OVERVIEW (1) – Three Basic Questions About Our Bible

OVERVIEW OF THE BIBLE
Three Basic Questions About Our Bible

              “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8

 1. WHAT’S IN OUR BIBLE?

A)  OLD TESTAMENT

1)  Pentateuch ( Genesis thru Deuteronomy)
2). Historical Books (Joshua thru Esther)
3). Poetry and Wisdom Books (Job thru Song of Songs)
4). Prophetic Books
                a) Major Prophets (Isaiah thru Daniel)
               b) Minor Prophets (Hosea thru Malachi)

B)  NEW TESTAMENT

1)  Four Gospels and the Book of Acts
2)  Paul’s Epistles (Romans thru Philemon)
3)  General Epistles (Hebrews thru Jude)
4)  Revelation

2. WHERE DID WE GET OUR BIBLE?

A)  INSPIRATION

1)  Conceptional Inspiration – Thoughts of the Bible were inspired but actual words were not
2)  Dictational Theory of Inspiration – God dictated to .men exactly what they were to writewithout using their own styles or personalities
3)  Verbal Plenary Inspiration – the actual words of the Bible are inspired and without error (Verbal: the very .words; Plenary: full or complete)

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God...” (2 Tim. 3:16)

B)  CANONIZATION
(literally means “reed” or “measuring stick“)

1)  Written by an Apostle or an associate of one
2). Eyewitnesses of the resurrection
3). A Spirit-led person
4)  Written in accordance to previous revelation
5). Written to all generations

C)  TRANSMISSION
(the process by which man obtained, preserved, and passed on God’s speaking thru time)

D)  TRANSLATION
          (translating the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts into English)

3. HOW TRUSTWORTHY IS OUR BIBLE?

A)  We have thousands of biblical manuscripts
B)  Archaeology supports the biblical record
C)  The original writings were faithfully preserved
D)  Much of the New Testament was written shortly after the  events it records