Bible Basics Sanctify them by Your truth, Your word is truth. John 17:17 Where did the Bible come from? According to Jewish tradition, Moses wrote the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. TORAH Hebrew word meaning "instruction" or "law" Pentateuch Greek word meaning "the five scrolls" Following Moses, Jewish tradition maintains that the history of ancient Israel was kept by various authors who lived during or near the time of the events they write about. In 586 B. C., Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem. In Babylon many of the documents were edited and compiled. Ezra is often credited with heading up the project. He brought them back to the newly rebuilt Jerusalem and instigated religious reform. Other works were written and added making a relatively complete version of the Jewish Bible. The Writing. Bible is broken into three different sections-law, Prophets and 1
Tanak Septuagint Apocrypha Koine - this is derived from the first letter of the Hebrew words for Law, Prophets and - Greek translation meaning 70. Reflecting the 70 writers who worked independently but came up with the exact same translation. ":hidden books Books written and honored, but not considered by early Jews as divinely written. Removed during the Protestant Reformation in 16 th Century. Catholic and Eastern Orthodox still consider part of the Bible. common Greek. Canonization Greek word meaning rule or measure. New Testament was written in Koine consisting of Gospels, history of the early church, and letters written by the leaders of the early church. Revelation is in the apocalyptic literature. There were questions as to whether books were written by divine inspiration and authentic. By the end of the second century most of the books that now make up the New Testament were determined to be authentic. 2
How did we get the Bible? In the case of the New Testament we have of handwritten manuscripts of the books allowing scholars to determine what the earliest manuscripts. According to Jewish sources, manuscripts were copied with utmost care, and even the most minor errors had to be fixed or a manuscript was discarded. Masoretic Text - oldest copies of Hebrew Bible written by sect of Masoretic Jewish scribes. In 1947, as the story goes, a young shepherd boy was watching his flock when he threw a rock in an attempt to corral his straying sheep. His rock flew into a cave and landed with a crash. Entering the cave, the shepherd saw something that would change study of Bible forever. He discovered a stash of 2,000-year-old scrolls of the Bible and other ancient writings stored in ceramic pots. John Wycliff - translated Bible from Latin to English William Tyndale - first New Testament to English from Greek [We don t have any original copies of the original manuscripts. They were written on papyrus which didn t have a great shelf life. Just because we don t have the originals doesn t mean we don t have accurate copies.] Martin Luther - Protestant Reformation Thomas Matthew - translated first entire Bible in English Where was it written? Asia, Africa, Europe. Written over 1500 year period. 3
One sentence sums it up well: The Bible tells the story of God and His relationship with His creation-most particularly, human kind-which He initiates through a series of covenants. Covenant: an agreement or contract that obligates one or more parties to fulfill specific promises or duties. Understanding the Covenant A covenant is defined as, a usually formal, solemn, and binding agreement: COMPACT, a written agreement or promise usually under seal between two or more parties especially for the performance of some action. Webster s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary God s covenant is based out of perfect love, to a thousand generations. His heart s desire is for relationships that are never ending. Know therefore, that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His loving kindness to a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandment s. Deut. 7:9 4
History of Covenants For generations blood covenants have been made. Covenants are very foreign to the Western world. Covenants required loyalty, integrity, faithfulness and unbreakable relationships. Covenant agreements were entered into to bind two tribes together. The grounds for this union were always based on their differences, not their similarities. Since the covenant agreement was entered based on differences and not similarities, their strengths and weaknesses balanced each other out. This union made both tribes strong. During negotiations, the two families agreed to each party s responsibility in the union. They agreed upon a blessing for keeping the terms as well as a curse for breaking them. The fear of the curse and the desire to benefit from the blessing kept the parties in line. Then each family chose a representative. The representative was one who had the very character of the family. If the family were strong warriors, the representative was the greatest and most highly skilled warrior of them all. If the family were business-minded, the representative was the most shrewd business person in the family. The representative was always someone with whom the whole family could identify. He was also someone with whom outsiders identified the family. Next, they chose a covenant site. Family members would gather together to watch the rite take place. After the site was chosen, the sacrificial animals were selected. They were most often large animals who would shed a great deal of blood when they were slaughtered. The animals were cut from the back of the neck down the backbone. The two halves fell to the ground, laying opposite of each other. Their blood spilled on the ground between the two halves, and the alley between them was customarily called the walkway of blood. As the covenant ceremony began, each representative removed his coat and exchanged it with the other representative. The coat represented the strength and authority of each family. By exchanging coats, they symbolically exchanged authority. Then they exchanged their weapons belts which meant that they would fight one another s battles for them. After the exchange of coats and weapons belts, the representatives stated the terms of the covenant. Then comes the walk of blood. The representatives walked between the two animal halves and stood in the midst of the blood and made irrevocable promises and stated the curse or penalty for breaking the promises. [due to man s imperfection, a covenant could be broken and that is why they had curses if it was broken.] Covenants were cut and blood was shed so that the promises would make a deep and lasting impression on the memories of each of the family members. Also, a very impressive procedure, the covenant representatives then cut themselves either on the wrist or the hand in order to mingle their blood together. This signified that the two were actually one, having the same blood. They lifted their arms so that everyone could see the cuts. Then they swore oaths by their gods. Either gunpowder or some other substance was rubbed into the cut to make the scar that much more outstanding. The purpose of this was to affect the memories of the families. That awesome, ugly scar would forever remind them of the promises that they had made to each other. Then the two families exchanged their names. Actually, they joined their names together. They also exchanged their friendship. Then came a covenant meal of bread and wine. This was the grand finale of the covenant rite. The bread represented the body, and the wine represented the blood. The meal of the 5
bread and wine symbolized each family giving themselves to the other family even to the point of dying for one another if need be. They ate in remembrance of what they did that day in cutting covenant together. Taken from, Covenant Made by Blood, by Kenneth Copeland. What s the difference between the Old and New Testaments? Imagine the difference between how you treat your children. When they are young, like the nation of Israel was, you must keep them under law and correction to train them. When they mature, you walk with them as a friend and companion whom you guide in a different way based on their maturity. We must honor and heed every part of God s Word. Jesus didn t come to get rid of the Old Testament, but to fulfill it. Matthew 5:17 Old Testament New Testament Law (Exodus 20) Grace (Matt 5:21) Judgment Leper touches you...you become unclean Mercy Jesus touches leper...leper becomes clean They are like a last will and testament. Jesus had to die so we could get our inheritance. The New Testament can be seen as Jesus Bridal contract with us. Ketubah-marriage contract with promises for us from our Bridegroom. Groom presents contract to bride s father. Groom goes to prepare a place for them to live and his father must approve before the groom can go collect his betrothed wife. 6
Old Testament-before Jesus as a person on earth Israel entering promised land, into captivity, to partial restoration as a nation History Genesis, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1&2 Samuel, 1&2 Kings, 1&2 Kings, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther Creation, development of Israel, God s special instructions to His special people Law Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy Various Authors during United Kingdom Wisdom and Poetry Job, The Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon Major Prophets Outstanding Prophets over history of Israel Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel Shorter books, strategic times in history of Israel Minor Prophets Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Malachi, Zechariah 7
New Testament-during and after Jesus on earth and His return Gospels Histories of the Life of Jesus Matthew, Mark, Luke, John Church History Record of the spread of Christianity Acts Letters Paul wrote to a church or person for special purpose Pauline Epistles Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Galations, Ephesians, Phillipians, Colossians, 1&2 Thessalonians, 1&2 Timothy Written to a person or group not met reached by Paul General Epistles James, 1&2 Peter, 1,2&3 John, Jude Prophecy Written by John on Island of Patmos Revelation 8
How do I use it? Read it as a library with lots of books Read a single book, chapter, verse, word and think/pray/listen about what it means. How do I look things up? The name of the books in order is in the very beginning called the Table of Contents. The names of the books are at the tops of the pages. The big numbers are chapters and the little numbers are verses. Verses are like sentences or groups of sentences like in a poem sometimes. Like a dictionary, the chapters and verses are in order at the top of the page by the name of the book. 9
Brief Overview of Books of the Bible OLD TESTAMENT LAW Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy HISTORY Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Ruth Esther WISDOM/ POETRY Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Solomon MAJOR PROPHETS Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel MINOR PROPHETS Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi 10
Poetry Books usually thought to have been around the time of the United Kingdom and 2 Samuel. Pre Exile Exile Post Exile United Kingdom History Books 1 & 2 Samuel 1 Chronicles Divided Kingdom ( Israel & Judah) History Books 2 Chronicles, 1 & 2 Kings Major Prophets Ezekiel Daniel History Books Esther, Ezra & Nehemiah Minor Prophets Haggai, Zechariah Malachi Major Prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations Minor Prophets Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah 11
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NEW TESTAMENT Gospels Matthew Mark Luke John CHURCH HISTORY Acts Paul's Epistles Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 &2 Thessalonians 1 &2 Timothy Titus Philemon General Epistles Hebrews James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude Prophecy Revelation 15
How to read the Bible for Yourself There are different facets to reading the Bible. Ask yourself what it is you want from your time in God s Word and you ll have a better idea of how to approach the Bible. Do I want... Information Revelation Even if you only want information you will likely receive a revelation of God in one way or another. There is a difference between Bible Study and Meditation. 3 Things are common to study or meditation: Mental Work Discipline Time Of course, always outwork the workers so I suggest before you do anything, set yourself to receive the LOVE! 16
So, practically how do I study the Bible? As a Whole Daily Reading Book by Book Choose a book, take notes, read repeatedly Basic Questions to Ask: Author Tell something about them Book Circumstances when written Audience intented Chapter by Chapter Analyze the Chapter Write a brief summary of the chapter. Outline the chapter Ask the questions on the next page 17
What is the main subject? Who are the main people? What does it say about Christ? What is the key or main verse? What is the central lesson? What are the main promises? What are the main commands? What error should I avoid? What example is here? What do I need most in this chapter to apply to my life today? Character Studies Topic Studies The Four R s of Meditation and Contemplation Taken from Todd Bentley Open Heavens Bible Part of waiting in God s presence involves contemplating and meditating on Scripture until the Holy Spirit gives us revelation and understanding of God s heart and mind. Here are four steps you can take to practice meditation 1. 2. 3. 4. hear it. the Word quickly and out loud so you can to it with your heart and mind. Respond to the passages that were most meaningful and reread those. or meditate with an open mind and heart to God s will. in His presence. 18
The following are some powerful scriptures to kick-start your meditation and motivate you to continue with this life-changing way of connecting with God and His Word: Psalm 119:10-11 With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word have I hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Proverbs 4:20-22 My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. Deuteronomy 11:18-21 Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. And you shall write them on the doorpost of your house and on your gates, that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers to give them, like the days of the heavens above the earth. Soaking Activation As you begin soaking in God s presence, ask Him to forgive you for being so busy and distant. Ask Him to help you silence your heart and mind so you can hear His voice. Covenant with God to seek Him and enter into the secret place. Now is the time to be marinated in God, to be saturated with the Holy Spirit. 19
What are the elementary principles? For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Therefore, leaving discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. Hebrews 5:12-6:2 The Godhead Our God is unique, but shows Himself in three persons---the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This triple personhood is called the Trinity, and is somewhat a mystery, but the Bible speaks of God this way, so we believe it. The Bible says God has some unique attributes, qualities no created being shares, as well as attributes He chooses to share with His created beings. Some verses such as these speak of God without specifying which person, Father, Son or Holy Spirit; but other verses speak of a specific person, such as Jesus as God the Son being the eternally begotten of the Father (Philippians 2:6-8), despite choosing to humble Himself to become a human being. The Bible Father (Philippians 2:6-8), despite choosing to humble Himself to become a human being. The Bible speaks of the Holy Spirit as being God as well, equal with Father and Son (I John 5:7), but appears as the One proceeding from the Father and sent out by the Son (John 15:26). 1 Attributes God Alone Infinite Job 11:7-9 Scripture Attributes Shared Scripture showing love 1 John 4:8, 16 Invisible spirit John 4:24 graciousness, mercy and forgiveness Exodus 34:6 unchangeable James 1:17, Malachi 3:6 eternal Psalms 90:2 almighty Genesis 17:1 absolute Exodus 3:14 all sufficient Acts 17:24-25 1 Source, Westminster Confession of Faith, 1658, 1688, 1983, Ch. 2, Of God, and of the Holy Trinity. Eccles Printers Ltd., Inverness, Scotland. 20
Man is a created being, made in the likeness and image of God. Through Adam s transgressions and fall, sin came into the world. Genesis 1:26 Genesis 3:13 2 Corinthians 11:3 Romans 5:12 MAN His fall and Redeemption All have sinned and come short of the glory of God As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one. Romans 3:23 Romans 3:10 Jesus Christ, the Son of God was manifested to become our righteousness and gave His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God John 3:5, Romans 6:23 Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works of the law, and is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord, producing works acceptable to God ( Galatians 3:24; Ephesians 2:8; Romans 5:14 ; Philippians 2:13). 21
Man s first step toward salvation is repentance from sins and faith toward God, resulting in the New Birth. The New Birth is necessary to all men, and when experienced, results in eternal life Eternal Life and The New Birth 2 Corinthians 7:10, John 5:12 The bible is the inspired Word of God, given to us through holy men of old who spoke and wrote as the Holy Spirit led them. We accept the Scriptures as our infallible guide in matters pertaining to conduct and beliefs. The Scriptures 2 Tim. 3:16, 1 Thess. 2:13, 2 Peter 1:21 Baptism, in water, is a direct commandment of our Lord Jesus to believers. The ordinance is a symbol of the Christian s identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. Water Baptism is symbolic of what saves us---having a redeemed Water conscience toward God, through faith in the resurrection of Christ Baptism Matt 28:19, Rom 6:4, Col 2:12, Acts 8:36-39, I Peter 3:21 The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a gift from God to empower all believers as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ and is received by faith and is a separate work of the Holy Spirit Baptism In The Holy Spirit Matt. 3:11, John 14:16-17, Acts1:8, Acts2:38, Acts19:1-7, Acts 2:4 We believe in sanctification (conformity to God s standards) as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the New Birth and continuing until the consummation of salvation at Christ s return Sanctification Heb.12:14, 1Thes. 5:23, 2 Peter 3:12-14, 1Cor.1:30). Divine Healing We believe that divine healing is available and is wrought by the power of God through the prayer of faith, by the laying on of hands, anointing with oil, and other means. Laying on of hands is also for impartation of blessing and authority. It is provided for in the atonement of Christ, and is available to us today Mark 16:18, James 5:14-15, 1Peter 2:24, Matt. 8:17, Isa. 53:4-5, 1 Tim 1;6, Deut 34:9 22
Ressurection of the dead and return of our Lord The angels said to Jesus disciples, This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven. Our Lord Jesus shall return to earth as Lord of lords and King of kings Acts 1:11, Rev. 17:14 What are symbols? Why does God use them? What can we learn? What are symbols? A symbol stands for or suggests something else. They are visual or conceptual representations of that what is 23
Perhaps the most familiar symbol to many of us is our nation's flag. Another modern use of symbols appears under a different term logo but the principle and usage are the same. All of us instantly recognize a team, company, school or church logo. When one sees the familiar logo, one's thoughts transfer easily to the reality: the team, company, school or church itself. In a single word, person, object, place, title, time, action or name, symbols explain what might be a complex concept. One simple image conveys the essence of the reality. Jesus deliberately chose the symbols of water, bread, wine, light, blood, vines and shepherds to convey His meaning. Our understanding of what may otherwise be a very difficult concept is greatly enhanced by an everyday object used as a symbol. In Hebrews 9:9, at the end of several verses describing the Tabernacle and its furniture, the author says, "It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience...." Under the Old Covenant each article in the Tabernacle was used in rituals those performing them may never have understood. But now, the symbols of those rituals and articles give us understanding of humanity's relationship with God under both Covenants. They clarify our privilege and responsibility to such a startling degree that it should fill us with wonder and thanksgiving. 24
In I Corinthians 11:24-25 Paul states concerning the Passover symbols: and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." How much more meaningful the Passover service becomes by holding the bread and wine in one's hand and then in eating them consciously making them a part of our bodies! What would the Passover service be like without them? It is almost unimaginable. One author said that through symbols, "God takes His Son to pieces." Through them He brings within the range of our comprehension specific details of Christ's work and character. Thus we find in men like Moses, Joseph and David, and in animals like the lion and lamb, characteristics that were completely expressed in Jesus Christ. When working with biblical symbolism, one must follow two cardinal rules understand that several different symbols may represent the same reality in the Bible. For instance, the church is symbolized as a woman, a building in which Christians are living stones, a human body of which Christ is the Head, and a family of which Christians are brothers. Be sure to check the context in which a symbol appears and do not try to force a symbol where it does not fit. allow the Bible to interpret its own symbols. In Revelation 1:20, within the context of John's vision, Christ explains the meaning of the seven stars and the seven lampstands: "The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches." The meanings of other symbols may be harder to locate, but usually the Bible explains itself to those who study it diligently. Even so, sometimes a symbol is shrouded in mystery and difficult to understand. Perhaps we fail to understand the symbol because we are unfamiliar with the reality. Imagine the apostle John's struggle with symbols that represent twentieth-century warfare! Likewise, we struggle with the symbolism of sheep with whose characteristics we in turn are unfamiliar. 25
In the end we must learn to see symbols as pictures drawn by the hand of God through which He teaches us things that might otherwise be all but incomprehensible. It behooves us not to take them lightly. In studying symbols, take the time to research the characteristics of the symbol to deepen and clarify your understanding of God, Christ and Their purpose. ByJohnW.Ritenbaugh Forerunner, "Personal," July 1992 The Bride of Christ Genesis 15, 24 Song of Solomon Hosea 2:19 Isaiah 61:10 Isaiah 62:5 Jeremiah 3:14 Matthew 25:1-13 John 3:29 John 14:1-6 Ephesians 5:22-6 Revelation 19:7-12 Jesus in the Old Testament People Adam- Abel-death of a Shepherd Melchizedek-Genesis 14:18-20, Hebrews 7 Joseph 26
Moses Jonah Not People The Ark The lamb All Offerings The Brazen Serpent Bread Wine Anything that is crushed, beaten, bruised Water *Most of these references above were taken from Study of the Types by Ada R. Habershon *I also recommend Wilson s Dictionary of Bible Types, Dream Interpretation books by Ira Milligan, James Goll and Barbi Breathit 27