Šta je Biblija?/What is the Bible?

Reč „Biblija“ potiče od latinske i grčke reči čije je značenjei „knjiga“, što je odgovrajuće ime za nju pošto je Biblija knjiga za sve ljude, za sva vremena. To je knjiga drugačija od svih ostalih, kategorija sama za sebe. Biblija se sastoji od 66 knjiga. One uključuju knjige kao što su treća i peta mojsijeva Mojsijeva, istorijske knjige kao što su Jezdra i Dela apostolska, knjige poezije kao što su pslami i knjiga propovednika; knjige proroštva kao što su Isaija i Otkrivenje; biografije, kao jevanđelje po Mateju i Jovanu; i poslanice (formalna pisma) kao što su poslanice Titu i Jevrejima. Autori Otprilike 40 ljudi je pisalo Bibliju i to u periodu od 1500 godina. Autori su bili carevi, ribari, sveštenici, pripadnici vlasti, seljaci, pastiri i doktori. Iz sve ove raznolikosti izvire neverovatno jedinstvo, sa zajedničkim temama koje provejavaju kroz celu knjigu. Jedinstvo Biblije postoji zbog činjenice da ona ima jednog autora, samog Boga. Biblija je „bogonadahnuta“ (2. Timoteju 3:16). Ljudi su pisali tačno ono što je Bog želeo da napišu i ishod je bio sveta Reč Božija (Psalam 12:6; 2.Petrova 1:21). Podele Biblija se deli na dva glavna dela: Stari i Novi zavet. Ukratko, Stari zavet je priča o narodu, a Novi, proča o Čoveku. Kroz narod Bog je doveo Čoveka —Isusa Hrista—na svet. Stari zavet opisuje osnivanje i održanje naroda Izraela. Bog je obećao Izraelu da će biti blagoslov za ceo svet (1. Mojsijeva 12:2-3). Kada je Izrael bio ustanovljen kao narod, Bog je podigao porodicu u okviru naroda kroz koju će doći blagoslov: Davidovu porodicu (Psalam 89:3-4). Tada je od Davidove porodice bio je obećan Čovek koji će doneti obećani blagoslov (Isaija 11:1-10). Novi zavet daje detalje o dolasku obećanog Čoveka. Njegovo ime je Isus, i On je ispunio starozavetna obećanja svojim savršenim životom, umro da postane Spasitelj i ustao iz mrtvih. Centralna ličnost Isus je centralna ličnost u Bibliji, cela knjiga u suštini govori o Njemu. Stari zavet predviđa Njegov dolazak i sprema pozornicu za njegov ulazak u svet. Novi zavet opisuje njegov dolazak i Njegovo delo donošenja spasenja u naš grešni svet. Isus je više od istorijske ličnosti, On je više od čoveka. On je Bog u telu, njegov dolazak je bio najvažniji događaj i istoriji sveta. Sam Bog je postao čovek da bi nam dao jasnu, razumljivu sliku onoga ko je On. Kakav je Bog? On je kao Isus, Isus je Bog u ljudskom obliku. (Jovan 1:14, 14:9). Kratak pregled Bog je stvorio čoveka i stavio ga u savršeno okruženje. Međutim, čovek se pobunio protiv Boga i otpao od onog što je Bog nameravao da on bude. Bog je prokleo svet zbog greha ali odmah je pokrenuo plan da obnovi čovečantvo i svu tvorevinu u prvobitnu slavu. Kao plan Božijeg otkupljenja Bog je pozvao Avrama iz Vavilona u Hanan (oko 2000 g. pre n.e.). Bog je obećao Avramu, njegovom sinu Isaku i unuku Jakovu (koji se zvao i Izrael) da će da blagoslovi svet preko njegovih potomaka. Izraelova porodica je emigrirala iz Hanana u Egipat gde su izrasli u narod. Oko 1400. g. pre n.e., Bog je vodio Izraelove potomke iz Egipta pod direktnim Mojsijevim vođstvom i dao im je obećanu zemlju, Hanan. Kroz Mojsija Bog je Izraelu dao Zakon i načinio je zavet sa njima – ako ostanu verni Bogu i ne odu u idolopoklonstvo kao okolni narodi, oni će prosperirati. Ako ostave Boga i okrenu se idolima, Bog će ih uništiti kao narod. Oko 400 g. kasnije, tokom vladavine Davida i njegovog sina Solomona, Izrael je postao veliki i moćan narod. Bog je obećao Solomonu da će njegov potomak vladati kao večni car. Posle Solomonove vladavine izraelski narod se podelio. Deset plemena na severu su dobila naziv „Izrael“, i oni su postojali 200 godina pre nego što im je Bog sudio zbog idolopoklonstva. Sirija je osvojila Izrael oko 712. g. pre n.e. Dva plemena na jugu dobila su ime „Juda“ i trajali su malo duže, ali su na kraju i oni okrenuli leđa Bogu. Vavilon ih je okupirao oko 600. g. pre n.e. Nekih 70 godina kasnije Bog je blagodatno doveo ostatak zarobljenika nazad u njihovu zemlju. Jerusalim, glavni grad, bio je obnovljen oko 444.g. pre n.e. i Izrael je ponovo uspostavio nacionalni identitet. Tako se završava Stari zavet. Novi zavet počinje nekih 400 godina kasnije rođenjem Isusa Hrista u Vitlejemu. Isus je bio naslednik koji je bio obećan Avramu i Davidu, onaj koji će ispuniti Božiji plan za otkup čovečanstva i obnavljanje tvorevine. Isus je verno upotpunio svoje delo – umro je za grehe i ustao iz mrtvih. Hristova smrt je osnova novog zaveta sa svetom. Svi koji imaju veru u Isusa biće spaseni od greha i večno će živeti. Posle vaskrsenja Isus je poslao svoje učenike da svuda šire novost o Njegovom životu i Njegovoj moći da spase. Putovali su preko Male Azije, Grčke i cele rimske imperije. Novi zavet se završava proroštvom o Isusovom povratku prilikom koga će suditi onima koji ne veruju i osloboditi tvorevinu od prokletstva.

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The word “Bible” comes from the Latin and Greek words meaning “book,” a fitting name, since the Bible is the book for all people, for all time. It’s a book like no other, in a class by itself. Sixty-six different books comprise the Bible. They include books of law, such as Leviticus and Deuteronomy; historical books, such as Ezra and Acts; books of poetry, such as Psalms and Ecclesiastes; books of prophecy, such as Isaiah and Revelation; biographies, such as Matthew and John; and epistles (formal letters) such as Titus and Hebrews. What is the Bible? - The Authors About 40 different human authors contributed to the Bible, which was written over a period of about 1500 years. The authors were kings, fishermen, priests, government officials, farmers, shepherds, and doctors. From all this diversity comes an incredible unity, with common themes woven throughout. The Bible’s unity is due to the fact that, ultimately, it has one Author—God Himself. The Bible is “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16). The human authors wrote exactly what God wanted them to write, and the result was the perfect and holy Word of God (Psalm 12:6; 2 Peter 1:21). What is the Bible? - The Divisions The Bible is divided into two main parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. In short, the Old Testament is the story of a nation, and the New Testament is the story of a Man. The nation was God’s way of bringing the Man—Jesus Christ—into the world. The Old Testament describes the founding and preservation of the nation of Israel. God promised to use Israel to bless the whole world (Genesis 12:2-3). Once Israel was established as a nation, God raised up a family within that nation through whom the blessing would come: the family of David (Psalm 89:3-4). Then, from the family of David was promised one Man who would bring the promised blessing (Isaiah 11:1-10). The New Testament details the coming of that promised Man. His name was Jesus, and He fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament as He lived a perfect life, died to become the Savior, and rose from the dead. What is the Bible? - The Central Character Jesus is the central character in the Bible—the whole book is really about Him. The Old Testament predicts His coming and sets the stage for His entrance into the world. The New Testament describes His coming and His work to bring salvation to our sinful world. Jesus is more than a historical figure; in fact, He is more than a man. He is God in the flesh, and His coming was the most important event in the history of the world. God Himself became a man in order to give us a clear, understandable picture of who He is. What is God like? He is like Jesus; Jesus is God in human form (John 1:14, 14:9). What is the Bible? - A Brief Summary God created man and placed him in a perfect environment; however, man rebelled against God and fell from what God intended him to be. God placed the world under a curse because of sin but immediately set in motion a plan to restore humanity and all creation to its original glory. As part of His plan of redemption, God called Abraham out of Babylonia into Canaan (about 2000 B.C.). God promised Abraham, his son Isaac, and his grandson Jacob (also called Israel) that He would bless the world through a descendant of theirs. Israel’s family emigrated from Canaan to Egypt, where they grew to be a nation. About 1400 B.C., God led Israel’s descendants out of Egypt under the direction of Moses and gave them the Promised Land, Canaan, as their own. Through Moses, God gave the people of Israel the Law and made a covenant (testament) with them. If they would remain faithful to God and not follow the idolatry of the surrounding nations, then they would prosper. If they forsook God and followed idols, then God would destroy their nation. About 400 years later, during the reigns of David and his son Solomon, Israel was solidified into a great and powerful kingdom. God promised David and Solomon that a descendant of theirs would rule as an everlasting king. After Solomon’s reign, the nation of Israel was divided. The ten tribes to the north were called “Israel,” and they lasted about 200 years before God judged them for their idolatry. Assyria took Israel captive about 721 B.C. The two tribes in the south were called “Judah,” and they lasted a little longer, but eventually they, too, turned from God. Babylon took them captive about 600 B.C. About 70 years later, God graciously brought a remnant of the captives back into their own land. Jerusalem, the capital, was rebuilt about 444 B.C., and Israel once again established a national identity. Thus, the Old Testament closes. The New Testament opens about 400 years later with the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. Jesus was the descendant promised to Abraham and David, the One to fulfill God’s plan to redeem mankind and restore creation. Jesus faithfully completed His work—He died for sin and rose from the dead. The death of Christ is the basis for a new covenant (testament) with the world. All who have faith in Jesus will be saved from sin and live eternally. After His resurrection, Jesus sent His disciples to spread the news everywhere of His life and His power to save. Jesus’ disciples went in every direction spreading the good news of Jesus and salvation. They traveled through Asia Minor, Greece, and all the Roman Empire. The New Testament closes with a prediction of Jesus’ return to judge the unbelieving world and free creation from the curse.