WHAT IS THE BIBLE?
The Bible has over 1500 claims to Inspiration Thus saith the Lord Hear the word which the Lord speaks to you The word of the Lord came to me And the Lord spoke, saying All scripture is given by inspiration of God, - 2 Tim. 3:16
W H A T I S T H E BIBLE? Understand what the Bible is The major divisions of the Bible: Old Testament and New Testament Why you can trust the Bible
UNDERSTANDING WHAT The BIBLE IS
Facts About The Bible Bible biblios The Book Library 66 books
OLD TESTAMENT NEW TESTAMENT Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Solomon Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi Matthew Mark Luke John Acts Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude Revelation
Facts About The Bible Bible biblios The Book Library 66 books Written over 1500 years (1400 BCE 90 CE) 40 Different Writers
OLD TESTAMENT Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther Job Psalms Proverbs DAVID MOSES Ecclesiastes Song of Solomon Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi DANIEL NEW TESTAMENT Matthew Mark Luke John Acts Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians LUKE 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians PAUL 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude Revelation PETER
Facts About The Bible Bible biblios The Book Library 66 books Written over 1500 years (1400 BCE 90 CE) 40 Different Writers Written in 3 languages: Hebrew, Greek, & Aramaic Written on 3 continents: Asia, Africa, & Europe
THE OLD TESTAMENT THE NEW TESTAMENT
Jesus And Scripture Have you not read? (Mk. 12:26; Matt. 19:4) You are mistaken not knowing the Scriptures (Matt. 22:29) The scripture cannot be broken (John 10:35)
MATTHEW 5:17-18 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
DEUTERONOMY 5:1-3 And Moses called all Israel, and said to them: "Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your hearing today, that you may learn them and be careful to observe them. The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. The LORD did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive.
DEUTERONOMY 4:7-8 "For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the LORD our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him? And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day?
OT Scriptures A new Prophet, one to be heard (Deut. 18:15, 18-19) An everlasting king (2 Sam. 7:12-17) A new covenant (Jer. 31:31-34). Different from the Sinai covenant with Israel. A new priesthood (Psalm 110:4) A new law (Heb. 7:11-12) NT Scriptures Jesus IS that Prophet Moses foretold (Acts 3:20-26) Jesus IS that everlasting King (Luke 1:30-33). Jesus MADE that new covenant (Matt. 26:28; Heb. 7:22; 8:6-13; 9:11-28) Jesus IS that new priest (Heb. 7:20-8:1) This means a new law (Heb. 7:11-12)
O.T. Leads to the N.T. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. (John 1:45) But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. (Acts 24:14)
ROMANS 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is Sufficient and Final Jesus is the final mouthpiece of God (John 1:18; Heb. 1:1-2) The apostles were guided into all truth (John 16:12-15) The knowledge of Christ gives us everything pertaining to life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3) The Faith is delivered once and for all (Jude 3) Finally, there s a WARNING the gospel cannot be changed, even if an angel should preach something different, he is accursed (Gal. 1:6-9).
GALATIANS 1:6-9 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
Christians Follow the N.T. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (Colossians 3:17) looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)
WHY TRUST THE BIBLE?
Facts About The Bible Bible biblios The Book Library 66 books Written over 1500 years (1400 BCE 90 CE) 40 Different Writers Written in 3 languages: Hebrew, Greek, & Aramaic Written on 3 continents: Asia, Africa, & Europe
Incorruptible Character of Scripture having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because "All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the LORD endures forever." Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you. (1 Peter 1:23-25)
Amazing Predictive Prophecies Isaiah 41:21-23 "Present your case," says the LORD. "Bring forth your strong reasons," says the King of Jacob. 22 "Let them bring forth and show us what will happen; Let them show the former things, what they were, That we may consider them, And know the latter end of them; Or declare to us things to come. 23 Show the things that are to come hereafter, That we may know that you are gods; Yes, do good or do evil, That we may be dismayed and see it together. God can Prophesy Future Events but idols/ false prophets cannot Isaiah 42:9 Behold, the former things have come to pass, And new things I declare; Before they spring forth I tell you of them.
Amazing Predictive Prophecy Predictive Prophecy Is The event is beyond the power of man to foresee The prediction was written before the event The language of the prediction is clear
Amazing Predictive Prophecies Isaiah 45:1-6 " Thus says the LORD to His anointed, To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held To subdue nations before him That you may know that I, the LORD, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel I have even called you by your name; I have named you, though you have not known Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me, That they may know That there is none besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other Cyrus Name Prophesied Prophecy: ca. 680 BCE 160 years PRIOR Fulfilled: 539 BCE (2 Chron. 36:22; Ezra 1:1)
Amazing Predictive Prophecies Isaiah 44:28 "Who says of Cyrus, 'He is My shepherd, And he shall perform all My pleasure, Saying to Jerusalem, "You shall be built," And to the temple, "Your foundation shall be laid." Cyrus Decree Prophesied Prophecy: ca. 680 BCE 160 years PRIOR Fulfilled: 539 BCE (2 Chron. 36:22; Ezra 1:1)
Amazing Predictive Prophecies EVENT: FALL OF NINEVEH PROPHECY: NAHUM (CA. 660 BCE) EVENT: FALL OF ASSYRIA PROPHECY: ISA. 10;14:24-27 (CA. 680 BCE) EVENT: FALL OF EGYPT PROPHECY: EZEK. 29-32 (CA. 587 BCE) 50 yrs. PRIOR 75 yrs. PRIOR 20 yrs. PRIOR Fulfilled: 612 BCE EVENT: FALL OF BABYLON PROPHECY: ISA. 13:17-22 (CA. 680 BCE) Fulfilled: 605 BCE EVENT: FALL OF TYRE PROPHECY: EZEK. 26-28 (CA. 587 BCE) Fulfilled: 567 BCE EVENT: DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM PROPHECY: JESUS MATT. 24:1-3 (33 CE) 160 yrs. PRIOR 240 yrs. PRIOR 40 yrs. PRIOR Fulfilled: 539 BCE Fulfilled: 332 BCE Fulfilled: 70 CE
Amazing Predictive Prophecies Over 300 Messianic Prophecies Like Born in Bethlehem Prophecy: Micah 5:2 (ca. 701 BCE) Family of David Prophecy: Jeremiah 23:5 (ca. 586 BCE) Words of Enemies Prophecy: Psalm 22:7-8 (ca. 1000 BCE) 700 yrs. PRIOR 580 yrs. PRIOR 1000 yrs. PRIOR Fulfilled in Jesus Matthew 2:1 Fulfilled in Jesus Matthew 1:1 Fulfilled in Jesus Matthew 27:41-44
3 TESTS FOR PROPHETS 1) A sign or wonder, miracle, accompanies the message (Deut. 13:1-2) 1) Verifiable miracles 2) Miracles Independent of the Message 2) Consistency with previous confirmed revelation/ agreement with Scripture (Deut. 13:2-5) 3) Predict with 100% accuracy in fulfillment. Prophecy comes to pass (Deut. 18:20-22)
Textual Evidence for Books of Antiquity Homer s Iliad, 650 mss. Written 800 BCE. Earliest copies 400 BCE. Time gap 400 years Josephus The Jewish War, 9 mss. Written 100 CE. Earliest copies 900 CE. Time gap 800 years Plato s Dialogues, 7 mss. Written 400 BCE. Earliest copy 900 CE. Time gap 1300 years Tacitus Annals of Imperial Rome, 20 mss. Written 100 CE. Earliest copies 1100 CE. Time gap 1000 years New Testament: 5,745 Greek mss. Written 50-90 CE. Earliest copies 110 CE. Time gap 20-50 years
TEL DAN STELLA CORROBORATES 2 SAM. 5:1-5 MOABITE STONE CORROBORATES 2 KINGS 3:4 CYRUS CYLINDER CORROBORATES EZRA 1:1-4 TAYLOR PRISM CORROBORATES 2 KINGS 18:13-16 PILATE STONE CORROBORATES LUKE 13:1-2 EPHESUS THEATER CORROBORATES ACTS 19:29
EXTRA-BIBLICAL ANCIENT REPORTS 1) Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus Tacitus, CE 115 2) Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him... Josephus, CE 93. 3) Darkness which accompanied the crucifixion of Christ. Thallus, CE 52 4) What advantage did the Jews gain from executing their king? It was just after that their kingdom was abolished. Mara bar Serapion, CE 73
Faithful Transmission No Corruptions
THE BIBLE IS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL
EPHESIANS 3:3-4 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
ACTS 2:5-11 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.
READ THE Bible