Welcome. We will start at 7pm.

Welcome. We will start at 7pm.

LEARN TO READ THE BIBLE EFFECTIVELY 8 Week Series

SEMINAR PRESENTERS Shawn Snobelen Living in Ancaster Married 3 kids Stephen Macfarlane Living in Hamilton Married (one on the way)

Schedule of Classes Session 1 Session 2 Session 3 Session 4 Session 5 Session 6 Session 7 Session 8 Prayer Welcome & Intro Why the Bible is Challenging to Read Terminology 1 Critics of the Bible Tips on Reading The Jews and the Law of Moses Life and Death in the Bible Good vs Evil in the Bible Background of the Bible The Bible Intreprets Itself Overview 1: Bible Snapshot Why 2 Testements Study Tools 1: References Overview 2: Genesis Study Tools 2: Concordances Overview 3: Exodus to David Purpose of God Revealed Overview 4: Solomon to Exile Study Tools 3: Electronic Bible Versions Overview 5: Exile to Christ Terminology 2 Terminology 3 Terminology 4 The Role of Prophesy Overview 6: Life of Christ Overview 7: Apostles Workshop: The Bible Interprets Itself Workshop: Using Cross References Workshop 3 Using a Concordance Workshop: Using Bible Charts Workshop: Bible Versions Workshop: Mystery Workshop Workshop: The Bible and the Soul Conclusion and Q&A

HOUSEKEEPING Bathrooms and Breaks (Coffee and Snacks at anytime) Keep your nametag for each week (it is a big group) Binders, Handouts and materials each week Anything you would like us to cover? Weather cancellations we will contact you If you have questions, please ask

WHY ARE WE PRESENTING THIS SEMINAR? Our motive is to encourage respect for, familiarity with, and understanding of the Word of God. It is not our role to convert you to our way of thinking in this course. We will avoid a discussion on controversial Bible subjects. It is our aim to help you to read your Bible effectively and from this we hope that God s message will be made plain to you.

INTENT OF THIS SEMINAR SERIES Provide direction in opening and reading Show some hidden gems within Help navigate your way through the book Show you the key elements in study Answer some key questions about meaning Show you how to use tools and guides Get you on your way to personal reading You will need to determine it s value

COURSE MATERIALS AND TOOLS LTRBE Course Binder We will provide new sections each week. Additional handouts & maps provided during the course You should have a Bible, Pen and Paper Digital Concordance if you have one!

THE BIBLE WHAT IS IT?

THE HOLY BIBLE WHAT IS IT? Holy Bible = Separate Book (gk biblia) Best selling book ever. Ironically most shoplifted Translated into 1808 languages Most completely supported ancient text Is revered and read by over 1B Christians

THE HOLY BIBLE WHAT IS IT? 66 Books, 40 Writers Written over 1600 years 2,930 characters, 1,551 places Approx 70 hrs to read Its message is expressed in all literary forms (narrative, poetry, prose, letters, etc.).

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TELL US? The Bible is God s telling of His purpose with mankind and this earth and His calling out a people for His name. It contains history, prophesy, records of people and lands. It is a listing of his Commands and his Promises It tells us the story of man s struggle with himself, and sin. It will tell us what God has in store for us

WHAT IS THE BIBLE? A guidebook for living your life before God. Standards for conduct, guidelines for knowing right from wrong A book of the accounts of faithful men and women. These accounts emphasize the triumphs and failures of ordinary people. A refuge in trouble. People struggling with the issues of life use the Bible for strength. A treasury of insight as to who we are. The struggle with our nature and the choices we must make.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE COVER? Old Testament Record of the Creation Record of the Flood History of the Patriarchs Israel as a Nation History of surrounding nations Records of the prophets Prophesies of Nations & Christ New Testament Gospels of Christ s ministry The record of Christ s life/death The spread of the Gospel The Epistles of the Apostles Development of early ecclesias Letters to the Ecclesias The Prophesy in the Revelation

WHAT IS THE BIBLE FOR?... from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3:15-17

MEN RECORDED GOD S WORD We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:19-21

THE SOURCE OF TRUTH The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. Psalm 19:7-9

FOR OUR LEARNING For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Romans 15:4

POWER OF GOD For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (17) For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. Romans 1:16-17

WORD IS A LAMP Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105

BACKGROUND OF THE BIBLE

HOW DID WE GET THE BIBLE WE HAVE?

Timeline Key Event or Update 1400 BC The first written Word of God: The Ten Commandments delivered to Moses. 500 BC Completion of All Original Hebrew Manuscripts which make up The 39 Books of the Old Testament. 200 BC Completion of the Septuagint Greek Manuscripts which contain The 39 Old Testament Books AND 14 Apocrypha Books. 1st Cent Completion of All Original Greek Manuscripts which make up The 27 Books of the New Testament. 315 AD Athenasius, the Bishop of Alexandria, identifies the 27 books of the New Testament which are today recognized as the canon of scripture. 382 AD Jerome's Latin Vulgate Manuscripts Produced which contain All 80 Books (39 Old Test. + 14 Apocrypha + 27 New Test). 500 AD Scriptures have been Translated into Over 500 Languages. 600 AD LATIN was the Only Language Allowed for Scripture. 1384 AD Wycliffe is the First Person to Produce a (Hand-Written) manuscript Copy of the Complete Bible; All 80 Books. 1455 AD Gutenberg Invents the Printing Press; Books May Now be mass-produced Instead of Individually Hand-Written. The First Book Ever Printed is Gutenberg's Bible in Latin. 1526 AD William Tyndale's New Testament; The First New Testament printed in the English Language. 1535 AD Myles Coverdale's Bible; The First Complete Bible printed in the English Language (80 Books: O.T. & N.T. & Apocrypha). BIBLE TEXTUAL HISTORY

THE GUTENBERG BIBLE The first mass produced printed book was the Bible Printed at Mainz, Germany by Johannes Gutenberg It took from 1452-1455 to print about 180 copies It did not have pagination, word spacing, indentations, or paragraph breaks.

Timeline Key Event or Update 1537 AD Tyndale-Matthews Bible; The Second Complete Bible printed in English. Done by John "Thomas Matthew" Rogers (80 Books). 1539 AD The "Great Bible" Printed; The First English Language Bible Authorized for Public Use (80 Books). 1560AD The Geneva Bible Printed; The First English Language Bible to add Numbered Verses to Each Chapter (80 Books). 1568 AD The Bishops Bible Printed; The Bible of which the King James was a Revision (80 Books). 1611 AD The King James Bible Printed; Originally with All 80 Books. The Apocrypha was Officially Removed in 1885 Leaving Only 66 Books. 1822 AD Noah Webster's Bible; After Producing his Famous Dictionary, Webster Printed his Own Revision of the King James Bible. 1885 AD The "English Revised Version" Bible; The First Major English Revision of the KJV. 1901 AD The "American Standard Version"; The First Major American Revision of the KJV. 1947 AD The Major discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, starts an ambitous project to compare translations and manuscripts to this new - 2000 find! 1971 AD The "New American Standard Bible" (NASB) is Published as a "Modern and Accurate Word for Word English Translation" of the Bible. 1973 AD The "New International Version" (NIV) is Published as a "Modern and Accurate Phrase for Phrase English Translation" of the Bible. 1982 AD The "New King James Version" (NKJV) is Published as a "Modern English Version Maintaining the Original Style of the King James." 2002 AD The English Standard Version (ESV) is Published as a translation to bridge the gap between the accuracy of the NASB and the readability of the NIV. BIBLE TEXTUAL HISTORY

THE 1611 KING JAMES BIBLE King James famously noted, "I could never yet see a Bible well translated in English; but I think, of all, that the Geneva is the worst". The KJV Translators removed the Apocrypha from the text in 1629 it was completely gone by 1825 Why was the Apocrypha removed?

DEAD SEA SCROLLS The Scrolls discovered on the shores of the Dead Sea in 1947. 972 manuscripts were found, 222 were Biblical All OT books were present except Esther and Nehemiah. The famous Isaiah scroll was there, copied about 125 BC. First modern verification of the accuracy of the old texts

COMPARING ANCIENT TEXTS Author or Text Old Testament New Testament Written From 1400 BC 300 BC 50-90 AD Oldest Known Copy 300 BC 125 AD Span from Events 100 years 40 years What about the Biblical Texts? No. of Manuscripts 4,000+ 25,000+ Homer (Iliad) 900 BC 400 BC 500 years 643 Aristotle (Writings) 384-322 BC 1,100 AD 1,400 years 49 Caesar (The Gallic Wars) 100-44 BC 900 AD 1,000 years 10 Euripides (Plays) 480-406 BC 1,100 AD 1,500 years 9 Herodotus (History) 480-425 BC 900 AD 1,300 years 8 Plato (Tetralogies) 427-347 BC 900 AD 1,200 years 7

INTERESTING THINGS FROM THE BIBLE Can anyone think of a common saying that came from the Bible?

INTERESTING THINGS FROM THE BIBLE We get hundreds of common phrases: Fly in the Ointment: Ecclesiastes 10:1 A law unto themselves Romans 2:14 A sign of the times Matthew 16:3 Time and a place for everything Proverbs 5:4 A wolf in sheep's clothing: Matthew 7:15 An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: Matthew 5:38 Skin of my Teeth Job 19:19-20 The Golden Rule Matthew 7:12 Live by the Sword, Die by the Sword Matthew 26:52

THE BIBLE INTERPRETS ITSELF

INTERPRETATION IN BIBLE ECHOES Old Testament The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Isaiah 40:3 New Testament Echo The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Mark 1:3

INTERPRETATION IN BIBLE ECHOES Old Testament And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Isaiah 53:9 New Testament Answers Matthew 27:38 Crucified with the Robbers Mark 15:43 Joseph of Aremetha 1 Peter 2:22 No violence or deceit

THE BIBLE INTERPRETS ITSELF DO: Look first to the Bible for answers to your questions. DO: Read all of the Bible to find answers to your questions. DO: Write down questions (it may be awhile until you get the answer). DON T: Expect quick answers. DON T: Look at isolated passages and make conclusions. DON'T: get frustrated by the task and give up. The Bible is one cohesive book.

HOW DO YOU STUDY? Build up over time Consistent and Concise Slow and Methodical Don t expect instant results Read with a friend or alone Write down questions Have a concordance with you Take it in prayer

WORKSHOP #1 THE BIBLE INTERPRETS ITSELF

WORKSHOP: INTERPRETATION This first workshop is to show how that Scripture can be used to interpret Scripture In this text Christ speaks a parable and then immediately gives the interpretation Christ only did this with one other Parable

WORKSHOP: INTERPRETATION MATT 13:1-8 The Parable The Interpretation some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up v3 some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. V5-6 some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: V7 but other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.v8 the seed

WORKSHOP: INTERPRETATION MATT 13:1-8 The Parable some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up v3 some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. V5-6 some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: V7 but other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.v8 the seed The Interpretation V19 people who hear God s word but do not understand V20-21 people who hear God s word but have little depth, and are scorched by the sun the word of God. V22 people who have many cares, riches in their lives, and are distracted and influenced by them. V23 people who hear the word of God and respond with joy, well rooted in truth, they produce fruit to God in works and faith Take a guess and then look up Luke 8:11 to see if you got it right.

WORKSHOP: INTERPRETATION DAN 2 The Dream The Interpretation Vs 32: this image's head was of fine gold Vs 32: his breast and his arms of silver Vs 32: his belly and his thighs of brass Vs 33: his legs of iron Vs 33: his feet part of iron and part of clay Vs 34: Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Vs 35: Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.

WORKSHOP: INTERPRETATION DAN 2 The Dream Vs 32: this image's head was of fine gold Vs 32: his breast and his arms of silver Vs 32: his belly and his thighs of brass Vs 33: his legs of iron Vs 33: his feet part of iron and part of clay Vs 34: Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Vs 35: Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. The Interpretation referring to the kingdom of Babylon referring to the Kingdom of Persia referring to the Kingdom of Greece referring to the Kingdom of the Romans referring to the mixed kingdoms to succeed Rome to this day referring to the return of Jesus Christ Jesus Christ who is prophesied to destroy all the kingdoms of man and sent up a righteous kingdom

ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS! It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. Proverbs 25:2

SEEK AND YOU WILL FIND Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. James 1:5-6 ASK FOR WISDOM

NEXT WEEK Challenges in Bible Reading Why Two Testaments? Using Cross References Overview of the Books of the Bible - Genesis Workshop Cross References Remember your Bible/Workbook/Name Tag Same day, same time next week!!!

Thank you.