Was The Bible The World’s First Blockbuster Story?

Was The Bible The World’s First Blockbuster Story?

When it comes to bestselling books, no other work has sold as much as the Bible. The Guinness Book of World Records estimates that between 1815 and 1975, over 2.5 billion bibles were printed. It’s clear that the Bible’s sales won’t stop anytime soon. The Bible has been a source of guidance for billions of humans across time; acting as the foundation on which to construct societies, the inspiration for the making of certain rules and regulations in cultures, and the key to comprehending the beginning of Earth for many.

Time magazine wrote in 2007 that the Bible “has done more to shape literature, history, entertainment and culture than any other book written.” Though the Bible’s writing dates back to thousands of years ago, the narratives, lessons and individuals contained in its pages continue to inspire the stories we tell today in the 21st century. This is because what is considered the best story in the Bible is the life and death of Jesus Christ. Christ’s tale of good versus evil continues to have an enormous impact on some of today’s best selling works of fiction and nonfiction. Some of the contemporary world’s most celebrated characters all demonstrate both the internal and external struggle of good vs evil that Jesus is said to have faced himself during his life. Listed below are some of the most compelling examples.

Fiction

• Superman

Everyone knows and loves Superman, and not just because of his many superpowers, including flight and superhuman strength. No, people love Superman because he acts as the ultimate source of good, defending humanity against evil. But what truly relates Superman to the Bible is the parallels he has with the tale of Christ. Like Jesus, Superman was sent to Earth by another worldly force, is adopted by a loving family and uses his superpowers for good, at the risk of his own life. In fact, the Superman comics demonstrate a common theme in superhero tales – often, the heroes never knew their parents, use their powers for good, fighting against all evil.

• Harry Potter

The Harry Potter series have cemented themselves as one of the bestselling children’s series of all time. Author J.K. Rowling crafted a world of awe-inspiring magic, fascinating characters, and endless lessons, all while being inspired by the Bible itself. In fact, J.K. Rowling has stated that the character of Harry Potter himself was inspired by Jesus Christ, and this can be reflected in the last part of the series. To defeat villain Voldemort once and for all, Harry sacrifices his life for the rest of humanity, a complete parallel to Jesus’ sacrifice to humanity and its sins. Additionally, just like Superman and Jesus, Harry never knew his true parents, growing up in a home of another family and using his abilities for the greater good.

• Batman

Yet again readers are introduced to another character who never knew his parents, was raised by others, and used his life to combat evil using good. Though Batman does not have superpowers like Superman or the ability to use magic like Harry Potter, he uses the resources he does have, including his considerable wealth and connections, to fight a variety of outside forces that attempt to destroy his city of Gotham. The fact that Batman has many privileges that other famous characters do not and is not corrupted by power or greed portrays the goodness in his heart, similar to Jesus.

It’s not just a fictional writing that take inspiration from tales of the Bible. Plenty of non-fiction works, including autobiographies, self-help books, and artistic works reflect many themes and situations faced in various instances in the Bible. The most noteworthy of these are as follows.

Non-Fiction

• Heaven is For Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back by Todd Burpo and Lynn Vincent

This inspiring tale follows the real life account of Colton Burpo, a four-year old boy who had slipped out of consciousness during a serious surgical operation and claimed to visit Heaven. Burpo is able to recount knowledge that was previously unknown to him, including family history he was never told and was able to describe his meeting with God in vivid detail. The bestselling book is often referred to when conjuring up references to those who have have firsthand experiences with God.

• Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life by C.S. Lewis

The author of what is considered a best story of the 20th century, The Chronicles of Narnia, Lewis’s semi-autobiographical Surprised by Joy follows his life from boyhood until his conversion to Christianity in the 1930’s. The subject of “joy” that is explored in the piece ends up referring to Christianity, which he wrote provided him with a warmth and love that was beyond what was here on Earth. His discovery of the teachings of the Bible would continue to have influence on his later works throughout his life.

The Bible remains the bestselling work of all time, and for many reasons. Whether fiction or non-fiction, it’s clear that the Bible continues and will continue to have an influence on literary works throughout time.