HOW DID WE GET THE BIBLE? 1. REVELATION initiative HimselfHis attributes His truth God, on His own initiative, reveals or unveils Himself, His attributes, and His truth to man (we could not know of God otherwise)

HOW DID WE GET THE BIBLE? Romans 1:19-20 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

TYPES OF REVELATION General RevelationGeneral Revelation God shows all humanity that He existsGod shows all humanity that He exists CreationCreation ConscienceConscience General RevelationGeneral Revelation God shows all humanity that He existsGod shows all humanity that He exists CreationCreation ConscienceConscience Special RevelationSpecial Revelation God reveals information at special timesGod reveals information at special times Jesus ChristJesus Christ Miracles, Dreams, etcMiracles, Dreams, etc Special RevelationSpecial Revelation God reveals information at special timesGod reveals information at special times Jesus ChristJesus Christ Miracles, Dreams, etcMiracles, Dreams, etc

HOW DID WE GET THE BIBLE? 2. INSPIRATION own personalitieswriting styles without errororiginal manuscripts God oversees the human authors of Scripture, using their own personalities and writing styles to write what He intended without error in the original manuscripts

HOW DID WE GET THE BIBLE? 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

inspired = “God-breathed”

HOW DID WE GET THE BIBLE? 2 Peter 1:20-21 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. men and the Spirit working together

HOW DID WE GET THE BIBLE? 3. TRANSMISSION original as accurately as possible Copying of the original, perfect manuscripts as accurately as possible

HOW DID WE GET THE BIBLE? 3. TRANSMISSION

HOW DID WE GET THE BIBLE? 3. TRANSMISSION “Dead Sea scrolls”

HOW DID WE GET THE BIBLE? 4. TRANSLATION original one’s own language Copying of the original language of the early manuscripts into one’s own language

HOW DID WE GET THE BIBLE? 5. INTERPRETATION original original original Determining what the original authors meant in their original settings to their original audiences

HOW DID WE GET THE BIBLE? understanding mind Interpretation involves understanding with the mind

“WE BETTER MOVE- THE HEAT IS CATCHING UP TO US!”

The boy runs ahead of his mom. The river runs through the canyon. The trial runs all week long. I’ve got the “runs” !

All of Scripture must be interpreted according to context IMMEDIATE BOOK CULTURE

HOW DID WE GET THE BIBLE? 6. ILLUMINATION Holy Spirit Work of the Holy Spirit enabling a believer believer to understand and apply biblical truth in specific situations

HOW DID WE GET THE BIBLE? receiving heart Illumination involves receiving into the heart

HOW DID WE GET THE BIBLE? WHY IS ILLUMINATION NEEDED? 1. Human blindness due to sin 2. Human desire to add or delete from what is originally written

HOW DID WE GET THE BIBLE? 1 Corinthians 2:12,14 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

HOW DID WE GET THE BIBLE? Revelation 22:18-19 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God shall add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.

HOW DID WE GET THE BIBLE? 7. APPLICATION Personal growth (spiritual maturity) Putting into action what you learn Sharing Christ (evangelism) Telling unbelievers about salvation

NEW TESTAMENT LITERATURE 3,4

HOW DID WE GET THE NEW TESTAMENT? 1.WHAT IS A “TESTAMENT”? will, covenant, contract written record of God and His covenants with humanity

HOW DID WE GET THE NEW TESTAMENT? 2. HOW ARE THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS DIFFERENT? Two Testaments, two different covenants

O.T.N.T. Fatheremphasis: God the Father consciousthe Law at Mt. Sinai: man conscious of sin the nation of IsraelGod’s focus: the nation of Israel many temporarymany sacrifices: temporary forgiveness Fatheremphasis: God the Father consciousthe Law at Mt. Sinai: man conscious of sin the nation of IsraelGod’s focus: the nation of Israel many temporarymany sacrifices: temporary forgiveness Sonemphasis: God the Son freeChrist at the cross: man free from sin the N.T. churchGod’s focus: the N.T. church single eternalsingle sacrifice: eternal forgiveness Sonemphasis: God the Son freeChrist at the cross: man free from sin the N.T. churchGod’s focus: the N.T. church single eternalsingle sacrifice: eternal forgiveness

HOW DID WE GET THE NEW TESTAMENT? 3. HOW ARE THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS SIMILAR? Both Testaments point to Jesus Christ

Luke 24:44-45 Now He (Jesus) said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

HOW DID WE GET THE NEW TESTAMENT? 4. HOW WERE THE 27 NEW TESTAMENT BOOKS CHOSEN? Councils of believers began to meet during the 2 nd – 4 th centuries authority and authenticity Their goal: to develop a series of tests that would recognize a book’s authority and authenticity

HOW DID WE GET THE NEW TESTAMENT? Canon:

Canon Canon: ruler, measuring rod, standard or norm If a book measured up to certain canonized standards, it was canonized

HOW DID WE GET THE NEW TESTAMENT? The three tests: Writer’s authority 1. Writer’s authority- was he a reliable source? Internal evidence 2. Internal evidence- did the book contradict other books? Common acceptance 3. Common acceptance- did all agree the book was Scripture?

HOW DID WE GET THE NEW TESTAMENT? 4. HOW WERE THE 27 NEW TESTAMENT BOOKS ARRANGED? Christ and the fundamentals of Christianity The 27 books were placed in a specific order to explain Christ and the fundamentals of Christianity

LITERARY CLASSIFICATION OF THE N.T. GOSPELSHISTORY PAUL’S EPISTLES GENERAL EPISTLES PROPHECY MATTHEW MARK LUKE JOHN ACTSROMANS 1 CORINTHIANS 2 CORINTHIANS GALATIANS EPHESIANS PHILIPPIANS COLOSSIANS 1 THESSALONIANS 2 THESSALONIANS 1 TIMOTHY 2 TIMOTHY TITUS PHILEMON HEBREWS JAMES 1 PETER 2 PETER 1 JOHN 2 JOHN 3 JOHN JUDE REVELATION