A SATISFYING LIFE How to Attain It

3. The Book of Reliable Guidance

THE BIBLE is a crystallization of mankind's civilization and life experiences and is unique," says a journal published by Chung Shang University of Guangzhou, China.  Immanuel Kant, an influential 18th-century philosopher, is quoted as saying:  "The existence of the Bible, as book for the people, is the greatest benefit which the human race has ever experienced.  Every attempt to belittle it . . .is a crime against humanity."  The Encyclopedia Americana says:  "The influence of the Bible is by no mans limited to Jews and Christians. . . .It is now viewed as an ethical and religious treasure whose inexhaustible teaching promises to be even more valuable as the hope of a world civilization increases."

Regardless of your religious affiliation, would you not be interested in knowing something about such a book?  By the end of the 20th century, the Bible has been translated, in whole or part, into more than 2,200 languages.   Most people can find a copy of it in a language they can read and understand.  Since the invention of movable type, and estimated four billion copies of the Bible have been circulated worldwide. 

Now please open your Bible if you have a copy, and take a look at the table of contents.  You will note the names of books, starting with Genesis and ending with Revelation.  The Bible is a library of 66 books penned by some 40 different people.  The first section, composed of 39 books called the Old Testament by  many, is properly name the Hebrew Scriptures because it was written mainly in Hebrew.  The second section, made up of 27 books called the New Testament by many, is rightly named the Christian Greek Scriptures, for it was written in Greek by Christian writers. It took over 1, 600 years, from 1513 B.C.E. to 98 C.E., for Bible writing to be completed.  The writers never had an editorial meeting, and some books were written concurrently at places thousands of miles apart. Still, the Bible has a single theme and is a unified whole; it does not contradict itself.  We cannot help  but wonder, 'How could more than 40 men living over a period of 16 centuries come up with a book that is consistent to such a degree? 

Next time: A SATISFYING LIFE How to Attain It - Continue with 3. The Book of Reliable Guidance

From the Watchtower magazine