Did you know roughly 80 million Bibles are printed each year around the world? This makes the Bible the best-selling book in the world. That means no matter where you go, no matter what people believe, just about everyone has heard of the Bible.
But just because the Bible is well-known doesn’t mean it’s well understood. Even lifelong Christians have questions about the Bible, ranging from general curiosity to doubts and skepticism about its contents.
Let’s take a look at 10 of the most frequently searched questions about the Bible!
1. How many books are in the Bible?
The Bible is published as one book, but it’s actually a book of books. Think of it like a portable library! It contains 66 books in total: 39 in the Old Testament (before Jesus was born) and 27 in the New Testament (detailing accounts of Jesus’ life on earth and the formation of the Church).
These books include history, poetry, prophecy, and teachings about God’s relationship with humanity. Ultimately, it’s the story of God’s plan to rescue and restore the world!
2. Who wrote Genesis in the Bible?
Genesis is the very first book in the Bible. It contains popular stories like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:8-25) and Noah’s Ark (Genesis 6:11-16).
Traditionally, Moses is credited with writing Genesis, along with the next four books of the Bible: Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. These books tell about how the world was created and shed light on the early history of Israel and God's earliest interactions with humanity.
3. What language was the Bible written in?
The Bible was originally written in three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. Over time, it has been translated into thousands of languages worldwide.
4. How many versions of the Bible are there?
There are hundreds of Bible translations in different languages. In English alone, popular versions include the New International Version (NIV), King James Version (KJV), New Living Translation (NLT), and English Standard Version (ESV).
5. Which version of the Bible is the most accurate?
If you’ve ever run a sentence from a foreign language into a translator, you know that the literal, word-for-word translation isn’t always easy to understand! Translating something from one language to another requires nuance and understanding of both languages. That’s the challenge biblical scholars face as they translate the Bible: how to translate it with accuracy to the original text while making it understandable in other languages.
Luckily, translators have done an incredible job, and there isn’t one version of the Bible that is more or less true. However, there are some translations like the New American Standard Bible (NASB) that aim for word-for-word accuracy. Others, like the New Living Translation (NLT), focus on readability. The translation you choose depends mostly on what you hope to gain from reading the Bible!
6. How old is the Bible?
The Bible was written over a period of about 1,500 years, with the earliest writings dating back to around 1400 BC. The New Testament was completed by about 100 AD, making parts of the Bible over 3,000 years old!
7. Is the Bible true?
A common myth about the Bible is that, because it’s been around for so long and passed so many hands, that it’s not accurate or reliable. However, the Bible has actually been historically and archaeologically supported in many ways! Many scholars agree that it is a reliable historical document, backed by manuscripts, fulfilled predictions, and historical discoveries.
8. How long would it take to read the Bible?
Reading the entire Bible depends on your pace. On average, it takes about 70 hours to read from Genesis to Revelation. If you read a chapter a day, it would take around three years to complete. But there are many Bible reading plans – like The Bible Recap – that can help you read it in a year or less!
9. How many words are in the Bible?
Ultimately, different translations of the Bible have different word counts. In the King James Version (KJV), the Bible contains approximately 783,137 words, but in the New International Version (NIV), there are 727,969 words.
10. How do you read the Bible?
It can be daunting to figure out where to start reading the Bible! Here are some tips to help you get started:
Start with the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) to learn about the life, teachings, and miracles of Jesus.
- Use a Bible Reading Plan to guide you through the Bible based on specific books or topics.
- Pray before you read and ask God for help understanding.
- Use a study Bible that gives helpful explanations and context to what you’re reading.
The best book you’ll ever read!
The Bible is more than just an ancient book – it’s God’s Word, meant to guide, encourage, and shape our lives. Whether you're reading it for the first time or diving deeper, the Bible has something life-changing to offer you today.
-----
If you’re looking to get started reading the Bible, check out this Bible Reading Plan that follows real-life accounts of Jesus’ life through the book of Matthew! Or take a look at our other Bible Reading Plans on our website.
-----
LCBC stands for Lives Changed By Christ. We are one church in multiple locations across Pennsylvania. Find the location closest to you or join us for Church Online. We can’t wait to connect with you!