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Food for Thought…. Missionaries observe a tribal practice of killing a twin because the tribe believes the twin is an evil spirit. Is this right or wrong? Should the missionaries do something? Can we say there is truth that applies to all people in the world?. A Look at The Bible. The Bible.
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Food for Thought… • Missionaries observe a tribal practice of killing a twin because the tribe believes the twin is an evil spirit. Is this right or wrong? Should the missionaries do something? • Can we say there is truth that applies to all people in the world?
The Bible …what is it? …where did it come from? …why is it important for me?
Main Character: God …who God is …what God does …what God is like • His personality
Study Approach • Examine basic truths of the bible • Use Chronological Approach…
<----- Selected Key Events ---> Other Events Study Approach
Study Approach • Bible Study like building a House • …Lay Foundation • …Add structure to foundation • Everything studied will become part of foundation • Other lessons will build on previous lessons
Study Approach Focus of this Study Top of the Main Events Layers of Detail Depth of Content
Study Approach Focus of this Study Upper Structure FIRM FOUNDATION
Study Approach A later passage that contains helpful details The event we are studying X X Revelation Genesis
A Question • What do you know so far about the study approach that we will use to study God’s Word?
Study Approach • Thematic and Chronological • Problem: Mixing of themes without proper understanding leads to confusion
FOCUS OF THIS STUDY Study Approach • Example of Confusion with Sin: • What God has done so people can be saved from the problem sin has caused • What God has done to set people free from sin that is controlling their lives • What God will do so people will be completely free all problems sin causes
Study Approach • A look at your Bible • Table of Contents • Old Testament • New Testament • Chapters and verse numbers • Footnote and various helps • The Bible is God’s Word!!
Study Approach • Bible being God’s Word: the text of the Bible, not men’s notes added in at bottom • Not necessarily the words in and other themselves, but the meaning conveyed by the words - seeking understanding!
Study Approach God’s Word Men’s Notes
Study Approach • Other names: Scripture, His commands, precepts, law, ordinances, statutes
Study Approach • Think about the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word Bible?
What is the Bible? • 2 Timothy 3:16 • All scripture is God-breathed… • “God-breathed” • God wrote the Bible by inspiring prophets to write exactly the message He wanted recorded for others to read.
What is the Bible? • How did God inspire? • Sometimes He spoke audibly • Sometimes He spoke in visions • Sometimes He just put the message directly into their minds
What is the Bible? • Read 2 Peter 1:20, 21 • God wrote His Word through men!
What is the Bible? Consistent Unified ONE AUTHOR: GOD!!! • Written over 1600 years • God wrote through 40 men
The Whole World God’s Word Where did the Bible come from?
Where did the Bible come from? • Prophets wrote down the message • As original documents wore out, new copies were made • Copies were made with extreme care! • Every imaginable safeguard was used
Where did the Bible come from? • More surviving ancient copies of the Bible than any other ancient manuscript! • Until 1947, most ancient copy was from 900 AD. • In 1947, discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Where did the Bible come from? • Dead Sea Scrolls from 1st Century BC. • When copies were compared, though separated by 1000 years, there were no significant differences. • God preserves His Word.
Where did the Bible come from? • In time of Christ, scribes kept the scrolls in the temples (scrolls were rolls of parchment or leather on which text was written in ink) • Original texts of Bible were written in Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek.
Where did the Bible come from? • Down through the ages, God enabled various men to translate the Bible in various languages. • Bible has been translated into more languages than any other book.
Where did the Bible come from? Hebrew Greek
Check for Understanding • How long did it take to write the Bible? • How many men did God use to write the Bible? • How was the Bible preserved for us through the centuries?
The Bible is Historically Accurate • Archeological discoveries have verified Biblical… • Places • Cultural details • Names • Dates
The Bible is Historically Accurate • As we study, we will look at some of these. • Many cultures, places, and names mentioned in the Bible are visible today, having remained unchanged over the centuries! • The Bible has stood the Test of Time!
The Bible is Historically Accurate • Read Psalm 119:89 • God’s Word will not change because God does not change!
What’s in the Bible? • Since God is the author, He reveals Himself to man • He tells us who He is • He tells us what He wants us to know about Him • He tells us what He is like
What’s in the Bible? • God also tells us about us • Our relationship to Him • Our relationship to the world around us, to one another • All this for now and for all eternity!
What’s in the Bible? • Read Hebrews 4:12 • God’s Word is God’s voice speaking to us • He shows us what we’re really like inside • Only the Bible can speak to these issues with ABSOLUTE authority.
What’s in the Bible? • Why is it important for us to study the Bible? • What kinds of “excuses” keep us from studying the Bible?
What’s in the Bible? • The Bible is Unique! • The Bible alone has God’s message for our lives today! • The Bible alone tells us what God thinks of us and what HE sees as our greatest need.
What’s in the Bible? • Why did God write the Bible? • He wrote it for YOU! • It’s his personal letter to each of us
Conclusion • What is different about the Bible than other good “religious” books? • How is the Bible relevant for your life today?
Review • Refer to the questions on your handout.
