Witness Christ: Exploring the Original Face of the Bible, Colored Collector's Edition

Author: None
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-08-01
Features: Why did I write this book? — Nowadays, books flow out from printing presses around the world like a flood, yet I still chose to write this one? Allow me to be candid with you: throughout my writing process, my thoughts were always centered on my readers. They can be broadly categorized into two groups. One group consists of friends who are interested in religious literature. Religion has been a part of human society for thousands of years, not only as the faith of some but also as a profound influence on the entire cultural fabric of humanity. Naturally, many readers develop an interest in religion. They might view the Bible merely as one among many historical books, yet they yearn to understand what this book, recited by billions, truly contains? The other group consists of Christians. Some may have just come to faith, with little religious background; for them, the Bible is a book yet to be opened—a territory unexplored, uncharted. Others are long-standing believers who read the Bible daily with devotion. Yet one day, they suddenly realize their desire to truly grasp the words that have endured for millennia, translated into countless languages. Who wrote the Bible? When, where, and why was it written? What revelations does it offer? What grounds the claim to call it a "Holy Book," a special book, or the "Book of God"? How should one read and understand it? These questions are well-posed and demand answers. The Bible is vast in scope, and few of us can claim to have explored it entirely; its meanings are profound, and even fewer can fathom them fully. A superficial understanding of Christ leaves us impoverished. Today, some speak of Christ as if he were a syringe—one to be carried in a pocket, to inject a dose into oneself whenever feeling troubled, then drift off into fantasy. But faith cannot be used or manipulated. To fully comprehend the Bible, one must understand the context in which it was produced—the context in which God sent Jesus Christ to us. God sent Christ into the world within a specific geographical, historical, and religious environment. Simplified, God sent Christ at a particular time (a pivotal period in Jewish history), based on certain specific facts (the progressive revelation and permanent record in the Bible), to a particular place (Palestine). Therefore, in the chapters that follow, I will discuss the geography, history, and religion of the Bible, as well as its authority and interpretation. Only in this way can we truly read the Bible, understand Jesus Christ, and share his glory and perfection with others. This book is written for canyon dwellers: one group consists of readers interested in religious literature. They too may view the Bible merely as one among many historical books, yet they yearn to understand what this book, recited by billions, truly contains? The other group consists of Christians who read the Bible daily with devotion. Yet one day, they suddenly realize their desire to truly grasp the words that have endured for millennia, translated into countless languages.