To download a copy of today’s lesson go to TheGoodTeacher To download a copy of today’s lesson go to TheGoodTeacher.com and click on “Gospel Meetings”

Part 3: Formation How Did We Get the Bible? Give Me the Bible Part 3: Formation How Did We Get the Bible? Prepared by Chris Reeves * Warfield Blvd. church of Christ Gospel Meeting * April 23, 2016

Give Me the Bible Revelation – What is the Bible? The Bible is God’s revelation (Lesson 1) Inspiration – Can I trust the Bible? Yes, the Bible can be trusted! (Lesson 2) Formation – How did we get the Bible?

From God to Man

How We Got the Bible “the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah” – Isaiah 11:9 From God 1. Revelation 2. Inspiration 3. Documentation 4. Formation 5. Preservation 6. Translation 7. Application 8. Propagation To Man

How We Got the Bible “the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah” – Isaiah 11:9 Revelation – uncovering the word Inspiration – protecting the word Documentation – writing the word Formation – collecting the word Preservation – copying the word Translation – translating the word Application – obeying the word Propagation – sharing the word

Documentation

Bible Documentation “Scripture” (Gr. graphia) is what is written; a written document. God’s word was not limited to oral revelation. God’s word was also written in documents. Using a Bible concordance, notice how many times the following words appear in the OT and NT: “write,” “writing,” “written,” “wrote”, “scripture(s)”, and “book(s)”.

The Results of Documentation God’s word was recorded for others to read at the time (2 Chron. 21:12; Jer. 29:1; 36:1-8; 51:60ff) and for future generations to know (Ex. 17:14; Deut. 31:9-13, 24-26; Isa. 30:8).

The Results of Documentation God’s word was recorded to have a written standard or pattern to return to; for example, the pattern for the temple for Solomon (1 Chron. 28:11-12, 19; 2 Chron. 35:4) and the pattern for restoration for Josiah (2 K. 22:8; 2 Chron. 34:14-15). See also 2 Thessalonians 2:15 and 2 Timothy 1:13.

The Results of Documentation The books of God’s word will be opened to judge all mankind in the last day (Rev. 20:12-15).

How We Got the Bible “the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah” – Isaiah 11:9 From God 1. Revelation 2. Inspiration 3. Documentation 4. Formation 5. Preservation 6. Translation 7. Application 8. Propagation To Man

Formation

Bible Formation Why does the Bible contain the (66) books that it does? What/who determined the selection of the books? Why were other books rejected? Does the Bible contain any book that it should not? Are any books missing?

Bible Formation The books of the Bible were collected to form a “canon” of scripture; “canon” (from the Greek kanon) means a reed (cane) that was used as a ruler for measuring; then, a standard or rule of measurement (2 Cor. 10:13, 15, 16; Gal. 6:16; Phil. 3:16). The “canon” of the Bible is the list of divinely inspired, authoritative books that are God’s word (39 OT books, 27 NT books).

Bible Formation (OT) The 39 OT books were written by several men over a period of 1,000 years (c. 1400 – 400 B.C.). There are references in the OT to the “book(s)” of God’s word (Neh. 8:1ff; Isa. 34:16; Dan. 9:2). All 39 books of the OT were translated from Hebrew to Greek in the Septuagint (c. 280 B.C.) Jesus used the same three-fold division of the OT as the OT Jews (Luke 24:44).

“And he said unto them, These are my words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me” (Lk. 24:44)

Bible Formation (OT) Jesus references, in an indirect way, the first and last books of the OT canon as the OT Jews reckoned it (Mt. 23:35; Lk. 11:51; from Abel [Gen. 4:3ff] to Zachariah [2 Chron. 24:19ff]).

“ that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of Abel the righteous unto the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom ye slew between the sanctuary and the altar” (Mt. 23:35)

Bible Formation (NT) The 27 NT books were written by several men over a period of 50 years (c. A.D. 45 – 95). Books were written with inherent authority (1 Cor. 14:37; 1 Thess. 2:13; 5:27; Rev. 1:3). Books were circulated (Col. 4:16; Rev. 1:11). Paul quotes from Luke 10:7 (see Deut. 25:4) in 1 Tim. 5:18 and calls it “scripture”. Paul wrote epistles that were grouped with the “other scriptures” (2 Pet. 3:15-16).

“… even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote unto you; as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; wherein are some things hard to be understood, which the ignorant and unstedfast wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” (2 Pet. 3:15-16)

The Results of Formation The 39 books of the OT canon provide examples for learning (Jn. 5:39; 1 Cor. 10:11- 12; Rom. 15:4; 2 Tim. 3:15; 4:13). The 27 books of the NT canon are the only pattern of sound words (2 Thess. 2:15; 2 Tim. 1:13).

The Results of Formation We are to “contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered” (Jude 3). These “books” will be opened at the judgment. We will be judged from them, and from them only (Rev. 20:11-15).

How We Got the Bible “the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah” – Isaiah 11:9 From God 1. Revelation 2. Inspiration 3. Documentation 4. Formation 5. Preservation 6. Translation 7. Application 8. Propagation To Man

Preservation

Bible Preservation We do not have any original books of the Bible (autographs); what we have are accurate and reliable copies (manuscripts) of each of the 66 books. We live in an age of archaeological discoveries which have given us many manuscript copies of God’s word.

Bible Preservation The king copied it (Deut. 17:18). Joshua copied it (Josh. 8:32). Scribes copied it (Ezra 7:6, 10). We are told about the scribe’s pen (Judg. 5:14; Jer. 8:8; Psa. 45:1; Isa. 8:1) and the scribe’s inkhorn (Ezek. 9:2-3).

Bible Preservation The writing materials in Bible times were the stone tablet (Ex. 31:1, 18; 34:1, 28; 32:16; Deut. 10:2, 4; 27:2-3, 8), the clay tablet (Isa. 8:1; Jer. 17:1; Ezek. 4:1; Lk. 1:63), the wood tablet (Isa. 30:8; Hab. 2:2), the leather scroll (Jer. 36:23), the papyrus scroll (Jer. 36:2; Ezek. 2:9; Rev. 5:1), the vellum/parchment scroll (2 Tim. 4:13), the paper scroll, and other materials (wax, metals, pottery, linen, etc., see 3 Jn. 13).

The Massoretic Text

The Dead Sea Scrolls

The Silver Scroll Necklace The Silver Scroll necklace was found in 1979 in the Old City portion of Jerusalem. It dates from 600 B.C. and contains the scripture of Numbers 6:24-26.

Three Types of Manuscripts Papyrus Uncial Minuscule

Three Important Uncials Vaticanus Sinaiticus Alexandrinus

The John Rylands Papyrus (P52) The John Rylands Papyrus was found in Egypt in 1920. It dates back to c. A.D. 150 and contains a portion of the scripture of John 18:31-33.

Bible Preservation What about manuscript variants (some call “errors”)? There are variants caused by the eye: (1) no spaces between words, (2) abbreviated words, or (3) two lines beginning or ending with the same word. There variants caused by the ear: (1) words sounding alike but with different spellings and meanings, and (2) vowels and diphthongs were pronounced alike.

Bible Preservation Are the OT variants major? No! For example, there are only 13 variants between the Isaiah scroll (c. 150 B.C.), found at the Dead Sea in 1947, and the Isaiah scroll of the Masoretes (c. A.D. 900).

Bible Preservation Are the NT variants major? No! There are trivial variants which are of no consequence to the text (omission or addition of words like “and,” “the,” “for”; different spellings of the same word). There are substantial variants which are of no consequence to the text (Mk. 16:9-20; Lk. 6:5; Jn. 5:4; 7:53-8:11; Acts 8:37; 1 Jn. 5:7).

The Results of Preservation God made sure that his word, once spoken and written, was transmitted and preserved for all time; God’s word will not pass away (Mt. 5:18; 24:35; 1 Pet. 1:24-25 [Isa. 40:8]). God’s providence ensures the preservation of his word; the preservation of his word ensures the presentation of his word (Jer. 36:27-32; 2 K. 22:8).

How We Got the Bible “the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah” – Isaiah 11:9 From God 1. Revelation 2. Inspiration 3. Documentation 4. Formation 5. Preservation 6. Translation 7. Application 8. Propagation To Man

Translation

How We Got the Bible “the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah” – Isaiah 11:9 From God 1. Revelation 2. Inspiration 3. Documentation 4. Formation 5. Preservation 6. Translation 7. Application 8. Propagation To Man

Application

Bible Application What good is it for God to REVEAL his word (Heb. 1:1-2) if it is not applied? What good is it for God to INSPIRE his word (2 Tim. 3:16) if it is not applied? What good is it for God to DOCUMENT his word (Isa. 30:8) if it is not applied?

Bible Application What good is it for God to FORM (canon) his word (2 Pet. 3:15-16) if it is not applied? What good is it for God to PRESERVE his word (Deut. 17:18) if it is not applied? What good is if for men to TRANSLATE God’s word (Acts 8:32-33) if it is not applied?

The Results of Application Jesus spoke about hearing and doing (Mt. 7:24-27). Paul spoke about hearing and doing (Rom. 2:13). James spoke about hearing and doing (Jas. 1:22-25). We are blessed only when we apply God’s word (Jas. 1:25-27; Rev. 1:1-3; 22:7).

How We Got the Bible “the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah” – Isaiah 11:9 From God 1. Revelation 2. Inspiration 3. Documentation 4. Formation 5. Preservation 6. Translation 7. Application 8. Propagation To Man

Propagation

Bible Propagation The “chain” of God’s word is not complete with the “link” of application. Propagation, spreading God’s word to others, is the final “link”. We are to apply God’s word to ourselves and then share it with others (2 Tim. 2:2).

“And the things which thou hast heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” ( 2 Tim. 2:2)

Bible Propagation Share the Bible… Through your own example (2 Cor. 3:1-3; Phil. 1:20). To your own family (Deut. 6:6-9; 11:18-21; 2 Tim. 3:15). Through personal evangelism (Lk. 8:11; Acts 8:4; 11:19).

Bible Propagation Share the Bible… Through teaching others in the local church (Acts 13:1; Tit. 2:4; Heb. 5:12). Through preaching (1 Thess. 1:8; 2 Thess. 3:1; 2 Tim. 4:2, 5), being an elder (1 Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:9), or supporting preachers (Gal. 6:6; 3 Jn. 6-8). Personally or by donating so that Bibles can be given away.

The Results of Propagation “The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah” (Isa. 11:9). “Which is come unto you; even as it is also in all the world bearing fruit and increasing” (Col. 1:6)… “Which was preached in all creation under heaven” (Col. 1:23).

Give Me the Bible You Did Not Have to Do the Great Work of Documenting, Collecting, Copying, or Translating God’s Word. All You Are Asked to Do is Read It, Apply It, and Share It – “Seek out the book of the Lord and read” (Isaiah 34:16).