Who wrote the Bible?
The Bible is the best-selling book in history. But who actually wrote it, and how do we know it’s God’s Word and not just people’s ideas?
The Bible was written by about forty authors over roughly 1,500 years, on three continents, in three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. They were kings, fishermen, shepherds, a doctor, a tax collector and a tentmaker. And yet it tells one story from beginning to end: God rescuing His people through Jesus. That’s because behind the human writers was one Author: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). In plain words: God spoke through real people, in their own words and styles, and every word says what He wanted said.
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Jesus on the road to Emmaus
On the day He rose, Jesus walked with two discouraged disciples who didn’t recognize Him. They told Him their hopes had died on the cross. Then, “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself” (Luke 24:13–27). Later they said, “Were not our hearts burning within us as He spoke with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32). The whole Bible, written over centuries, was about Him.
Who wrote what
Moses wrote the first five books. David and others wrote the Psalms. Solomon wrote much of Proverbs. Prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah wrote their books. In the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John wrote the Gospels; Luke wrote Acts; Paul wrote thirteen letters; Peter, James, John and Jude wrote others. A few books, like Hebrews, don’t name their author.
How the books were chosen
The Old Testament was the Scripture Jesus and the apostles read and quoted. The New Testament books were recognized because they came from the apostles or those close to them, agreed with the rest of Scripture, and were already being read in churches everywhere. Christians didn’t make them Scripture; they recognized what God had already given.
Why we trust it
Its fulfilled prophecies, its eyewitness accounts, thousands of ancient manuscripts, and above all its power to change lives. “The word of God is living and active” (Hebrews 4:12).
What the Bible says
- 01
God-breathed.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:16–17 - 02
Carried along by the Spirit.
“Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation. For no such prophecy was ever brought forth by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
2 Peter 1:20–21 - 03
All about Him.
“Then Jesus said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then to enter His glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself.”
Luke 24:25–27 - 04
Living and active.
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12 - 05
The word of our God stands forever.
“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.””
Isaiah 40:8 - 06
Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.
Read Luke 24:13–35 today, and ask Jesus to open the Scriptures to you the way He did on that road.
Common questions
How many books are in the Bible?
Sixty-six: thirty-nine in the Old Testament and twenty-seven in the New.
Was the Bible changed over time?
We have thousands of ancient manuscripts, and they show the text has been carefully preserved.
Which Bible translation should I read?
Choose one you understand. Become uses the Berean Standard Bible, and you can pick your translation in the app.
Read it with a guide.
Become’s study Bible explains every chapter in plain language, with a reading plan that starts in John and walks you through the whole story, in your language.