What is Bible?

For me, Bible is a very important book in the life of every Christian. When I was young and started reading it for the first time, it provided me all the information which my parents wanted me to know. So, I believed that Bible was all about principles and laws that every child should know to grow. A few years later, when I was walked through Bible for my confirmation, I understood that It’s not just for the young, but also for the youth. Later, after a few years when I was moved by the Lord, I took the Bible again and this time it was very different experience for me. I could sense that the Bible can speak to me in a way that it made me realize what my life is all about.

The verses, even the ones that I remembered reading when I was young made a different, but clear sense to me. I then realized, Bible is not just a book for reading. It is much more than that. I am very sure that Bible has made miracles in many lives like mine. I happened to read that Douglas MacArthur, an American five-star general and Field Marshal of the Philippine Army, who was the Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II, happened to tell this. "Believe me sir, never a night goes by, be I ever so tired, but I read the word of God before I go to bed"

So, I wanted the readers of this article understand the elaborate definition of Bible which could help you talk about it with anyone who wants to know about it. With the help of my dear Pattima, Mrs. H Paul Pandian, I am able to give a detailed definition of Bible below.

Definition of Bible

This book contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy,  its percepts are binding, its histories are true and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveller's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword and the Christian's character.

Here paradise is restored, heaven opened and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand object; our good is its design and the story of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently and prayerfully.

It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life and will be opened in the judgment and will be remembered for ever. It involves the highest responsibility will reward the greatest labour and will condemn all who trifle with its scared contents.

Facts seen in Bible

Books	66
Chapters	1189
Verses	31,373
Words	7,73,693
The longest verse	Esther 8:9
The shorter Verse	John 11:35
Chapters which are alike in Psalm 107	9,16,21,31
Verses with same ending in Psalm	Psalm 136
Chapters which are alike	Isaiah 39; II Kings 19
Very beautiful chapters	I Cor.13 & Psalm 23
The largest book in Bible	The book of the prophet Isaiah with 66 chapters
God's beautiful promises	1) Psalm 37:4 2) Matt 11:28 3) John 6:37 4) John 14:2
The shortest book in the Bible	Epistle of John with 294 words in 14 verses

 

How many hours are required to read through the Bible?

The Bible contains about 3 million letters, 31,000 verses and 1,189 chapters. About 38 hours are needed to read through the Old Testament and 11 hours for the New Testament. This gives a total of 49 hours for the complete Bible.

In ordinary talking speed, it takes 70 hours and 40 minutes to read the Bible aloud. By reading 4 chapters per day; you may finish reading in 1 year (365 days).