Unicus

The word unique is derived from the Latin "unicus", meaning one, via early 17th century French. Something unique is worthy of note due to its singular nature. The Bible is unique in a considerable number of ways. The continuity of the Bible is astounding and unparalleled in any other literary work in history. Astounding, considering it was written over a 1,500 year period, by 40 plus authors in differing places, at differing times and in differing moods. The Bible was written on the three continents of Africa, Asia and Europe, in the three languages of Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. The Bible is completely congruent; it is a single unfolding story. Geisler and Nix comment, “Paradise lost of Genesis becomes Paradise regained of Revelation.” The entire Bible is a foreshadowing of Christ and His redemptive work. The book of Genesis speaks of Him crushing the serpent’s head; Exodus speaks of Christ’s sacrifice as the Lamb whose blood is sprinkled for release from captivity. The Tabernacle is a tactile model of Christ and the mode in which we must approach Him. Prophetic books speak of Him, historical books show His character, and poetic books praise Him. Christ’s bloodline is traced in the New Testament directly to Adam. Jesus’ life and ministry is chronicled in the Gospels and the culmination of His mission is prophetically spoken of in Revelation.
The Bible has been translated into upwards of 2,200 languages, which represents one-third of the world’s 6,500 known languages that represents 90% of the world’s population (McDowell, TNE, 9). The Wycliffe Bible translators are performing massive translation efforts, utilizing 6,000 people in 850 languages in 50 countries. With these translation rates, Ted Bergman of the Summer Institute of Linguistics speculates that by 2007-2022 the Bible with be universally translated (McDowell, TNE, 9).
From the time of Diocletian’s edict to destroy Scripture in A.D. 303, until the modern movement of Marxism, the Bible has suffered massive persecution. French infidel, Voltaire predicted that Christianity would be eradicated within 100 years. Ironically Diocletian’s effort was thwarted as Constantine adopted Christianity as the religion of Rome and Voltaire’s own printing press was used to print Bibles by the Geneva Bible Society (McDowell, TNE, 10).

McDowell, Josh. The New Evidence that Demands a Verdict. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1999.