Is the Bible just another religious book? Is it just an alternative view of the world around us that holds company with other ideas that are equally valid? A book of literature?

God has chosen to reveal himself through words, he has chosen to reveal himself in history.
Revelation of Words

A revelation of words takes us beyond the limitations of our own ideas or imagination and places before us something that can be examined carefully. It is Important to realise that the Bible is not giving us broad ideas, general concepts or a philosophy of life but a precisely worded account of God's dealings with people.
Word of God

This is what the Bible claims to be! 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21.

The words of men are directed by the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 3:7-11 ref Psalm 95:7-11.

Reading the Bible forces us to this conclusion. It cannot be either the work of good well meaning men or of evil deceivers. Internal evidence is abundant in directing us to this conclusion.
Bible is history

Writings placed within historical settings. Isaiah 1:1; Jeremiah 1:2. Luke is careful to relate historical events. 1:4; 2:2; 3:1-2

Conclusion                                                                    We do not have the liberty to dilute the force of the Bible and make it an index of "blessed thoughts" or stories written by silly men for sillier people! (People are no more intelligent today!)                                                        We have two options; either to accept the whole Bible as the revelation of God to people, and to treat it seriously, or to discard to all as a form of superstition which is a lie and a deception.

What about translations?                                       Can we treat translations as reliable?  Luke 4:17-21 In this passage Jesus was reading froma Greek copy of a translation from the original Hebrew and yet called it the Word of God.

How to study the Bible ?                                              Important to find these things out for ourselves. Knowing God is a personal matter...no church can do it for us! Not to be convinced by "convincing" speakers!                 God's truth can only be revealed by God Himself 1 Corinthians 2:13-14. Intelligence is not enough.

Basic study guides                                                                  1. Understand the structure of the Bible. Not written in order but under subject headings.
Old Testament. 
 Genesis to Esther is History
 Job to Song of Songs is Poetry
 Isaiah to Malachi are the Prophets
 So in the Old testament Nehemiah is the last book in a historical sense.

New Testament.
Matthew to John are the Gospels
Acts is the activity of the early church
Romans to Jude are the letters to churches and individuals
Revelation tells about future events

Unity of the Bible
Same truths are taught in all parts of the Bible.
The Lord Jesus Christ and His Salvation are the subject of all parts of the Bible.
The histories and ceremonies of the O.T. are symbols of the N.T. teachings.

Rules in understanding the Bible                                   Read the whole passage in which the verse occurs, and other related passages.                                           Find out the special situation to which the verse was addressed and what the verse meant in that situation. Work out If any other part of the Bible teaches us more about the same truth and what meaning that truth has for us today.
e.g. Read Amos 9:11-12 What does it mean? Now read Acts 16:15-18. What did the prophet speak about? See v.12-14.                                                                 Always compare Scripture with Scripture                     One verse will not contradict another (Even though it might seem that way)
Interpret the obscure by the clear, and the partial by the complete.                                                           Always take the historical background seriously. The history of that period may help to explain the writing. Colossians 2:18-19. Do not attempt to impose present culture and practice upon Scripture passages. Genesis 24:22

Use common sense.                                                Phil.4:13 does not teach the power to fly !
No interpretation of the Bible will justify murder, immorality, theft, lying etc                                                      Seek help from other sources. 
Check what others have written and be slow in coming to conclusions.

Following these rules will not enable you to understand all Scripture. (Be comforted by Peter 2 Peter 3:16) But it will stop you making mistakes in understanding. Don't be afraid of not knowing!