How We Got the BibleHow We Got the Bible

The Bible: What is it?The Bible: What is it?

Part 1 2

What is the Bible?What is the Bible?

• Collection of myths?Collection of myths?• Compilation of philosophical Compilation of philosophical

treatises?treatises?• Handbook of ancient proverbs?Handbook of ancient proverbs?• Testimony of the religious Testimony of the religious

sensibility of its day?sensibility of its day?

Part 1 3

The Claims of the BibleThe Claims of the Bible

• Were these men honest, yet Were these men honest, yet deceived?deceived?

• Were they dishonest in the Were they dishonest in the claims they made?claims they made?

• Or, were they writing the Or, were they writing the actual word of God for actual word of God for mankind?mankind?

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Bible: The Divine LibraryBible: The Divine Library

•66 books66 books

•40 40 writerswriters

•1500 1500 yearsyears

•3 3 languageslanguages

•2.4 billion 2.4 billion (1816-1975)(1816-1975)

•TranslateTranslated into 242 d into 242 lang.lang.

•1157 1157 partialpartial 4

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Impact upon MankindImpact upon Mankind

•LiteraturLiteraturee

•ScienceScience

•ArtArt

•CultureCulture

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•ArchaeoloArchaeologygy

•MoralityMorality

•GovernmeGovernmentnt

•LawsLaws

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Impact upon MankindImpact upon Mankind

““In fact, nearly half of all the In fact, nearly half of all the famous paintings in the famous paintings in the National Gallery of Art in National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. are based Washington, D.C. are based on the Bible. Take away from on the Bible. Take away from the libraries of the world all the libraries of the world all the books which deal directly the books which deal directly or indirectly with the Bible or indirectly with the Bible and you would destroy our and you would destroy our very best reading materials.” very best reading materials.”

((Simple Studies in Christian Simple Studies in Christian EvidencesEvidences, Rubel Shelly, p. 42), Rubel Shelly, p. 42)

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Its Survival is RemarkableIts Survival is Remarkable

•Antiochus Epiphanes, Antiochus Epiphanes, 175 BC175 BC

•Diocletian, 303 ADDiocletian, 303 AD

•Voltaire, 18Voltaire, 18thth century century

““And only 50 years after his And only 50 years after his death, the Geneva Bible death, the Geneva Bible Society used his press and Society used his press and house to produce stacks of house to produce stacks of Bible.” (Geisler & Nix)Bible.” (Geisler & Nix) 7

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The Bible’s ClaimsThe Bible’s Claims

•Originated from GodOriginated from God–Scripture (writings) – Scripture (writings) – 2 Tim. 2 Tim. 3:163:16•Old Testament –Old Testament – 2 Tim. 3:15; 2 Tim. 3:15; Acts 7:38; Rom. 3:2Acts 7:38; Rom. 3:2

•New Testament –New Testament – 1 Tim. 5:18; 1 Tim. 5:18; 2 Pet. 3:15-16; 1 Cor. 14:37 2 Pet. 3:15-16; 1 Cor. 14:37

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The Bible’s ClaimsThe Bible’s Claims•Inspired by God Inspired by God

(“God-breathed”) - (“God-breathed”) - 2 Tim.3:16; 2 2 Tim.3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20-21Pet. 1:20-21

““What it says of Scripture is, not that What it says of Scripture is, not that it is ‘breathed into by God’ or the it is ‘breathed into by God’ or the product of the Divine ‘inbreathing’ product of the Divine ‘inbreathing’ into its human authors, but that it into its human authors, but that it is breathed out by God, ‘God-is breathed out by God, ‘God-breathed,’ the product of the breathed,’ the product of the creative breath of God.” creative breath of God.” (B. B. (B. B. Warfield)Warfield)

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The Bible’s ClaimsThe Bible’s Claims

•Verbally inspired word of Verbally inspired word of God God - - 1 Ths. 2:131 Ths. 2:13

– ““Thus says the Lord” – >2,000 Thus says the Lord” – >2,000 timestimes

– Spirit of God spoke in men – Spirit of God spoke in men – Matt. 22:43; 2 Sam. 23:1-2; Jer. Matt. 22:43; 2 Sam. 23:1-2; Jer. 1:9; 10:1-21:9; 10:1-2

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

(H. S. Miller, (H. S. Miller, General Biblical IntroductionGeneral Biblical Introduction, p. 24), p. 24)

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

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Bible is Satan Christ is God: all- Bible is Satan Christ is God: all- totally is real sinless powerful totally is real sinless powerful

accurate Creatoraccurate Creator

all adults 41% all adults 41% 27% 40% 69%27% 40% 69%AdventistAdventist 64% 37% 45% 76% 64% 37% 45% 76%Asmb of God 77% 56% 70% 96%Asmb of God 77% 56% 70% 96%Baptist 66% 34% 55% 85%Baptist 66% 34% 55% 85%Catholics 26% 17% 33% 70%Catholics 26% 17% 33% 70%Ch of Christ 57% Ch of Christ 57% 36% 54% 80%36% 54% 80%Episcopal 22% 20% 28% 59% Episcopal 22% 20% 28% 59% Lutheran 34% 21% 33% 72%Lutheran 34% 21% 33% 72%Methodist 38% 18% 33% 73% Methodist 38% 18% 33% 73% Pentecostal/ 81% 47% 73% 90%Pentecostal/ 81% 47% 73% 90%FoursquareFoursquarePresbyterian 40% 22% 45% 76%Presbyterian 40% 22% 45% 76% (Barna Research Group, Ltd.,Ventura, CA, www.barna.org)(Barna Research Group, Ltd.,Ventura, CA, www.barna.org)

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The Bible’s ClaimsThe Bible’s Claims

•Verbally inspired word of God Verbally inspired word of God - 1 Ths. 2:13- 1 Ths. 2:13

– ““Thus says the Lord” – 2,000+ times in Thus says the Lord” – 2,000+ times in OTOT

– Spirit of God spoke in men – Spirit of God spoke in men – Matt. Matt. 22:43; 2 Sam. 23:1-2; Jer. 1:9; 10:1-222:43; 2 Sam. 23:1-2; Jer. 1:9; 10:1-2

Zechariah 7:12; 1 Corinthians Zechariah 7:12; 1 Corinthians 2:10-132:10-13

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The Bible’s ClaimsThe Bible’s Claims

•Meet Man’s NeedsMeet Man’s Needs – – 2 Tim. 2 Tim. 3:163:16

– Salvation from sinSalvation from sin– Profitable, beneficial, thoroughly Profitable, beneficial, thoroughly

furnished unto every good workfurnished unto every good work

•Relevant and PowerfulRelevant and Powerful –– Heb. Heb. 4:124:12

– Living words, not dead lettersLiving words, not dead letters

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Our Respect for the Our Respect for the ScripturesScriptures

• 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

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What is the Bible?What is the Bible?

•The very word of GodThe very word of God

•Greatest book ever Greatest book ever writtenwritten

•How we use it affects How we use it affects our our salvation salvation (2 (2 Peter 3:16-18)Peter 3:16-18)

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