We reflect on the Bible

The Bible is a collection of books, which were written by different people at different times and places.

Catholics believe that the whole Bible is the word of God. We say that it was inspired - that God influenced the writers in a special way so that the truth was told.

The Bible captures the lively reflections of a people on a Spirit-led journey through life; whose convictions are capable of breathing life into our own experiences today. Although the Bible was formulated and recorded by human hands, in a more primary way it is considered to be the word and work of God.

The Bible is divided into two parts called the Old Testament and the New Testament. A testament or a covenant is an agreement, an understanding between two parties.

The Old Testament relates the promises of a loving God to the Jews, the Chosen people of Israel. The Old Testament was written by the community of faith who preceded the birth of the Christian Church and who is, to this day, an important part of its history.

The New Testament is the book of the early Church. It is the reflections of those who accepted Jesus and entered into a renewed relationship with God. Its writings come to us like letters from the first Christians, yearning for future generations to know and share in the joy of the risen Lord, as they knew him then.

Christians believe the Bible is the 'word of God' - the story of God's loving plan for humankind. Catholics also speak of the Bible as 'the Church's book'. For Catholics, it reflects the life of a community and takes on its full meaning only in the life of the Catholic community.