What is the Bible?
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” -Hebrews 4:12
· OT passages are introduced with phrase, “Thus says the LORD” (see Ex. 4:22; Josh. 24:2, 1 Sam. 10:18; Isa. 10:24; also Deut. 18:18-20; Jer. 1:9).
· NT affirms its words are the very words of God. (See. 2 Peter 3:16, 1 Tim. 5:18, Luke 10:7, & 1 Cor. 14:37).
· Scripture only becomes our personal convictions through the work of the Holy Spirit in an individual’s heart.
II. Clarity
· Since the things of God are “spiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2:14), a proper understanding of Scripture is often more the result of an individual’s spiritual condition than his or her intellectual ability.
· Many people, even Godly people have greatly misunderstood some part of Scripture. (See Matt. 15:16; Luke 24:25; Acts 15; and Gal. 2:11-15)
· Sometimes, as a result of our shortcomings, we fail to properly understand what the Bible is specifically teaching.
III. Necessity
· The necessity of Scripture means that it is necessary to read the Bible or have someone tell us what is in the Bible if we are going to know God. personally, have our sins forgiven, and know with certainty what God wants us to do.
· To neglect regular reading of the Bible is detrimental to the health of your souls.
· The Bible is our only source for clear and definite statements about God’s will.
IV. Sufficiency
· The bible contains all the words of God that a person needs to become a Christian, live as a Christian, and grow as a Christian.
· The sufficiency of Scripture should encourage us to search through the Bible to try to find what God would have us think about a certain issue or do in a certain situation.
· We are never to add prohibitions where we don’t believe Scripture is precise enough. (see. 1 Cor. 8-10)
V. Inerrancy of Scripture means that Word of God in the original manuscripts does not affirm anything that is contrary to fact. (Without Errors)
VI. Infallibility of Scripture means the Word of God is without defect whatsoever and is totally reliable and trustworthy. (Trustworthy)
History of the Bible to English
1. Hebrew Manuscripts – Only 39 Books -1450-500 B.C
2. Septuagint (Greek Manuscripts of OT) – 200 B.C.
3. New Testament – 27 Books in Greek – 40-100 A.D.
4. Latin Vulgate – 80 Books total – 390 A.D.
5. Wycliffe (Middle English) – 1384 A.D.
6. Tyndale’s N.T. (English with only 27 books) 1525 A.D.
7. Coverdale Bible – 1535 A.D.
8. Matthew Bible – 1537 A.D.
9. Great Bible – 1539 A.D.
10. Geneva Bible – 1560 A.D.
11. Bishops’ Bible – 1568 A.D.
12. King James Bible – 1611 A.D.
13. King James (Aitken/American) – 1782 A.D.
14. King James (Collins/American) 1791 A.D.
