The Bible
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
Summary
The library of a civilization. It is not just a religious text; it is an anthology of history, poetry, law, prophecy, and philosophy that has shaped the Western world more than any other book. From the creation of the cosmos in Genesis to the apocalypse in Revelation, it tells the epic story of the relationship between the human and the divine. It contains the most famous stories ever told: Adam and Eve, Noah's Ark, David and Goliath, and the life of Jesus. But it also contains erotic poetry (Song of Solomon), existential despair (Ecclesiastes), and political revolution (Exodus). It is a mirror of the human condition in all its glory and brokenness, exploring themes of sin, redemption, and the search for meaning.
Why Read This?
You cannot understand art, literature, or history without it. It is the source code of Western culture. Whether you read it as the word of God or as a masterpiece of literature, its influence is inescapable. It has shaped our laws, our ethics, and our very language. The King James Version, in particular, is a monument of English prose. Its rhythms and phrases—'salt of the earth', 'broken hearted', 'sign of the times'—are woven into the way we speak. To read it is to go back to the root of storytelling itself, encountering the archetypes that have defined human consciousness for millennia.
About the Author
Written over a span of 1,500 years by dozens of authors—shepherds, kings, fishermen, and scholars—on three continents. It is a collective work of a people trying to understand their place in the universe. Despite its diversity of voices and genres, it maintains a remarkable unity of theme. It remains the best-selling and most translated book in human history, a testament to its enduring power to speak to the human heart across every barrier of time and culture.
Reading Guide
Ranked #18 among the greatest books of all time, The Bible by Various has earned its place in the literary canon. Originally written in Hebrew / Greek and published in c. 1200 BC – 100 AD, this variable read from Ancient Near East continues to resonate with readers today.
This book belongs to our Philosophy & Faith collection, where you can discover more books that share its spirit and themes.
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