How was the Bible written and compiled?

The Word of God Didn’t Begin in Ink—It Began in Spirit.

Before the Bible was ever inked on scrolls or etched into tablets, it began in the heart of God. The Bible isn’t man’s idea—it’s God-breathed, authored by the Holy Spirit through human vessels.

“All Scripture is inspired by God…” — 2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT)

The Bible’s Structure

The Bible is one book made up of 66 books, written across three continents, in three languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek), over 1,500 years by over 40 authors—yet it tells one consistent story: God’s redemption of humanity through Jesus Christ.

• Old Testament (39 books): Creation, Law, history, poetry, prophets — setting the stage for the Messiah.
• New Testament (27 books): Jesus’ life, the Gospel, and the birth of the Church.

This is not just literature—it’s divine revelation.

How Was It Written?

1. Divinely Inspired by the Holy Spirit
   Scripture was not dictated like a robot writes code. God breathed His Word into the hearts of prophets, kings, poets, and apostles—who each wrote in their own style, yet perfectly carried God’s message. “…men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” — 2 Peter 1:21
2. Preserved Through Sacred Tradition
   Before printing presses, Scripture was meticulously copied by hand by Jewish scribes and early Christians. These were not casual tasks; this was a sacred calling. One error meant starting over.
3. Canonization: What Books Belong in the Bible?
   The books we now call the canon weren’t chosen randomly or politically. The early Church recognized certain writings as divinely authoritative, based on:
   • Apostolic origin (written by or connected to an apostle)
   • Doctrinal accuracy and unity with existing Scripture
   • Widespread acceptance and use among early churches
   The Old Testament was already affirmed by Jewish leaders (and Jesus Himself quoted it regularly).
   The New Testament took shape in the first 3 centuries A.D., confirmed by Church councils like Hippo (393 AD) and Carthage (397 AD).

Why Does This Matter?

Because your Bible is trustworthy. It didn’t survive this long by accident—it was preserved by the hand of God. No other book has been more attacked, yet it stands undefeated. Why?
Because “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” — Isaiah 40:8