

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How to Write a Research Paper on a Biblical Book

Writing a paper on the theology of a biblical book is one of the best ways to internalize that book’s message. Not only will it require familiarizing yourself with the entire book, but you’ll also synthesize how the parts relate to the whole as you seek to explain the book’s theology and message.

There are six main steps to researching and writing a paper on the theology of a biblical book:

• Study the book’s background

Outline the book

Identify and study key verses.

• Examine its relation to the rest of the Bible
• Research outside commentary
• Report on your findings

Study the book’s background

Before beginning to study any book of the Bible, it’s critical that you understand the proper context of the book—it’s genre, when it was written and by whom, and more. Doing so provides us some knowledge of the culture and history the book was written in—and helps ensure correct biblical interpretation. As biblical scholar Craig Keener says, “Context is the way God gave us the Bible.”

Click each topic below to learn more about each.

Is it a letter? Narrative? Poetry? Each genre has its own rules for interpretation—for example, poetry is not to be taken literally, but the narrative is. Knowing a book’s genre helps you to properly approach it.

Who writes a letter or book reveals a lot about the book. Not only does that person’s history inform their words but so does their relationship with the people they are writing to. For example, the fact that Paul mentored Timothy in the faith gives his letters to Timothy a certain tenderness and intimacy.

Likewise, the audience of a book helps us understand it. For example, we learn through biblical archaeology and internal clues from 1 and 2 Corinthians that sexual immorality ran rampant in Corinth and among its Christians. With that background, we can understand more of what Paul says in those letters.

Knowing the date (or approximate date) a book of the Bible was written helps to place it in its correct historical context. For example, the Israelites were exiled from Israel to Babylon in 586 BC. Books of the Bible written shortly before or after this exile illuminate the events and activities that relate to Israel’s exile in a much more profound way.

Similar to date and audience, location completes part of the puzzle of context. It can also help us better appreciate certain details. For example, the Psalms mention the desert often because many of David’s trials happened there. Being able to picture the actual deserts in and around Jerusalem takes us further into the text.

Lastly, most books in the Bible are written for a specific purpose. For example, Luke was written that Theophilus might have more confidence concerning reports he was hearing about Jesus (Luke 1:3–4). When authors don’t state the book’s purpose, we can use the above contextual clues to infer it.

Helpful resources

Basically, every commentary will cover all of these items and more in their introductions, sometimes in great detail. You can also find this sort of information in study Bibles, dictionaries, and monographs (single books) about Bible backgrounds.

Here are just a few to get you started.

Lexham Bible Dictionary (free)

You can find a fairly thorough overview of every book of the Bible in this dictionary, including the above elements of background.

Explore the Lexham Bible Dictionary .

Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Gospels

Written by a team of scholars with on-the-ground experience in Israel, the Lexham Geographic Commentary lets you see the land through the eyes of the disciples as Jesus uses the surrounding landscape as the backdrop for his teaching. Each article addresses a particular story, event, or subject across the Gospels. (Acts–Revelation forthcoming.)

Explore the Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Gospels .

Bible Background Commentary (IVP)

This unique commentary provides, in verse-by-verse format, the crucial cultural background you need for responsible Bible study.

Explore the Bible Background Commentary .

See more ways Logos can help you dive deep into the background of a book of the Bible.

Structure is a vehicle for meaning. Outlining a book is an exercise in identifying structure, which reveals a book’s flow of thought.

Generally, the following are clues for identifying structure. It’s best if you do this work yourself before consulting commentaries to see how others have outlined books.

• Conjunctions  — Particularly in epistles, words like “now,” “so,” “but,” and “therefore” reveal shifts in thought, either subtle or dramatic. For example, Romans 12:1 begins with “Therefore,” and from there Paul gets more “practical,” which leads most scholars to agree that chapter 12 marks a major shift in the letter.
• Mood  — We’re not talking about emotional moods (although that could be), but verb moods. A shift from indicative (“God is…”) to imperative (“We must…”) indicates a new section, as just described in Romans 12.
• Characters  — Especially in narrative, you can trace structure along with the focus on characters. For example, you could divide Genesis by the different patriarchs it follows, from Abraham to Isaac to Jacob, and so forth. Or in Acts, the focus shifts from Peter to Paul in chapter 13.
• Topic or theme  — Often, a book’s movement between subjects is its primary structure. For example, the book of James moves between topics like faith, wisdom, and the tongue. Focus on repeated words to spot important themes and topics.
• Audience  — Particularly helpful in prophetic literature, you can trace a book’s structure by who is being addressed. For example, many divide Isaiah based on who is receiving judgment–Judah and Israel in chapters 1–39, and then other nations in 40 and beyond.
• Geography  — Again, more of a structural clue for narrative, sometimes a book is structured by what’s happening where. For example, the Gospels record Jesus’ ministry as it moves from Galilee toward Jerusalem. Or the book of Acts, as the gospel message moves from Jerusalem outward.

Overview of Ecclesiastes

Here is an example of an outline of Ecclesiastes. The Bible Project has many such videos, which will help you learn (among many things) how to spot structure.

Tools for outlining the Bible

Bible outline browser.

This tool brings together all of the Bible outlines across your Logos library and lets you intuitively search through them all. Explore popular ways of breaking up and interpreting the text, and quickly find the outline you think is best.

Explore the Bible Outline Browser

Commentaries

Commentaries are among the best tools to consult for determining outlines. Browse the best commentaries on every book of the Bible to find reputable insights.

Browse the best commentaries

Faithlife Study Bible

For a quick check, you can always consult study Bibles. The Faithlife Study Bible is a free digital study Bible that discusses, among other things, the structure of every book of the Bible.

Get the Faithlife Study Bible

The Outline Bible

In this work, each major outline level uses a literary device—such as alliteration, rhyme, etc.,—to help the point stick in your mind and heart, and the unique formatting for each level helps you easily recognize it on the page. At the head of each outline is a brief summary of the information covered under that outline. References have been provided at almost every level so that the reader can easily and instantly recognize all the verses covered under that point.

Explore the Outline Bible

After you finish outlining a book of the Bible, you probably have an intuitive sense of its key passage(s). A book’s key passages are those that most densely back in its theology or communicate its purpose. For example, Romans 1:16 is widely regarded as the key verse of Romans, since it contains so many themes unpacked in the book.

Here’s are a few things to pay attention to when trying to discern a key passage:

• Statement of purpose  — When a book states plainly why it was written (e.g, Luke 1:3–4; John 20:31), you know these are key verses.
• The most important themes  — As with the Romans example above, you can determine a key verse/verses by whether it mentions many of the themes treated in the rest of the book. In this sense, the passage is sort of the “nucleus” of the book. This is how most key passages are determined. (Note: “key passages” are in no way inspired or intended by the author of the book; they are simply helpful for linking the theme(s) of a book to a particular passage.)
• Unique themes to the Bible  — Another way of identifying a key passage is if it mentions something that makes the book unique from other books of the Bible. For example, 1 John talks about love and truth and darkness and light more than most books, so a key passage might be 1 John 2:7–10.

Tools for discerning key passages

While this task is somewhat subjective, your best bet is to consult the introduction of a commentary on your book. Typically you’ll find information about key passages under headings like Theme, Message, or Theology.

Again, consult the most reputable commentaries for trustworthy insights.

Browse the best commentaries .

The Bible Project

Again, the Bible Project’s overview videos are often helpful here. Many of them will note important passages that seem to package the book.

Explore the Bible Project .

Examine a book’s relationship to the rest of the Bible

This is not a long step, but it is an important one. No book of the Bible is an island—the Bible holds together in a unique way, and every book is important.

So before you land on a theology of your book, ask: “What does this book uniquely contribute to the story and/or theology of the Bible?” For example, Genesis lays a foundation, introducing the covenants that run literally through the entire Bible (and are fulfilled in Jesus). Proverbs, on the other hand, has no narrative movement but is an extended reflection on the moral fabric of the Torah. And then the Epistles of the New Testament take you into the early church as believers learned how to live together in the new covenant.

Questions you might ask on your way to discovery are:

• Why is this book included here? How is it continuing the story?
• What other books of the Bible does this book relate to? For example, Lamentations corresponds to the exile of Judah (2 Kings 25; Jer 52).
• What book has theology like mine? For example, John and 1 John, written by the same apostle, have many similar themes. The same is true of 1 and 2 Thessalonians.
• What hole would exist in our theology or story without this book?
• For New Testament books, ask how it relates to the Old. Does it quote or allude to the Old, and in what ways? For Old Testament books, how does it foreshadow the New Testament? Draw lines between the testaments.

Again, commentaries and good study Bibles will tip you off to these connections, but you might also consult a resource about how parts of the Bible relate to each other.

Resources on the cohesion of Scripture

The Story of the Bible

This is the second in a short, helpful series by the Bible Project about the nature of the Bible.

Explore the rest of this Bible Project series.

The Bible Timeline

This is a longer video that covers similar material as the one above. It also has an accompanying blog post.

Read the post accompanying the video.

The Promise-Plan of God

In this book, Walter Kaiser Jr. works chronologically through the books of both testaments to demonstrate how God’s main promise is seen throughout, how the various sub-themes of each book relate to the promise, and how God’s plan to fulfill the promise progressively unfolds.

Explore The Promise-Plan of God.

Learn more about all 66 books of the Bible.

Read more about the book.

After you’ve outlined the book and searched it for key passages, you are ready to delve more deeply into it. You probably won’t have enough time to do an exegetical study of the entire book, so turn to resources that highlight what’s most important about your book.

These include:

• Dictionaries  — Bible dictionaries are a great place to start, as the best of them know what is important to discuss about each book, especially areas of debate. You’ll also find helpful bibliographies in dictionaries, which will point you to other resources—like monographs.
• Commentaries  — Like dictionaries, commentaries provide helpful (and sometimes in-depth) overviews of your book. A critical commentary is especially helpful here, as they are known to interact with the most scholarly material and present the greatest detailed analysis. You might start with a non-critical commentary first, and then move on to a critical one if you don’t find a substantive enough treatment.
• Monographs  — “Monographs” is a fancy word for a single book, one that’s focused on a particular topic. For example, when preparing a paper on the book of Romans, you’ll probably come across the New Perspective on Paul. There are plenty of monographs (books) on this topic you may refer to for further reading, as time allows.
• Journal articles  — Even more than monographs, journal articles focus on particular topics, often areas of debate. You can use Atla, a religious studies database, for deeper research on topics within your book.

Pay attention to what these resources say about the  theology  of the book as well as important  debates concerning the book . These are the primary focuses of your paper. Essentially, you want to show your professor (and for your own learning) that you are well versed not only in the book itself but the conversations surrounding the book. Of course, if your professor asks you to answer certain questions or present certain information, focus your research on those matters.

Resources for further study on books of the Bible

Logos bible software.

Logos is a system for digital theological research. There are numerous guides that instantly load the most relevant information from across your library, as well as intuitive manual searching across your whole library. For example, you can search a certain topic (e.g. New Perspective on Paul) by resource type (e.g. Monographs) to quickly narrow your search results.

The Atla Religion Database

The Atla Religion Database is an index of academic journal articles in the area of religion. It is updated monthly and published by the American Theological Library Association. The database indexes articles, essays, and book reviews related to a wide range of scholarly fields related to religion.

Explore Atla

Report on your findings: start writing

Finally, it’s time to report on all your findings. If you’re new to theological writing, read this entire article. If you’re familiar with it and just need a brush-up, consult the top of the page to find the part of the writing process you need help with.

Generally speaking, though, you’ll report on the following:

• The background of the book
• The outline of the book
• A summary of the book’s main message
• Scholarly debates surrounding the book
• Your own opinions on those debates
• How the book applies to modern readers

You’re done!

Congratulations! By the end of the process, you’ll almost be an expert on a biblical book. And not only that, you’ve gained skills for comprehension, synthesizing information, and conducting scholarly research. Now, why not turn and teach what you’ve learned to others?

See how Logos Bible Software can help you study any book of the Bible better.

Logos Staff

Logos is the largest developer of tools that empower Christians to go deeper in the Bible.

Related articles

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The Olivet Discourse: Second Coming Prophesy or Prophetic Warning against Jerusalem?

Through the Valley: 8 Lessons from Job about Suffering & Comfort

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• Research and Course Guides
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Citing Theological Sources: How to do a Bibliography: Bible & Bible Reference Sources

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• Writing Theology Well

How to Cite the Bible

Gen 12:27 ( NJPS ) or Gen 12:27 ( NJB ); Rom 5:12-21 ( NRSV ) or Rom 5:12-21 ( KJV ).

Or, in an in-text citation:  (Rom 5:12-21 NRSV ) or (Gen 12:27 NJPS )  

Use the abbreviation for the English version you are using.  NJPS for New Jewish Publication Society , NAB for New American Bible , NJB for the New Jerusalem Bible , etc. 

If you will use the same version throughout, you can include a footnote or endnote to that effect the first time you use a biblical citation.

If you are quoting biblical verses that are the same in many versions of the Bible, you do not need to cite the Jewish Study Bible or the New Oxford Annotated or the HarperCollins Study Bible in the in-text citation.

If a biblical book is the first word in a sentence, do not abbreviate it.  Example:  "We see this in Rom 5:12 ( NRSV )..."   But when it comes first in the sentence:  "Romans 5:12 shows us this...."

The Bible - Using MLA

It is advisable simply to cite by chapter/verses with Scripture abbreviation, chapter/verse placed parenthetically in your text. Do not use an endnote. In the bibliography, list the version/translation of the Bible as given on the title page, making sure the version/translation is indicated even if not actually given on the title page proper. You can add it on your own. When citing more than one Bible version in your paper, consult your instructor.  

Follow Bible book title abbreviations as in MLA or as recommended by your instructor 

Within the text of your paper:

(Gen 22:10) (1 Cor 13:5)  

In your paper's bibliography (you must indicate the version): 

The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. New York: Oxford University, 1996.  

  How to Cite the Bible: MLA

General Guidelines:  Books and versions of the Bible are not underlined, italicized, or put in quotation marks.  But the titles of individual published editions of the Bible are underlined or italicized.

Example:   The King James Version of the Bible was originally published in 1611. 

Example:  The Catholic Study Bible includes an introduction to each book of the Bible.

  Parenthetical References

       • Books of the Bible are abbreviated; see the MLA Handbook for common abbreviations. Example: (Phil. 3.8) • A period, not a colon, separates chapter and verse. • When you first refer to a particular translation, include the name, a comma, and then the passage. Examples: New Jerusalem Bible , Ezek. 2.6-8 • After this, only include the scripture reference, unless you switch translations.

  *** Information taken from MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers , 7 th ed., 2009, sections 6.4.8, 7.7.1, and 5.6.2.

Common Abbreviations for Bible Reference Sources

Jewish Publication Society Torah Commentary - JPS Torah Commentary

Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible - IDB

New Jerome Biblical Commentary - NJBC

Anchor Bible Dictionary - ABD

Harper's Bible Commentary (1988) - HBC

HarperCollins Bible Dictionary - HBD

New Interpreter's Bible - NIB

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible - EDB

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE

Abbreviations for Selected Apocryphal Works

Selected Apocryphal Works 

  1 Information taken from MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 7th ed., 2009, section 7.7.1.

MLA - Citing Bible Reference Sources

How to cite encyclopedia or dictionary entries:  

To find entry authors, look at the end of the entry -- often "signed" by contributor. Cite unsigned articles by title only.

Bibliography (entry author, set editor, multi-volume):    

Klauck, Hans-Josef. "Lord's Supper." The Anchor Bible Dictionary . Ed. David Noel Freedman. Vol. 2. New York: Doubleday, 1992.  

Endnote or footnote:  

8. Hans-Josef Klauck, "Lord's Supper," The Anchor Bible Dictionary , ed. David Noel Freedman, vol. 2 (New York: Doubleday, 1992) 485.  

In-text citation:  (Klauck 485)  

Note  that quotations around entry title. From the book itself be sure to record publishing data and editor(s) from title page of the whole work. Also note that normal word order style is used for editor's name.

How to cite a Concordance:  

               (Author of Article)                Last Name, First Name. “Title of Entry.” Title of Concordance . Ed. Name of Editor, if applicable. Edition, if applicable. City of Pub.: Publisher, Year.    Medium of Publication.

               Example:

               Goodrick, Edward W., and John R. Kohlberger III.  “Mount.” The New Concordance of the Bible. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1990. Print.

*** For further information, see 5.5.7 (p. 160-61)

How to cite a Bible Commentary in a larger work:  

See Books above for series volume by individual author. In a large work like a commentary with many essays on specific books or chapters, it is often the case that individual commentaries are written by different scholars and the overall work itself has a 'general' editor.  In these cases, this general editor is NOT the author. In MLA style the editor need not be listed but, for clarity, many students add the general editor after the book title.

Bibliography:  

Option 1: Weems, Renita J. "Song of Songs." The New Interpreter's Bible . Vol. 5. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1997.

Option 2: Weems, Renita J. "Song of Songs." The New Interpreter's Bible . Ed. Leander E. Keck. Vol. 5. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1997.

(See the most current MLA Handbook for detailed full citation discussion, a list of all elements (in order), and punctuation rules, and for endnotes or footnotes, or the in-text citation option.)

How to cite an essay in a collection:    

Many items in books featuring articles that are indexed by the ATLA Religion Database are essays that are contributions to published works -- in a 'collection.'  Cite these essays as a "part" of a collected work.  Use quotation marks around the essay title.  Be sure to include all full data for the collection in which the essay appears.

Bibliography (authors, editor, multi-volume). Note abbreviations for editors, editions, and volume numbers.  

Ewbank, Michael B, and H. Aityni. "The Difference Diversity Makes." Saints, Sovereigns, and Scholars . Ed. Robert A. Herrera. Vol. 2. New York: Peter Lang, 1993.  

11. Michael B. Ewbank and H. Aityni, "The Difference Diversity Makes," Saints, Sovereigns, and Scholars , ed. Robert A. Herrera, vol. 2. (New York: Peter Lang, 1993) 13-14.. 

In-text citation (Ewbank 16-17)   

How to cite a chapter in an edited book in a multi-volume work:   (Such as the New Interpreter’s Bible .) 

Last Name, First Name. “Title of Chapter.” Title of Commentary . Edition, if applicable. City of Pub.: Publisher, Year. Inclusive Page #s of chapter. Medium of Publication. Vol. # of Title of Work , Ed. Editor of Work.  # of vols. Inclusive publication dates.  

Example:   

Longenecker, Richard N.  “Acts.” John and Acts . Minneapolis: Liturgical Press, 1981. 205-573.  Print.  Vol. 9 of The Expositor’s Bible Commentary . Ed. Frank E. Gæbelein. 12  vols. 1976-92.  

*** For further information, see 5.5.6 (pp. 157-60) & 5.5.14 (pp. 168-70) of the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 7th ed. 

How to cite a book in a Series: (Such as the Anchor Yale Bible Series)).

Last Name, First Name. Title of Commentary . Ed. Name of Series Editor.  City of Pub.: Publisher, Year. Medium of Publication. Name of Series. Number in series, if available.

Example:  

Fox, Michael V. Proverbs : a New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. New York: Doubleday, 2000. Print. The Anchor Yal Bible Ser. 18A-B.  

             *** For further information, see 5.5.15 (pp. 170) of the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 7th ed.

The Bible - Society of Biblical Literature Handbook of Style

The Society of Biblical Literature has posted an online style guide for students on the web.  This guide will explain most of the specifics you need.  It is a pdf at  

https://www.sbl-site.org/assets/pdfs/pubs/SBLHSsupp2015-02.pdf You'll need to scroll down past the preface and title page.

Or you can find an unabridged print copy in the Ireland Library Reference Room at:

Emory University's SBL Citation Builder

• Emory University's SBL Citation Builder SBL style is designed for students and scholars writing in the disciplines of ancient Near Eastern studies, Biblical studies, and studies of early Christianity.
• << Previous: General Citations: Books, Articles, Websites, etc.
• Next: Church Documents >>
• Last Updated: Feb 6, 2024 11:18 AM
• URL: https://libguides.stthomas.edu/theology_bibliography

© 2023 University of St. Thomas, Minnesota

Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is co-equal with God the Father and God the Son and is of the same essence. Yet He is also distinct from them.

Scripture describes the Holy Spirit in personal terms, not as an impersonal force, when it says that He teaches, guides, comforts and intercedes. [1] He possesses emotions, intellect and will. [2] The Holy Spirit spoke to Philip and gave counsel to the church at Jerusalem. [3] He was sinned against and lied to. [4]

The Scriptures also attest to the deity of the Holy Spirit. He is spoken of as God and is identified with the title of Jehovah. [5] The Christian who is indwelt by the Spirit is indwelt by God. [6] The Holy Spirit possesses the attributes of deity, such as omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence and eternality. [7] He does works only God can do, such as creating, regenerating and sanctifying. [8] He is equally associated with the other members of the Trinity. [9]

The work of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament differed somewhat from His work in the New Testament. The possession of the Holy Spirit by the believer was not permanent in every case. [10] The Spirit had a ministry of restraining sin and in the creation of the world. [11]

The Holy Spirit today plays a major role in the application of salvation to the individual. It is the Spirit who brings conviction to the unbeliever and causes him to see the truth of the gospel in a clear light. [12] Those who respond to this conviction and place their faith in Jesus Christ receive eternal life and a new nature. [13] The Holy Spirit unites the believer with Christ and places him in the body of Christ, the church. [14] He also unites the believer with Christ in His death, enabling him to live victoriously over sin. [15] The Holy Spirit controls the believer who yields to God and submits himself to God's Word. [16] When these conditions are met, the believer lives in the power of the Spirit and produces the fruit of the Spirit. [17]

The Holy Spirit indwells the believer permanently. [18] While the child of God may sin and grieve the Spirit, the Spirit will never leave the true believer. [19] Absence of the Holy Spirit is the mark of the unsaved. [20] The Holy Spirit seals the believer. [21] This ministry guarantees the security of the believer "until the day of redemption." [22]

The Holy Spirit sovereignly bestows spiritual gifts or abilities for service to every believer. [23] Although His restraint of evil in the world today will cease with the Rapture, [24] He will continue to be present in the earth. In the tribulation period the Spirit will be involved in salvation and filling. [25] In the coming kingdom of Jesus Christ, the Spirit will be in God's people and the Spirit will be upon the King. [26]

[1] John 14:26;   Romans 8:14;    Romans 8:26

[2] Ephesians 4:30;   1 Corinthians 2:10-14;   1 Corinthians 12:11

[3] Acts 8:29;   Acts 15:28

[4] Acts 5:3;   Acts 5:4

[5] Acts 5:1-4;   Isaiah 6:8-9   with   Acts 28:25;   Jeremiah 31:31-34   with  Hebrews 10:15

[6] 1 Corinthians 3:16;   1 Corinthians 6:19;   Ephesians 2:22

[7] 1 Corinthians 2:10-11;   Psalm 139:7;   Zechariah 4:6;   Hebrews 9:14

[8] Genesis 1:2;   John 3:6;   2 Thessalonians 2:13

[9] Matthew 28:19;   Matthew 28:20;   2 Corinthians 13:14

[10] Psalm 51:11

[11] Genesis 6:3;  Genesis 1:2;   Isaiah 40:12

[12] John 16:8-11

[13] John 3:3-7;   Titus 3:5

[14] 1 Corinthians 12:13

[15] Romans 6:1-10

[16] Romans 12:1;   Romans 12:2;   Ephesians 5:18;   Colossians 3:16

[17] Galatians 5:16;   Galatians 5:22;   Galatians 5:23

[18] 1 Corinthians 6:19, 1 Corinthians 6:20

[19] Ephesians 4:30

[20] Romans 8:9;   Jude 1:19

[21] 2 Corinthians 1:22;   Ephesians 1:13;  Ephesians 4:30

[22] Ephesians 4:30

[23] Romans 12;   1 Corinthians 12;   Ephesians 4

[24] 2 Thessalonians 2:7

[25] Zechariah 12:10;   Joel 2:28-32

[26] Jeremiah 31:33;   Isaiah 11:2-3

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The Holy Spirit: Role in the Life of Christians Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

The holy person is the one who received God’s forgiveness and guidance. The Holy Spirit complements Christian life by guiding them, releasing an individual from sins, and giving a faithful life. He helps to be free from all the burdens and fulfills God’s plan through the individual, giving them a content and satisfying life.

Some people say, that the holy person is the one, who does not sin. However, Oswalt states, that the holy person is the one who trusted God and received his forgiveness (2000). The sin can not be prevented; even by following the law or being aware of one’s deeds, a person can still be a sinner. The law can be broken; they are made to show the human’s nature imperfection and God’s supremeness (Oswalt, 2000). In this situation, the Holy Spirit comes to help a believer and show them the right path.

Humans have an inner conflict: to fulfill God’s will, a person has to surrender, so to speak, to let the Lord manage everything and build the life it has to be. However, every human has so-called “flesh,” which means the desire to meet only their needs and do everything their way; this holds them from trusting God and letting him help (Oswalt, 2000). To prevent a person from sinning, they have to “allow the Spirit of Christ to live His life through them” (Oswalt, p. 117, 2000). Noyes claims that “The Holy Spirit is God’s presence in the lives of believers” (2022). The point is to let the Holy Spirit in the person’s life and let him guide them. Having the Holy Spirit in life means co-operating with it, depending on him, and surrendering (Princewill, 2020). This action is crucial for every believer to be safe and do the will of God.

In conclusion, the Holy Spirit complements Christian life by guiding them, releasing an individual from sins, and giving a faithful life. He helps to be free from all the burdens and fulfills God’s plan through the individual, giving them a content and satisfying life. It comes to people who let him in their lives and bodies and helps to guide them toward the right path.

Noyes, P. (2022). 10 roles of the holy spirit in the life of Christians . Web.

Oswalt, J., N. (2000). Called to be Holy.

Princewill, O., I. (2020). The life in the Holy Spirit . Web.

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IvyPanda. (2023, April 4). The Holy Spirit: Role in the Life of Christians. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-holy-spirit-role-in-the-life-of-christians/

"The Holy Spirit: Role in the Life of Christians." IvyPanda , 4 Apr. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/the-holy-spirit-role-in-the-life-of-christians/.

IvyPanda . (2023) 'The Holy Spirit: Role in the Life of Christians'. 4 April.

IvyPanda . 2023. "The Holy Spirit: Role in the Life of Christians." April 4, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-holy-spirit-role-in-the-life-of-christians/.

1. IvyPanda . "The Holy Spirit: Role in the Life of Christians." April 4, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-holy-spirit-role-in-the-life-of-christians/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "The Holy Spirit: Role in the Life of Christians." April 4, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-holy-spirit-role-in-the-life-of-christians/.

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The Origin and Nature of the Church

Other essays.

The church is the new covenant people of God, rooted in the promises to Israel and inaugurated by the Holy Spirit, which refers both to all believers in Jesus Christ, both living and dead, and to local gatherings of believers.

The church is the new covenant people of God. The word church can be used to refer both to all believers, both living and dead (universal church), and to individual local gatherings of believers (local church). The church has its roots in the promises made to God’s people in the Old Testament, particularly that God would bless the world through Abraham’s offspring. While there is continuity between the Old Testament people of God and the church, the church is the community of Jesus, new at Pentecost. As such, the church is the fulfillment of God’s promise to the prophets that he would make a new and better covenant with his people and write his law on their hearts. The mission of the church is the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18–20): to go out into the world with the authority of the risen Christ and make disciples, baptizing them and teaching them to follow Jesus until he returns, all to the glory of God.

The church has its origin in the eternal purposes of God. It is the new covenant community of Jesus, rooted in Israel, constructed by Jesus, and inaugurated by the Holy Spirit. The church is the people of God, chosen by the Father, and graciously brought into a relationship with the triune God and one another. The church is the redeemed communion of saints, bought by the blood of Christ, universal and invisible, incorporating all believers throughout all ages—those on earth and those in heaven. The church is the adopted family of God, once slaves to sin but now brought into a loving relationship with God as Father and each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. The church is the body of Christ, having him as head, dependent on him, gifted by the Holy Spirit, crafted as a unity with diversity, and reliant on one another, functioning as Christ’s instruments in the world. The church is the bride of Christ, particularly loved by him, saved by his sacrificial work on the cross, exclusively devoted to him, and increasingly adorned in beauty for him, the Bridegroom. The church is the temple of the Spirit, filled with the fullness of Christ, marked by God’s presence. The church is the new humanity, composed of Jewish and Gentile Christians united in Christ, and demonstrating the way life was always supposed to be. The church is the branches that abide in the true vine that is Christ, in union with him and dependent on him. The church is the gathered covenant community, regularly coming together for worship, communion, discipleship, fellowship, ministry, and mission. The church is the kingdom community, existing in the already and the not yet, living out God’s eternal purpose of cosmic unity, all for God’s glory (See Bruce Riley Ashford and Christopher W. Morgan, “The Church,” in ESV Systematic Theology Study Bible , 1713.)

The Origin of the Church

The people of God began with Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. He created them in his image, which means that they are created in fellowship with their Maker (Gen 1:27). Even though they rebelled against him, he did not reject them but promised to send a Redeemer (3:16).

Later, God called Abraham from a family of sun-worshippers and enters into a covenant with him, promising to be his god, both to him and his descendants (Gen. 17:7). God promised to give Abraham a land, to make him into a great nation, and through him to bless all peoples (12:3). From Abraham is born Isaac and to Isaac is born Jacob, whose name God changed to Israel and from whom God brought the twelve tribes of his people. The rest of the Old Testament involves God’s dealings with these twelve tribes of Israel.

Through ten great plagues and a dramatic exodus, God called the nation of Israel out of Egyptian bondage to be his people. He gave them the Ten Commandments, claimed them as his people, and gave them the Promised Land, which they occupied after defeating the Canaanites. Later God gave them David as king in Jerusalem. God promised to make David’s descendants into a dynasty and to establish the throne of one of them forever (2 Sam. 7:14–16).

In mercy, God sent many prophets to warn his Old Testament people of the judgment that would come if they did not repent of their sins and turn to the Lord. Nevertheless, they repeatedly rebelled against him and his prophets. In response, he sent the northern kingdom of ten tribes into captivity in Assyria in 722 BC and the southern kingdom of two tribes, Judah and Benjamin, into captivity in Babylon in 586 BC. Through the prophets, God also promised to provide a Deliverer (Isa. 9:6–7; 52:13–53:12).

God promised to restore his people to their land from Babylonian captivity after seventy years of exile (Jer. 25:11–12), and he brings this about under Ezra and Nehemiah. The people rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem and built a second temple. The Old Testament ends in the book of Malachi with God’s people continuing to turn away from him, but also with a promise of one who would come to prepare the way for Messiah (Mal. 3:1).

After four hundred years, God sent his Son as the promised Messiah, Suffering Servant, King of Israel, and Savior of the world. Jesus made the purpose of his coming clear: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). He formed his new community (Matt. 5–7). He chose disciples, spent time with them, taught them about the kingdom of God, casted out demons, performed miracles, and predicted his death and resurrection. After he was raised, he instructed his disciples to take the gospel to all nations to fulfill his promise to Abraham to bless all peoples (Matt. 28:18–20).

On the day of Pentecost, Jesus sent his Spirit, who forms the church as the New Testament people of God (Acts 2:1–13). The Spirit empowered the disciples to spread the gospel to the world (Acts 1:8) He also empowered the apostles and guided them into truth. Even more, the Spirit still now indwells the church, leads it, and gives every one of its people spiritual gifts to serve God and each other (Eph. 2:19–22; 4:1–16).

The church is often described in Old Testament terms (Gal. 6:16; Phil. 3:3; 1 Pet. 2:9–10), and there is both continuity and discontinuity between Old Testament Israel and the church. On the one hand, there is one single covenant people of God, with roots in the Abrahamic covenant and Israel. On the other hand, the church is the new covenant community of Jesus, new at Pentecost.

The Nature of the Church  

The church universal and local.

The word “church” ( ekklesia ) in the New Testament refers to the church in its many manifestations. The term can refer to churches meeting in homes (1 Cor. 16:19; Phlm. 1–2), to city-wide or metropolitan churches (Acts 8:1; 20:17), corporately with the churches in a specific Roman province (Acts 9:31; 1 Cor. 16:19), and on a few occasions to the whole ecumenical church (Acts 15:22). But the most common uses of the term can mean either the universal or local church.  

The Universal Church

Sometimes “church” is used to depict what some may call the universal church, which speaks of the unity of all believers everywhere, both living and dead (Eph. 1:22; 3:20–22; 5:27). The church in this sense is not identical with any one local church, denomination, or association. It is not entirely visible to human beings and refers to the total of all believers from all places and all times.

The Local Church

Most of the time in the NT the “church” refers to the local church, the gathered community of God’s people who are covenanted together to worship the triune God, love one another, and witness to the world (Acts 14:23; 16:5). This designation is the main usage of the term “church”; the Bible emphasizes the church as a local group of identifiable believers committed to Christ and each other, working together to glorify God and to serve his mission.

The local church is the primary center of fellowship and worship, and the chief means God uses for evangelism, disciple-making, and ministry. The local church is where the Word is taught and preached (2 Tim. 3:16–4:2). The local church is where the ordinances are practiced in baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Matt. 28:18–20; 1 Cor. 11:23–26). These truths are why Paul plants local churches, appoints leaders for them, sends delegates to them, and writes epistles to them. Local churches are significant in his theology, and they are crucial in his mission strategy. In the local church, there is a sharing of life together, growing in maturity together, ministering together, worshipping together, and witnessing together.

The Church as the People of God

Under the old covenant, Israel was a mixed community, comprised of believers and unbelievers. In the New Testament, the church is the people of God under the new covenant. While evangelicals differ on how to interpret covenant and define how children of believers relate to the church’s membership, there is wide agreement that the New Testament emphasizes the church is the people of God. Jeremiah predicts the superiority of the new covenant to the old. Because of their sins and unbelief, the Israelites whom God delivered from Egypt broke the old Mosaic covenant and died in the wilderness. The new covenant will be much greater because it will center on God’s work. The Lord promises that he will be his people’s God, and they will belong to him. He will write his law on their hearts, they will know him, and they will obey him (Jer. 31:31–34). Jesus teaches that his death ratifies the new covenant (Luke 22:20), and so does Paul (1 Cor. 11:25). Although Scripture teaches that there is one people of God through the ages, Jesus’s death and resurrection inaugurates changes for those who know him. He is the “mediator of a new covenant” and ushers in the promises that Jeremiah made.

The church as God’s people is clarified through the images of the church. The church as God’s people are also the body of Christ (Col. 1:18), people united to Christ. The church is the bride of Christ (Eph. 5:25–32), people who are increasingly holy in Christ. The church is the temple of the Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19–20; 2 Cor. 6:16; Eph. 2:19–22), people who are saints and indwelt by the Spirit. The church is the new humanity (Eph. 2:15; 4:13, 24), people who are reconciled to God. The church is the family of God (Rom. 8:15, 17; Gal. 4:4–5; 1 John 3:1), people who know God as Father and each other as brothers and sisters. As God’s people, the church belongs to him, and, amazingly, he belongs to the church. This truth will be fully realized only in the new heavens and earth, after God raises his own from the dead, glorifies them, and dwells among them (Rev. 21:1–4).

The Church and Its Mission

In Matthew 28:18–20, Jesus gives the Great Commission to his disciples, which becomes the marching orders for the church. He begins by asserting that he is the exalted Son who is Lord over all, both in heaven and on earth, and over all nations (28:18; see also Dan. 7:14). The universality of the commission is striking; Jesus has all authority, directs the disciples to make disciples of all nations, instructs them to teach all that he has commanded them, and charges them to do so “all the days,” until the end of the age.

The church not only has its origin in the eternal purposes of God with its roots in Israel, its basis in the saving work of Christ, its inauguration by the Holy Spirit, its life from union with Christ, and its end as the glory of God. The church is also God’s showcase for his eternal plan of bringing forth cosmic reconciliation and highlighting Christ as the focal point of all history. The church is to showcase not only God’s purposes but even God himself. In and through the church, God shows his grace, wisdom, love, unity, and holiness (the letter to the Ephesians emphasizes this). Moreover, as God displays himself, he glorifies himself. It is no wonder Paul proclaims, “Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us—to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Eph. 3:20–21).

Further Reading

• Derek Thomas, “ What is the Church? ”
• Edmund P. Clowney, The Church
• G. K. Beale, The Temple and the Church’s Mission: A Biblical Theology of the Dwelling Place of God
• Gregg R. Allision, Sojourners and Strangers: The Doctrine of the Church
• Jonathan Leeman, “ What is a Local Church? ”
• Justin Taylor, “ What is the ‘Church’? ”
• Kendell H. Easley and Christopher W. Morgan, eds.,  The Community of Jesus: A Theology of the Church .
• Mark Dever, The Church: The Gospel Made Visible

This essay is part of the Concise Theology series. All views expressed in this essay are those of the author. This essay is freely available under Creative Commons License with Attribution-ShareAlike, allowing users to share it in other mediums/formats and adapt/translate the content as long as an attribution link, indication of changes, and the same Creative Commons License applies to that material.

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The Holy Quran Essay

The holly quran essay.

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The Holly Quran | Essay On My Favourite Book with Quotations

Essay on the holly quran with quotations for matric, f.a and b.a exams.

Essay On My Favourite book in English is here, which is definitely the Holly Quran. This essay is for all classes like Class 10, Class 12 and graduation. However, this essay is for those students who like outstanding stuff. Students can prepare it for annual examinations. My Favourite Book essay is an important essay by the exam point of view. For more Essays Go Here . Essay on this page is especially for the students of Intermediate level. However, an easy Favourite book Essay for the students of Class 10 in English is available on this page .

Essay On my Favourite Book for Class 10, Class 12 (2nd Year, FSC) and Graduation – My Favourite Book Essay

“A home without books is a body without the soul. ” (Marcus Tullius Cicero)

Books are the friends of human beings as they provide excellent information. They enhance our knowledge and broaden our vision. They console us when we are worried. They guide us how to lead a fantastic life. They persuade us how to handle different situations. They help us develop the habit of contemplation and meditation on various issues. They provide strength to individuals in all the phases of life. They expose various hidden truths. They increase the man’s thirst for exploring new things. it is rightly said that

“The greater our knowledge increases, The greater our ignorance unfolds.”

But one should be very much careful in the selection of books. As good books are extremely fruitful, some bad books can be very dangerous. People do have different likes and dislike in regard of books. Same is the case with me. I like to read books which are based on facts and figures. l know that only the good books benefit an individual with the awareness of the entire world related to the discoveries and inventions, which are being made throughout the world.

I regard books as my companion. I love reading all kinds of good books, but my favourite book Is the Holy Quran. The Holy Quran is basically a religious book of Muslims. It was revealed to the last prophet of Allah, Hazrat Muhammad (SAW). The arch-angel Gabriel brought this scripture in the 7th century A.D. in instalments. It is in Arabic. It has 30 sections, 114 chapters and 6,666 verses. It is the only infallible book of the world.

“This is the book about which there is no doubt, guidance for those conscious of Allah.” (Al-Quran 2-2)

The Holy Quran is a complete code of life. One can find a solution to every problem. It not only deals with the worldly affairs but also with matters of the world hereafter. It gives us complete guidance. There are clear injunctions about our life in the Holy Quran. Every aspect of our life has been discussed in detail in it. It helps us lead a noble, honest, humble and fair life and makes us live a more harmonious life with our fellow beings. It is the matchless treasure and it contains the solution to every problem.

Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: “The Holy Quran is a wealth that no wealth can equal (or reach) it. And there will be no poverty after it.”

The Holy Quran is not only for an individual or nation but also for the whole universe. It is for everyone. It can bring revolution in man’s life. It tells us how to serve and worship Allah. It tells us how to live a life of virtue. It tells us how to behave in our homes, how to treat our parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, neighbours and strangers.

I daily recite the Holy Quran. It soothes my heart and purifies my thoughts. It enables me to ponder over different things and revise my life altogether. It motivates me to give up all the bad deeds and encourages me to do something beneficial for the whole humanity. May Allah help all of us to be regular in reciting the Holy Quran so that we can lead a fantastic, sacred and pious life! Aameen.

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July 15, 2019 at 10:36 am

Its fantastic essay

September 18, 2019 at 6:02 pm

Your words about quran is true and sweet

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