What is the Bible?

The Bible is the holy book of Christians. The word 'Bible' comes from the Greek word 'biblia' which means 'books'.

The Bible is not one book but a collection of many books from many prophets. It contains the Law of Moses (Torah), the Psalms of David (Zabur), the books of Solomon, the books of the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi and others. It has the Gospel (Injeel) of Jesus recorded by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and the writings of the apostles of Jesus.

Why do Christians have all these books in the Bible?

Christians accept all the prophets and make no distinction between them, therefore, they have all these books in the Bible so they can read them.

Secondly, God has spoken to us through many prophets. Their books build on each other and they are meant to be read together, and together they give us God's complete message. What Christians believe about God comes from reading all of the books of the prophets. What Christians believe about Jesus comes from reading all of the books of the prophets.

Teaching the prophets

When Jesus and his disciples taught the Gospel they also taught from the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.

When the first people from many nations became Christians they too started to read the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms as well as the Gospel. Even today, when someone becomes a Christian they not only read the Gospel but they are taught to read all of the prophets. In Christian churches all of the prophets are publicly read and taught.

Wherever Christianity has gone it has taken the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms and encouraged people to read all of them along with the Gospel. Christians have translated all these books into most languages so that the message of all the prophets can be known in all the world.

Listening to the prophets

Do you want to honour and love the prophets? The most important way to honour and love a prophet is to listen to them and read their books.

Do you want to know all of God's message? If so, then you need to learn from all of the books of the prophets. Do not let anyone mislead you and turn you away from learning from the books of the prophets of God. Do not listen to anyone who says, "Don’t read the prophets, just listen to me."

These prophets are available for you to read today in your language. Ask a Christian for a copy of the Bible or search online.

Would you like to say this prayer to God?

Almighty God, thank you for speaking to us through your prophets. Please help me to listen to all of them.

Download this article as a printable leaflet. Download in Spanish.

Answering Islam Home Page