What is the Bible?

The Bible is the holy scripture of Christianity. The word comes from the Greek “biblia”, meaning “books”: it is not a single writing but a collection of many texts written over more than a thousand years.

Two parts, one book

The Christian Bible consists of the Old and the New Testament. In the Protestant count the Old Testament has 39 books and is also the basis of the Hebrew Bible. The New Testament has 27 books: the four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, the letters and the Book of Revelation.

What is it about?

The Bible tells of God and humankind. At the center of the New Testament is Jesus Christ: his life, teaching, death and resurrection – and how people can live from it.

Very different texts

Narratives and history
Laws and instructions
Psalms, prayers and songs
Wisdom literature and proverbs
Prophetic texts
Letters to communities and individuals

How do I begin?

You do not have to start at the beginning. Many begin with the Gospel of Mark or John and read or listen to one chapter a day. On this platform you currently find the New Testament with text and audio Bible.

Mark John