Bible introduction lesson 3 by Tabernacle of Joy

Acknowledgments L

iving Logos was the heart-work of Bro Dale Starks and Sis Josephine Starks, missionaries to Singapore in the early 1980s. As the original authors of this devotionals, the Starks meant for these self-study materials to help new converts (and matured saints alike) get a hold of an understanding of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s written Word. Since Sis Starkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s passing in 2013, the couple had graciously entrusted Tabernacle of Joy with its copyright. Therefore, with every print run, we would like to honour their life work and sacrifice in bringing the gospel to Singapore. This copy is an updated and revised version. Be blessed as you immerse yourself in the Word and allow God to transform you into the likeness of Jesus Christ.

Bible Introduction

Lesson

Three

HOW WE GOT OUR BIBLE The most common writing materials used were: a. Papyrus. The oldest fragment of the Scriptures (God’s Word) dates from 2400 B.C., and was written on papyrus, which was commonly used until the third century, A.D.. Papyrus was a type of ancient paper manufactured from a reed plant that grew in the Nile valley and similar environments. b. Parchment. Parchment is a writing material made from animal skins that are shaved and scraped, producing a durable writing surface. Animals used were sheep, goats and others considered “clean” under the Law. c. Vellum is the name given to calf skin. Vellum was often dyed purple, upon which the writing was usually silver or gold. Some of the most important manuscripts of the Bible to this date were written on purple vellum. d. Clay tablets were engraved with a sharp instrument and dried, to make a permanent and lasting record (Jeremiah 17:13; Ezekiel 4:1). e. Wax tablets were made from a piece of wood, covered with wax.

The writing instruments used were chisels, metal styluses and pens. The pens were either made from pointed reeds (made from rushes) about 6 to 16 inches long, or quills. The ink was usually a mixture of charcoal, gum and water.

HOW BOOKS WERE FORMED Scrolls were made by gluing long sheets of papyrus together which were then wound around two sticks. Writing was usually only on one side. As the scrolls were bulky, they were not easy

to handle. The average scroll was about 20 to 35 feet when unrolled, but some have been as long as 144 feet.

A Scroll

Later, the Book Form or Codex Form was created. To make reading easier and less bulky, the papyrus sheets were assembled in leaf form, with the writing on both sides. The Old Testament Scriptures were written originally in Hebrew and Aramaic, while Greek was the language of the New Testament.

PRESERVATION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished, That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying, Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee â&#x20AC;&#x201D; II deuteronomy 31:24-26

The first books of the Bible to come into being were the five books of the Law, which were written by Moses, but given to him by God. When these books were completed, Moses commanded the Levites (men chosen for spiritual service to Israel) to place the book (comprising the five books of the Law) in the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark of the Covenant was a chest kept in the tabernacle, and later the temple. More will be studied concerning the Levites and the ark in our study of the book of Exodus. The ark was a place of safekeeping for the book of the Law.

THE SCRIBES For hundreds of years, the Levites were responsible for the preservation and teaching of the Word of God. Later, this became the chief responsibility of men who were called “scribes”. Ezra was one such man: This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him. For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments — ezrA 7:6, 10

Scribes not only protected existing books. They also made copies of them, exercising the greatest of care. Each new copy had to be made from an approved manuscript, written with a special kind of ink, upon skins made from a “clean” animal. The writer had to pronounce aloud each word before writing it. Never was the word to be written from memory. To make sure there was no omission, not only words, but letters were also counted and compared with the original. The finished copy was carefully examined with the approved original. It is said if there was so much as one error found, the whole copy was rejected. When the scribes wrote the name of God in any form, they were to reverently wipe their pens. Before writing the sacred name of “Jehovah”, they were required to wash their whole body, “lest that holy name should be tainted even in writing”. Ezra, and those who followed him, gathered the books into one canon known as the “Old Testament”, and preserved them until the days of our Lord’s ministry. Jesus had no criticism for the Old Testament Scriptures in existence in His day, by that testifying to their accuracy. In fact, He gave His divine stamp of approval to all of the Old Testament: References | mAtthew 21:42; 22:29; 26:54, 56; luke 24:25-45

The apostles also accepted the Hebrew canon as the Word of God: References | Acts 17:2, 11; 18:28; romAns 1:2; 4:3; 9:17; 10:11; 11:2; 15:4; 16:26, I corInthIAns 15:3, 4; gAlAtIAns 3:8; 3:22; 4:30; I tImothy 5:18, II tImothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20, 21; 3:16

HOW BOOKS WERE PICKED TO FORM THE CANON The word “canon” comes from the root word “reed”. The reed was used as a measuring rod. Applied to the Scriptures, it means a list of books that have been officially accepted as the Word of God. A book to be part of “the canon” had to pass several tests: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Does it have the authoritative stamp of God upon it that marks it as being divine? Is it prophetic? Was it written by a man of God? Is it authentic? Is it dynamic? Did it come with the life-transforming power of God? Was it received, collected, read and used--accepted by the people of God?

The books that made up the Old Testament all had to pass those five tests to qualify as a part of the Word of God. There were many religious writings that were not “the Word of God,” thus the reason for the establishment of an “official canon.” Otherwise, the average person would not know what was true and what was false — or, what was the Word of God, and what was the word of men. The Hebrew Canon is the same as the books accepted by the Christian Protestants today, except for a few minor differences: 1. Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles were not divided into two books each. 2. The Minor Prophets (the last twelve books of the Old Testament) are all included in one book, called “The Twelve.” 3. Both Ezra and Nehemiah are included in one book.

The Jews also classified these books slightly different from what we do: 1. The Law (Torah) Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy 2. The Prophets (Mebhiim) Former Prophets — Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings Latter Prophets — Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, The Twelve 3. The Writings (Kethubhim or Haglography) Poetical Books — Psalms, Proverbs, Job Five Rolls (Megilloth) — Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Esther, Ecclesiastes Historical Books -- Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, Chronicles

It seems that Jesus Himself referred to these three classifications of the Old Testament Scriptures: And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me — luke 24:44

Probably, Jesus referred to the third classification merely as psalms because it is by far the largest book in that category. Jesus never disputed with the Jews over the correctness of the Hebrew canon. His dispute with the Pharisees and scribes of his day was over their oral traditions, which were man-made laws--not a part of the Holy Scriptures. Matthew, Chapter 23, gives Jesus’ discourse against these laws. Two statements by Jesus show His endorsement of the correctness of the Old Testament: For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle (the least particle) shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled — mAtthew 5:18 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle (the least particle) of the law to fail — luke 16:17

The Jewish leaders also accepted the fact that Malachi was the last Old Testament book written under the divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit. In the Jewish book “Babylonian Talmud”, it states: “After the latter prophets Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, the Holy Spirit departed from Israel.”

THE NEW TESTAMENT CANON The factors in deciding which books should be included in the New Testament were: 1. Inspiration by God. 2. Written by an apostle, or having the authority or approval of the apostles.

It is plain that Peter accepted the Apostle Paul’s writings as “Scripture”, and thus equal to the rest of the Word of God: ...even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction — II Peter 3:15, 16

Paul said of his own writings: ...the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord — I corInthIAns 14:37 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed — II thessAlonIAns 3:14 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour — II Peter 3:2

Notice that Peter puts the writings of the apostles on equal par with the writings of the prophets. And so it should be, because the church of Jesus Christ is built “upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20). Paul also accredited the gospels as being “Scripture” by placing Deuteronomy 25:4 and Luke 10:7 side by side as equals: For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward — I tImothy 5:18

Jesus Himself had already given advance notice that His words were the Word of God: inspired, infallible and reliable: He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day — John 12:48 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away — mAtthew 23:35

The reverence and regard that the apostles had for the Word of God are evidenced by Paul’s writings to Timothy: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: — II tImothy 3:16

Evidently, Peter felt the same way: 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 Ghost — II Peter 1:20, 21

VOCABULARY authoritative

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having authority