The Bible – How It Came to Be: A Brief History of the Bible

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Have you ever wondered how we got the book we call the Bible? The Hidden Path To Healing They Don’t Want You To See

Key Points About Work in th eBible Every Christian Should Know

The Bible contains 66 books and was written by more than 40 authors over a period of roughly 1,500 years. It’s divided into two major sections or testaments. We call these the Old and New Testament. Together these sections make up one large story that centers on humanity’s problem (sin) and God’s solution to send His Son to rescue humanity from this problem.

How a Book Got Included in th eBible

The Jews accepted the Old Testament books we have today as the Word of God centuries before Jesus’ birth. Jesus affirmed the divine origin of these same books and even quoted from most of them in His teachings. After His death, His apostles (those chosen and sent by Jesus as His representatives) and others began teaching and writing on Christian faith, beliefs and practices. As false teachers began disrupting matters, the early church had to decide which writings to recognize as inspired by God.

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They had two basic tests for inclusion in th eBible:

  1. The test of the apostle: Was it written by an apostle or one closely associated with an apostle?
  2. The test of antiquity: Had the church recognized these books as God’s words given to men?

We find the first list of New Testament books that mirror our New Testament today in a letter written by Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, in A.D. 367. Three councils endorsed these books as Scripture as well. There has been a widespread agreement regarding the New Testament books from this time to the present day.

Storyline of the Old Testament

In the first five books of the Bible, Moses tells of the creation of the world, the corruption that begins wreaking havoc on it and the promises God makes to set it all right. God’s plan is to choose a people through whom He will bring restoration and blessing to all of creation.

In the historical books, God’s people enter the promised land of Canaan, but their peace is short-lived as they begin worshipping the false gods of the pagan nations. After years of patiently urging His people to return to Him, God eventually sends them into exile. A glimmer of hope shines forth as a remnant of God’s people return to their land and begin rebuilding their ruined city.

When you come to the poetical books, we receive poetic commentary with foreshadowings of future things, both good and bad.

The final sections of the Major and Minor Prophets continue to call the people back to following God. They speak with hope and conviction about God’s promise and plan to rescue the world through His Son, the promised Savior.

Storyline of th eBible New Testament

Whereas the Old Testament prepares us for the arrival of God’s Son through prophetic glimpses, the New Testament shows Him to us plainly.

The Gospels explicitly reveal Jesus of Nazareth as the long-awaited and promised Savior. They focus particularly on His crucifixion and resurrection through which He works to rescue humanity from the problems of sin and death. The Book of Acts recounts the founding of the early church and the spread of the gospel to various nations. The remainder of the New Testament includes various letters written to teach, encourage and correct wrong beliefs and behaviors. It closes by revealing things that will happen when Jesus returns.

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Th eBible makes it clear that work matters to God. No matter what your profession or occupation – whether you’re a parent, a bus driver, an artist or an engineer – God cares about your work. Here are ten key points about work drawn from the Bible. They provide a practical foundation for Christians asking what the Bible says about how we should approach our work.

  • 1) Work is part of God’s big picture. God created all things and He has revealed that, in His sovereignty, He is progressing created order through a process of Creation, Fall and Redemption. God’s created order started with the perfect garden (Garden of Eden) and will be consummated in the perfect city (New Jerusalem).
    • Explore this idea further by reading the following Bible verses:
    • Click to explore these passages in the Theology of Work Bible Commentary:
      • Genesis 1
      • Genesis 2
  • 2) Our actual work matters to God, now and eternally. God has chosen to create men and women in His image to, among other things, work and tend this created order for His glory and for the betterment of humankind.  In ways we can’t fully understand, the good work we do now, done with and for Him, will survive into the New Jerusalem. Work itself has intrinsic value.Also READ: ==> The Hidden Path To Healing They Don’t Want You To SeeCommentary:
      • Genesis 1:27
      • Genesis 2:5 & 2:15
      • Isaiah 65:21-23
      • Ephesians 2:10
      • Revelation 21:24-27
  • 3) God provides us with unique skills, gifts and talents, and calls us to particular roles and activities. Although the roles might have apparent differences in importance, our callings are equal. They are a spiritual calling. There are no second-class callings from God.  We will be worthy of this calling if we are devoted in our relationship with Him and look to Him only for leadership and strength.
  • 4) Quality, character, and ethics are foundational for our work. We are responsible not only for the quality of our work, but also for our faithfulness to God in the way we pursue that work, and for our own good character while working. We will be judged and rewarded accordingly. However, God is ultimately responsible for the outcome and impact of our work.
  • 5) Our work is yoked with Christ. We should work as if yoked to Jesus Christ. The “foundation of His throne is Righteousness and Justice, with Love and Faithfulness going before Him.” Our work, and the decisions we make, should be based on these principles: aligned with God’s moral standards, always concerned with the fair treatment of others and with a clear expression of Christ’s love for all people.
  • 6) Our work should be centered on service to others. From the products and services we provide, to providing fair financial rewards, and providing opportunities for others to exercise their gifts and talents. Our work is an opportunity to seek the peace and well being of our organizations, cities, and nations. Humility and gratitude should be the hallmark of our character. We should always acknowledge God in our work and consider that being an ambassador for Him is a weighty, but honored, responsibility.
  • 7) A rhythm of work and rest is essential to life. God invites us into a deliberate pattern of regular rest. These periods of rest are intended to be restorative and are also opportunities to intentionally take time to consider Christ and our relationship with Him.
    • Explore this idea further by reading the following Bible passages:
    • Click to explore these passages in the Theology of Work th eBible Commentary:
      • Exodus 20:8-11
      • John 15:4
      • Hebrews 4:10
  • 8) The use of wealth and our investments should be directed by God.  We should allow God to direct the use of all that He has provided through our work for the betterment of others and the furthering of His kingdom. These provisions include our gifts, time, financial capability and influence.
  • 9) God’s work multiplies through relationships and through the local church:  We need to be in relationship with other followers of Christ to provide support and accountability. We should look for mentors and look to mentor others. We should commit to our local church body and help to bring the world of work into the church and the church into the world of work.
  • 10) Work is a gift from God.  We should always acknowledge that work is a gift from God, as is our ability to be happy in it. Alternatively, labor and achievement that spring from our envy of others is meaningless and will never bring contentment and joy.  We look forward to the day when we will work together in perfect harmony in the presence of God in the New Jerusalem.

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