Note: This section deals with a description of the Bible as a text. For information about Biblical content and interpretation, go to "Understanding the Bible".

The Bible is a library which holds a range of texts that the Christian community believes to be a form of sacred revelation from God. It is divided into two (very unequal in length) 'halves'. The modern average English-speaking Protestant Bible contains a total of sixty six books across the two Testaments - 39 in the Hebrew Bible and the remainder in the New Testament. They vary enormously in length, purpose, content and audience. 

The first 'half' (which is actually about 3/4 of Biblical material) is the Hebrew Bible. More commonly referred to as the Old Testament, we use the term Hebrew Bible here out of respect and acknowledgement that it remains the living memory of the Jewish people, and for that community it has not been replaced by anything 'new'. The name Hebrew refers to the language that most of this collection of books was originally written in (part of the Book of Daniel was also written in another ancient language called Aramaic). The Hebrew Bible was all written before the life and ministry of Jesus, and focuses on the law, prophetic wisdom and writings of the ancient Israelites (an ancient name for the Jewish people). In particular, it focuses on their role as a unique people with a unique relationship, or 'covenant', with One God. More information on this is available on the Hebrew Bible page.

The second 'half' (more like 1/4) of the Bible was originally written in Greek. It is called the New Testament, as Christians believe that it gives us a new understanding of God's action in the world. Through its collection of Letters and Gospels (a unique form of writing that uses Jesus' life story to make claims about the nature of God), the New Testament explains how the unique covenant with the Israelites is extended (important to note: not replaced!) to a community of belief through the life and action of Jesus of Nazareth. You can read more on the New Testament page.