How We Got the Bible The Bible: What is it?

Part 12 What is the Bible? Collection of myths?Collection of myths? Compilation of philosophical treatises?Compilation of philosophical treatises? Handbook of ancient proverbs?Handbook of ancient proverbs? Testimony of the religious sensibility of its day?Testimony of the religious sensibility of its day?

Part 13 The Claims of the Bible Were these men honest, yet deceived?Were these men honest, yet deceived? Were they dishonest in the claims they made?Were they dishonest in the claims they made? Or, were they writing the actual word of God for mankind?Or, were they writing the actual word of God for mankind?

Part 14 Bible: The Divine Library 66 books 66 books 40 writers 40 writers 1500 years 1500 years 3 languages 3 languages 2.4 billion ( ) 2.4 billion ( ) Translated into 242 lang. Translated into 242 lang partial 1157 partial 4

Part 15 Impact upon Mankind Literature Literature Science Science Art Art Culture Culture 5 Archaeology Archaeology Morality Morality Government Government Laws Laws

Part 16 Impact upon Mankind “In fact, nearly half of all the famous paintings in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. are based on the Bible. Take away from the libraries of the world all the books which deal directly or indirectly with the Bible and you would destroy our very best reading materials.” ( Simple Studies in Christian Evidences, Rubel Shelly, p. 42) 6

Part 17 Its Survival is Remarkable Antiochus Epiphanes, 175 BC Antiochus Epiphanes, 175 BC Diocletian, 303 AD Diocletian, 303 AD Voltaire, 18 th century Voltaire, 18 th century “And only 50 years after his death, the Geneva Bible Society used his press and house to produce stacks of Bible.” (Geisler & Nix) 7

Part 18 The Bible’s Claims Originated from GodOriginated from God –Scripture (writings) – 2 Tim. 3:16 Old Testament – 2 Tim. 3:15; Acts 7:38; Rom. 3:2Old Testament – 2 Tim. 3:15; Acts 7:38; Rom. 3:2 New Testament – 1 Tim. 5:18; 2 Pet. 3:15-16; 1 Cor. 14:37New Testament – 1 Tim. 5:18; 2 Pet. 3:15-16; 1 Cor. 14:37

Part 19 The Bible’s Claims Inspired by GodInspired by God (“God-breathed”) - 2 Tim.3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20-21 “What it says of Scripture is, not that it is ‘breathed into by God’ or the product of the Divine ‘inbreathing’ into its human authors, but that it is breathed out by God, ‘God-breathed,’ the product of the creative breath of God.” (B. B. Warfield)

Part 110 The Bible’s Claims Verbally inspired word of God - 1 Ths. 2:13Verbally inspired word of God - 1 Ths. 2:13 –“Thus says the Lord” – >2,000 times –Spirit of God spoke in men – Matt. 22:43; 2 Sam. 23:1-2; Jer. 1:9; 10:1-2

Part 111 The Bible’s Claims “Verbal Inspiration is the work of God through the Holy Spirit so directing men in their choice of the subject matter and in their choice of words that their writings contain, written accurately, exactly what God desired, and all that He desired, them to contain. It is the doctrine of the superintendence, or guidance; that is, God so guided in the writing of the books of the Bible that the words are His words in the style of the writers. Verbal Inspiration is the opposite of Inspired Concepts.” (H. S. Miller, General Biblical Introduction, p. 24)

Part 112 “In 1967, Jeffry Haddon sent a questionnaire to 10,000 Protestant ministers. He received 7,444 replies & compiled the results. ( Christianity Today, October 13, 1967). * Do you believe that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a historical fact? * Do you believe in the virgin birth of Jesus Christ as a biological miracle? * Do you believe in the existence of Satan & of demonic powers? * Do you believe the Bible is the inspired word of God, literally?”

Part 113 Bible is Satan Christ is God: all- totally is real sinless powerful totally is real sinless powerful accurate Creator accurate Creator all adults 41% 27% 40% 69% Adventist 64% 37% 45% 76% Asmb of God 77% 56% 70% 96% Baptist 66% 34% 55% 85% Catholics 26% 17% 33% 70% Ch of Christ 57% 36% 54% 80% Episcopal 22% 20% 28% 59% Lutheran 34% 21% 33% 72% Methodist 38% 18% 33% 73% Pentecostal/ 81% 47% 73% 90% Foursquare Presbyterian 40% 22% 45% 76% (Barna Research Group, Ltd.,Ventura, CA, (Barna Research Group, Ltd.,Ventura, CA,

Part 114 The Bible’s Claims Verbally inspired word of God - 1 Ths. 2:13Verbally inspired word of God - 1 Ths. 2:13 –“Thus says the Lord” – 2,000+ times in OT –Spirit of God spoke in men – Matt. 22:43; 2 Sam. 23:1-2; Jer. 1:9; 10:1-2 Zechariah 7:12; 1 Corinthians 2:10-13

Part 115 The Bible’s Claims Meet Man’s Needs – 2 Tim. 3:16Meet Man’s Needs – 2 Tim. 3:16 –Salvation from sin –Profitable, beneficial, thoroughly furnished unto every good work Relevant and Powerful – Heb. 4:12Relevant and Powerful – Heb. 4:12 –Living words, not dead letters

Part 116 Our Respect for the Scriptures Authority of Scripture – John 10:30-38 –Cannot be deprived of its binding authority over us! –Letter perfect! - Matt. 5:17-18 Confidence in the accuracy of Scripture –All, even to the tense of verbs! - Luke 24:25, 27, 44; Matt. 22:31-32 –“It is written” – Luke 10:25-26

Part 117 What is the Bible? The very word of God The very word of God Greatest book ever written Greatest book ever written How we use it affects our salvation (2 Peter 3:16-18) How we use it affects our salvation (2 Peter 3:16-18) 15