Let's begin this study in prayer...
2 Peter 1:19-21And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture can about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
I. THE BIBLE IS UNIQUE (NOTHING LIKE IT)
A. AUTHORSHIP
1. Written over a 1500 year span
2. Written over 40 generations
3. Written by 40 authors from every walk of life:
a. Moses - political leader
b. Peter - fisherman
c. Daniel - prime minister
d. Luke - doctor
e. Matthew - tax collector
f. Paul - Rabbi (priest)
4. Written in different places:
a. Moses - wilderness
b. Daniel - hillside and in a palace
c. Paul - in prison
d. Luke - while traveling
5. Written in different times (i.e., in war and in peace)
6. Written during different moods (joy - to - despair)
7. Written on three continents:
Asia - Africa - Europe
8. Written in three languages:
Hebrew - Aramaic - Greek
9. Written about one unfolding story, God's redemption of man:
Genesis (paradise lost)
to
Revelation (paradise gained)
B. CIRCULATION
Bible has been read by more people and published in more
languages than any other book.
Encyclopedia Britannica says that by 1966:
1. Whole Bible had appeared in 240 languages & dialects.
2. One or more whole books in 739 additional languages/dialects.
C. SURVIVAL
Compared to other ancient writings, the Bible has more
manuscript evidence (backup) than any 10 pieces of literature
combined.
1. SURVIVED THROUGH PERSECUTION
Many kings and nations tried to burn it, ban it, and
outlaw it.
2. SURVIVED THROUGH CRITICISM
Many men (learned or otherwise) attacked it with
skepticism and mockery.
D. AUTHENTICITY
1. PROPHECY
It is the only book in which can be found with vast amounts
of prophecies that relate to nations, Israel, all peoples
of the earth, cities, and to the coming of the Messiah.
Note: Myriads and myriads of prophecies have already been
fulfilled. To see this, let us take a look at some examples.
a. OLD TESTAMENT EXAMPLES
(i) THE EGYPTIAN CAPTIVITY
Genesis 15:12-16
Fulfilled around 650 yrs. later.
(ii) THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY & RELEASE
Jeremiah 25:8-12
Fulfilled around 70+ yrs. later.
b. NEW TESTAMENT EXAMPLES
(i) DEATH & RESURRECTION OF JESUS
Mark 8:31
Fulfilled less than 1 year later.
(ii) FALL OF JERUSALEM
Luke 21:20-24
Fulfilled around 37 yrs. later.
2. HISTORY
It is the only book in which one can find an accurate
account of the origin of mankind and the history of His
chosen people, Israel.
a. ORIGIN OF MANKIND
Many "fundamental systems of science" support the
Biblical account of God's creation of man. Some
examples are:
(i) Cause - and - Effect
Every phenomenon is an effect from a cause.
(ii) Classification and Order
Categories of natural phenomena can be arranged
in a discrete orderly classification of systems.
(iii) Laws of Thermodynamics
First Law: Energy can be converted from one form
to another, but can be neither created
or destroyed.
Second Law: Energy continually proceeds to lower
levels of utility (i.e. energy decay).
b. HISTORICAL AUTHENTICITY
Archaeologists continually find evidence that supports
the trustworthiness of the Bible's historical account
of Israel and the ancient nations & governments that
interfaced with them. Some examples are:
(i) OLD TESTAMENT EXAMPLES
- Hebrew infiltration into the Canaanitish
civilization.
- The conquest of the Philistines and Solomon's
Golden Age.
- The Babylonian & Assyrian Empires.
(ii) NEW TESTAMENT EXAMPLES
Much archeological evidence exists to support the
Biblical record for the nations, cities and
leaders that are identified in the New Testament.
II. THE CANON - BOOKS OF THE BIBLE
QUESTION: What are the books of the Bible & when were they accepted?
Well, they are partitioned into two major categories.
A. OLD TESTAMENT CANON
1. Books that the Jews kept.
2. Jesus bore witness to it.
a. Moses & The Bush
Mark 12:26-27
b. David (i.e. Psalms)
Mark 12:35-36
c. Jonah
Matthew 12:38-41
d. In general
Luke 24:44-45
B. NEW TESTAMENT CANON
1. Four Gospels was commonly accepted by 180 A.D.
2. The final compilation/acceptance of the 27 New Testament
books was 367 A.D.
a. Has not changed ... same as today
b. No questioning of it by either Protestant or
Roman Catholic Church.
QUESTION: How were the books of the Bible assimilated or
collected?
Well, lets examine some of the guiding principles used for its
incorporation.
C. TESTS FOR INCORPORATION
1. IS IT PROPHETIC?
Was it written by a man of God?
2. IS IT AUTHENTIC?
If in doubt, throw it out!
3. IS IT DYNAMIC?
Does it contain the life transforming power of God?
4. WAS IT RECEIVED, COLLECTED, READ, AND USED?
Was it accepted by the people of God? For example:
a. DANIEL ACKNOWLEDGED JEREMIAH'S WRITINGS AS SCRIPTURE
Daniel 9:1-3
b. PETER ACKNOWLEDGED PAUL'S WRITINGS AS SCRIPTURE
2 Peter 3:15-16
Which brings us to the most discriminating test of all,
namely:
5. IS IT AUTHORITATIVE?
Did it come from God?
Now since this is the most critical test of all, let us explore in a
bit more depth on who the author of the Bible really is.
III. IT'S INSPIRATION (i.e. WHO WROTE IT?)
In order to find out, let us look to the Bible itself:
A. OLD TESTAMENT (EXAMPLES)
1. MOSES
Exodus 24:1-4
and
Exodus 32:15-16
2. ISAIAH
Isaiah 6:1-9
Notice vs 9 God told Isaiah what to say.
Isaiah 8:1
Notice vs 1 God tells Isaiah what to write.
3. EZEKIEL
Ezekiel 2:1-7
Notice vs 7 God tells Ezekiel to speak His Word.
4. DANIEL
Daniel 9:20-23
Notice God sent an angel to speak to Daniel.
B. NEW TESTAMENT (EXAMPLES)
1. GOSPELS - EXAMPLE OF LUKE
Acts 1:1-5
Namely, Luke is telling us that what he (Luke)
wrote in the Gospel of Luke was what Jesus did
and said.
2. LETTERS OF PAUL
Galatians 1:1
Namely, Paul was set apart by God.
Now let us go to:
Galatians 1:11-12
3. JOHN
1 John 1:1-4
QUESTION: What is the point of all the above quotes? What is the
message of them all?
Well, it is provided to us very clearly in:
2 Peter 1:16-21
IV. SUMMARY
Now that we know that the Bible is not only a unique set of books but
in fact the Word of God, what is the message of it all? What is the
point of this study?
Well, it is beautifully given to us as we read an excerpt from one of
Paul's instructions to Timothy.
2 Timothy 3:14-17
And so in closing let us read the following Psalm:
Psalm 1:1-6
Let's end this study in prayer...
Romans 11:33-36Oh, the depths of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgements, and His paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.
Read the book by John Sweet, Jr.
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