The Bible Unveiled: Sacred Texts, History, and Faith
What is the Bible?
The Bible is a small library of books on varied topics, told long ago. They are united by their common message: they all speak of the profound love God has for us.
The Source of Biblical Revelation
The Bible’s source is the experience of a group of people who felt loved by God. It is a process that follows these steps:
- Experiencing God’s intervention in their lives and history.
- Receiving and reflecting on God’s particular actions in their favor.
- Expressing their faith in God.
They considered this important history, which they had lived, as a gift from God to be shared. This faith in God was put into writing to ensure no part of the experience was missed.
Structure of the Bible
- Old Testament: Comprises 46 books, collecting the history of Israel from its origins to the birth of Jesus.
- New Testament: Contains 27 books, including the four Gospels that narrate the life of Jesus, the Acts of the Apostles, letters describing the life of early Christians, and the Apocalypse (Revelation).
Languages and Translation
The Bible was originally written in Hebrew and Greek. Later, it was translated and read in Latin. With the invention of the printing press, it was translated into many languages so that everyone could read it.
Literary Genres of the Bible
Every age has its way of telling its story; each author chooses their writing style. The Bible encompasses various literary genres:
- History: Narratives of significant events in the history of Israel.
- Parable/Allegory: Short stories that convey a moral about God and people.
- Epic: Legendary narratives that extol the heroes of Israel.
- Mythological: Narratives using the language of myth to answer the big questions of human beings.
- Wisdom: Proverbs and popular sayings that reflect the wisdom of those who have lived trusting in God.
- Prophetic: Books that speak on behalf of God, often complaining about an unjust world, giving hope, and announcing future events.
- Epistolary: Letters sent to teach a community, sharing faith and life.
- Apocalyptic: Texts that speak of suffering but try to convey hope.
The Bible is the story of the people of Israel for nearly 2000 years, written by different people with specific intentions.
Key Contributors and Their Works
- Pentateuch: Consists of 5 books, reflecting the early experience of Israel in its relationship with God.
- Chroniclers: Authors who sought to tell the story of Israel from the perspective of their relationship with God.
- Prophets: Books in which God expresses concern for an unjust world, offers hope, and announces future events.
- Poets and Sages: Authors who wrote about God in an artistic way.
- Evangelists: Four writers who documented the life of Jesus for the first communities.
- Letters: Written by the apostles to the first communities, serving as a valuable source of their life and teachings.
God’s Revelation of Love
God tells people that He loves them through:
- The harmony of nature.
- The history of humanity, its joys, and its sufferings.
The People of Israel and Judaism
The People of Israel served as a sign of God’s presence among humanity. Great moments in this story of love include:
- God of my fathers (Abraham)
- God of freedom (Moses)
- God of justice (David)
- God of fraternity (Jeremiah)
- God of wisdom (Ezra)
Judaism continues to live its covenant with God, with the Torah as its religious center. The Jewish Revolt against Rome led to the destruction of the city and the dispersion of the Jews. Despite this, Judaism is based on enduring pillars:
- Synagogue: A center for prayer, meeting, and study.
- Circumcision: A sign of belonging to the Jewish people.
- Sabbath (Saturday): A time to contemplate God and His creation; Jews must not carry out any work on the Sabbath.
The Four Evangelists
The Gospels were written by four evangelists, each with a distinct perspective and audience:
Mark
- Background: Associated with Jerusalem, converted by Peter and Paul.
- Audience: Primarily Roman Christians.
- Key Focus: The life of Jesus as the victory of God against evil.
- Symbol: Lion.
Luke
- Background: A doctor of pagan origin.
- Audience: Christians from pagan backgrounds.
- Key Focus: Jesus as the universal Savior.
- Symbol: Ox/Bull.
Matthew
- Background: Traditional attribution to Matthew. It is believed the author was a Christian familiar with the social and religious environment of Palestine.
- Audience: Believers who came from Judaism.
- Key Focus: Jesus as the Messiah who fulfills Old Testament prophecy.
- Symbol: Man/Angel.
John
- Background: Authorship is debated, but traditionally attributed to John the Apostle.
- Audience: Palestinian Christians from Judaism.
- Key Focus: The divinity and humanity of Jesus, culminating in His delivery on the cross, often using symbolic language.
- Symbol: Eagle.