Why is the Bible called the Bible?

   Where does the term Bible come from?  Bible means “the Book,” being originally derived from the Greek language, and originally the word was plural.  Comprising of a set of writings numbering sixty-six “books,” there are thirty-nine books in the “Old Testament,” and twenty-seven books in the “New Testament.”  Most often, the full term used is “Holy Bible.”
   Yet from the days of Jesus and from the days of the early Church, there is no record these sixty-six books were referred to as the Bible.  These writings were called Scripture!  Also, “word of God” was another term used by Jesus, Paul, Luke, and others; not capitalized to be distinguish between the "Word of God" who is Jesus Himself.  Jesus frequently referred to what today is termed the “Old Testament” as Scripture or the Scriptures.  One example: “On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him’” (John 7:37-38 NIV).  Another example is John 5:39-40.  Can you think of an example?
   In the early Church, the term Scripture was expanded to include the writings we call the “New Testament.”  For example, the apostle Peter referred to the writings of the apostle Paul as “Scripture,” which is stated in 2 Peter 3:16.  And the apostle Paul stated, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:14-15 NIV).
   What is this “Scripture?”  The word scripture means “writings,” and the word Scripture, capitalized, is applied to the books of the Old Testament and New Testament meaning “sacred writings.” (1)
   Lastly, why are the Scriptures sacred?  As stated by the unknown author of the book of Hebrews, “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe” (Hebrews 1:1-2 NIV).  The thirty-nine books of Old Testament Scripture record God speaking to the prophets, which in a sense included priests and kings who were devoted to God.  And the twenty-seven books of the New Testament Scripture record God speaking in Christ, and via apostolic witnesses.  Such a witness through human authors over a time span of over 1500 years could only be an accurate record with God’s involvement.  God inspired authors of the Scriptures, as stated by Paul in 2 Timothy 3:16.  These books contain revelations from God, and the revelations from God reveal Himself, the Holy God we could never discover on our own effort.  Thus the Scripture contains messages from God.
   I will close with a verse seldom cited, Hebrews 2:3: “…This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him” (NIV).  The witnesses of Scriptures were people who heard from God, all the way from Moses who wrote the first five books of Scripture, to the apostles of Jesus who heard the Messiah preach and teach, who witnessed His death and resurrection, and who became indwelled with the Holy Spirit.
   I like the name of my blog, because Scripture reveals true love.  Jesus loves everyone, and that is why Jesus died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone.  Jesus was the sacrificial atonement for the consequence of sins, which is spiritual death.  If you believe in Jesus, you will be saved from eternal death, and you will have everlasting life as Jesus promised.
   As authority for the Church, Scripture is a gift from God for us to listen to God, and be blessed.
Hunter Irvine

(1) Joel Green, ed., Hearing the New Testament: Strategies for Interpretation (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1995), 230.