There are many religious books in this world. As a truth seeker, you may have many legitimate questions about the Bible like:

• Is Bible truly the Word of God?
• Isn’t it just another religious book with some do’s and don’ts?
• What differentiates the Bible from all other literary works and religious books ?

This article is an honest effort to find answers to such important questions

We have listed a few factors that differentiate bible from other religious and literary works below

Unity and Harmony of the Bible

Multilayered unity in the formation of the Bible

The amazing unity of the Bible is an irrefutable internal evidence of the divine planning and origin of this book. To really understand Bible’s order and unity, one should see it against the backdrop of its great multiplicity. Bible’s unity in diversity in the below mentioned areas reveals the hand of a divine author in the formation of this amazing book.

1. Multiplicity of Books
   Bible is a collection of 66 different writings. But they are not seen as a compilation of 66 different books, but clearly as one book- The Bible.
2. Multiplicity of Authors and Years
   The 66 books of the Bible were written by 40 different authors over a period of about 1500 years (1450 BC to 100 AD). These authors were not just priests or theologians, but people from different walks of life- shepherds, farmers, fishermen, tentmakers, doctors, philosophers, statesman and kings. They were spread across many generations and most of whom never met one another. The individual writers at the time of writing had no idea that their message was eventually to be incorporated into one such book called the Bible. The only thing they had in common was the claim that what they wrote was inspired by one true God.Almost all other religious books are penned by a single person based on some vision or enlightenment that they claim to have received during his lifetime. There are chances that these books could be the ideas or result of a single person trying to propagate his ideas. Moreover it would be difficult to determine the veracity of that single author because he alone has claimed to see the vision. Investigate this yourself.
3. Multiplicity of Locations and Languages
   The Biblical writings were composed in 3 different continents- Asia, Africa and Europe. The Bible was written in three different languages- Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic. The Old Testament was written mostly in Hebrew with some parts being composed in Aramaic. The New Testament was originally written in Greek.
4. Multiplicity of Circumstances
   The authors wrote the Biblical books while undergoing different situations and moods, in widely different regions and cultures. It was written in different places and situations such as wilderness (Moses), dungeon (Jeremiah), palace (Daniel), prison (Paul), while travelling (Luke), in times of peace (Solomon) and some others in the rigors of a military campaign (David). Some of these writings were written during the heights of joy and some others from the depths of sorrow and despair.
5. Multiplicity of Subjects and Literary Genre
   The Bible covers a variety of subjects. These include the existence and nature of God, the creation of the universe, origin of mankind, the meaning and purpose of human existence, the final destiny of the planet earth, life after death and many other topics. The Bible deals with many controversial subjects, but to one’s amaze none of them are contradicting in nature.The Bible consists of a number of different literary forms. It has a collection of letters, sermons, law, poetry, wisdom literature, narratives of historical events, prayer, praise and prophecy. The books of the Bible contain a wide array of writing styles which express the entire range of human emotions. Bible is a religious text but it is also a work of literature. In fact, it’s a literary masterpiece! Think about a book written over a period of 1500 years, by 40 different authors from different continents, who do not even know each other, who wrote in different languages, in different circumstances, upon different subjects, and in different literary forms. With all these contrasts what could one expect when their writings were assembled into one book? Something chaotic and disjointed, right? Read on, to find out.(SOURCED FROM WWW.ANSWERSTOLIFE.ORG CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE