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1 THE INCREDIBLE BOOK The Bible is one of the most widely read books in history. It is also one of the most misunderstood. Much of the confusion results from a failure to grasp the overall message or central theme of the Bible. It is a "forest for the trees" problem. Often so much time is spent in the "trees" of different Bible doctrines that we miss the "forest" or big picture. Sometimes we need to step back to see this big picture. Grasping the overall theme of the Bible provides direction for deeper study as well as unity in the understanding and application of its teachings. Consider a few amazing facts about the Bible: •It is not just one book, but a collection of sixty-six books of law, poetry, his- tory, narrative, and prophecy (39 Old Testament, 27 New Testament). •It was authored by more than 40 men with varying degrees of education, dif- ferent nationalities, and diverse cultures from three continents (Africa, Eu- rope, and Asia). •It was written in three languages-Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. •It was produced over a period of about 1,500 years. There are many strong evidences for the inspiration of the Bible that one could consider in the fields of archeology, prophecy, or even science. One of the most intriguing and convincing evidences of the Bible is the internal evidence of the unified message it contains: God's amazing plan to redeem His fallen creatures. Each book reflects a unity of facts, teaching, and purpose supporting this theme. All history unfolded to accomplish God's purpose, and each book of the Bible is a single thread woven into this incredible tapestry. Ordinary men could never have created this book-time, history, and human nature would have prevented its existence and unity unless it was supernaturally directed by God. Its docu- ments have been more critically examined and investigated than any others. The statements of these 40 different authors are reliable and trustworthy. If we fail to understand the theme of the Bible, it will not matter what we choose to believe or practice in religion. God's plan of redemption, anchored in the writings of the Old Testament, was fulfilled in the New Testament. Here it is called the “gospel,” literally meaning “good news.” If it is our desire to understand The big picture of the Bible, we must consider and comprehend the importance of this gospel message.Continued by book author Kenneth W. Craig