(NOTE: OT = Old Testament; NT = New Testament)
The whole thought and concept of reading the Bible requires a certain motivation. I believe the natural inclination is to ignore it. Questions about life and death and the existence of eternity make it required reading.
Somehow, you need to decide what the Bible is. Is it what it says it is… God’s Word to mankind? Or is it the writings of many wise ancient people? Is it fables?… Parables?
If the Bible is in fact God’s Word to mankind, then it is feasible that it contains the pattern for successful living, even today.
Most people who are excited to declare that Jesus Christ is their LORD, will claim that the Bible is the authentic Word of God. How can they know this? The Bible explains that when you make Jesus Lord of your life, the Holy Spirit is deposited in you as an “assurance” of the hope you have… the assurance that Heaven is yours.
1 John 2:27 NT
But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.
Once you have experienced the reality of God’s Presence through the Holy Spirit, then the Holy Spirit confirms to you the authenticity of the Holy Scriptures, which is the Bible… that it is God’s Word.
2 Corinthians 5:5 NT
Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
I believe if a person does a sincere search through the Scriptures, they will recognize a common message from one writer to another, whether written almost 4000 years ago by God’s Prophets, or 2000 years ago by the Apostles and followers of Christ.
Bible Facts: There are 66 Books in the Bible… 39 in the Old Testament (B.C. = Before Christ or before Jesus) and 27 Books in the New Testament (A.D. = After the Death of Jesus)
There is a LINK below that gives more details about the Bible. Its introductory paragraph is as follows:
“The Bible was written over a period of roughly 2,000 years by 40 different authors from three continents, who wrote in three different languages. These facts alone make the Bible one of a kind, but there are many more amazing details that defy natural explanation.”
For further research on the details of the Bible and the various authors, I am including this LINK:
With so many authors over a couple of millennia, it is more than impressive that the themes are common… that God has an unfailing Love for His people… and that according to His plan, He made them able to be His sons and daughters. He made possible the way of Salvation, through Jesus.