The Bible is an Amazing Book. Written by many different authors over thousands of years and yet all parts working together as one. I think it’s a miracle book. Check out some of the basics below and see what you think.
- Some Basic Facts About the Bible:
- The word Bible means _BOOK_ (biblos)
- The Bible is the _OLDEST_ book in the world.
- The Bible is the all-time _BEST_-_SELLER_.
- The Bible is the most widely distributed book in the world.
- The Bible is the most _TRANSLATED_ book in the world.
- The complete Bible can be found in over _275_ languages.
- Portions of the Bible have been translated into close to _2,000_ languages.
- The Divine Origin of the Bible
- Internal Evidence – The Bible claims _GOD_ as its author.
1) The Old Testament Claims to Divine authorship (not exhaustive)
– (2 Sam 23:2) “The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.
– (Jer 1:9) Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “Now, I have put my words in your mouth.
- a) In Genesis chapter 1 the words “God said…” appears _9_ times.
- b) In Malachi “Thus saith the Lord…” appears _23_ times.
- c) In one form or another “God said…” appears in the Old Testament _3,808_ times.
2) The New Testament Claims to Divine authorship (not exhaustive)
– (Gal 1:11-12) I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. {12} I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
– (1 Th 2:13) And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.
3) The names the Bible uses to describe itself point to a Divine origin.
– 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:23 — “Word of God”
– Acts 7:38 – “living words”
– Romans 3:2 – “very words of God”
– Romans 1:12 – “Holy Scriptures”
4) The Unity of the Bible
- Bible is made up of _66_ books. 27 New Testament 39 Old Testament
- Bible is written in three languages: _HEBREW_; _ARAMAIC_; _GREEK
- Writing of the Bible covers a _1,500_ year time span.
- Bible was written on _3_ different continents.
- Bible had at least _40_ human authors.
- None of these authors, writing in different languages, over a large span of time, from differing backgrounds and geographical locations, disagree on any point and never contradict each other.
- This diversity and unity can only be explained by _DIVINE_ Revelation.
- External Evidence – Outside Proofs that the Bible is Divine
1) Fulfilled Prophecy
- There are over _300_ Old Testament Prophecies concerning Jesus that have been fulfilled! (see end of this lesson for detailed list).
- 29-33 prophecies were fulfilled on the day of Jesus’
- Many other prophecies have been fulfilled that are too numerous to mention here.
2) Scientific Accuracies
- SPHERICAL shape of the earth.
– (Isa 40:22) He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in.
- Earth is suspended in nothing
– (Job 26:7) He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing.
- STARS are innumerable
– (Gen 15:5) He took him outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars–if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
- The Hydrologic Cycle.
– (Job 26:8) He wraps up the waters in his clouds, yet the clouds do not burst under their weight.
– (Job 36:27-28) “He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams; {28} the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind.
– (Eccl 1:6-7) The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course. {7} All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again.
- Concept of ENTROPY
– (Psa 102:25-26) In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. {26} They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded.
- Nature of Health, Sanitation, and Sickness (Lev. 12-14)
- The Value of the Bible
- The Bible tells us about Christ and reveals the way of _SALVATION_.
- The Bible is the _AUTHORITY_ for right and wrong.
- The Bible is the _FOOD_ and _STRENGTH_ for the Christian.
– (Mat 4:4) Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”
– (Acts 20:32) “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
– (1 Pet 2:2) Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.
- The Bible points to the Christian’s _HOPE_.
– (John 14:1-3) “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. {2} In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. {3} And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.