The word "Bible" means “books” and refers to the collection of sacred Scriptures that reveal God’s character, laws, and promises. More than just history or literature, the Bible is God’s living Word, meant to guide, teach, and transform us as we take its truths to heart.
The word "bible" can refer to any book that has teaching regarded as authoritative on a specific topic. For instance, a cookbook written by an award-winning, Michelin-star-rated chef in France might be called "the bible on French cuisine." A book detailing the best practices in quilting might be called "the quilters' bible." However, the word "Bible" is most often used in reference to the collection of Christian or Jewish Holy Scriptures. The Bible reveals God’s character, laws, and promises. Jesus recognized the Old Testament writings as God’s Word. The New Testament, inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16–17), completes the Bible by pointing to salvation through Jesus Christ. The Bible is more than history or literature; it is God’s living message to guide, teach, and transform us, calling us to read and take its truths to heart.
The word "Bible" comes from the Greek word biblia, meaning "books." It is the diminutive form of the word biblos, which referred to any written document, but at the time, would have been sheets or scrolls of papyrus. Linguists believe the word may have come about because the Greeks imported Egyptian papyrus from the Phoenician seaport Byblos (also called Gebal). This naming process would be similar to sparkling white wine being called champagne because it originates in the Champagne region of France. Champagne is called that because it comes from Champagne. Papyrus was called biblos in Greek because it came from the port of Byblos.
Of course, in Greek, biblia referred to any books, not just the Holy Bible of writings sacred to Judaism and Christianity. The earliest use of the phrase biblia to refer specifically to Christian Scriptures is believed to be 2 Clement 2:14, written around AD 150, where it uses "ta biblia," meaning "the books," in reference to Scripture. Before this time, the collection of Jewish and Christian sacred writings were referred to as gramma and/or graphe (2 Timothy 3:15, 16), meaning "writings, documents, holy Writ, or scripture."
Originally, these Scriptures were separate scrolls. Most communities owned copies of only some scrolls and would have tried to add to their collection of Scripture over time as resources allowed. These separate scrolls did not get compiled into the modern form of a book with leaves of paper stitched together on one side (called a codex) until the fourth or fifth century AD. Understanding that the Bible is an anthology that contains sixty-six different books helps explain why the Greek phrase ta biblia, using the plural and meaning "the books," was used to refer to this collection of Holy Scriptures.
While other books with authoritative teaching on specific topics can be called bibles in a generic sense, there is no book with higher authority than the Holy Bible. These Scriptures are God's revealed Word to His people. As God’s Word, we should read it and take to heart what it reveals about God, humanity, and His relationship with us. It is more than history or literature—it is the living message through which God reveals Himself, guides us, and invites us into relationship with Him. As you hold the Bible in your hands and read its words, remember that it is a divine treasure, meant to be read, cherished, and obeyed. May we read the Bible regularly and take its truths deeply to heart, allowing God’s Word to transform our lives, today and always.