Out of the millions of books which have been written through the ages, we've seen many great works come and go.  We have seen the early tales of Aesop and Homer, the classics of Shakespeare, the modern novels by Clancy, LaHaye, and Crichton, and the controversial works of Darwin and others.  But perhaps no book in all of history is as classic, as controversial, as old, or as modern as the Holy Bible, the Word of God.  Wars are fought over this book.  Lives and souls are saved because of this book.  People die trying to read this book.  Governments have tried to remove this book from circulation, but this book refuses to go away.  In fact, it would be a complete injustice to call it "just a book." 

The Bible is quite an amazing piece of work.  It has even been called God's second greatest gift to man (the first being His Son, of course).  But if you've never really looked at God's Word, you're missing out on a lot!  The more God speaks to you through His Word, the more amazed you will be.  But what is it that makes this "book" so special? 
 

THE BIBLE IS LITERATURE

Most any scholar in the world, whether Christian or not, will recognize the Bible as literature.  Simply put, the Bible is a book.  While it may be much deeper and more intuitive than any other book, it is still a book, words on pages.  But what a beautiful book it is!  Even after translation from Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic into English, the Bible still contains beautiful and poetic words of all kinds of emotions.  The clearest example is obviously the book of Psalms, a collection of songs written by David and others.  The Psalmists express their fear, love, anger, joy, and repentance with true and sincere emotion.  Yet, they could also do it with simplicity and clarity.  "O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.  For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD" (Psalm 117). 

Sixty-six books, written by men selected and inspired by God, come together to form the book we know as the Bible.  These writers were men, ordinary men, from different backgrounds, different family situations, and even different time periods.  Yet they all shared the belief and love for the same God, who used them to channel His Word to the rest of us. 

So I guess the Bible definitely does fit the strict definition of a "book."  But it also goes far beyond that.  If you are a nonbeliever (or maybe even if you're a Christian), we may have already covered all that you have ever heard or known about the Bible.  But hopefully you can see in the next paragraphs why the Bible is so much more than just a book. 
 

THE BIBLE IS HISTORY 

Without getting into deep theological issues, the Bible is at its base a history book.  It provides a historical account of the ancient world, especially Israel.  However, the Bible is unique from all other history books in that it claims to include the entire history of the world, beginning to end.  The first book of the Bible, Genesis, begins with God laying the foundations of the earth, placing the stars in the heavens, and inserting a man among the plants and animals.  Then, we read about the how the earth became populated, and how it was then destroyed by a flood.  The repopulation begins with the only family saved from the global punishment.  Then, the rest of Genesis focuses on Abraham and the beginnings of the Hebrew people, who were promised the land of Israel.  The remainder of the Old Testament shows how Israel rose and fell, found and lost faith in God.  It ends with the promise of a Messiah through whom God's people would be saved. 

As the New Testament opens, we meet this Promised One, a powerful and captivating preacher born of a humble background as the son of a carpenter.  Ultimately, this man is hung on a cross for preaching His strong and convicting messages.  Then, His followers begin to spread His message across Europe, starting the first churches.  Finally, in the final pages of the Book, we fast forward to discover the fate of the world as the Messiah returns to the earth to complete its history. 

Regardless of whether you believe the entire Bible to be true, it does serve as an window to the history of our ancestors from the Middle East.  Archaelogy has proven many of the Bible's stories and claims to be true.  Cities have been discovered matching biblical descriptions.  Ancient inscriptions have been found matching biblical accounts.  These and many other discoveries (see the links on the sidebar for more) make the Bible to seem to be a valid history. 
 

THE BIBLE IS PRACTICAL 

We, as a society and as human beings, like things to be practical and logical.  We want things to make sense and be useful to us.  Besides being a history of how people lived thousands of years ago, it also provides solid examples of how we should (and should not...) be living today.  The book is filled with morals, sound advice, and warnings that we can and should follow in our own lives.  The book of Proverbs is probably the most obvious example of the teaching power of the Bible.  In its 31 chapters, Proverbs offers advice on relationships, anger management, faith, wisdom versus foolishness, and other relevant topics.  "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.  For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold" (Proverbs 3:13-14). 

Proverbs certainly isn't the only book featuring insightful and useful advice.  Jesus, for example, coined the "golden rule" (Matthew 7:12) and how it is better to give than receive (Acts 20:35).  And throughout the rest of the Bible, many of life's other tough questions are brought into the spotlight.  We don't always read the answers we want to see, but the Bible's responses should make more sense if one sees situations objectively. 

Why should the Bible be so practical?  Because God used ordinary guys to write it!  We can relate to these forty men.  Yes, some of them became kings and great leaders, but they felt the same tempations, desires, and struggles that we face today.  They didn't always succeed either.  If God's book were filled with stories of rich, famous people with silver spoons and luxury cars (or horses..) at their disposal, we wouldn't pay them much attention.  If they never had lapses in their faith, how could they possibly understand us, or we them?  But the Bible writers did have difficulties, they did occasionally have doubt, they sinned, they messed up, they weren't perfect, and God used them anyway!  In fact, a man named David was called a man after God's "own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14), was the author of many of the beautiful Psalms, and was chosen as king of Israel.  But he also had an affair with a married woman and had her husband killed (2 Samuel 11).  So if you're going through a time of lust, I think David can probably relate to you.  Are bad things happening in your life and you don't know how to stay true to God?  Read about a man who lost his family, his health, and his possesions in the book of Job. 

God allowed us to look into the lives of average people so we could learn from their mistakes and follow their successes.  Obviously, His prime example for living effectively was Jesus Christ.  Here's a guy who people were trying to kill before He was even born!  As He grew up, He was undoubtedly constantly being tempted with many of the same lines we hear today: "C'mon, just one time..."  "Everybody else is doing it..."  Yet He persevered temptation and ridicule to become a great speaker and miracle worker, only to be hung on a cross by the very people He came to save!  And in doing so, He provided the ultimate example of true love and sacrifice. 

We have a large market for so-called "self-help" books today.  But if you really want to find practical and useful advice, I suggest you start with the Bible.  That's not to say that the other books are necessarily bad or wrong, but it's doubtful that you could relate to their author's nearly as well as you can understand the writers and figures of Scripture.
 

THE BIBLE HOLDS PROMISES OF HOPE 

Thus far, we've described the Bible as a classic work of literature, a history, and an advice book.  As we dig a little deeper, though, we see that Scripture offers something that no other book would be wise to claim: the promise of eternal life with God.  The book tells us that there is a Heaven, and it shows quite explicitly how we can get there, as well as what doesn't work.  It is very clear that the only way to get to Heaven is to accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior.  And it is equally clear that while works are important, they alone will definitely not be our ticket into Heaven's gate.  "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified" (Galatians 2:16).  The Bible also calms our fears by showing that our sins, which would cause us to die and suffer punishment forever, have already been paid for!  "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23). 

Perhaps the promises of hope in the Bible are shown no clearer to us than during Jesus' crucifixion.  Christ's hands were attached to the wood by nails, a crown of thorns piercing into His head.  Surrounding Him, an excited crowd mocked the Son of God, thirsting for His pain.  Even a thief in one of the crosses behind Him doubted His claim and His cause.  The other one, however, saw through the injustice of the situation.  He must've understood Jesus' purpose on that cross.  "Lord, remember me," he begged.  Christ surely smiled through the pain as he looked toward the convict.  "Today you will be with me in paradise."  (see Luke 23). 

Yes, we've done things wrong.  We have doubted God, we have sinned against Him.  But the Bible doesn't come with an application for entrance into Heaven.  We needn't study for a multiple choice test.  No interview is required.  Instead, the Bible guarantees - promises without exception - that if we will accept Jesus and His sacrifice, then our ticket to Heaven is already bought. 
 

THE BIBLE IS HIS-STORY (AND OUR STORY) 

As I've heard others say, the Bible is a love story.  It tells the story of God creating the world and sending His only Son, a part of Himself, into that Creation to redeem it from the grasp of sin.  Though it might seem a stretch when you first think about it, the whole Bible talks about Jesus coming to and living on earth, dying on the cross as payment for our sins, and coming back again to rule the earth as King.  However, the more we study, the more we find that the whole Book relates to Christ and His mission.  "In the volume of the book it is written of me..." (Hebrews 10:7). 

Even from the third chapter of Genesis, God had already begun to disclose His plan for redeeming the fallen man.  He tells the serpent in the garden, "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel" (Genesis 3:15).  From then on, all throughout the Old Testament, we see God's plan unfolding leading to the climax at Calvary.  In the same place where Jesus was to be crucified, Abraham was willing to sacrifice his only son for God's will to be done.  David reigned as king of Israel, establishing the throne where Christ will someday sit as Ruler.  One of my favorite Bible commentators, Chuck Missler, says that we can find Jesus on every page of Scripture.  In the New Testament, this would seem an easy statement to make.  But in the Old Testament, it requires a bit more study to come to this conclusion. 

I am constantly being amazed, however, at just how many parallels and predictions can be found in the first half of the Bible.  Reading the Psalms, Isaiah, the Prophets, and so on reveal seemingly as much about Jesus' life and death as the Gospels do!  So the Bible, in a sense, is not only the history of the world, but the story of how God prepared and acted to redeem His children by sending His Son to die in our place.  And what a beautiful story it is! 
 

THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD 

Maybe the most obvious aspect of the Bible, but often the most overlooked, is that it is the Word of God.  While it was penned by selected men, I believe that every word in Scripture was inspired by the Holy Spirit.  The prophecies, the claims, and the accuracy presented in the Book leaves no other conclusion than that it really is God's Word to His people.  If He had put a "Dear Travis," on the front page, I don't think it would have been any clearer.  Knowing that we have in our possession the very Word of God, shouldn't that be enough of a reason to pay attention to it? 

We look all over the place for answers to life's questions.  We look to television, astrology, psychology, teachers; but wouldn't it make more sense to begin our search by reading the Words of the author of life itself?  The Bible, when read with the Spirit's guidance, provides insight into God's plan.  It offers instructions on how we can best serve Him.  It shows us how to pray and how to witness.  And since it comes directly from God, it can never be contradicted; and it never needs to be revised or updated (which is more than can be said for any college textbook!). 

I hope you can see that the Bible is the most amazing and awesome set of words-on-paper that you'll ever have the chance to read.  Not only is it wonderful literature, a history for all time, a practical manual for life, but it also holds promises of hope, the story of Jesus and His Sacrifice.  And it is the Word of God.  So whether you consider yourself a Bible "expert" or you've never opened it, I challenge you to read any and all of it.  You won't be disappointed; after all, it's your story too.