Scholars who have studied the writings of the various religions report that the Bible is unique and distinctive for many reasons. Here are a few:
It was written over a period of at least 1,500 years, or about 40 generations.
It was written in different places on three different continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe.
It was written in three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.
Its 40 authors were from different walks of life, including kings, fishermen, scholars, statesmen, and peasants.
It includes hundreds of subjects.
Yet with the above incredible diversity, the Bible has an amazing unity. This consistency and continuity (along with other characteristics described below) make the Bible logically beyond human ability to accomplish. The presence and influence of an external Guiding Hand are necessary!
Here is more uniqueness:
The Bible's survivability. It has withstood attacks not given to any other book, attacks from despots, doubters, and skeptics throughout the ages. From the days of the Roman emperors to modern-day fascists, communists, and tyrants of false religions, the Bible has been outlawed and attempts have been made to stamp it out. Over 200 years ago, Voltaire predicted the Bible's soon demise. Ironically, after his death, the Geneva Bible Society used Voltaire's printing press to publish more Bibles! The Bible is also attacked by both moral and intellectual pride. Many people have opposed the Bible because they do not want to believe that their moral condition makes them need mercy from the Supreme Being. They see their self-perceived moral goodness as qualifying them for favor from God, in a sense making them His moral equal, or debtor. Intellectual pride is also a factor. For example, it is beneath the "dignity" of many academics to think that they need a Savior. They have a surprise coming!
Number of manuscripts available. In spite of these unparalleled attempts to destroy it, the Bible has survived as the most authentic and accurate ancient document, based on both age and number of manuscripts available. Homer's Iliad ranks closest to the New Testament in number of manuscripts available, 643, with the earliest copy written about 500 years after the original. There are only about 10 good manuscripts of Caesar's Gallic Wars available and the earliest was written over 900 years after the original. By contrast, there are over 5,000 complete or partial Greek manuscripts available of the New Testament (plus over 10,000 Latin Vulgate and over 9,000 other versions), with the earliest written only 25 years after the original!
Shakespeare's 37 plays are only about 200 years old but there are said to be about 100 significant textual variants that are the subject of scholarly dispute. The New Testament is about 2,000 years old and it is estimated that there are only 20 or less such passages. Does anyone ever doubt the reliability of Shakespeare's work?
It can be concluded that if the same tests were applied to all available ancient literature, the Bible would be clearly hailed by all as by far the most reliable ancient document. Or else all other ancient literature, including the classics, would have to be rejected as unreliable!