The Bible is no ordinary book. It is a remarkable collection of writings made up of sixty-six books divided into two testaments. The Old Testament includes thirty-nine books that lay the foundation of God’s promises, while the New Testament’s twenty-seven books show how those promises are fulfilled through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Across centuries, cultures, and continents, Scripture speaks with one voice and tells one story of redemption.
That unity is even more impressive when you consider who wrote it. The Bible was written by more than forty human authors over roughly two thousand years. Kings and shepherds. Prophets and priests. Scholars and fishermen. Generals, tax collectors, physicians, and exiles. These authors wrote on three continents and in three languages, yet the message holds together with stunning consistency. Despite all that variety, the Bible keeps saying the same thing: Jesus saves.
That kind of unity is not an accident. It is evidence of divine authorship. No human committee could have pulled this off, especially not across millennia. The Bible holds together because its message is not primarily about us and did not originate from us. It is about God and His work to redeem His people.
Yet many believers struggle to experience this unity because Scripture is often read in fragments. Verses are pulled out and placed on coffee mugs. Stories are reduced to moral lessons. Commands are separated from the covenant that gives them meaning. When that happens, the Bible can feel helpful in moments but confusing as a whole.
This danger is especially true when it comes to the Old Testament. Its laws can feel heavy. Its narratives can feel distant. Its prophecies can feel intimidating. As a result, many Christians unintentionally treat the Old Testament like optional reading. They live as if the Bible really begins with Matthew and everything before that is just background material.
But Jesus never treated it that way. He did not see the Old Testament as a separate story. He saw it as His story. Every promise pointed to Him. Every sacrifice anticipated Him. Every failure made room for Him. When the story is lost, the meaning thins out. When the story is recovered, clarity returns.
The Bible is not a disconnected series of self-help tales. God’s Word outlines God’s work to redeem God’s people. Until we read it that way, we will keep missing both its power and its purpose.
