The Bible Simplified: Mystery Revealed (Foreword)

"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:18-20)

The following is the foreword for a monumental book about the Bible that is being composed by Truth Crusade Ministries. The book, as its title suggests will, attempt to provide the reader with an easy-to-understand narrative about the overarching theme of God's purpose in preserving the Holy Bible for mankind. We read in these passages that one of the many promises of God was to preserve his word.

"The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever." (Psalm 12:6-7)

"For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven." (Psalm 119:89)

"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever." "Isaiah 40:8)

The Bible is, without question, the most famous and influential book in human history. Translated into over 3,500 languages and dialects, it remains the most widely distributed and read text on Earth. As of recent estimates, more than 5 billion copies of the Bible have been printed—far surpassing any other book, religious or secular. Its reach is unmatched, its words echoing across centuries, cultures, and continents.

More than just a religious manuscript, the Bible is a cornerstone of Western civilization, shaping art, law, ethics, and literature. Its stories are woven into the fabric of global culture—from the parables of Jesus to the Psalms of David, from the Genesis creation story to the poetic wisdom of Ecclesiastes. Even those who do not follow its faith traditions often find themselves quoting its verses, consciously or not.

Many great thinkers have testified to its enduring power. Abraham Lincoln once said, “I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man.”

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe called it “a book which, if read with a spirit of reflection, will enrich our whole life.” And the British philosopher Immanuel Kant remarked, “The existence of the Bible, as a book for the people, is the greatest benefit which the human race has ever experienced.”

Such praise is not mere sentiment—it is recognition of a text that has transformed lives and shaped nations. Whether approached as sacred scripture, historical document, or literary masterpiece, the Bible continues to speak across time. It offers hope, provokes thought, and invites the soul to seek truth.

As you open this book, may you be reminded that you’re engaging with words that have stirred kings and comforted the broken, ignited reformations and inspired revolutions. This is not merely a book. It is the book.

The Bible stands alone in the history of human literature. Revered as sacred scripture by billions, it is simultaneously a religious document, a literary epic, and a cultural cornerstone. No other book has been translated into as many languages—over 3,500 to date—or distributed in such staggering quantities, with more than 5 billion copies printed worldwide. Its words have been etched into the hearts of individuals and the laws of nations. From the candlelit scribes of the Old Testament to the digital screens of modern readers, the Bible has endured through every era and medium, continuing to speak with undiminished power.

It is no exaggeration to say that the Bible has shaped the moral and spiritual consciousness of the world more than any other text. And yet, for all its influence, it remains one of the most misunderstood books ever written.

Throughout history, scholars, theologians, and commentators have sought to explain the Bible’s message—some with deep reverence and insight, others with intellectual rigidity or denominational bias. In their well-meaning attempts to interpret its depths, they have often layered the text with complex theological frameworks, philosophical categories, and historical debates. The result has sometimes been a book that feels distant, doctrinally dense, or even contradictory. For many, this has obscured rather than clarified its central message.

As the British theologian G.K. Chesterton once noted, “Though St. John the Evangelist saw many strange monsters in his vision, he saw no creature so wild as one of his own commentators.” This humorous yet telling observation reflects a broader truth: that the Bible’s essential meaning—rooted in love, redemption, justice, and divine communion—can be clouded by centuries of overinterpretation.

And yet, the heart of the Bible is not meant to be confusing. Its central themes are profoundly simple: God’s desire to be in relationship with humanity, the struggle between light and darkness, and the ultimate triumph of love through grace. Its most powerful truths are accessible not only to scholars and clergy, but to the humble reader who opens its pages with sincerity and wonder.

Religion often complicates what God made simple. It adds rules, rituals, and requirements. But Jesus cuts through all of that and says, “Come to Me.”

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

The gospel is:

• Believe in Jesus (John 3:16),

• "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

• Receive forgiveness (Acts 10:43)

• "To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins." (Acts 10:43)

No theological degree needed. No checklist to complete. Just faith. Just trust. Just surrender.

"And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:2-4)

And that’s why this message is so powerful: God has made salvation simple—so no one is left out. Not the educated only. Not the elite. But all, even the smallest, even the least, even the child. 

A God so loving that he offers Salvation to all that come to him with nothing but simple child-like faith in Christ's finished work on Calvary!

This book you are about to read is an attempt to return to that simplicity. Not by diminishing the richness of the Bible, but by removing some of the needless complexity that has built up around it. It is written with the conviction that the Bible’s message is not meant to be locked behind theological jargon or reserved for academic elites. Instead, it belongs to everyone—from the seeker who has never read a single verse, to the lifelong believer yearning for clarity.

May this journey into the Word of God be marked by both reverence and refreshment. As you read, may your heart be opened to a message that is, at its core, profoundly clear: that God speaks, that God loves, and that the Bible is His enduring invitation to listen.