What is the Bible About?
The Bible is a collection of ancient writings that chronicle God’s relationship with humanity. It is made up of 66 books written by over 40 different authors over a span of 1500 years. Despite having many different writers across different times and cultures, the Bible shows an amazing unity in its message and purpose. At its core, the Bible reveals who God is, the nature of humanity, and God’s unfolding plan to redeem and restore humanity and all of creation. Here is a brief overview of some of the main themes and purposes of the Bible:
Revealing the Character and Nature of God
A major theme throughout Scripture is revealing the character, nature, and attributes of God. We learn that God is eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present, unchanging, loving, just, merciful, gracious, faithful, and holy. Passages such as Exodus 34:6-7, Psalm 103, Isaiah 40, and 1 John 4:7-12 describe God’s attributes in detail. God’s nature is perfectly displayed through Jesus Christ, who is “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15).
Humanity’s Separation from God Through Sin
The Bible teaches that humanity was created good and for relationship with God (Genesis 1-2). However, sin entered the world through Adam and Eve’s disobedience, resulting in broken fellowship between God and humans (Genesis 3). The rest of the Bible depicts humanity’s struggle against sin and its consequences (Isaiah 59:2; Romans 3:23, 6:23). Humanity tried and failed to fix this separation through good works, the law, and religious ritual. The prophets condemned sin and called God’s people to repentance and renewed faithfulness.
God’s Plan of Salvation and Redemption
From the beginning, God enacted a plan to restore the broken relationship between Himself and humanity. This redemption was fulfilled through the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who is the Savior of the world (Luke 2:11; John 3:16-17; 1 Timothy 1:15). Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross taking the punishment for our sins, and rose again, conquering sin and death (Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension back to the Father are recorded in the Gospels and the book of Acts. Through Christ, those who repent and believe are reconciled back to God by grace through faith (Acts 3:19; Romans 10:9; Ephesians 2:8-9).
The Kingdom of God
The overarching story arc of the Bible is the coming of God’s Kingdom on earth. God is King, yet His rule and reign (His Kingdom) has not yet been fully established on earth as it is in heaven. Jesus announces the arrival of God’s Kingdom in his ministry (Mark 1:15). However, the Kingdom’s fulfillment will not be complete until Jesus returns. Believers live in the tension between the “now and not yet” as they await the full coming of God’s Kingdom. Passages such as Matthew 6:10, Mark 9:1, and Revelation 21-22 describe the future hope of God’s Kingdom in glory.
Guidance for Christian Living
In addition to grand theological themes, the Bible also offers very practical instruction and guidance for how God’s people are called to live. Passages such as the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20), the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), the Christian armor (Ephesians 6:10-18), and many proverbs offer principles and applications for faithful living. Directions for church leadership, structure, and practices are given in passages like 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.
God’s Desire for All Peoples
A key theme woven throughout the Bible is that God desires for all peoples, nations, and tribes to know Him. In the Old Testament, God chose Israel as His particular people, but Israel was to be “a light for the Gentiles” (Isaiah 49:6). Jesus commands His followers to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth (Matthew 28:18-20). Revelation portrays worshipers from every tribe and language gathered around God’s throne (Revelation 7:9-10). From beginning to end, the Bible depicts God’s relentless love for all humanity.
The Reliability of God’s Promises
One of the main purposes of the Bible is to reveal God’s promises and demonstrate that God always keeps His promises. Deuteronomy 7:9 proclaims “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love.” We learn of God’s faithfulness to creation, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, and countless others. Despite humanity’s unfaithfulness, God remains faithful to His people and His promises. The greatest display of this is Jesus Christ, the fulfillment of God’s promise to redeem and restore humanity (2 Corinthians 1:20).
Looking Forward to Renewal and Restoration
Due to sin, the current world we inhabit is fallen and corrupted. However, the Bible teaches that God will one day bring renewal, restoration, and perfection to this world and creation. Isaiah 65:17 proclaims God will create a new heavens and new earth. Revelation 21-22 vividly describes the coming of the New Jerusalem, the eternal dwelling of God and His people. An essential theme of the Bible is anticipating and looking forward to God’s restoration of all things to His original perfect design.
These are just some of the key themes and purposes that run through the grand narrative of Scripture. From beginning to end, the Bible reveals a God relentlessly pursuing His creation in love, seeking to restore humanity to right relationship with Him. It lays out God’s redemptive plan carried out through Jesus Christ. It instructs God’s people in how to faithfully follow Him in the world. And it orients our perspective to the eternal hope of God’s coming Kingdom and the renewal of all creation.