The Bible As A Spiritual Text
Overall, the Bible does not refer to itself as the Bible. The term 'Bible' was a later application to the collective works of the Old and New Testaments.
The term 'Bible' is derived from the Greek word biblia, which means 'books.' The books of the Bible were not referred to as a collective work until well after the completion of the New Testament. The earliest reference to the Bible as a single book is found in the 4th century when the Latin version of the Bible was referred to as 'The Bible.' Prior to this, the Old Testament was referred to as the 'Law' and the New Testament as the 'Gospels.'
The Bible does not contain any direct references to itself as the Bible, but there are a few indirect references. For example, in 2 Timothy 3:16, Paul states that 'All Scripture is inspired by God,' which could be seen as a reference to the Bible. Additionally, in Revelation 22:18-19, Jesus warns against adding to or taking away from 'the words of the book of this prophecy,' which could be referring to the entire Bible.
Historically, it seems that people take the Bible literally because it is seen as an authoritative source of truth and wisdom. But, looking through the lens of information from my book and the chaos in our society today, it seems those beliefs are morphing.
Three Common Mistakes That Dilute The Spiritual Message In The Bible
The first reason is because of religious beliefs. Different religions have different interpretations of the Bible and for many, taking it literally is the only way to live according to their faith. This type of thinking is often based on the idea that the Bible is divinely inspired and therefore should be taken as it is written. My book proves that men wrote the Bible, not Jesus.
The second reason is because of its historical accuracy. Many people believe that the Bible is an accurate record of history, and that its stories are based in historical events. My book proves that factual history differs from what is portrayed in the Bible.
The third reason is many people see the Bible as a source of moral guidance. their direction of a moral compass, and take it literally in order to live out the commandments and teachings found within its pages. As I point out in my book, the optimum approach is living the spirit of the Bible as a moral compass because using a literal translation is not empowered with the spiritual divinity that creates life and is the basis from which the spirit of Jesus’s teachings emanates.
Donald L. O'Dell
August 9, 2023
