The Uniqueness of the BibleThe Uniqueness of the Bible

The The UnityUnity of the Bible of the Bible

Unique—“one and only, single, Unique—“one and only, single, sole; differ from all others; having sole; differ from all others; having no like or equal.”no like or equal.”

The amazing diversity in the The amazing diversity in the Bible’s creationBible’s creation

Written over a period of 1500 yearsWritten over a period of 1500 years

The Law (1400 BC)The Law (1400 BC)

The book of Proverbs (970 BC)The book of Proverbs (970 BC)

The prophecy of Isaiah (750 BC)The prophecy of Isaiah (750 BC)

The book of Jeremiah (600 BC)The book of Jeremiah (600 BC)

The book of Malachi (400 BC)The book of Malachi (400 BC)

The gospels (30-70 AD)The gospels (30-70 AD)

By more than 40 authors from every By more than 40 authors from every walk of lifewalk of life

Moses (political leader and judge)Moses (political leader and judge)

Joshua (military general)Joshua (military general)

David (king, poet, musician, shepherd, and David (king, poet, musician, shepherd, and warrior)warrior)

Solomon (king and philosopher)Solomon (king and philosopher)

Nehemiah (cupbearer to a king Artaxerxes)Nehemiah (cupbearer to a king Artaxerxes)

Amos (herdsman)Amos (herdsman)

Isaiah (adviser to Jewish kings)Isaiah (adviser to Jewish kings)

Daniel (prime minister of Babylon)Daniel (prime minister of Babylon)

Matthew (tax collector)Matthew (tax collector)

Mark (Peter’s interpreter and secretary)Mark (Peter’s interpreter and secretary)

Luke (physician and historian)Luke (physician and historian)

Paul (tentmaker and rabbinical understudy)Paul (tentmaker and rabbinical understudy)

Peter (professional fisherman)Peter (professional fisherman)

…….In different places.In different places

Moses in the wildernessMoses in the wilderness

Jeremiah in a dungeonJeremiah in a dungeon

Daniel in a palaceDaniel in a palace

Paul in a prisonPaul in a prison

Luke while travelingLuke while traveling

John in exile on Patmos John in exile on Patmos IIslandsland

…….At different times .At different times

in times of war and sacrificein times of war and sacrifice

in times of peace and prosperityin times of peace and prosperity

……..DDuring different moods uring different moods

joy and jubilationjoy and jubilation

sorrow and despairsorrow and despair

certainty and convictioncertainty and conviction

doubt and confusiondoubt and confusion

……On three continentsOn three continents

AsiaAsia

AfricaAfrica

EuropeEurope

…….In three languages .In three languages

HebrewHebrew

AramaicAramaic

GreekGreek

In numerous literary stylesIn numerous literary styles

PoetryPoetryHistorical Historical narrativenarrativeSongSongRomanceRomanceDDidactic treatiseidactic treatisePersonal Personal correspondencecorrespondence

MemoirsMemoirsSatireSatireBiographyBiographyAutobiographyAutobiographyLawLawProphecyProphecyParableParableAllegoryAllegory

…….On numerous controversial subjects .On numerous controversial subjects

MarriageMarriage

MMoralityorality

AAuthorityuthority

ParentingParenting

Nature of deityNature of deity

Yet in spite of its diversity, the Yet in spite of its diversity, the Bible presents a single unfolding Bible presents a single unfolding storystory!!

God’s redemption of man.God’s redemption of man.

This theme is developed patiently and This theme is developed patiently and methomethodically!dically!

Man’s need for redemptionMan’s need for redemption

Man’s inability to redeem himselfMan’s inability to redeem himself

God plan to send a redeemerGod plan to send a redeemer

The coming of the RedeemerThe coming of the Redeemer

The establishment of the redeemed The establishment of the redeemed family, the churchfamily, the church

The completion of redemptionThe completion of redemption

Comparing Genesis and RevelationComparing Genesis and Revelation

In the beginning God created the heavens In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. away, and there is no longer any sea. (Revelation 21:1)(Revelation 21:1)

therefore the Lord God sent him out from the therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. (Genesis 3:23)which he was taken. (Genesis 3:23)And I heard a loud voice from the throne, And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them, (Revelation Himself shall be among them, (Revelation 21:3)21:3)

Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. you shall eat of it all the days of your life. (Genesis 3:17)(Genesis 3:17)And there shall no longer be any curse; and And there shall no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His bond-servants shall serve Him; it, and His bond-servants shall serve Him; (Revelation 22:3)(Revelation 22:3)

So He drove the man out; and at the east of So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim, and the flaming sword which cherubim, and the flaming sword which turned every direction, to guard the way to turned every direction, to guard the way to the tree of life. (Genesis 3:24)the tree of life. (Genesis 3:24)And on either side of the river was the tree of And on either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. were for the healing of the nations. (Revelation 22:2)(Revelation 22:2)

To the woman He said, “I will greatly To the woman He said, “I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, In pain you multiply your pain in childbirth, In pain you shall bring forth children; (Genesis 3:16)shall bring forth children; (Genesis 3:16)

and He shall wipe away every tear from their and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)away.” (Revelation 21:4)

In spite of its diversity, In spite of its diversity, the Biblethe Bible centers upon one central figure—centers upon one central figure—Jesus Christ.Jesus Christ. The Law establish the The Law establish the foundationfoundation for Christ. for Christ.

The Historical books provide the The Historical books provide the preparation preparation for Christ.for Christ.

The The PPoetic books present an oetic books present an aspirationaspiration for for Christ.Christ.

The The PProphetic books make known the rophetic books make known the expectationexpectation of Christ. of Christ.

The The GGospels present a historical ospels present a historical manifestationmanifestation of Christ.of Christ.

The Acts records the The Acts records the propagationpropagation of Christ. of Christ.

The The EEpistles provide the pistles provide the edificationedification of Christ. of Christ.

The The RRevelation reveals the evelation reveals the consummationconsummation in in Christ.Christ.

How is it that every part of the How is it that every part of the Bible, in spite of its great diversity, Bible, in spite of its great diversity, can contribute to its overarching can contribute to its overarching theme of redemption and its theme of redemption and its central figure, the Christ?central figure, the Christ?

The unity of the Bible The unity of the Bible points to God as its points to God as its overruling “composer” overruling “composer” of the “symphony” of of the “symphony” of redemption!redemption!

for no prophecy was ever made by an act of for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. (2 Peter 1:21)Spirit spoke from God. (2 Peter 1:21)