INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE - LESSON 01

Explain origin of the Bible Provide Brief overview of the Bible Present main themes of the Bible Reinforce the total sufficiency of Scripture 4/6/2014 FOF - INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE - LESSON 01 2

2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness” The foundation of FOF classes is Holy Scripture 4/6/2014 FOF - INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE - LESSON 01 3

Revelation: Natural and Special Overview of the Bible Bible’s Claim of Inspiration 4/6/2014 FOF - INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE - LESSON 01 4

Two Categories of Revelation: Natural and Special (or Particular) Defining Revelation: “God’s disclosure to man what was previously unknown” Defining Inspiration: “A process by which God, as the instigator (mastermind), moved men by the Holy Spirit to write words of God” (FOF, 22) 4/6/2014 FOF - INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE - LESSON 01 5

Natural Revelation: God’s revelation to man through creation and man’s conscience Romans 1:18-20 illustrates revelation through creation Romans 2:13-15 illustrates revelation through man’s conscience 4/6/2014 FOF - INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE - LESSON 01 6

Based on those passages, how has God revealed Himself to man? “Through creation and His written law within our hearts” What does creation reveal to us about God? God’s invisible attributes, eternal power, and divine nature 4/6/2014 FOF - INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE - LESSON 01 7

Why is natural/general revelation important? To motivate man to search for a fuller (sufficient) revelation of God Can natural revelation save? Why/why not? It evidences God’s existence but does not instruct sinners how to be saved 4/6/2014 FOF - INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE - LESSON 01 8

Special revelation is “God revealing Himself through miracles and signs dreams and visions, theophanies (appearances of God in tangible form), through prophets and the greatest prophet Jesus Christ, and through the written words in the Bible” (FOF, 23) Hebrews 1:1-2 4/6/2014 FOF - INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE - LESSON 01 9

Theophanies ˃To Abraham––Gen 17:1 ˃To Isaac––Genesis 26:2 ˃To Jacob––Genesis 32:30 ˃To Moses––Exodus 3:2-6 Dreams and visions ˃Jacob’s Ladder––Gen 28:12-16 ˃Daniel––Daniel 2:19, 28 Miracles and Signs ˃Flood––Gen 7 ˃Burning Bush––Exodus 3 ˃Plagues in Egypt––Exodus 7-13 ˃Parting the Red Sea––Exodus 14 4/6/2014 FOF - INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE - LESSON 01 10

Sufficient for Salvation See 2 Timothy 3:15-17 Greater than natural revelation but does not reveal everything about God Deut. 29:29; Romans 11:33 4/6/2014 FOF - INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE - LESSON 01 11

How did we get the Bible? 2 Peter 1:21, “For no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” God spoke to men to write His words (FOF, 24) Writing covers a span of 1600 years from O.T. to N.T. writings 4/6/2014 FOF - INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE - LESSON 01 12

O.T.––Hebrew and Aramaic N.T.––Greek Prominent Translation but not inspired–– Septuagint–-Greek translation of the O.T. 4/6/2014 FOF - INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE - LESSON 01 13

Old Testament: Old Covenant (Exodus 19:5; Deut. 28:1, 15) Obedience=Blessings/Disobedience=Cursings New Testament: New Covenant Better covenant (Heb. 7:22; 8:6) O.C. has ceased (Heb. 8:13) N.C. through Christ (Luke 22:30) N.C. of the Spirit (2 Cor. 3:5-6) 4/6/2014 FOF - INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE - LESSON 01 14

What are the first 5 Books Provide key People and Events List next 12 Books Key people and events Next 5 books Key people and events Major and Minor prophets 4/6/2014 FOF - INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE - LESSON 01 15

First 5 Books: Historical Next 21: Doctrinal Revelation: Prophetical 4/6/2014 FOF - INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE - LESSON 01 16

How can we justify inspiration? Scripture testifies to its own inspiration God has chosen in His sovereignty to preserve His word 1 Thessalonians 2:13; O.T.: “God said”, “the Lord said”, “the word of the Lord” Inspiration=God breathed (2 Timothy 3:16) 4/6/2014 FOF - INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE - LESSON 01 17

God Breathed––God moved upon the heart, will, emotion of the writers God’s initiative cannot be stopped He has ordained His word be preserved and believed (Isaiah 40:8; Matt. 5:18; 1 Peter 1:25) 4/6/2014 FOF - INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE - LESSON 01 18

Testimony of the Holy Spirit to the authority of His own word Prophetic authorship/authority (2 Pet 1:20-21) God providentially preserving (Isaiah 40:8; Matt. 5:18; 1 Peter 1:25) Recognition by God’s people Claim to be word of God Christ validated Scriptures (Luke 24:44; Matt. 4:4, 7, 10) Peter to Paul (2 Peter 3:15-16)/Paul to Luke (1 Timothy 5:18, referencing Luke 10:7) 4/6/2014 FOF - INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE - LESSON 01 19

Why is it then that everyone cannot accept the inspiration of God’s word? 1 Corinthians 2:14; Romans 3:10-18 (spiritually dead) Yet for the believer, Scripture is reliable and consistent throughout Contains no errors or contradictions 4/6/2014 FOF - INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE - LESSON 01 20

God’s word is inerrant (original manuscripts)–– accurate and totally free from any kind of error or contradiction Testifies to creation, contrary to scientific guesstimates Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, believed that Scripture was from God 4/6/2014 FOF - INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE - LESSON 01 21

Jesus spoke of the law and prophets (Matt 5:17- 18) Jesus was convinced of the historical and accurate Jonah narrative (Matt. 12:40-41) Jesus retold the Sodom and Gomorrah story (Matt. 10:15) Jesus covered 4 important topics: Law, prophets, mercy, and judgment 4/6/2014 FOF - INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE - LESSON 01 22

Birthplace of the Messiah was predicted in Micah 5:2, 700 years prior to His birth (Luke 4-7) Virgin birth of the Messiah (Isaiah 7:14; Matt. 1:18- 25) Jesus’ “triumphal” entry prophesied in Zechariah 9:9 700 years prior (John 12:12-15) Crucifixion and suffering prophesied 700 year prior in Psalm 22:14-18 (John 19:23-37) Isaiah 53:4-7 in Matthew 26:63 4/6/2014 FOF - INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE - LESSON 01 23

The trustworthiness of Scripture is worth the effort in study and obedience Only the Holy Spirit can convict that the Bible is God’s word Bible’s Claim of Inspiration is all the evidence the believer needs 1600 years, 40 authors, 3 languages=Divine inspiration 4/6/2014 FOF - INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE - LESSON 01 24