The Bible is the written form of divine tradition that has been handed down to us by Christ Jesus through his apostles and their successors. It presents to us the fundamental shape and structure of reality and serves as a link between heaven and earth.
It does this primarily through narrative, with supporting poetic and wisdom texts. The Bible tells a story, our story, that explains where everything came from (creation), how it went wrong (fall), how it’s been healed (redemption), and where it’s all headed (consummation). It is one of the primary ways in which we come to know and love God.
We are able to come know and love God through the Bible because it is a record of His words and deeds throughout history.
Paragraph 6 of Dei Verbum teaches: “Through divine revelation, God chose to show forth and communicate Himself and the eternal decisions of His will regarding the salvation of men. That is to say, He chose to share with them those divine treasures which totally transcend the understanding of the human mind.”
Understanding the purpose of divine revelation in general, and the Bible in particular, will help us to understand what the Bible is. As stated above, the purpose of Scripture is to communicate truths about God and the salvation of men. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 states this clearly, “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.”
The Bible is a book that teaches us about how to live in proper relationship with God. The aim of Scripture is salvation, not science or history. Thus, to approach the Scriptures as a historian, though the Scriptures are rooted in history, is to miss the point. Likewise, to approach the Scriptures as a scientist, though the Scriptures tell us something about nature, is to miss the point.
In the Scriptures we encounter Christ, who is the fullness of divine revelation. The catechism says it this way in paragraph 65-“In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son.” Christ, the Son of God made man, is the Father’s one, perfect and unsurpassable Word. In him he has said everything; there will be no other word than this one.”
Thus, the Bible, because it testifies to Christ who is the fullness of revelation, is a closed canon. There is no new revelation to be added.
To recap, the Bible is the foundational text(s) of Christianity. It reveals the nature and desires of God to humanity. It is a point of real contact between heaven and earth that places us within the fundamental narrative of existence. It tells us who we are, why we are, and where we’re going.
