Bible Study: The Bible and History

What is history? Generally, we say that history is a record of events that transpired in the lives of people individually or collectively. When you tell me your family background, stories of your childhood, your experiences in school, places where you have lived, your life with friends and acquaintances, you’re giving me a history of yourself. When we learn how the Spaniards came to the Philippines in the 16thcentury, how they have governed this country, what they have built and done, we’re studying a history of the Filipino nation during the colonial period.

Now, there are two things to consider in studying history: (1) the events themselves, that is, what happened and (2) the interpretation of the events, that is, how a writer or speaker understands those events. For example, you and a friend may have gone to the same school, attended the same classes and experienced the same activities, but you may view these events differently from your friend. You may tell other people that the school was a good one with an excellent program, and you may recommend the school to others. Your friend, on the other hand, may have a negative impression of the school, highlighting its defects and consequently not recommending the school to others. So, you and your friend underwent the same experiences, but you and your friend viewed them differently.

Turning now to the Bible, we read a lot of stories, experiences and events recorded there. What we are reading is biblical history. We read the stories of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; we read the experiences of the people of Israel when they were slaves in Egypt, when they were liberated by God and led by Moses through the desert, journeying towards the Promised Land; we read the stories of the established kingdoms of Israel and Judah, the stories of Kings Saul, David, Solomon and the other kings. Finally, we read the life of Jesus, his death and resurrection; and we read the experiences of the early Christians and Paul.

Now, we sometimes wonder if some of these stories are real? Are they historical? Are they make-believe stories like fairy-tales? The answer is: (1) many of these stories are clearly historical; (2) the authors who wrote them interpreted these stories and events in the light of their faith in God (or in the case of the New Testament stories, in the light of their faith in Jesus Christ who is risen!); (3) the authors then used a style of writing to highlight more clearly the meaning of the stories and events, that is, in the light of their faith.

Today, when we speak of history, people are concerned with what is “factual” or “scientific” as far as possible. This was not so much the concern of the writers of history in the Bible. They were concerned more of expressing their faith in God who involved Himself in human history. For them – and for us – this is the key to come to the truth about matters and to understand not only biblical history but all history!