What is the Bible? [Animated Explainer]

Summary

The video script from The Bible Project explores the Bible as a collection of influential texts, tracing its origins from ancient Israel to its current form. It delves into the literary prowess of the prophets, the formation of the Jewish Scriptures (TaNaK), and the subsequent Christian writings including the Gospels and letters. The script discusses the historical context, the debate over which texts to include, and the unified narrative that leads to Jesus, offering profound wisdom for today's world.

Takeaways

• 📚 The Bible is a collection of books that originated from the history of ancient Israel and is considered a library of texts rather than a single book.
• 🌟 The Bible includes the works of prophets who were literary geniuses, using sophisticated language to explore complex questions about life, death, and human struggle.
• 🕋 The Jewish Scriptures are structured into three sections: Torah (Law), Nevi'im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings), reflecting a diverse range of literary forms.
• 📖 The formation of the Jewish Scriptures took place during pivotal moments in Israel's history, including the Babylonian exile and the building of the second temple.
• 🔍 The Second Temple period saw the production of various Jewish writings, some of which were debated for inclusion in the Scriptures.
• 🚀 The New Testament is a collection of writings about Jesus and the early Christian movement, which the apostles saw as a continuation and fulfillment of the Jewish Scriptures.
• 🌐 Early Christians recognized the TaNaK (Old Testament) and the New Testament as Scripture, but views on other Second Temple literature varied among different Christian groups.
• 📚 The Catholic Church officially recognized additional books known as deuterocanonical books, while Protestant Christians narrowed their canon to the Old and New Testaments during the Reformation.
• 🔗 The Bible is seen as a unified story that culminates in Jesus, offering wisdom and a narrative of God's work through humanity to bring order and beauty to the world.
• 🌟 The BibleProject aims to show that the Bible is a coherent narrative leading to Jesus and provides resources to help people understand its stories and teachings.
• 💼 The BibleProject offers free resources, including videos and handouts, to help anyone understand the Bible, supported by the community's contributions.

Q & A

What is the Bible according to the script?

The Bible is described as a small library of books that emerged from the history of the people of ancient Israel, encompassing narratives, poetry, and writings by prophets exploring life's most complicated questions.

Why were the prophets considered literary geniuses?

The prophets were considered literary geniuses because they expertly crafted the Hebrew language to write epic narratives, sophisticated poetry, and were masters of metaphor and storytelling.

What historical events are mentioned in the script that influenced the formation of the Jewish Scriptures?

The script mentions the origins of Israel in Egypt, the establishment of their kingdom with the first temple, their conquest by the Babylonians, and the return from exile to build a second temple and reform their identity.

What does the acronym TaNaK represent in the Hebrew Bible?

TaNaK is an acronym for the three main divisions of the Hebrew Bible: Torah (the Law), Nevi'im (the Prophets), and Ketuvim (the Writings).

What is the significance of the Torah in the Jewish Scriptures?

The Torah, represented by the 'T' in TaNaK, is Israel's five-book foundation story and is considered the starting point of the Jewish narrative.

How did the Second Temple period contribute to the development of the Bible?

During the Second Temple period, many Jewish writings were produced and valued in Jewish communities, some of which were debated for inclusion in the Scriptures, contributing to the diversity of texts.

What role did Jesus of Nazareth play according to the script?

Jesus of Nazareth is portrayed as a Jewish prophet who claimed to carry forward the story of the TaNaK, with his followers believing he was the long-awaited leader who would restore the world.

What were the 'Gospels' according to the script?

The 'Gospels' were new literary works composed by the apostles about the story of Jesus, which they called 'good news' and saw as the fulfillment of the epic story found in the TaNaK.

Why did Protestant Christians only accept the Old and New Testaments during the Reformation?

Protestants wanted to return to the oldest writings of the prophets and apostles, thus they accepted only the Old and New Testaments, excluding the deuterocanonical books accepted by the Catholic Church.

What is the purpose of the BibleProject as mentioned in the script?

The BibleProject aims to show that the Bible is a unified story that leads to Jesus and offers profound wisdom for the modern world through the creation of videos and other resources.

How can someone access more detailed information and resources from the BibleProject video?

Interested individuals can visit the BibleProject's website at jointhebibleproject.com, where they can find a handout that accompanies the video and other resources for free.