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About the Tanakh and the Bible

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Bible

Here are some short answers to the most frequently asked questions that I have encountered about the Bible.  Also, I have included some helpful Bible resources in the appendices at the end of this book.  In Appendix 3 you can find historical, scientific, manuscript, and archaeological evidence that testifies to the accuracy and trustworthiness of the Bible. In Appendix 4 you can find the Bible summarized.  In Appendix 5 you can find what might perhaps the best and second-best chapters of the Bible relative to our study of the Qur’an, Tanakh, and the Bible.  In Appendix 6 you can find some helpful tips about how to study the Bible.  I hope this helps!

Where did the Bible come from? What is the Bible?  

The Bible was spoken and revealed from God into the hearts of men that the Scriptures might be written and shared among God's children.  Some of these writings are historical descriptions, prophetic writings, poetry and songs, wisdom, and letters.  Although written by the hands of men, these writings were not written by the will of man, but were inspired and given by the power and will of God's Spirit.  The Bible is the specific revelation by God about Himself, His work, and His plan for all of humanity so that we may love, trust, and obey Him.  The whole Bible is breathed out by God, to make His people wise for salvation and to equip His people to lovingly teach, train, correct, and confront with God's truths (2 Timothy 3:10-17)

2 Peter 1:19-21 "And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."

2 Peter 1:16 "For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty."

Deuteronomy 29:29 "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law."

Can we expect more books to be discovered or added to the Bible?

No.  God has clearly spoken in the Scriptures and across early church history such that the current collection of recognized biblical books (canon) is complete.  This process of recognizing the words of God comes through the recognition of the authorship as a biblical prophets or apostle, the self-attestation of the book within the Scriptures themselves, and their continuity with other books of the Bible.

Does the Bible have errors? 

The original writings (autographs) have no errors at all.  The ancient copies (manuscripts) we possess have small differences between them. These differences have primarily arisen from those who were copying and translating them.  These differences have been recognized, described and corrected via a modern-day comparison of the thousands of manuscripts to produce reliable Hebrew (Old Testament) and Greek (New Testament) compilations that have been reliably translated into many languages.  None of the manuscript differences affect or speak to major theological issues but are most commonly mere grammatical issues.  Comprehensive resources are available to explain the process of translation and decisions made concerning the compilation of manuscripts.

Is the Bible trustworthy?

Yes.  The Bible shows its own trustworthiness through its self-attestation in the lives of believers and its internal consistency over thousands of years at the hands of many writers.  The Bible is clearly seen to be the most accurate book in all of human history through archaeological, historical, scientific, and documentary evidence.  The biblical content clearly reveals that its author is God Himself.  The Bible has the most and best manuscript evidence, seen in its thousands of copies that were written soon after its original writing and discovered in a multiplicity of geographic locations.  No literary work in all of human history is comparable to the trustworthiness of the Bible.

Titus 1:9 "He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it."

Hebrews 4:12-13 "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account."

Psalm 119:72 "The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces."

Is the KJV the best translation?

The King James Version (KJV) of the Bible is a good translation of the Bible.  When it was written only a few manuscripts had been discovered, which limited the scope and accuracy of its translation.  Since its translation hundreds of years ago, many additional archaeological discoveries have been made which provided thousands of more trustworthy manuscripts in the twentieth century.  Many modern-day translations have been written since the KJV translation, providing plenty of accurate biblical translations.  Many people prefer the KJV because of their personal familiarity with it.  Many others struggle with the KJV since it uses Old English, a language that is antiquated, no longer spoken, and difficult for many modern-day English speakers to understand. 

Many teachers give the false impression that the KJV is the only accurate Bible to be used.  This is a touchy issue, one which must be handled with great care and humility.  Such teachers may have genuine motives in preventing any corruption of the Biblical translations, but such opinions are often rooted in human pride and personal ignorance of the translation process and manuscript evidence.  Those who prefer the KJV have the joy of continuing in their freedom of this preference but must humbly encourage and accept the fact than many prefer translations based on a more comprehensive collection of biblical manuscripts and translated into the common languages of the day.

Suggested book: The King James Only Controversy by James White

Why are there so many translations? 

When translating the Bible, the translators must make decisions to translate either literally with a word for word approach (formal) or with a thought for thought approach (dynamic equivalence).  These two approaches are both accurate and helpful.  Some writings are written with more simple wording to recognize the differences in literary capabilities of different people and communities. 

There are also other translations based upon a paraphrase approach.  The paraphrase approach is when the Biblical text is not translated but is instead summarized and restated.  Although such an approach may be helpful for children's Bibles and chronological Bible storying, it is not a good approach for maturing and literate Christians.

The English language is blessed to have many translations, but some languages possess only one translation.   Many languages have yet to have the Bible translated.  Although the multiple translations are extremely beneficial, we must recognize and be aware that there are translations that make unhelpful and heretical changes to the meaning of the biblical text. 

There are modern translations that have removed gender specific language (NIV), removed references to Christ's deity (Jehovah's Witnesses' New World Translation), added books to the Bible (Catholicism), or subjugated the Bible to other books and authorities (Catholicism and Mormonism).

2 John 1:9 "Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son."

Which translation is the best?

Assuming the translation is faithful to the biblical text, the best translation is the one that you can easily read and understand.  As some grow in their reading and comprehension abilities, they may find that more formal translations are most helpful to them in the process of study.

Are devotional guides and books ok?

Devotional guides and books can be helpful for Christians as an aid and tool to enhancing their personal study of God's Word.  Devotional guides and books can also be a dangerous impediment to spiritual growth if Christians never grow in their own abilities to study Scripture.  True Christians seek to mature and should never be content with solely a second-hand experience with God as related through others.  The Bible is clearly understood (perspicuity of the Bible), which means that it is intelligible through the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit.  If you struggle with your own personal and direct study of God's Word, pray to God and seek help from others in order to enhance and increase your ability to hear God's voice through the study of His Word.

How can I go about reading more of the Bible?

Make a plan.  Make time.  Be intentional.  The reading of God's Word is essential for spiritual growth.  The best plan is the one in which you will be able to follow.  It could be as simple as picking a Bible book and reading through it one day at a time.  It could involve a goal like reading through the entire New Testament in a year by reading one chapter per weekday.  Many books, Bibles, and apps have a a plan for reading through the entire Bible in a year.  We tend to prioritize that which we find valuable.  Prioritize and make time for the reading of God's Word, it is of infinite value.

Psalm 19:9-10 "the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb."

Is the New Testament more important than the Old Testament? 

What is their relationship?

All of Scripture is valuable and trustworthy.  The Bible is one big story, not two separate sections (Hebrews 1:1-2, 2 Timothy 3:14-17). God speaks not only through his prophets, but also through the life of Christ.  The expression that "the New is in the Old concealed and the the Old is in the New revealed" helps us to understand this relationship.  We need to give equal attention to the study of both the Old Testament and New Testament for "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).

James 1:17 "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."

Psalm 119:127-128 "Therefore I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold.  Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way."

How can I understand the meaning of the Bible?

The best way to understand the Bible is to spend time in it.  Study Bibles, commentaries, and online resources (GotQuestions.org , BibleStudyTools.com , and BibleHub.com ).  Here are some helpful questions to ask yourself, and seek answers to, as you discover the meaning of the Scriptures:

•  Who is writing this?

•  Who is it being written to?

•  What type of writing is this?

•  What does the Scripture mean?

•  What do we learn about God?

•  What do we learn about God's work?

•  What do we learn about ourselves?

•  Why does this passage matter?

•  How do I need to respond to and apply these truths to my life?   (Is there a sin to avoid, a command to obey, an example to follow, a prayer to offer, a truth to remember, an attitude to change, or a teaching to share?)

What does it mean to meditate on God's Word?

Meditation on God's Word is the filling up of one's heart and mind with the truths of God.  As these truths are internalized, we are to spend more time in mental contemplation and processing over His truth in order to grow in our faith and to share our faith with others.  Meditation happens when we read, listen to, pray over, learn, think, speak, write, and share about God's truths.

Joshua 1:7-8 "Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."

Romans 12:2 "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

How can I share and speak God's truths lovingly to others?

Memorizing the Scripture is the best way to prepare to share God's truths.  We should pray to God for opportunities and courage to witness.  When we pray according to His will we know he hears and answers us (1 John 5:14-15), and we know it is His will that we be His witnesses (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8).  The more we meditate, study, and memorize God's Word, the more our hearts and lips will naturally and courageously bear witness to the glory and goodness of God.

We must remember that we have a responsibility to warn others of God's coming judgment (Ezekiel 3:17-19 & 33:7-9).  When we share the Gospel we ought to communicate the truths concerning God as Creator (Colossians 1:16-17, Hebrews 4:13, 9:27), mankind's sinful rebellion (Romans 3:23), Christ's sacrifice and gift (Romans 6:23), and our need to respond to God as our Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9).  The Gospel must be clearly spoken from our lips but also must be faithfully lived out in our lives, marriages, families, and workplaces (Ephesians 5 & 6).

Here are three great online resources to learn how to share your faith:

•  The Way of the Master (Ray Comfort) www.livingwaters.com [my personal favorite!]

•  Share Jesus without Fear (William Fay) www.sharejesuswithoutfear.com

•  Steps to Peace with God (Billy Graham) www.peacewithgod.net

Many people fear the questions that may arise when witnessing, but it is ok to answer that "I do not know, but will find out."  A great resource for discovering God's answers to difficult questions is www.gotquestions.org .  Finally, we must always remember that our calling is not simply to make converts, but to make disciples, connecting believers into church fellowships where they can grow in their love and knowledge of God.

How can I recognize false teachers and false prophets?

The best way to recognize false teachers is to listen to their teachings and watch their lives (Deuteronomy 13:1-5, 18:15-22, Matthew 12:33-37, Galatians 1:8-9, 2 Peter 2, Jude 1:1-10, 2 John 1:9, James 3:1).  If their teachings and lives do not line up with Scriptural truths, they may be false teachers, false prophets, or immature believers who do not need to be teaching or leading.

2 Peter 2:1 “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.”

Galatians 1:8-9 “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.”

What does the Bible say about adding to it?

The Bible has many warnings about adding human writings to it that are not divinely inspired and show that by their inconsistencies with the God-given message.

• Deuteronomy 4:2 “You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you.” (ESV)

• Deuteronomy 12:32 “Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it.” (ESV)

• Deuteronomy 18:20–22 “But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ [21] And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the LORD has not spoken?’—[22] when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.”

• Ecclesiastes 3:14 "I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him.”

• Proverbs 30:5–6 “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. [6] Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.”

• 2 John 9 “Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.”

• 1 Corinthians 4:6–7 “I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. [7] For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?”

• 2 Timothy 2:15 “rightly handling the word of truth”

• Galatians 1:6–9 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—[7] not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. [8] But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. [9] As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.”

• Revelation 22:18–19 “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, [19] and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”

What does the Bible say about its origin?

The Bible explains in many places that it is given to us from God. Here are a few of those passages:

• 2 Peter 1:19–21 “And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, [20] knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. [21] For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

• 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

• John 5:39-40 “the Scriptures…bear witness about me” - Jesus

• James 1:17 "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."

• Deuteronomy 18:20 “But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’”

What does the Bible say about its sufficiency?

The Bible teaches that it contains all of the wisdom necessary for salvation and eternal life:

• 2 Peter 1:3 “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence”

• 2 Timothy 3:10-17 “the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

• James 1:21 “receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls”

• Ephesians 6:17 “take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”

• Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

• Mark 12:24 “Jesus said to them, ‘Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?’”

• Joshua 1:7-8 “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

• Jude 3 “Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.”

• John 20:30–31 “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; [31] but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

What does the Bible warn us about?

While the Bible contains many warnings about Satan, demon, worldly temptations, and sin, God also warns us in it about turning towards other authoritative teachers and teachings.

• 2 Timothy 4:3–4 “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, [4] and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”

• 2 Peter 2:1 “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies”

• Jude 4 “For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God”

• Matthew 23:4 “They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders"

Hopefully this has been a helpful introduction to the Bible for you, but ultimately it is just the beginning.  The Bible is so full of incredible truths of God’s love that the more you study it, the more amazed you will become at its beauty.