THE WORD OF GOD Page 1

( Heb.4:12 )

I) The Bible, Derived from biblion, “scroll,” “ roll,” or “book” ( Lk.4:17 ).

A) Definition : The sacred book of Christianity. – 1^st officially assembled by Eusebius (264-340) under Constantine around 325 A.D. (fifty hand written copies of the “Sacred Scriptures”)

1) Byblos – Ancient Phoenician city from which papyrus was exported. – Split and flattened, woven and glued together swamp reeds (why no original copies exist) .

2) Biblos—Greek word for paper or book; Biblia- plural, collection of
books.

B) -Description : Composed by human writers inspired by God (2Tim.3:16) ---

Ex.24:4, Deut.4: 2, Prov.30: 6, Rev.22:19, 2Sam.23: 2, Jer.26: 2, I Cor.2:13

1) A single book, with unity of content and message. ( This fact is miraculous )

a) No contradictions or errors in the original Text. ---Degree of
accuracy exceeds 99%, this is greater than any other book from
the ancient world. (Concerning historical, scientific, medical,
geological, and all other verifiable facts).

b) Discernable theme and doctrines throughout. (God, sin, death,
salvation, eternal life, etc.)

c) Christ is the center and heart of the Bible (Jn.5:39, Ro.1:2+3,
Rev.19:10)

2) A collection of 66 separate books. (A gradual process superintended
by God).

a) Written by over 40 different authors. -- Many different walks of life –
Kings, Prophets, Priests, Military Leaders, Peasants, Philosophers,
Fisherman, Tax collectors, Poets, Musicians, Statesman, Scholars,
Doctors and Shepherds.

(1) Most known, some unknown.

(2) Most of the authors never met each other.

b) Written over a period of 1,600 years, covering approximately
6,000 yrs.

3) Two distinct sections uniquely connected (Old and New testaments).

a) Old Testament—39 books ( 24 in Hebrew bible ) divided into
5 sections.

(1) Law—5 books. ( Gen. to Deut. )

(2) History—12 books. ( Josh. to Esth. )

(3) Poetry—5 books. ( Job to Song )

(4) Major prophets—5 books. ( Is. to Dan. )

(5) Minor prophets—12 books. ( Hos. to Mal. )
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b) New Testament—27 books divided into 5 sections.

(1) Gospels—4 books ( Mt. to Jn. )

(2) History—1 book ( Acts )

(3) Pauline letters—13 books ( Ro. to Philem. )

(4) General letters—8 books ( Heb. to Jude )

(5) Prophecy—1 book ( Rev. )

II) The origin of the Bible,

A) The Old Testament, (The Hebrew sacred scriptures). --- Completed and compiled by Ezra and 120 other priest and scribes around 450 B.C. , no later than 250 B.C. (The Septuagint Greek translation of the entire Old Testament was made in 250 B.C. is the same as we have today)

1) The Law—Torah, also known as the Pentateuch
(the 1^st 5 books of the bible)

a) Oral Tradition—aggadah- lore or inner tradition. Passed down from
the beginning of time by the patriarchs, sages, and wise men. From
father to son and teacher to student scrupulously preserving every detail.

(1) Abraham was a contemporary of Shem (for most of Abraham’s 175 yrs.).

(2) Shem was a contemporary of Lamech (grandson) and Methuselah.

(3) Lamech and Methuselah were contemporaries of Adam.

b) Written Law—halakhah – rule of practice or outward tradition.

(1) Judeo- Arab tradition holds that Enoch invented writing
( Enoch was a contemporary of Methuselah ).

(2) Archeological discoveries confirm that written language predates the flood. Excavations of ancient Babylon have unearthed records and references to pre-flood writings and inscriptions that had survived and were the subject of interest and study to ancient
kings and scholars. Some seals and tablets with inscriptions and pictographs remain today.

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(3) Archaeological evidence that is helpful in establishing the origin

of the Bible can be found in two major forms. Textural or written

documents ( extrabiblical texts ) and artifact evidence ( artifacts

of a previous society testifying directly of a biblical event ). More

and more such evidence is coming to light. It can be a very

gratifying experience to research what archeology has to contribute

to the question of the historical accuracy of the Bible. Suffice it to say

that “no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a single,

properly understood biblical statement” (Nelson Glueck a

Reformed Jewish Scholar, Archaeologist).

c) Age old Hebrew and Christian tradition holds that Moses was guided by God to assemble ancient documents to create the book of Genesis (Haley’s Bible Hand book). He also had access to the oral traditions and Gods direct revelation.

d) The books of Exodus (32:16), Leviticus (1:1), Numbers (1:1),
and Deuteronomy (31:24-26) all make explicit claim to being inspired
by God and given by God directly to Moses. Genesis makes no such
claim. However, Genesis too was considered to be part of the
“Book of Moses” (see 2Chr.35:12; Neh.13:1), and by virtue of this
association carries the same divine authority.

(“The New Evidence That Demands A Verdict” Josh McDowell).

2) The Prophets – The rest of the entire Old Testament (also known as
the “Writings”)

a) Beginning with Joshua, holy men inspired by God put down in writing
a record of events and revelations used by God to mold and direct His
chosen people,Israel, to prepare them and the rest of the world for the
coming of the Messiah.

These books have come down to us today essentially unchanged
(order only).
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THE CANON

I) Definition: The word canon comes from the root word reed
(English word cane, Hebrew form ganeh, and Greek form kanon).
The reed was used as a measuring rod, and came to mean “standard.”

II) Bible, Canonicity of: Canonicity refers to the normative or authoritative
books inspired by God for inclusion in Holy Scripture. Canonicity is
determined by God. It is not the antiquity, authenticity, or religious
community that makes a book canonical or authoritative. A book is
valuable because it is canonical, and not canonical because it is or was
considered valuable. It’s authority is established by God and merely

discovered by God’s people.
(“Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics” Geisler)

The Incorrect View The Correct View

The Church is Determiner of Canon The Church is Discoverer of Canon

The Church is Mother of Canon The Church is Child of Canon

The Church is Magistrate of Canon The Church is Minister of Canon

The Church is Regulator of Canon The Church is Recognizer of Canon

The Church is Judge of Canon The Church is Witness of Canon

The Church is Master of Canon The Church is Servant of Canon

III) Principles of Canonicity: Granted that God gave authority and hence
canonicity to the Bible: How did believers discover the books that God
had approved? What marks of inspiration guided the church fathers
as they identified and collected the inspired books? Five foundational
questions must be considered for the discovery process:

A) Was the book written by a prophet of God? - If it was written by a
recognized apostle or prophet, its place in the canon was secured. (Gal.1:1)

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B) Was the writer confirmed by acts of God?- (Ex.4:1-9), (Heb.2:3+4), (2Cor.12:12)

C) Does the message tell the truth about God? -Only immediate
contemporaries had access to the supernatural confirmation of
the prophets message.Others had to depend on other tests.
Authenticity was one such test. That is, does the book tell the
truth about God and His world as known from previous revelations?
God cannot contradict himself (2Cor.1:17-18),
nor can He utter what is false (Heb.6:18).

D) Did it come with the power of God? - Another test for Canonicity is a

books power to edify and equip believers. (Heb.4:12), (2Tim.3:17),

(1Pet.1:23).

E) Was it accepted by the people of God? Not every prophet or message
was received immediately (2Chron.36:11-16), (Gal.1). This
acceptance had two stages: initial acceptance and subsequent
recognition. (1Thess.2:13), (Deut.31:26), (Josh.24:26).

CONCLUSION: Tests for canonicity were not mechanical means to measure the amount of inspired literature, nor did the Holy Spirit say “This book is inspired; that one is not.”

That would be disclosure not discovery. The Holy Spirit providentially guided the examination process and gave witness to the people as they read or heard.

It is important to distinguish between the determination and the discovery of canonicity. God is solely responsible for determining; God’s people are responsible for discovery. That a book is canonical is due to divine inspiration. How it is known to be canonical is due to a process of human recognition. Was a book (1) written by a spokesperson for God, (2) who was confirmed by an act of God, (3) told the truth, (4) in the power of God and (5) was accepted by the people of God? (“Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics” Geisler). If a book met the 1^st test it was usually accepted right away. Others were reviewed over time and accepted as they met the other tests.
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HOW TO TAKE A STAND FOR THE BIBLE

When we talk with people every day about things that really matter, we as Christians will naturally want to refer to the Bible as our arbiter. This is where the real problems begin.

There are two main positions that most average people take on the Bible:

I) Apathy or Indifference: Who cares? Nothing really matters ultimately. It’s not like anything is ever really going to change anyway. That old book is irrelevant.

II) Intense Hatred + Attempts to Disprove Scripture: That book is full of errors and lies. It’s been tampered with for thousands of years by religious fanatics and Jewish zealots to make it say what they want it to say. Anyone who believes in that is weak, not able to think for themselves, they need a crutch because they can’t handle reality. The whole things a myth and besides its all been disproved by science and historical research. You people worship it like its god when all it is really is “The Paper Pope.”

The 1^st thing to do when under attack is to remain calm, because you know the truth and they do not. I John 4:4 “Greater is the Holy Spirit in you than the spirit (devil) in them.”

THE BIBLE DOES NOT NEED TO BE DEFENDED, ONLY EXPOUNDED.

I) 1^st present the internal evidence of the Bible itself ;

A) Some 40 writers over some 1,600 yrs. wrote 66 separate books,

B) Many different types of people from all walks of life,

C) Many did not ever know or see the others,

D) No contradictions or errors,

One should expect a mismatch of disharmony in writing, but this is not the case in the Bible. There is
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oneness and unity throughout. The fact is that it would be impossible to duplicate this feat today even with the aide of modern super computers. THINK OF IT , if you were to take all the books ever written throughout all of history and enter them into your computer. Then set the program to assemble any 66 of them into a single volume. What do you think the chances are that you would end up with a volume like the Bible? One with discernable themes throughout. One with continuity of thought and with unmistakable consistent doctrines all pointing to a central ultimate life changing truth summed up in the history and life story of one person . Let me say it , NO CHANCE. There is zero possibility that man using his very best resources could ever duplicate what God has given us in the Bible.

II) Next explain how God has proven the Bible through Fulfilled Prophecy: The Bible stands alone in literature, including all of the so-called “holy books” of other religions, when predictive prophecy is considered. Fulfilled prophecy is one of the greatest testimonies to the supernatural character of the Bible. It is estimated that when the Bible was first completed about one fifth of it contained predictions of the future. Much of this prophecy has come to pass while some still remains to be fulfilled. Here is just a sampling of some examples of the astounding literal and precise fulfillment of Bible prophecy.

A) Is.13:17-21+ Jer.25:12-14 --- Mighty Babylon to become an everlasting wasteland.

Many nations and kings would come against her and enslave her people.

“ Babylon was largely destroyed first by Cyrus the Persian king. Some portions of the city, notably the palaces, were spared because they were so magnificent. …The ruins created a nitrous chemical reaction in the soil, turning once fertile land into a barren non-arable desert, exactly as God had said.

After Cyrus’ reign ended, Xerxes (Cyrus’ son-in-law) plundered the city still further. Alexander the Great conquered the Medes and Persians and sought to restore Babylon. However, he found restoration too costly and gave it up as a hopeless task.

After Alexander’s death, when his kingdom was divided among his four generals, Babylon went to decay. … As each of these kings conquered Babylon, the natives became slaves to them. Again this is what Jeremiah had said … History tells us that by the first century of the Christian era, Babylon had become a foul-smelling, putrefying ruin—only a place for wild animals. (FP-HHE 17)

B) (Nahum) - Nah.1:8, 2:3b, 5, 6, 8, 13, 3:7, 13 --- Nineveh , Assyria’s capital city to be destroyed in specific and remarkable ways.

“ I have called your attention to these particular verses for a reason. When Nineveh was destroyed in 612 B.C. , about 100yrs after Nahum and Zephaniah (Zeph. 2:13-15) pronounced doom against it, the destruction fulfilled the prophecy exactly. Nabopolassa, the Babylonian king and Cyaxeres, the king of Media, joined forces to rise
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against Nineveh. They sent demolition experts into the city to destroy the aqueduct which brought water into the city, and to divert the river at the same time. This duel engineering project caused a flood of water to pour over the city.

Now recall the two verses we read? ‘With an overflowing flood he will make an end of his adversaries (Nah. 1:8) and the river gates are opened; the palace is dissolved’ (Nah. 2:6)

You see, the walls and buildings were largely made of sun dried bricks composed essentially of mud. The flood- waters beating against the foundations dissolved them and the buildings and walls crumbled. Remember these predictions were made some years before the actual destruction took place.

Archaeologists tell us that the evidence thy have uncovered in their excavations indicates that,

along with the flood waters, the city was burned with fire. Remember Nahum’s prophecy? ‘I will burn your chariots with fire . . . fire has devoured your fortresses’ (Nah.2:13; 3:13) (FP-HHE,21)

C) Isa.34:5-12; Ezek.25:12-14; Obad.10-14- Edom to be completely destroyed,

Edom never to be inhabited again, for his treatment of his brother Israel.

“This is a very vivid description of the Edomites standing by, gloating while Nebuchadnezzar’s armies led Israel away captive. Then we can see them rushing into the gates to plunder and add to the ruin in an exhibition of their hatred. The few fugitive Jews who tried to escape were rounded up by the Edomites and turned over to the Babylonian captors. This is precisely what happened, and, yet, since Obadiah prophesied at least 200 yrs. before the destruction of Jerusalem, this prophecy is remarkable in its fulfillment and exactness.

Another fascinating verse is verse 19, “Those of the Negev [south] shall possess Mount Esau…”

After Nebuchadnezzar captured Judah and led its people into a Babylonian exile, the Edomites moved north into Judah to take over the land that had once been occupied by the now exiled people. As the Edomites did this, the Nabataeans—a war-like people from the southern Negev or desert region—came up to replace the Edomites in their old home. This distinct fulfillment of verse 19 could not possibly have been known by Obadiah, but God inspired him to write the prophecy years in advance.

… And incidentally, history tells us that after 70A.D., when the Romans sacked Jerusalem, the Edomites disappeared. Today, just as Isaiah has prophesied, the land is devastated, a desert a ruin, occupied only by wandering Bedouin tribes of Arabs. Woe to all who treat God’s chosen people wrongly! Edom is a perpetual lesson. (FP-HHE,28,29)

D) Ezek.26:3-14, 19 – Tyre to be punished and judged in precise
and unpredictable ways.--- Once again this prophecy was fulfilled
exactly as God’s man had foretold. It is actually eerie when you consider
what actually took place and just how accurately it was spelled out.
The Bible is truly unlike any other book known to man.
There are many more examples we could look at, but I think the point
is made.
Now lets turn our attention to one other topic of prophetic fulfillment.

E) Prophecies concerning Jesus Christ --- The Old Testament contains over
300 references to the Messiah that were fulfilled in Jesus. Here are a few :

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FULFILLED MESSIANIC PROPHECY

Born of a virgin--- Is.7:14 + Mt.1:18, 24, 25, (Lk.1:26-35)

Born at Bethlehem--- Mic.5:2 + Mt.2:1, (Mt.2:4; Lk.2:4-7; Jn.7:42)

Presented with gifts--- Ps.72:10, (Is.60:6) + Mt.2:1,11

Herod kills children--- Jer.31:15 + Mt.2:16

Shall be a prophet--- Deut.18;18 + Mt.21:11, (Lk.7:14, Jn.4:19; 6:14; 7:40)

King--- Psalm 2:6, (Jer.23:5; Zech.9:9) + Mt.27:37, (Mt21:5; Jn.18:33-38)

Preceded by messenger--- Is.40:3, (Mal.3:1) + Mt.3:1,2 (Mt.3:3; 11:10; Jn.1:23)

“Light” to the Gentiles--- Is.60:3 (Is.49:6) + Lk.2:32; Jn.12:46
shall not remain in the grave---Ps.16:10 + Acts 2:31

In addition to these remarkable examples, here are 29 more specific prophecies

concerning the Messiah as described in the Old Testament hundreds of years

before their actual fulfillment most of which took place on a single day!

(Ps.41:9 + Mt.10:4), (Zech.11:12 + Mt.26:15), (Zech.11:13 + Mt.27:5),

(Zech.11:13 + Mt.27:7), (Zech.13:7 + Mk.14:50), (Ps.35:11 +Mt.26:59,60),
(Is.53:7 + Mt.27:12), (Is.53:5 + Jn. 19:1-3, 34), (Is.50:6 + Mt.26:67),

(Ps.22:7,8 + Mt.27:29), (Ps.109:24,25 + Jn.19:17; Lk.23:36),
(Ps.22:16 + Lk.23:33), (Is.53:12 + Mt.27:38), (Is.53:12 + Lk.23:34),
(Is.53:3 + Jn.7:5,48), (Ps.69:4 + Jn.15:25), (Ps.38:11 + Lk.23:49),
(Ps.109:25 + Mt.27:39), (Ps.22:17 + Lk.23:35),
(Ps.22:18 + Jn.19:23,24), (Ps.69:21 + Jn.19:28), (Ps.69:21 + Mt.27:34),
(Ps.22:1 + Mt.27:46), (Ps.31:5 + Lk.23:46),
(Ps.34:20 + Jn.19:33), (Ps.22:14 + Jn.19:34),
(Zech.12:10 + Jn.19:34), (Amos 8:9 + Mt.27:45),
(Is.53:9 + Mt.27:57-60)

What an incredible book, what an incredible God, what an incredible Savior!

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III)--Lastly point out how the Bible has Changed lives of People, Tribes, and Nations : Ps.119:130 --- “The Word gives light to the simple.”--- The Bible has altered the course of human history with its life changing message and effectual truths. The U.S.A. was founded on Biblical standards and grew great. Now that it has fallen away it is crumbling.

Those who will put their faith in God’s Holy Word will always find it worthy of that faith as they unfold God’s love letter to His world. Daniel Webster said “If there is anything in my thoughts or style to commend, the credit is due to my parents for instilling in me an early love for the Scriptures. If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and to prosper; but if we and our posterity neglect its instructions and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity.” How true these words ring today in light of recent events.

Let us continue in our study of God’s Word as we exercise and grow our faith. May we be found worthy and ready to -Take a stand for the Bible!

Friends and Family Forum

Thursday, July 12, 2012

THE WORD OF GOD