We discussed previously the attitude people have toward the scripture, both good and bad. So let's begin discussing the bible itself. First off...
What is the purpose of the bible?

The bible is used to reveal our Creator's will to mankind in a way that everyone can understand. In the old testament, it was done by a few different means. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had direct contact with God who walked with them and talked to them directly as evidenced by Genesis 2.

Once man sinned, God could no longer have that direct relationship with mankind, so a mediator was set in place in the way of the prophets and judges. God set them in place to speak to His people, but it was up to them to decide whether to heed His word.

Once man made their choice by killing the prophets, God gave man another chance. His own Son. One who was from the beginning and who felt we were special enough to be worth saving even after all this. One who knew His fate and yet still went through with it for us.

Due to His sacrifice, we have even yet ANOTHER chance to obey God and go to Heaven when we die. But how do we learn of God's will today? Through Jesus and the apostles. We have the very same choice those in the old testament did, and we, too, can know how to please God if we make the decision to read His word and learn from it. After all, it is the blueprint of our own lives after all.

The overall purpose of the bible is for us to learn what we must do to inherit eternal life!

It shows us how it was we go to the point in which we needed a savior. Why it had to be Jesus, and what it is God expects of us in this life. All the while we learn the history of mankind, witness those who lived before us, see their choices- actions and how their lives [and the lives of those with them] resulted, and even gain practical lessons from the wisest man to ever live.

One thing has always been true, even from the beginning. God will never ask us anything that is beyond our capabilities... However, those who see what must be done may sometimes question the methods expected of them.

Consider Abraham and Sarah. God told Abraham in Genesis 12 that He will make of him a great nation, his name will be great, and through him all families of the earth will be blessed. And this was promised to a man of 75. In chapter 15, the promise of having a son was repeated to Abraham, a man now of 85, and he believed it. However Sarah did not. In chapter 18 starting in verse 10, she even laughs at the concept of having a son! However, we know that eventually the son by promise was born and God's promises to Abraham began to be fulfilled.

In 2 Kings chapter 5, we learn of Naaman, a mighty commander of Syria. However he had leprosy. During one of his campaigns he captures an Israelite girl who tells him of one in Samaria who had the power to heal him. As requested, he goes to his king and is given a gift for the man who had such power. And sure enough, it was God's prophet Elisha who could do such a thing, and gave him a simple request. One that Naaman had more than enough ability to do. "Go wash in Jordan seven times." Naaman, expecting more spectacle [or a cleaner body of water] got angry, and it was a servant who had to reason with him before he finally did as he was told and got healed.

Even in the new testament we see examples of this very thing. We learn of the woman at the well who has a Jew come to her and explain that all shall worship in spirit and truth. We also have an apostle who is told repeatedly that God has even declared the Gentiles clean.

Though the changes between the approach taken in worship between the old and new testaments have changed, God Himself has not... and neither has His word.

Many may try to refute the bible by mentioning the many writers of it, and the considerable length of time it chronicles. But that actually further confirms it's accuracy. How can such a perfect connection between millenia even occur? How can so many write such a powerfully timeless book that fulfills every prophecy and explains those things that mankind has considered? The explanation is simple. While it is true that the books therein do have many writers, they all came from one source... God

Because neither God nor His word can change, neither should the interpretation of scripture.

There are many versions of the bible, but how many of them are man made versions? How many, either due to improper translations or bias, have altered the meaning of verses or chapters entirely? God intended His word to be simple to understand as evidenced by Jesus going to the common man first and foremost for his disciples, not the rich and powerful militarily and even religiously. In fact, those often scoffed at Him.

The same is true today. Scientists and those who take lengths to twist scripture to suit their agenda as some religious scholars do make light of the bible and the teachings therein. The explanations man has made to explain the questions of our existence are more illogical than the simple answers of the bible. Those who even call themselves religious make light of the bible by coming up with their own ideas about scripture, almost saying "I know what God says, but I think..." These ideas contradict God's word and lead to many dangers as warned of in Revelations 22: 18-19.

I close with this. It's true the bible has a simple, singular understanding, but what you take from it is far from simple. Solomon's teachings are done in a very short, either this, or this format. But what you learn from it shows the true genius in his approach. I believe that anyone can understand God's word, but it's up to us to do so. And that takes hard work and dedication on our part.

Do we have what it takes? Of course. Will we do it? That's the difficult one to answer.