What is the Bible?

I have always known that there were different versions, or translations, of the sacred library, or as most people refer to it, the Bible. I’ve seen all kinds of these Bibles, from ones aimed toward youth, men or women, or ones with a more modern language so they would be easier to understand. Only within the past few years have I realized that there are different books that are in some Bibles, and not in others. This brings up the question, which “bible” is the correct version and contains God-breathed scripture? How am I to know whether or not the books omitted from my Bible are supposed to be included or not? I believe though that God is in control of everything, so then each book may be okay for each religion or denomination. I don’t think that this makes one Bible correct and another version not. It is all still controlled by God.

Another aspect that I find interesting is the different translations. There is meaning lost when something is translated over several languages, and even more so when translated into different forms to make it more modern. I like what St. Augustine said, “For what more liberal and more fruitful provision could God have made in regard to the Sacred Scriptures than that the same words might be understood in several senses, all of which are sanctioned by the concurring testimony of other passages equally divine.” Each translation has meaning. It may not be what the original author meant exactly, but then again, how do we know that the original author was correctly interpreting what God was telling him? I just know that the words of the scriptures offer hope and a sense of peace when I need it. If I would need to read it in a more modern script, or even if I could read it in Hebrew, I still think I’d get the same comfort from what I was reading. Even when I read a specific verse multiple times, I can interpret it differently each time. I believe the Bible is something God allowed us to have in order to teach us about God, and it will be helpful in all different situations. The basics of each Bible are the same, and the view of God in each are similar. As long as these principles do not vary, I believe that each Bible has its own purpose and validity.