God’s Word Session III

God’s Word How many books are in the Bible? How many books are in the Bible? What name do Christians give collectively to the first five books of the Bible? What name do Christians give collectively to the first five books of the Bible? What do the Jews call these same books? What do the Jews call these same books? How many books are in the Old Testament? How many books are in the Old Testament? How many books are in the New Testament? How many books are in the New Testament?

God’s Word Who wrote the 5th book in the New Testament? Who wrote the 5th book in the New Testament? What was the last New Testament book to be added to the Bible? What was the last New Testament book to be added to the Bible? What do we call a book that is a letter in the New Testament? What do we call a book that is a letter in the New Testament? What is the shortest book in the New Testament? What is the shortest book in the New Testament? What is The Salvation Army’s first Doctrine? What is The Salvation Army’s first Doctrine?

Doctrine 1 “We believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and that they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice.”

Bible Translation Survey Which Bible translation do you use? NIV?NASV?NRSV?King James? Good News?Living?The Message?

Literal, Dynamic, Free KJV RSV NIV, GNB Phillips, NRSVNAB JBLiving NASBNEB

History “Old” Testament: In Hebrew, it was known as the Tanak. In Greek, it was known as the Septuagint (70 scholars) Persecutions Persecutions Heresies Heresies – Arianism – Nestorianism – Adoptionism

Necessity for a New Testament The eyewitnesses of Jesus were gone; oral traditions were becoming corrupt and conflicting. The real word of the Lord was wanted to be read in worship. Heretics were formulating canons to promote their own special viewpoints. Apocryphal works began to appear in increasing numbers. in increasing numbers. The persecution of Christians called for a decision on the content of the New Testament. To declare an end to revelation.

Tests for Canonicity The books conformed to the rule of faith handed down in the church. In other words did the books measure up to the moral and doctrinal standards that were set by the apostles in their writings?

Tests for Canonicity (New Testament) Apostolicity – Was the book written by an apostle or someone very close to the apostles?

Tests for Canonicity Was the book being used in the churches?

Acceptance! The final form of the New Testament canon was accepted at the Council of Carthage in 397 and then again at the Council of Chalcedon (pronounced: kal’-sidon) in 451. Four hundred years after Christ! You would also be interested to know that chapter and verses were not included into scripture until the 16th century! the 16th century!

Creeds Need for Creeds: – Few Bibles available – Literacy – Latin Apostles’ Creed (confirmed 8th Century) Apostles’ Creed (confirmed 8th Century) Nicene Creed (written 4th century, revised 9th Century) Nicene Creed (written 4th century, revised 9th Century)

Activity Jackie is a high school student who was raised in the church and professes faith. She has befriended a non-Christian in order to be able to witness to her, but was in turn asked a question that has shaken her own faith.

Activity “How can you believe in truth as written in the Bible, when the Bible has so many errors in it? If the Bible were totally true then it would not be imperfect. Just looking at the harmony of the gospels reveals discrepancies; in other places words are changed, the scribes copying the texts made mistakes with spellings, additions and deletions, so how can you believe everything in it?”

Inductive Bible Study Method STOP-GO 1.Stop 2.Think 3.Observe 4.Plan 5.Go 6.Obey

1. STOP Be Still and Know that I am God – Pray Be Still and Know that I am God – Pray Ask the Holy Spirit’s guidance and illumination of the text Ask the Holy Spirit’s guidance and illumination of the text (Prepare to) Read the text in Submission to the Spirit (Prepare to) Read the text in Submission to the Spirit Slow down to listen to the text without distractions Slow down to listen to the text without distractions

2. THINK Read the Text: Thoughtfully – as if for the first time Thoughtfully – as if for the first time Repeatedly Repeatedly Patiently – section by section, a book per month Patiently – section by section, a book per month Imaginatively – as a drama Imaginatively – as a drama Purposefully – what does the text tell us about God and His nature? Purposefully – what does the text tell us about God and His nature? Acquisitively – read to retain it Acquisitively – read to retain it Telescopically – where does the text fit in the overall structure of the chapter/book. Telescopically – where does the text fit in the overall structure of the chapter/book.

3. OBSERVE Observe from the text as much as you can: 1.Who, what, where, when, why? 2.Content 3.What do you see? (emphasis, patterns, etc.) 4.Genre 5.Comparisons 6.Consultation

4. PLAN One central meaning / many applications: 1.Is there an example for me to follow? 2.Is there a sin to avoid? 3.Is there a promise to claim? 4.Is there a prayer to repeat? 5.Is there a command to obey? 6.Is there a condition to meet? 7.Is there a challenge to face?

5. GO Pray in Gratitude for the message you have received from the text as when the truth is applied it will help you Grow in your relationship with Christ as well as to Get on better with others, living the way Christ would have us live.

6. OBEY In Obedience I will _____________________. What will you do and how will you accomplish this? What will you do and how will you accomplish this? State measurable objectives so that you can hold yourself accountable. State measurable objectives so that you can hold yourself accountable. Better still, tell a friend who can be your accountability partner as you strive to obey what you have learned. Better still, tell a friend who can be your accountability partner as you strive to obey what you have learned. Now go and Obey! Now go and Obey!

Activity Now we’ll practice the STOP-GO method, reading John 10: We have a worksheet to help guide you.