From a literary standpoint, is the Bible a well-written book?

Question

Is it well-organized, clear, unambiguous, interesting, motivational, clever, wise, etc.

Answer 1

Depends on what you mean by well written.

As a book, it's wonderful - it's got everything Drama, Love, sex, violence, betrayal and some real fruitcakes. (Prophet or not, Ezekiel is weird). However, it isn't a novel. Most people try to read it as one, but it's actually a collection of short stories and rules. It was written by a collection of people and some of them are much better writer's then others. Also, they all have different specialties. David was a poet. Soloman was a good list maker and a relatively good smut writer. (read the Song of Soloman, I don't care what every says, it's really steamy stuff.)

Taking into consideration it's a short story collection, consider this, it wasn't even written to be that. It was a series of books other people wrote and they decided to get the best ones, put them together and print it. Don't look for the books to agree, to have anything to do with each other or to have a theme. Understand that like everything designed by committee, it contradicts itself. The new Testement is pretty much the same.

So, if you sit down and try to read this as a novel, your going to be disappointed. But Jonah is pretty interesting as is Job and I love the Psalms, they're nice poetry and Song of Soloman - man, he was a Playa! If you like Ken Kesey, you'll probably like Ezikiel and Revelations, and I have to say, Paul gives the best description of what love really is that I have ever seen. There is great power in the Christmas stories and some lovely verbage in the King James version of same. The story of Abraham's Dream in his father's idol shop is cool and Moses and God have a fun relationship through out. Always arguing.

So yes, for what it is and in it's catagory, it's a pretty good book.

Answer 2

OK, you need to re think how to think. The 4 billion years is a guess based on several other guesses. Truth is all the trace minerals in the ocean point to an age of the ocean as less than 200,000 years. Neither Archaeology nor Geology can establish the non-existence of a Garden of Eden (which was certainly obliterated by a very nasty flood). There are known marine fossils in every mountain range including the Himalayas. The discipline of Literary Criticism is terribly flawed as shown by Umberto Cassuto in his doctoral thesis. No one has been able to answer Cassuto, I dont know of any who have tried, they just ignore him and the facts. The first 5 books of the Bible were undoubtedly written by a person of about the 12th century BCE by a man who knew both the cultures of ancient Egypt and ancient Israel and a person who did well in both reading a writing. In short, if the Pentateuch was not written by Moses it was written by someone very much like him (read "From the Stone Age to Christianity" written by one of the greatest archaeologists of the 20th century who concluded that there is nothing but prejudice against the historicity of the Bible. Of course now, prejudice is apparent against Dr WF Albright). Also the Bible does not give any age for the earth. Good grief have you read any of the Bible? it is a piece of classic literature it wouldn't hurt you to read it. In general you at least have been duped by HS teachers and college profs who hate theism and particularly Christianity. I strongly recommend doing your own homework. Please do not be a person who would rather die than think. Thinking may be painful but it pays great dividends. Just to answer one falsehood regularly perpetrated about the Bible. One of the oldest books of the Bible, Job, actually declares that the earth is a sphere. I challenge anyone to show me a statement that says the earth is flat. Oh, and please don't give me some poetic statement from the Psalms, words have meaning, in context. And, do not worry about my academic credentials being flawed, I have the same and only earned degree that Charles Darwin had.

Answer 3

Considering many things are spiritual and revelation of these come from God I would say to someone without the Holy Spirit the book can be ambiguous and unclear. I find it extremely clever and wise and motivational...I would admit for a first time reader with no understanding it would seem difficult. I believe that is for the reason it is food for the spirit and death to the flesh. The Bible itself teaches that those who love the truth will seek it and to those is given the gift of faith and through faith comes revelation from God. The more one grows and knows God there are no books comparable to this one.

Answer 4

No, but then it is not one book, but some 66 different books under one cover. Still, there is some very good poetry and prose contained in it, especially in the King James version.

Answer 5

Well-written?
Probably not, but it is a compelling book. I think its staying power proves that. Plus, I think it's difficult to translate a text and still maintain that type of quality.
There is much in there that is almost unreadable, but there is also much in there that seems to resonate with many people.

Answer 6

To judge the bible by other literary standards, it is actually poorly written. The chapters don't blend well. It doesn't target one protion of society.

Answer 7

I'm not overly impressed with it. I thought Nathaniel Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter and Cervantes Don Quixote were better.

Answer 8

Considering the impact it's had on humanity, I'd say it's written extremely well.....if it's intent was to instill fear, confusion, loyalty and devotion, and endlessly interpretable content in the masses. From that standpoint, it's friggin' brilliant.

Answer 9

Ambiguous is the first thing that comes to mind. It's like a book of riddles you have to solve. Taken literally, it makes no sense whatsoever.

Answer 10

Depends on the particular edition, and there are lots to choose from. It is a hodgepodge. The numerous factual errors detract from its interest.