The Bible is the most widely read, translated, and influential book in the history of humankind. But one of the most common—and least explained—curiosities is: Why is the Bible not a single book, but rather a collection of several books that are so different from each other?

Why do we have historical books, poetic books, prophetic books, letters, and even texts full of symbols?
Who decided what would or would not be included in the Bible?
And why do some Bibles have more books than others?

In this article, you will understand How the Bible was formed, Why does she have so many different styles, and what does that reveal about her message and purpose?.

The Bible is not a book, it's a library.

The first thing that many people don't know is simple, but it changes everything:

The Bible is not a single book. It is a library.

The word "Bible" itself comes from Greek. Bible, which literally means “"books"”.

In other words, the name itself makes it clear that we are talking about a collection of texts, written at different times, by different people, with distinct styles and objectives.

How many books are in the Bible?

That depends on religious tradition:

  • Protestant Bible: 66 books
  • Catholic Bible: 73 books
  • Orthodox Bibles: They can have up to 81 books.

This difference exists because not all traditions recognize the same texts as canonical (that is, officially inspired).

But hold on: this doesn't mean that "a Bible is wrong." It means that The formation process was historical, gradual, and complex..

How long did it take to write the Bible?

Another impressive point:
The Bible was written over the course of approximately 1,500 years.

  • The oldest texts date from around 1400 BC.
  • The most recent ones were written around 100 AD.

During this period, the world changed completely:

  • Empires have risen and fallen.
  • Languages evolved
  • Cultures have transformed.

Even so, the texts maintain a surprisingly coherent thematic line.

Who wrote the Bible?

It wasn't just one person.
Not even two.
Not even ten.

The Bible has more than 40 different authors, including:

  • Kings
  • Prophets
  • Shepherds
  • Fishermen
  • Doctors
  • Scribes
  • Political leaders
  • Prisoners

Each author wrote from their own reality, culture, and vocabulary. This explains why some texts are direct, others poetic, and others full of symbols.

The main types of books in the Bible

Now comes one of the most interesting parts: literary styles.

Historical books

They tell the story of the people of Israel and the beginning of Christianity.

Examples:

  • Genesis
  • Exodus
  • Joshua
  • Kings
  • Acts of the Apostles

They recount real events, but always with a spiritual perspective, not just a political one.

Poetic and wisdom books

This section contains texts full of poetry, reflection, and philosophy of life.

Examples:

  • Psalms
  • Proverbs
  • Ecclesiastes
  • Song of Songs
  • Job

These books speak of profound human emotions: pain, joy, doubt, faith, fear, love, and hope.

Prophetic books

Many people think that "prophecy" is just predicting the future, but it's not quite like that.

The prophets:

  • They denounced injustices.
  • They called the people to repentance.
  • They warned about the consequences.
  • They pointed to future hope.

Examples:

  • Isaiah
  • Jeremiah
  • Ezekiel
  • Daniel

Letters (epistles)

These are texts written for specific communities, addressing real problems.

Examples:

  • Romans
  • Corinthians
  • Galatians
  • Ephesians

Here we find practical advice on faith, ethics, relationships, and social interaction.

Symbolic and apocalyptic books

Full of images, symbols, and figurative language.

The most famous one is:

  • Apocalypse

These texts were not written to scare, but to encouraging people in times of persecution, showing that evil does not win in the end.

Who decided which books would be included in the Bible?

That's one of the biggest curiosities.

The short answer: It wasn't just one person or a council inventing texts..

The process was gradual and based on criteria such as:

  • Was the text widely recognized by the communities?
  • Was it consistent with already accepted teachings?
  • Did it have apostolic or prophetic origins?
  • Was it used in religious services and teachings?

The councils did not "create" the Bible. They They officially recognized books that had already been in use for centuries..

Why do some Bibles have extra books?

The so-called deuterocanonical books (or apocrypha, for Protestants) were preserved primarily by the Jewish tradition in Greek and by the Catholic Church.

The difference didn't arise because someone "added" books later, but because Different traditions preserved different collections of ancient texts..

Does the diversity of books weaken or strengthen the Bible?

That's the most surprising part.

Diversity strengthens.

Imagine dozens of authors, from different centuries, discussing topics such as:

  • Justice
  • Sorry
  • Love
  • Responsibility
  • Hope
  • Redemption

And yet, pointing to a coherent vision of God, humanity, and purpose.

If it were a single author, it would be suspicious.
With so many of them, separated by time and culture, the impact is even greater.

Why does this matter today?

Understanding that the Bible is a collection of books helps to:

  • Avoid out-of-context interpretations.
  • Read each text the right way.
  • Understanding metaphors and symbols
  • Do not confuse poetry with literal law.
  • Read with greater intelligence and depth.

Much of the confusion surrounding the Bible arises precisely because not respecting the type of text being read.

Conclusion

The Bible is different from any other book because It wasn't born ready..
It has been written about, preserved, copied, debated, and recognized throughout history.

She is:

  • Old, but still relevant.
  • Complex, but accessible.
  • Diverse, yet coherent.

And perhaps that is precisely why, after thousands of years, it continues to be read, studied, and debated throughout the world.