What is the Bible for?

The Bible is a declaration of dependence

What’s the Bible for? We asked dozens of writers to respond to this question in seven words or less, as well as to expand on their response in a few sentences. To see all of the responses together as they are posted, bookmark this page.

The Bible is a declaration of dependence

Bibles take many different forms. Apart from the Jewish version, Christian churches take different approaches to the texts to which they give full canonical authority. Regardless, all Bibles make the same common declaration, from which all interpretations proceed: God created the world and controls it, and chooses and guides his people. God is the one fact on which all others depend.

 

 

Philip Jenkins

Philip Jenkins teaches at Baylor University. His latest book is Kingdoms of This World: How Empires Have Made and Remade Religions.

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