The Old Testament

As I read each book in The Old Testament, I’ll update the pages as listed below.

While talking to another friend about this reading challenge, we discussed the Bible. He asked me simply, “What is the Bible?” Before beginning this journey, my first instinct was to say it is simple: a series of stories. Now that I have started reading it and researched as I go through it. I find that my answer is not as simplistic.

The question “What is the Bible?” is more complex than it might seem at first glance. Several key factors shape how we understand the Bible: The version and translation matter significantly - different traditions use different collections of texts, and translations vary based on the era, scholars, and publishing houses involved. Each translation brings its interpretations and choices about which texts to include and how to arrange them.

Moreover, readers bring their perspectives and contexts when interpreting the Bible. This raises an important theological question: Does translating and contextualizing the Bible diminish its divine authority, or should we view these ongoing interpretations as part of how divine revelation unfolds through human understanding?

With that said, my answer to that question now is quite different. It is a reflection of the author, reader, archaeological finds, versions, and societies’ interpretations of the day. The Bible isn’t just a static text but instead a dynamic interaction between the written word and human engagement across time.