Is Bible an acronym?
Have you ever wondered how the Bible got its name? What does the word “Bible” mean? Is it an acronym? Who wrote the Bible? Is it relevant and reliable for today? Why should we read it, and how often? What can we learn from the Bible about our lives right now and our lives after death? Let’s unpack the answers to these questions and more!
What is the Bible?
The Bible is God’s written message for all humans. The entire book, from cover to cover, is “God-breathed” or inspired by God. It is the most valuable book we can ever read as it teaches us what is really true. It helps us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. (2 Timothy 3:16)
The Bible is divided into two main sections. The Old Testament contains the history of the Jews and other ancient people. It tells about the covenant that God entered into with Abraham and with the Israelites. It includes the Psalms and other poetic books of prayers, songs of praise, and words of wisdom. The prophetic books gave insight into the present and the future for ancient people. Some of the prophesies are for us today!
The New Testament tells about the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus. It unfolds the beginnings of the church and the teachings of Jesus’ apostles. The New Testament gives invaluable information about eternal life and how to live right now. It tells how the church should be organized and how it should function. It describes what will happen at the end of the world.
What does “Bible” mean? How did the Bible get its name?
The earliest Christians mostly spoke Koine Greek. They used the Greek word graphé, which meant “scriptures” or “writing.”
The Koine Greek word for “book” was bíblos. John Chrysostom was an early church father in the 4th century, writing in Greek and Latin. He used the Greek word bíblos and the similar Latin phrase ta biblia for the Old and New Testaments. The term “Bible” came from that.
There is no acronym for “Bible”
As mentioned above, the word “Bible” is not an acronym but the English version of the word bíblos in Greek and biblia in Latin.
However, the Jewish word for the Old Testament is ’Tanakh.” Tanakh or TaNaK is actually an acronym for the three parts of the Old Testament.
T = “Torah,” the first five books of the Bible, or the Book of Moses.
N = “Neviʾim,” the prophets.
K = “Ketuvim” or the writings (the poetic books and history books that aren’t in the Torah).
The Jews added the vowel “a” after the “t” and “n” to make TaNaK, which they usually spell Tanakh.
Acronyms of the Bible that people like to use
Some folks have fun making an acronym from the letters in the word Bible:
B = BEST (or BASIC)
I = INFORMATION
B = BEFORE
L = LIFE
E = ENDS
Basic Instructions Before Life Ends
The acronym above sums up much of what the Bible is all about. It tells us how to be saved through faith in Jesus Christ’s atoning death and resurrection. It tells us how to live for God until our life ends. It tells us what to expect after we die. And it tells us what will happen at the world’s end when Jesus returns in His glory.
B = BASIC
I = INSTRUCTIONS
B = BEFORE
L = LEAVING
E = EARTH
Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.
This one is similar to the first. If we are believers, we will all leave this earth when Jesus returns in His glory. If we have already died, we will be resurrected and meet Him in the air.
- “In an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.” (1 Corinthians 15:52-53)
- “After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:17)
Yet, before the rapture, the world will pass through the end times, and God’s Word tells us what will happen in those days. (Matthew 24, Mark 13:1-8, Luke 21:5-9, Book of Revelation)
B = BIBLICAL
I = INSIGHTS FOR
B = BASIC
L = LIVING
E = EVERYDAY
Biblical Insights For Basic Living Everyday
Reading the Bible teaches you to rely on God’s strength, not your own, when facing tough times. Physical strength, mental acumen, and spiritual power are all yours through His Holy Spirit’s work in you.
- “Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.” (Isaiah 40:31)
We all have a lot of false information fed to us daily through the TV and other media, through wrong opinions of colleagues or family, or through our own negative thoughts. Reading the Bible daily sets the record straight, enabling us to discern truth and reject untruths. We can lean on God’s promises and not the world’s so-called wisdom.
- “He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (2 Peter 1:4)
Reading the Bible daily reminds us of the resources God has given us to fight against Satan’s strategies.
- “Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed, and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take
- the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:13-17)
B = BOOK
I = INSPIRED
B = BY
L = LORD
E = ETERNAL
Book Inspired By Lord Eternal
- “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16, Berean Study Bible)
Most Bible versions translate the word “God-breathed” as “inspired.” But the Greek word is theopneustos, which literally means “God-breathed.” Yes, it means inspired, but only a particular sense of the word inspired. Some definitions of “inspired” mean a creative impulse or something that moves the intellect or emotions.
“God-breathed” means God literally breathed the words into the spirit and mind of the humans who wrote them down. They weren’t human opinions; they were the precise words of God. God spoke through the prophets in the same way:
- “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation. For no such prophecy was ever brought forth by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20-21)
B = BEHOLD
I = I
B = BRING
L = LIFE
E = ETERNAL
Behold I Bring Life Eternal
- “Truly, truly, I say to you, the one who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.” (John 5:24)
Eternal life is our promise from Jesus! We don’t need to fear death, and we don’t need to fear the end of the world.
Who wrote the Bible?
Both the Old and New Testament are not simply one book, but multiple books, written by different people over hundreds of years, but all inspired by God. The Old Testament has 39 books, the New Testament has 27 books. Altogether, it’s 66 books.
So, the answer to “who wrote the Bible” is: God! But He used about 40 people to write His words down.
Is the Bible reliable?
It’s the most reliable book you’ll ever read. Any other book is written by humans based on their opinions and limited understanding. God, the Creator of the Universe, dictated the Bible. He knows all things, past, present, and future.
The Bible is more reliable than any other ancient book (or modern book, for that matter). Recent archaeological finds have confirmed many places and events in the Bible that scholars doubted were true. No archaeological discovery has contradicted the Bible.
Why should I read the Bible daily?
Reading the Bible daily gives you hope when you’re down and builds up your faith as you read God’s promises. It gives instructions when you don’t know how to turn and comfort when you’re sad. It points out sinful areas of your life, for which you need to confess and repent.
By reading the Bible regularly, you learn who God is. You learn about His character, how He has acted in the lives of people through history, His power, and what He wants for you. You learn about ethics from God’s point of view, not the changing world’s.
Most importantly, reading the Bible teaches you how to have a relationship with God, grow in your faith, and walk in the Spirit. It teaches you about gifts the Holy Spirit gives that empower you to serve the church.
Conclusion
The Bible is the best-selling book of all history. It is also the best-selling book each year, and for good reason! The Bible is unlike any other book. Reading it will literally change your life if you follow what it says. It will transform your life on earth and when this world ends. God’s Word restores your soul and helps you think correctly. It teaches you everything you need to know. If you aren’t in the habit of reading the Bible daily, now is a great time to start!
