What is the Bible?

[Kirk_O]

Well I asked this of my little boy this morning. Avery is only five years old and it is amazing how children are close to the Spirit. So I’m reading the Bible this morning and he walks in the room and sits next to me. I tell him that I’m praying and reading the Bible and so I ask him the question. “What is the Bible?” I didn’t think much of it; I just was wondering his thoughts. He does go to Church and Sunday school and even a Christen school. So I was curious what his answer would be. I thought it would be something like the “word of God” or “the stories of Jesus”. But his answer is one I have never heard before or even thought of myself. Avery thought about the question for a few seconds and said “mercy”. Is this just not the most perfect answer to the question? Has anyone else ever heard of the Bible described this way?

 

[JRKH]

All I can say is, what a blessed little boy and and also His mother.

With such insight, I wonder if you could possibly be raising a future priest.
I normally don’t have this reaction to such things but something inspired me to say this.

Peace
James

 

[KaneKatholic]

thanx for sharing that this reminds me of the words of Our Lord for us to become like children to enter into the kingdom of heaven.
that is the best and the most simple answer for the question that i have ever heard
God Bless

 

[windlessuser]

A Catechism Of The Bible can be found here.

Lesson 1:
Bible Definitions

1. What does the word “Bible” mean?

The word “Bible” means “book.”
2. From what language is the word derived?
(Etymological definition)

From the Latin “Biblia,” which in turn comes from the Greek.
3. Is the Greek word for what we call the “Bible” in the singular or in the plural?

In the plural, which means that it should be translated “the books”.
4. Why did the Greeks use the plural form?

They used the plural form because the Bible is not one book but a collection of books.
5. Is the Latin word for what we call the Bible in the singular or in the plural?

It is in the singular and, therefore, should be translated “the book”.
6. Why does the Latin use the singular form?

Because the Bible is the most important book there is, since it is the Word of God.
7. What does the Bible contain?

The Bible contains chiefly a history of God’s Revelation to mankind.
8. What does the Bible give us in addition to the history of God’s dealings with mankind?

In addition, the Bible gives us instructions in faith and morals.
9. Does the Bible give other instructions?

Certain books give detailed instructions for the carrying out of religious worship in the Old Law.
10. Did the Bible, as some seem to think, fall from heaven?

No; the Bible was written by man.
11. If the Bible was written by man, why do we say it is the written word of God?

Though written by man, we can truly say it is the written word of God, because it was written under the inspiration of God.
Lesson 2:
Inspiration Of The Bible

1. Must we believe in the inspiration of the Bible?

Yes, the inspiration of the Bible is an article of Faith which cannot be denied without sin.
2. What is meant by inspiration of the Bible?

Inspiration of the Bible means, in the first place, that those who wrote the Bible were impelled to do so by God.
3. What else is meant by inspiration of the Bible?

Principally that those who wrote the Bible were protected from error while writing what God impelled them to write.
4. Is there a special name for that protection of the writer from error?

Yes, it is called “biblical inerrancy.” It means that there are no errors in the Bible.
5. What proof have we that the Bible is inspired?

The Catholic Church, which is infallible, teaches us so.
6. Does not the Church itself rely on the Bible for proofs of its infallibility?

Besides those found in the Bible, the Church has many other proofs for its infallibility.
7. What general proof have we for the inspiration of the Bible?

Besides many others, we have Our Lord’s constant references to the Old Testament as the word of God, while the early Christian Church testifies to the inspiration of the New Testament.
8. Are all the parts of the Bible inspired?

“For all the books which the Church receives as sacred and canonical are written wholly and entirely, with all their parts, at the dictation of the Holy Ghost …” (Leo the XIII in Providentissimus Deus, E.B. 124, 127)
9. Does the inspiration apply to the originals only, or to the translations also?

Both: It applies absolutely to the originals, and to the translations insofar as they are faithful to the originals.

 

[MrZetterlund]

Well I asked this of my little boy this morning. Avery is only five years old and it is amazing how children are close to the Spirit. So I’m reading the Bible this morning and he walks in the room and sits next to me. I tell him that I’m praying and reading the Bible and so I ask him the question. “What is the Bible?” I didn’t think much of it; I just was wondering his thoughts. He does go to Church and Sunday school and even a Christen school. So I was curious what his answer would be. I thought it would be something like the “word of God” or “the stories of Jesus”. But his answer is one I have never heard before or even thought of myself. Avery thought about the question for a few seconds and said “mercy”. Is this just not the most perfect answer to the question? Has anyone else ever heard of the Bible described this way?

Certainly not recently. Especially with the atheist movement trying to smear the Bible’s moral authority. Very good to hear this, thank you.