<h3>From Many Authors to One Bible</h3><p>The word <strong>Bible</strong> comes from a Greek word meaning 'books'. This is a helpful clue: the Bible is really a <strong>library</strong> of many books, written by different authors over many centuries. Christians believe these writers were inspired by God to record His message.</p><p>The Bible has two main parts:</p><ul><li>The <strong>Old Testament</strong>, written mostly in <strong>Hebrew</strong>, containing the law, the history of Israel, poetry such as the Psalms, and the messages of the prophets.</li><li>The <strong>New Testament</strong>, written in <strong>Greek</strong> after the life of Jesus, containing the four <strong>Gospels</strong>, the Acts of the Apostles, the letters (epistles), and the book of Revelation.</li></ul><p>As the early church grew, leaders had to decide which writings truly carried God's authority and should be read in worship. The agreed and accepted list of books is called the <strong>canon</strong>. Once settled, the Bible was copied carefully by hand and later printed, and then <strong>translated</strong> into hundreds of languages so people everywhere could read it in their own tongue.</p><div class="callout"><strong>Kenyan context:</strong> Today a learner in Garissa, Eldoret, or Mombasa can read the Bible in English, Kiswahili, or a mother tongue such as Dholuo, Gikuyu, or Kalenjin. Bible translation in Kenya has allowed families to read Scripture during home devotions and in church, showing why translators worked so hard to make the text available to all.</div>