Portal:Bible

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The Bible is what the Jewish and Christian Holy book is called. The term carries various meanings, depending on the religious context in which it is used. For Jews, the term "Bible" refers to the Tanakh (Heb., תָּנָ״ךְ), an acronym formed from the Hebrew names of the three divisions of the Jewish Scriptures: Law (Torah), Prophets (Nevi'im), and Writings (Ketuvim). To Christians, the term incorporates both the Tanakh, or "Old Testament," and the New Testament. Not all Christians have the same number of books in the Bible, i.e Roman Catholics have 73 books to the Bible, while Protestants have 66. The 7 extra books are usually referred to by the Roman Catholic Church as "Deuterocanonicals" since they were added in a second phase to the original Bible Canon.

Opinions vary as to the historical truth contained within the pages of the Bible. Conservative Christians tend to view the Bible as it is described by Paul in 2 Timothy 3:16, namely that "all Scripture is given by God's inspiration" (Gr., θεόπνευστος, literally "God-breathed"). Thus, in their evaluation, the original text of the Bible was literally given by the inspiration of God. Although they do not accept Paul's writing, Orthodox Jews assent to the view that the Tanakh (especially the Torah) was given by God's inspiration. Among religious liberals, this is subject to criticism. While most liberal theologians view the Bible as a book of inspired history, others view it as a record from ancient history that reflects the specific perspectives of those who recorded a religious story. The continuum of beliefs regarding the Bible's texts covers the entire range of human experience, from full faith and trust to disbelief and criticism.

The text has been translated into more than 2,100 languages, and with more than five billion copies sold since 1815, it is the best-selling book of all-time.

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The Book of Leviticus is the third book of the Hebrew Bible, and the third of five books of the Torah/Pentateuch. Leviticus contains laws and priestly rituals, but in a wider sense is about the working out of God's covenant with Israel set out in Genesis and Exodus – what is seen in the Torah as the consequences of entering into a special relationship with God (specifically, Yahweh). These consequences are set out in terms of community relationships and behaviour. The first 16 chapters and the last chapter make up the Priestly Code, with rules for ritual cleanliness, sin-offerings, and the Day of Atonement, including Chapter 12 which mandates male circumcision. Chapters 17-26 contain the Holiness Code, including the injunction in chapter 19 to "love one's neighbor as oneself" (the Great Commandment). The book is largely concerned with "abominations", largely dietary and sexual restrictions. The rules are generally addressed to the Israelites, except for several prohibitions which are applied equally to "the strangers that sojourn in Israel." According to tradition, Moses authored Leviticus as well as the other four books of the Torah. However, modern biblical scholars believe Leviticus to be almost entirely from the priestly source (P), marked by emphasis on priestly concerns, composed c 550-400 BC, and incorporated into the Torah c 400 BC. (more...)

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Did you know...

...that The Sheep and the Goats or "The Judgment of the Nations" was a discourse of Jesus recorded in the New Testament.

...that the Northern Kingdom of Israel is sometimes referred to as Ephraim, which was the dominant tribe, and that the Southern Kingdom of Judah included Jerusalem.

...that the number of gold talents that King Solomon collected in a single year was 666. 1 Kings 10:14, 2 Chronicles 9:13

...that the word Christian only appears three times in the Bible, while the musical term selah appears 74 times in the Bible (NASB)

...that Methuselah died in the year of the Flood. Genesis 5

...that Ezekiel saw a creature like a wheel and full of eyes. Ezekiel 1

...that the word hilasterion, which is translated as mercy seat in Hebrews (9:5), is also used to describe Jesus. Romans 3:25

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Quotations

"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Since you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me." - Matthew 25:40

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke 19:10

"Whosoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman."--2 Chronicles 15:13

"…thou shalt teach them (God’s words) diligently unto thy children…" — Deuteronomy 6:7

"Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read…" — Isaiah 34:16

"How is it that you say, We are wise and the law of the Lord is with us? Lo, the lying pen of the scribes has made it false." Jeremiah 8:8

"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." — John 5:39

"But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." Matthew 15:9

"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." — Romans 15:4

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15

"Even so, faith on its own without works is dead." - Epistle of James 2:17

"Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand." — Revelations 1:3

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:18-20

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