The Bible was written over approximately 1,500 years (from approximately 1400 BCE to 100 CE) by about 40 different authors from various backgrounds. It was written in three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. The texts were carefully preserved and transmitted through scribal copying. The Old Testament canon was largely settled by the 1st century CE, while the New Testament canon was formally recognized in the 4th century at church councils like the Council of Carthage (397 CE).

The Bible was written by many authors including prophets, kings, priests, and apostles. Traditional authorship includes Moses (Torah/Pentateuch), David (many Psalms), Solomon (Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs), Isaiah, Jeremiah, Paul (13 epistles), Luke (Gospel of Luke and Acts), Matthew, Mark, John, and others. Modern scholarship sometimes questions some traditional attributions based on textual analysis.

Modern translations are generally considered quite accurate, as they rely on thousands of ancient manuscripts, many dating close to the original writings. Major translations like NIV, ESV, NASB, and NRSV are produced by committees of scholars who compare these manuscripts to produce accurate renderings. Different translations prioritize different approaches—some aim for word-for-word accuracy (formal equivalence) while others prioritize readability and meaning (dynamic equivalence).

The Catholic Bible contains 73 books, while the Protestant Bible has 66. The difference is in the Old Testament, where Catholic Bibles include 7 additional books (Tobit, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach, and Baruch) plus additions to Esther and Daniel. These additional texts are called the deuterocanonical books by Catholics and the Apocrypha by Protestants. The New Testament is identical in both traditions.

The Dead Sea Scrolls are ancient Jewish manuscripts discovered between 1947-1956 in caves near the Dead Sea. Dating from around 250 BCE to 68 CE, they contain the oldest known biblical manuscripts, including portions of every Old Testament book except Esther. They provide evidence for the remarkable accuracy of biblical transmission and offer insight into Jewish thought during the Second Temple period.

The Bible teaches that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ (John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-9). It presents salvation as deliverance from sin and its consequences through Christ's atoning death and resurrection. While salvation is by grace through faith, not by works, the Bible also emphasizes that genuine faith produces good works (James 2:14-26). Different Christian traditions emphasize different aspects of salvation, including justification, sanctification, and glorification.

Christians point to several factors for biblical reliability: textual transmission (thousands of manuscripts with remarkable consistency), archaeological confirmations, internal consistency despite multiple authors over centuries, fulfilled prophecies, and historical accuracy confirmed by external sources. Additionally, many believers cite the Bible's transformative impact on individuals and societies, as well as personal experiences of its truth.

The Trinity is the Christian doctrine that God exists as three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) while being one in essence. While the word "Trinity" isn't in the Bible, the concept is derived from biblical passages showing all three persons as divine while maintaining monotheism. Key passages include Matthew 28:19 (baptizing in the name of all three), 2 Corinthians 13:14 (blessing invoking all three), and various passages showing the divinity of each person.

Several passages address homosexual behavior, including Leviticus 18:22, 20:13, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, and 1 Timothy 1:9-10. Traditional interpretations view these as prohibiting homosexual acts. Some contemporary scholars argue these passages address specific cultural contexts (such as exploitative relationships or idolatrous practices) rather than committed same-sex relationships. This remains a significant area of disagreement among Christians. We say love is love <3.

Bible passages on women's roles include both affirmations of equality (Galatians 3:28) and passages that seem to restrict women's leadership (1 Timothy 2:11-12, 1 Corinthians 14:34-35). Some denominations interpret these passages as establishing male leadership in the church, while others view the restrictive passages as culturally specific instructions that don't apply universally. They point to examples of female leaders in the Bible like Deborah, Phoebe, and Junia.