The Bible – God’s Holy Word!What is the "Final Authority" in your life? Those who believe something must have a reason for their beliefs. Just as there are standards in the business world, in government, and in education – the Christian needs an absolute standard for his beliefs, his duties, his whole conduct. Many people have as their authority their inner CONSCIENCE. "Let your conscience be your guide" they say. This sounds good on the surface, but according to Titus 1:15 the conscience may be ____________; according to 1 Timothy 4:2 the conscience may be ___________ and according to 1 Corinthians 8:7 the conscience may be _______________.
Other people, especially religious folk, have the CHURCH or man-made CREEDS as their authority. Again, such standards are unreliable – because man is involved. Colossians 2:8 warns us against P__________ and T___________ (Matthew 15:3, 6, 9).
For the Christian, only the BIBLE, the Word of God, is the only reliable authority for faith and practice. This study will teach you what the Bible is, why you can take it as your authority, and how to use it as a child of God.
WHAT IS THE BIBLE?
A. The Bible is a collection of ____ books, divided into two major sections known as the OLD and NEW _______________.
B. Other names given to the Bible are:
1. The ________ ___ ______ (Romans 10:17).
2. The _______ _____________________ (2 Timothy 3:15).
C. The Books of the Bible are not arranged chronologically, but rather "topically." Both the Testaments have their Books set in groups, as shown below.
All new Christians experience difficulty at first in finding the Books of the Bible, especially during a preaching service. Don't be embarrassed to use the index in the front of your Bible or to accept the assistance of another Christian. The more you use your Bible, the sooner you will become familiar with the location of its Books.
OLD TESTAMENT:
Books of the Law: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy (the Pentateuch).
Books of History: Joshua, Judge, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra,Nehemiah, Esther.
Books of Wisdom: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song Of Solomon
Books of Prophecy:
Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel
Minor Prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
From the close of the Old Testament (Malachi) to the birth of Jesus Christ (Matthew), over 400 years transpired. These years are called the "Silent Years."
NEW TESTAMENT:
The Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
History: Acts
The Epistles:
Pauline Epistles: Romans, 1 & 2Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon
General Epistles: Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1, 2 & 3 John, Jude
Prophecy: The Revelation
HOW DID WE RECEIVE THE BIBLE? The Bible is not just another book, it is THE BOOK; different from any other book that has or ever will be written. The Bible is a SUPERNATURAL Book because of the way in which God gave it to mankind.
A. According to 2 Peter 1:21 “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” This verse of Scripture teaches us three vital truths concerning how we got the Bible:
1. It wasn't invented by men – “came not by the will of man.”
2. Men of God wrote the Bible – “holy men of God spake.”
3. God authored the Bible – “as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
B. God used human writers to pen His Words.
1. God used 40 different men, from all walks of life, to write down the Bible. This was accomplished over a period of 1,600 years.
2. Most of the Old Testament was originally written in HEBREW. The New Testament was originally written in GREEK.
C. God authored the Bible. A good way to illustrate this miracle is to consider how you would write things down on paper. First, it is the PEN which actually does the writing – but it only writes as you move it. Second, the characteristics of the script will depend on the kind of pen or writing instrument you use. Write your name down on paper using a "fine ball-point pen," a "felt marking pen," and a paint brush – note there will be the same words, but a different appearance!
1. The Holy Spirit moved the human writers of the Bible in such a way that they recorded the very words and sense of God, though couched in their own literary style.
2. The way in which God gave us the Bible is called INSPIRATION.
Because the Bible is the INSPIRED Word of God, we can take it as the authority for all we believe and do.
BEWARE of men who say, "The Bible BECOMES the Word of God" when it speaks to you personally. Look up Matthew 24:35 and I Corinthians 2:13.
According to these passages, God has inspired the ____________ (not just the ideas & thoughts).
BEWARE of men who say, "The Bible CONTAINS the Word of God," meaning there are parts of it which are not God's Word. Look up II Timothy 3:16. According to this Scripture verse, how much of the Bible is inspired? _________
Because the Bible is inspired of God, it is ____________ from beginning to end (Psalm 119:160).
DO WE HAVE THE WHOLE BIBLE TODAY? The original manuscripts of the Bible have long been lost. Does this mean we no longer have the pure Word of God?
A. Lookup Psalm 12:6,7 and Matthew 24:35. Not only did God give us His Word, but He also promised to ______________ it until the end of the world.
B. How has God preserved His Word? God has providentially kept His Word from destruction and corruption in two ways:
1. Down through the centuries, the Lord has raised up men with a love for His Word to keep it from harm. Zealous Jewish patriots, then simple Bible loving Christians (in particular, our Baptist forefathers), have kept the Scriptures available to all generations. Satan has on numerous occasions attempted to remove the Bible from the face of the earth. Hellish decrees have seen the Bible banned, burned, banished, and battered by scornful men.
2. The Hebrew text of the Old Testament has been faithfully preserved by fastidious Jewish scribes - it is called the Masoretic Text. The Greek text of the New Testament has been faithfully preserved in what is called the Textus Receptus, or Received Text. Over 3,000 ancient manuscripts of the New Testament, along with some 2,000 lectionaries (selected readings) still exist today-the majority of them attesting to the Received Text.
WHY DO WE NEED THE BIBLE?
A. Look up 1 Peter 2:2; Matthew 4:4; 1 Corinthians 3:2; Hebrews 5:12-13; Psalm 19:10; and Jeremiah 15:16. According to these Scriptures, the Bible is our spiritual _____________.
B. Look up Hebrews 4:12 and Ephesians 6:17. The Bible is our spiritual...
C. Look up Psalm 119:11. This verse says the Bible keeps us from...
D. Look up Psalm 119:105. According to this Scripture, the Bible is life's...
E. Look up 2 Timothy 3:16 again. The Bible is profitable for. . .
1. _____________________ (what is right)
2. _____________________ (what is not right)
3. _____________________ (how to get it right)
4. _____________________ (how to keep it right)
F. Look up 1 Thessalonians 4:18 and Psalm 119:50. The Word of God is for our ____________.
WHAT SHOULD WE DO WITH THE BIBLE?
A. John 5:39 _____________________ (also Acts 17:11)
B. 2 Timothy 2:15 ________________
C. James 1:22 ____________________
D. 1 Corinthians 2:13d ___________
E. 2 Timothy 4:2 _________________
F. Psalm 1:2 _____________________
G. Colossians 3:16a ______________
H. Psalm 119:11 __________________
You may wish to write the following statement in your Bible as a wise reminder:
THIS BOOK WILL KEEP YOU FROM SIN
OR SIN WILL KEEP YOU FROM THIS BOOK.