Growing in God’s WordAn overview of the Bible and how to study it effectively

Presented by Troy Dobbs, Senior PastorSunday, February 16, 2014

PART 1: EUGENE PETERSON QUOTE …………………………………….2

PART 2: THE BIBLE ……………………………………………………………3

PART 3: HOW THE BIBLE CAME TO US …………………………………4

PART 4: THE UNIQUE MAKEUP OF THE BIBLE..………………………6

PART 5: 6 KEYS TO EFFECTIVE BIBLE STUDY……………………….11

NOTES: ……………………………………………………………………………12

Some of the statistics and facts used in this booklet were referenced from www.blueletterbible.org.

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I want to counter this widespread practice of taking personal experience instead of

the Bible as the authority for living.

I want to pull the Christian Scriptures back from the margins of the contemporary

imagination where they have been so rudely elbowed by their glamorous

competitors, and reestablish them at the center as the text for living the Christian

life deeply and well.

I want to confront and expose this replacement of the authoritative Bible by the

authoritative self.

I want to place personal experience under the authority of the Bible and not over it.

I want to set the Bible before us as the text by which we live our lives, this text

that stands in such sturdy contrast to the potpourri of

religious psychology,

self-development,

mystical experimentation, and

devotional dilettantism (a dabbling with the things of God in a

superficial way)

that has come to characterize so much of what takes cover under the umbrella of

“spirituality.”

-Eat This Book

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The word “Bible” is the name used to designate

the 39 books of the Old Testament and

the 27 books of the New Testament.

These 66 books make up one book – The Bible.

The English word “Bible” came originally from the name of the papyrus or byblos

reed used extensively in making scrolls and books. The term “biblion” thus meant

“book” or “scroll.”

By the second century A.D. Greek Christians called their sacred Scriptures “ta

Biblia” or “the Books.”

The singular translation came into English via Latin as “Bible.” The term “Bible” is

often used synonymously with “Scripture” and “Word of God.” The Holy Bible

means the Holy Book.

The bible is one book but it is divided into two parts called testaments. The term,

“testament” means “covenant.”

The Old Testament was written and preserved by the Jewish

community before the time of Christ and

the New Testament was composed by the followers of Christ during

the first century A.D.

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A. B.

E. D.

G. H.

C.

F.

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A. Revelation:

Revelation (apokalupsis) means “to uncover, reveal, disclose,” or “make known;” therefore, in terms of divine revelation, God makes himself known to

the objects of that revelation, e.g., angels & people. The fact that God must make himself known in order for us to know him is necessary since we are finite and He is infinite, and we are sinful and He is holy (Rom. 16:25 & Rev. 1:1).

B. Inspiration:

God’s Word says that God divinely originated this word through the pen of Spirit-filled men. Just like Jesus Christ was 100% human and 100% divine, the Bible is 100% given from God and 100% written by inspired men of God. The

Bible is from the breath of God: God-breathed (2 Tim 3:16-17 & 2 Peter 1:20-21).

C. Canonicity:

A canon is a rule or standard. The early church father, Origen, used the word

“canon” to denote what we call the ‘rule of faith,’ the standard by which we are to measure and evaluate.” (Bruce, BP, 95). Canon means the officially accepted

list of books in our Bible. The church recognizes scripture as canon what the Bible claims as inspired.

D. Textual Criticism: The study of manuscripts or printings to determine the original or most

authoritative form of a text, especially of a piece of literature. The process/science to help us know that Moses wrote Genesis and Paul wrote Colossians.

E. Translation:

The Bible was translated from Hebrew (OT) and Greek (NT) into the English language.

F. Illumination & Interpretation: God gives me EARS to hear and EYES to see. God gives illumination or

understanding of His Word that His people might believe (1 Cor. 2:14). Interpretation is accurately explaining both what the author is saying and what he is saying about what he is saying!

G. APPLICATION:

God’s people are expected to be DOERS of this Word, not merely readers or hearers (James 1:22-25).

H. COMMUNICATION:

God’s people are expected to communicate the truths of this Word as

ambassadors of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:17-19).

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Be encouraged by the unique makeup of the Bible

Fifteen Hundred Years in the Making

There was a 1500 year span between the writing of the first biblical book and the

last.

The Old Testament was written between 1400 and 400 B.C.

The first book was either the Book of Genesis or the book of Job.

The books of the New Testament were written from approximately A.D. 40 to

A.D. 80.

Many Authors with Many Occupations

Over 40 different human authors wrote the books of the bible.

These writers came from a variety of backgrounds and occupations.

They included:

Shepherds (Hosea and Amos)

Fishermen (Peter and John)

A tax collector (Matthew)

A doctor (Luke)

A military general (Joshua)

At least four of the writers lived in a royal household:

The kings (David and Solomon)

A prime minister (Daniel)

A Cupbearer (Nehemiah)

Only a few of them, Paul, Luke, and Moses, received the finest education of

their time.

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Written In Different Literary Genres

The Bible has of a number of different literary forms.

It is a collection of:

Letters

Sermons

Law

Poetic descriptions

Narratives of historical events, prayer, praise, practical sayings

And the warnings of the prophets

The 66 books also contain a wide array of writing styles which express the

entire range of human emotions.

Written Upon Three Continents

The books of the Bible were composed upon 3 different continents: Africa,

Asia and Europe. For example:

The writings of Ezekiel were composed in Babylon (Asia)

Moses wrote the first 5 books of the Bible in the Sinai desert (Africa)

The Apostle Paul wrote the letter to Philippi while in Rome (Europe)

Composed In Different Circumstances

Moses, for example, wrote while leading the children of Israel through the

wilderness.

Jeremiah penned his book while in a dungeon in Israel.

Ezekiel composed his book while a captive in Babylon.

The Apostle Paul wrote several of his works while in a Roman prison.

John the evangelist wrote the book of Revelation while banished to the island

of Patmos.

Obviously there was not a particular place or instance in which all the biblical

books were composed.

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Three Different Languages Were Employed

The Bible was written in three different languages.

The Old Testament was written mostly in Hebrew with some parts

being composed in Aramaic – a language similar to Hebrew.

The New Testament was originally written in Greek.

Covers Many Different Subjects

The Bible also covers a variety of subjects. These include:

The existence and nature of God

The creation of the universe,

The meaning of human existence

The purpose of our existence

The final destiny of humankind and the planet earth.

Most Authors Did Not Know One Another

Because the Bible was written over a period of 1500 years, most of the

writers did not personally know the other writers of Scripture.

In addition, the Old Testament authors would have been unfamiliar with the

New Testament writings.

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No Chaos Results From These Diverse Circumstances

The Bible was written over a period of 1500 years

By 40 different human authors from various backgrounds

In different languages

Upon different continents

In different circumstances

Upon different subjects

And in different literary forms.

These authors, for the most part, did not know each other.

With all these contrasts one would expect something chaotic and disjointed

when their writings were assembled into one book. (Like the Book of Mormon

and the Koran)

There Is One Unfolding Story

Yet the Bible is a unified-unfolding account from beginning to end in complete

harmony and continuity.

The Old Testament is incomplete without the New Testament and yet the

New Testament does not make sense without the Old.

Together the two testaments give a harmonious account of the dealings of

God with humanity without any contradiction.

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God Is The Source of Scripture

One remarkable feature of the Bible is its continuity. This is because God

Himself is the source of the Bible.

Moses declared:

The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed

belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of

this law. (Deuteronomy 29:29)

The Holy Spirit Is The Driving Author/Applicator Of Scripture

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by

the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will

of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy

Spirit. (2 Peter 1:20,21)

The Leading Character Throughout the Bible is JESUS CHRIST.

Inerrant and Authoritative

God’s Word has NO ERRORS; the Scriptures are TRUE in everything they

affirm. Inerrancy is defined in terms of truth; therefore a modern

grammatical error does not disqualify an inerrant Bible.

God’s Word is truth and this Word is THE AUTHORITY for life and all that we

do (Psalm 33:4 & Psalm 119).

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KEY 1: ANALYZE the text thoroughly.

KEY 2: ASK the right questions.

KEY 3: ASCERTAIN the main idea.

KEY 4: ACCESS the good commentaries.

KEY 5: APPLY the passage to life.

KEY 6: AIM for life change.

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NNOOTTEESS

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ACCESS GOOD COMMENTARIES

1.) Logos software program 2.) Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture 3.) Preaching the Word Commentary Series – R Kent Hughes 4.) Holman NT/OT Commentary – Max Anders 5.) The New International Commentary on the OT/NT – Eerdmans 6.) NIV Application Commentary Series 7.) The Expositorʼs Bible Commentary Series 8.) The Bible Speaks Today Commentary Series 9.) New Testament Commentary Series 10.) Reformed Expository Commentary 11.) The Pillar NT Commentary

12.) James Montgomery Boice Commentary Series 13.) Warren Wiersbe Commentary Series 14.) NT Wright Commentary Series 15.) Tyndale OT/NT Commentary Series 16.) A.T. Robertson Word Pictures in the NT 17.) The Message of the OT/NT – Mark Dever 18.) The New American Commentary Series 19.) The Communicatorʼs Commentary – Lloyd Olgilvie 20.) Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary Thoughts:

• Only access commentaries AFTER you have arrived at the one interpretive idea.