The Bible.

The word Bible comes from the plural Greek word Biblia, which means library. This library that you call your Bible has 66 books, selected to tell the story of our world, the things in it, and the One behind it all. Now, a good student doesn't go into a library to read their class notes. No. You go there to study. This is what the Bereans became famous for. They searched the scriptures to check whether what Teacher Paul taught was aligned to Gods words. This is the same reason Paul used the word "study" as he wrote to Timothy. He said, "study to show yourself approved unto God..." The Bible is meant to be studied not just read.

This library of 66 books is divided into two sections. The first section is called the Old Testament and the second section the New Testament. Personally, I refer to the first section as the Scriptures and the second as the New Testimonies- (https://mapstage.blogspot.com/2024/11/rethinking-new-testament-fresh.html). The second part is more of a (partial) fulfillment of the first and also serves as a commentary on the Scriptures.

This library has 66 books. Each book stands independently, yet they are all connected because the Author behind them is One.

The Bible is a unique historical book. It begins earlier than any human witness and ends later than all the living. In the beginning, Moses—the writer of Genesis—was not there, nor was Adam. In the end, John—the writer of Revelation—has not been there either, nor have any of us.

Only God knows the beginning and the end before they happen.

The first book in this library is called Genesis. This is the book of beginnings. Initially, it was simply called “In the beginning.” It introduces us to the origin of life and everything that supports life. God created the supporting systems first, then breathed life into one of His creations(whose role was to take care of the supporting systems) and placed him in that environment that could sustain him if he took good care of it.

Genesis is crucial to our understanding of the Scriptures. If the story began at Exodus, it would be a history that captivates only a few. It would be like asking a Hutu from Rwanda to study the history of the Kuria people of Kenya—very few Hutus would be interested. Exodus begins to tell the story of the family of Yakof, a history that would have little value to us without Genesis.

Genesis, therefore, makes this library worth exploring because we all connect with it. People of every tribe and tongue find their ancestors in Genesis. We also learn about the scattering in the days of a man called Nimrod. All men connect with Adam, and all women connect with Eve.

The Bible is a unifying book for humanity. When we get the history right, we also get His story right—and we find our place in it.

I hope you’ve started reading and have a group of buddies to journey with.

This is your story.