The Uniqueness of the The Uniqueness of the BibleBible

UniqueUnique One and OnlyOne and Only Different From All OthersDifferent From All Others Having No Like or EqualHaving No Like or Equal One of a KindOne of a Kind

Our purpose: To show how the Bible is Our purpose: To show how the Bible is unique unique and different from all other and different from all other writtenwritten documents documents

Unique In It’s ContinuityUnique In It’s Continuity

The Bible Was WrittenThe Bible Was WrittenOver a long period of timeOver a long period of time

Over 1600 yearsOver 1600 years Over 40 generationsOver 40 generations

Unique In It’s ContinuityUnique In It’s ContinuityThe Bible Was WrittenThe Bible Was Written

By about 40 authors from many different By about 40 authors from many different walks of lifewalks of life

Moses, political leader educated in EgyptMoses, political leader educated in Egypt Peter, a fishermanPeter, a fisherman Amos, herdsmanAmos, herdsman Joshua, military leaderJoshua, military leader Nehemiah, cup bearer to King of PersiaNehemiah, cup bearer to King of Persia Daniel, prime minister in the courts of Daniel, prime minister in the courts of BabylonBabylon Luke, physicianLuke, physician Solomon, KingSolomon, King Matthew, tax collectorMatthew, tax collector Paul, tent makerPaul, tent maker

Unique In It’s ContinuityUnique In It’s ContinuityThe Bible Was Written In Many Different PlacesThe Bible Was Written In Many Different Places

In the wildernessIn the wilderness In a dungeonIn a dungeon On a hillside On a hillside In a palaceIn a palace In prisonIn prison While travelingWhile traveling In exileIn exile In a military campaignIn a military campaign

Unique In It’s ContinuityUnique In It’s ContinuityThe Bible Was WrittenThe Bible Was Written

On Three ContinentsOn Three Continents AsiaAsia AfricaAfrica EuropeEurope

In Three LanguagesIn Three Languages HebrewHebrew AramaicAramaic GreekGreek

Unique In It’s ContinuityUnique In It’s ContinuityThe Bible Was Written With Many Controversial The Bible Was Written With Many Controversial SubjectsSubjects

The origin of mankindThe origin of mankind The origin of the universeThe origin of the universe The purpose of mankindThe purpose of mankind What happens after deathWhat happens after death The nature of GodThe nature of God The nature of mankind, sin and The nature of mankind, sin and redemptionredemption Good verses EvilGood verses Evil

Unique In It’s ContinuityUnique In It’s ContinuityYet There Is Harmony and ContinuityYet There Is Harmony and Continuity

Paradise lost in the book of Genesis Paradise lost in the book of Genesis becomes the becomes the paradise regained in the book of Revelation paradise regained in the book of Revelation Access to the Tree of Life is forbidden in Access to the Tree of Life is forbidden in Genesis andGenesis and allowed again in Revelation allowed again in Revelation In Genesis man is separated from God In Genesis man is separated from God because of sin,because of sin, in the book of Revelation sin is destroyed in the book of Revelation sin is destroyed andand man is reconciled to God man is reconciled to God

Compare the Bible with any other writings of Compare the Bible with any other writings of menmen

Imagine what you would have if you took Imagine what you would have if you took ten men,ten men, from one walk of life, in one generation, in from one walk of life, in one generation, in one place,one place, at one time, on one continent and one at one time, on one continent and one language andlanguage and have them write on one controversial have them write on one controversial subjectsubject

Unique In It’s TranslationUnique In It’s Translation

One of the first major books translatedOne of the first major books translated Septuagint version of the Old Septuagint version of the Old TestamentTestament translated into Greek in 250 B.C. translated into Greek in 250 B.C.

“ “By the end of 1993, the whole By the end of 1993, the whole BibleBible had been translated into 337 had been translated into 337 languages;languages; 2,062 languages have translations 2,062 languages have translations of atof at least one book of the Bible.” least one book of the Bible.” Guinness Book of World Guinness Book of World Records, 1998Records, 1998

Unique In It’s CirculationUnique In It’s CirculationCirculationCirculation

In 1804 = 409 million copiesIn 1804 = 409 million copies In 1932 = one and a third billion In 1932 = one and a third billion copiescopies “ “The world’s best selling and most The world’s best selling and most widelywidely distributed book is the Bible, with an distributed book is the Bible, with an estimated 2.5 billion copies sold.” estimated 2.5 billion copies sold.”

Guinness Book of World Guinness Book of World Records, 1975Records, 1975 “ “No other book has known anythingNo other book has known anything approaching this constant approaching this constant circulation.” circulation.” Cambridge History of the Bible Cambridge History of the Bible

Unique In It’s SurvivalUnique In It’s SurvivalThe Bible WasThe Bible Was

Written on material that was Written on material that was perishableperishable Copied and recopied over Copied and recopied over hundreds ofhundreds of years by hand years by hand Banned, burned and outlawedBanned, burned and outlawed Criticized, ridiculed and mockedCriticized, ridiculed and mocked

Yet, it’s style, correctness and Yet, it’s style, correctness and existence has not diminished.existence has not diminished.

Unique In It’s TeachingUnique In It’s TeachingA Book of ProphecyA Book of Prophecy No other book has predicted so many future No other book has predicted so many future events and thenevents and then have them all come to pass have them all come to pass

There are 44+ prophecies concerning JesusThere are 44+ prophecies concerning Jesus Micah 5:2 Born in Bethlehem Luke 2:4,5Micah 5:2 Born in Bethlehem Luke 2:4,5 Isaiah 7:14 Born of a Virgin Luke Isaiah 7:14 Born of a Virgin Luke 1:26,271:26,27 Zech. 11:12 Betrayed 30 pieces Silver Matt. Zech. 11:12 Betrayed 30 pieces Silver Matt. 26:14,1526:14,15 Zech. 12:10 Hands and Feet Pierced John 20:27Zech. 12:10 Hands and Feet Pierced John 20:27 Psalms 22:17 Clothing Gambled For Matt. Psalms 22:17 Clothing Gambled For Matt. 27:35,3627:35,36 Psalms 34:20 No Broken Bones John 19:32-Psalms 34:20 No Broken Bones John 19:32-3636 Psalms 68:18 Ascension back to God Mark Psalms 68:18 Ascension back to God Mark 16:1916:19

Unique In It’s InfluenceUnique In It’s Influence ““KJV & It’s Influence on Life and Literature” KJV & It’s Influence on Life and Literature” by Cleland Boyd McAfee, D.D. by Cleland Boyd McAfee, D.D.

““The first and most notable fact regarding the The first and most notable fact regarding the influence of the Bible on English literature is the influence of the Bible on English literature is the remarkable extent of that influence. It is literally remarkable extent of that influence. It is literally everywhere. If every Bible in any considerable city everywhere. If every Bible in any considerable city were destroyed, the Book could be restored in all its were destroyed, the Book could be restored in all its essential parts from the quotations on the shelves of essential parts from the quotations on the shelves of the city library. There are works, covering almost all the city library. There are works, covering almost all the great literary writers, devoted especially to the great literary writers, devoted especially to showing how much the Bible has influenced them.”showing how much the Bible has influenced them.”

“ “When, therefore, it is urged that the English Bible When, therefore, it is urged that the English Bible has influenced history, it is not making an undue claim has influenced history, it is not making an undue claim for it. When it is further urged that of all books in for it. When it is further urged that of all books in English literature it has been most influential, it has English literature it has been most influential, it has most made history, it has most determined great most made history, it has most determined great movements, the argument only claims for it the movements, the argument only claims for it the highest place among books.”highest place among books.”

Unique In It’s InfluenceUnique In It’s Influence Carol Thiessen – Faith Today July/August 1998Carol Thiessen – Faith Today July/August 1998

“ “The Bible has shaped not only religious thought, The Bible has shaped not only religious thought, but politics, law, education, literature, culture, but politics, law, education, literature, culture, flavored our language with words and phrases, such flavored our language with words and phrases, such as “by the skin of their teeth” (Job 19:20) and the as “by the skin of their teeth” (Job 19:20) and the Good Samaritan ( Luke 10:25-37). Its stories are Good Samaritan ( Luke 10:25-37). Its stories are rendered creatively through painting and sculpture. rendered creatively through painting and sculpture. Its themes have been portrayed lyrically by composers Its themes have been portrayed lyrically by composers through the ages. We swear on Bibles in court; we through the ages. We swear on Bibles in court; we discover them in our hotel and hospital rooms. We can discover them in our hotel and hospital rooms. We can read them on CD-ROM and we can find thousands of read them on CD-ROM and we can find thousands of sites dedicated to the Holy Book on the Internet. sites dedicated to the Holy Book on the Internet. Touted by many as the best-selling book of all time, Touted by many as the best-selling book of all time, 80 percent of Americans in a 1996 national survey 80 percent of Americans in a 1996 national survey commissioned by Tyndale House Publishers named the commissioned by Tyndale House Publishers named the Bible as the most influential book in human history.”Bible as the most influential book in human history.”

The Uniqueness of the The Uniqueness of the BibleBible

It has not been our purpose to absolutely It has not been our purpose to absolutely prove that the prove that the Bible is the Word of God Bible is the Word of God

But I believe anyone with a logical mind and But I believe anyone with a logical mind and sincere sincere heart could see that such a book, as the heart could see that such a book, as the Bible, couldBible, could not have been written by man alone not have been written by man alone Of course, we believe the Bible is unique Of course, we believe the Bible is unique because it because it did come from God. did come from God. “ “For prophecy never came by the will of For prophecy never came by the will of man, butman, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved holy men of God spoke as they were moved by theby the Holy Spirit.” Holy Spirit.”

II Peter 1:21II Peter 1:21

The Uniqueness of the The Uniqueness of the BibleBible

The Bible is unique because it is God’s The Bible is unique because it is God’s revealed revealed will to all of mankind will to all of mankind “ “In Him we have redemption through In Him we have redemption through His blood,His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches ofthe riches of His grace which He made to abound His grace which He made to abound toward ustoward us in all wisdom and prudence, having in all wisdom and prudence, having mademade known to us the mystery of His will.” known to us the mystery of His will.” Eph. 1:7-9Eph. 1:7-9

Through His Word God has given us:Through His Word God has given us: Everything that pertains to life and Everything that pertains to life and godlinessgodliness The Words of LifeThe Words of Life The Words that will judge usThe Words that will judge us

The Uniqueness of the The Uniqueness of the BibleBible

The Bible is unique because it came The Bible is unique because it came from God. from God.

Since it is the Word of God, will you Since it is the Word of God, will you not listen to Him and Obey Him?not listen to Him and Obey Him?

By Bob Gard – Hollister Missouri church of Christ www.hollisterchurchofchrist.org Adapted lesson from Mark A. Copeland www.executableoutlines.com December 4, 2005