Who wrote the Bible? God did, of course. But he used fishermen, shepherds, poets, prophets, a tax collector, a doctor, a tentmaker, and many others to do it.

What materials did the Bible’s writers use in their work? The Bible tells us about a few instruments used for writing in ancient times. A stylus is a three-sided tool used to carve into clay or wax. A chisel can carve words in stone. A pen wrote with ink on papyrus, leather, or parchment.

David and Solomon probably wrote their songs and psalms from a palace. But Paul the tentmaker wrote Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon from prison. Luke, a doctor and a Gentile, gets credit for writing Luke and Acts. He wrote down the gospel after traveling with Paul. John Mark likely wrote the book of Mark after Peter told him all about what happened during Jesus’ life. Matthew wrote the first book of the New Testament. He was a tax collector. Imagine how surprised he must have been when Jesus called him away from his work to become a disciple and then to write part of the most important book in the world!

The Bible covers a huge time span. Most of its writers didn’t know each other or even live during the same time period. And yet its stories, poems, histories, prophecies, and letters all fit together perfectly. That’s amazing. It’s miraculous. And it proves that the book’s true author is God.