There are many answers to the question "What is the Bible?" However, it can seem difficult to come up with a clear, short, and crisp answer to this question. Recently I came across a description of the Bible in the beginning of one of the ESV Scripture Journal Bibles. I think the following description is a usable working definition of what the Bible is when discussing this question:

"The words of the Bible are the very words of God our Creator speaking to us. They are completely truthful; they are pure; they are powerful; and they are wise and righteous. We should read these words with reverence and awe, and with joy and delight. Through these words God gives us eternal life, and daily nourishes our spiritual lives."

The quotation comes from the Preface in the ESV Scripture Journal: James.