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 God’s written Word. Since Sis Stark’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.
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Contents
Bible Introduction
2
3
LESSON ONE
9
LESSON TWO
19
LESSON THREE
29
LESSON FOUR
Bible Introduction
Bible Introduction
Lesson
One
GETTING ACQUAINTED WITH THE BIBLE Welcome to an exciting adventure--the most important one you have ever taken! There is nothing as exciting and important as becoming acquainted with and really getting to know--THE BIBLE! The Bible is God’s Word, and to become acquainted with it is to become acquainted with God Himself! The true and living God who created all things desires to reveal Himself to each of us in a very beautiful and wonderful way. As you open your Bible, open your heart also, and let the God who brought the Bible into existence speak to you!
THE WORD “BIBLE” The English word “Bible” comes from the Greek word “biblia,” which means “collection of writings,” or “biblio,” which means “book.” Early copies of the Scriptures were made on papyrus, a writing material made from the pith of the papyrus plant. The English word “paper” finds its beginning from the word “papyrus.” This tall, reed-like water plant was found in abundance both in the Nile region of Egypt, and in Syria. In fact, large quantities of papyrus were sent through the Syrian port of Byblos, and thought by some that this is where the Greek word for “book” got its name. For years, the word “Bible” has come to mean the sacred book accepted by Christians as “The Word of God.” To differentiate between the Bible and other books, the word “holy” is used before it; thus, the Holy Bible.
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DIVISION OF THE BIBLE The Bible is divided into two main divisions--the Old Testament and the New Testament. The word “testament” comes from the Latin word “testis,” which means “a witness.” The Old Testament gives a witness of the reality of the true God. The New Testament gives an even clearer picture of this God, because it records the beautiful history of how He took upon Himself a body of flesh and blood, and came into this world--revealing Himself to mankind in the person of Jesus Christ! The word “testament” also means “a will.” The legal document in which a person expresses his will and wishes in regards to his burial and the distribution of his belongings is called “the last will and testament.” We can therefore understand that the Bible, which is divided into two testaments, discloses to us the will of God!
THE BOOKS We shall see in more detail later that the Bible has only one author--God! The forty men who wrote the Bible did so as the Holy Spirit moved upon them in a supernatural way. Therefore, they were simply the writers--God is the author and the originator. Since there is only one author of all sixty-six books, it is alright to think of the Bible as only one book. However, it is also correct to think of the Bible as a whole library of books. The Old Testament has thirty-nine books. It is easy to remember this! Count the number of letters in the word “Old,” then count the number of letters in the word “Testament.” 3 and 9 put together is thirty-nine (39). The New Testament has twenty-seven books. The number of letters in “New Testament” is the same as in “Old Testament.” Simply multiply 3 x 9 which equals twenty-seven (27). The sixty-six books are divided into chapters and verses. There are 1189 chapters in the Bible, and 31,163 verses. These chapters and verses were not a part of the original manuscript, but were added to enable the study of the Bible. Imagine trying to find something in the book of Isaiah if this large book were not divided into chapters and verses!
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The Old Testament is divided as follows: 1) Law (also called Pentateuch) (5 books) Genesis Leviticus Exodus Numbers
Deuteronomy
2) History (12 books) Joshua Judges Ruth I Samuel
II Samuel I Kings II Kings I Chronicles
II Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther
3) Poetry (5 books) Job Psalms
Proverbs Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
4) Prophecy (17 books) Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea
Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum
Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi
The New Testament is divided as follows: 1) Gospels (4 books) Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
2) History (1 book) Acts of the Apostles 3) Epistles (21 books) Romans I Corinthians II Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 4) Prophecy (1 book) Revelation
I Thessalonians II Thessalonians I Timothy II Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews
James I Peter II Peter I John II John III John Jude
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FINDING THE BOOKS All Bibles contain an index before the first book, listing the books and the page numbers where they may be found. Some indexes also include the books alphabetically arranged for easier reference. Students of the Bible, however, are encouraged to memorize the books of the Bible as soon as possible, as this will save you much time in searching for Scriptures in your Bible. As we continue our study of the Bible, we will now begin to use the Bible itself as our textbook. Find and carefully read all references given. (Example - Mark 7:13 means the book of Mark, Chapter 7, and verse 13).
OTHER NAMES AND TITLES OF THE BIBLE 1) The Word of God. Of all the names given to the Bible, this is perhaps the most significant, impressive and complete. It expresses the idea that the Bible is “God speaking to man.” This title is used frequently in both the Old and New Testaments. 2) The Scriptures. This title is used only once in the Old Testament, but was used frequently (52 times) by the New Testament writers. It comes from the Greek word “kathab,” which means “writing.” It is used only in reference to sacred writings.
REFERENCES: Daniel 10:21; Matthew 22:29; Mark 7:13; Luke 24:27, 44-45; John 5:39; Acts 17:11; Romans 1:2; Romans 10:17; Hebrews 4:12; II Timothy 3:15-16; Ephesians 6:17
VOCABULARY originator —
creator
differentiate —
to be or make a difference in
manuscript —
a written, or typewritten book, article, etc.
supernatural
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—
existing outside man’s normal experience, or the known laws of nature
Lesson One Test Bible Introduction
1
There is nothing as exciting and important as _____________________ ________________________________.
2
To become acquainted with the Bible is to ________________________ ________________________________.
3
What are the two divisions of the Bible? _________________________________________________________
4
What are the two meanings of the word "testament"? __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________
5
Although there were __________ writers, the Bible had only ______ author, ______________.
6
The Old Testament has _____ books, and the New Testament has _____ books.
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There are _______ chapters, and _______ verses.
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The purpose of these chapters is to help us: _______________________ _________________________________________________________
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The five books of the Law are: _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
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The last book of Poetry is ____________.
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The first five books of Prophecy are: _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
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12
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are _________________________.
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The only New Testament history book is the book of ______________.
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There are _________ books that are epistles.
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The lone book of prophecy in the New Testament is the book of ___________________.
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What does "2" stand for, and what does "38" stand for in “Acts 2:38�? __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________
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Why is it helpful to memorize the names of the books of the Bible, and the order in which they are found? __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________
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Give two names and titles of the Bible. __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________
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The title "Word of God" expresses the idea of _____________________ _____________________.
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The title "Scriptures" is used to represent the Word of God ____________ times by New Testament writers.
Bible Introduction
Bible Introduction
Lesson
Two
HOW WAS THE BIBLE WRITTEN? God used forty men over a period of approximately 1600 years and 60 generations to bring the Bible into existence. These men wrote with divine and not human inspiration. A poet may see a beautiful sunset and be inspired to write a poem about it. A songwriter may hear a pretty melody and be inspired to write lyrics for it. A painter may get his inspiration from the natural beauty that surrounds him. These are all examples of human inspiration. The Bible was not written like that at all! 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 All scripture is given by inspiration of God... — II Timothy 3:16
The word “inspiration” comes from the Latin word “inspirare”, which means: “to breath”. To say the Bible was written by inspiration of God is to say it is as though God spoke every word of it with His own lips. The followers of Jesus Christ regarded the Old Testament in such manner, as evident by Luke’s writings in the book of Acts: Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas. — Acts 1:16
Here Peter, the spokesman, refers to the writings of David (Psalm 41:9) concerning the betrayal of Jesus by Judas, hundreds of years before that event actually took place. David had no understanding of this event, but what he wrote, he wrote by the Holy Ghost.
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In a sermon preached by Peter after he and John had healed a lame man, Peter said: But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. — Acts 3:18
Peter reminded the Jewish crowd (who should all possess an understanding of the Old Testament--from the time a Jewish child is old enough to understand, he is taught the law and the prophets) that God had shown by the mouth of all his prophets that Christ should suffer. Hundreds of years before Jesus suffered at Calvary, many of the prophets spoke of the pain He would endure and the price He would pay for our salvation (read Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 for two examples). These prophets spoke and wrote as the Holy Spirit moved upon them.
WHY WE CAN ACCEPT THE BIBLE AS THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD 1. The Uniqueness of the Bible Webster’s dictionary defines the word “unique” as: rare, single, uncommon, unusual, having no like or equal, unparalleled. This fits the Bible! Compare the Bible with the so-called sacred books of other religions, you will need no other argument to force you to believe in the Bible--and to accept the fact that Bible writers were moved by a power far greater themselves. 2. The Harmony of the Bible The Bible was written over a period of sixteen hundred years by forty writers from different walks of life. Yet what they wrote is in perfect harmony with each other! Moses and David were shepherds. Amos was also a herdsman and “a gatherer of sycamore fruit”. Nehemiah was a cup bearer, while Daniel was a prime minister. Solomon was a king and the wisest man that ever lived. Peter, James, and John were fishermen, while Matthew was a tax collector. Luke was a doctor, and Paul was a Rabbi, being one of the most learned men of his time. They wrote in different places: Moses in the wilderness; Jeremiah, in the dungeon; Daniel, on a hillside, and in the palace; Luke, while travelling; Paul, behind prison bars; and John, a prisoner on the isle of Patmos.
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They wrote on three different continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe. They wrote in three different languages: Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. Their writings involved hundreds of controversial subjects. Yet there is not one contradiction because there was only one author of all their writings-the Holy Spirit. The Bible is, without a doubt, the product of one master mind! They all wrote about the Oneness of God. Before the birth of Christ, when the Old Testament prophets spoke and wrote, the whole world, except the Jews, was polytheistic--meaning, they believed in and worshipped many gods. They worshipped, among other things, the sun, moon, stars, beasts, and creeping things. Even during the birth of Jesus and throughout the time of the apostles, the Greeks and Romans worshipped Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Mars, and a host of false divinities. Under these circumstances, when we find a large group of men, separated from one another by so many things (time, miles, etc.), and all writing about the truth of one God--we must conclude that they did not discover this truth unaided by the Spirit of God! 3. Fulfilled Prophecy Fulfilled prophecy is the greatest proof of the accuracy of the Bible. For instance, the Old Testament is filled with the prophecies concerning the coming Messiah (Christ). These words were written hundreds of years before God came into the world in the person of Jesus Christ. They were written by many different writers. Yet not one contradicted the other--and Jesus fulfilled them all! There are over sixty prophecies concerning Jesus Christ in the Old Testament. It has been mathematically calculated that the chances of any man fulfilling just eight of these prophecies are one in 100,000,000,000,000,000! This calculation is based on the prophecies concerning Jesus’ birth, the messenger to prepare the way, entering Jerusalem on a donkey, betrayed by a friend, sold for thirty pieces of silver, hands and feet pierced, money to be thrown in God’s house and given for the potter’s field, dumb before his accusers, and crucified with thieves.
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OLD TESTAMENTS PROPHECIES THAT WERE FULFILLED BY JESUS CHRIST
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Prophecy and Scripture
Scriptures Showing Fulfilment
1. John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ (Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1)
Luke 1:17
2. Christ was to be the seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15)
Galatians 4:4
3. Seed of Abraham (Genesis 22:18)
Galatians 3:16
4. Seed of David (Psalm 132:11; Jeremiah 23:5)
Acts 13:23
5. Of the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10)
Hebrew 7:14
6. Born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14)
Matthew 1:18-23
7. Born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)
Matthew 2:1
8. Kings to visit him (Psalm 72:10)
Matthew 2:1-11
9. Slaughter of children (Jeremiah 31:15)
Matthew 2:16-18
10. Prophet like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:18)
Acts 3:20-22
11. Special anointing (Psalm 45:7; Isaiah 61:1; 11:2)
Matthew 3:16; Luke 4:15-21
12. Melchizedek Priesthood (Psalm 110:4)
Hebrews 5:5,6
13. Servant of the LORD (Isaiah 42:1)
Matthew 12:18-21
14. Ministry in Galilee (Isaiah 9:1,2)
Matthew 4:12-23
15. Enter Jerusalem by colt (Zechariah 9:9)
Matthew 21:1-5
16. Enter the temple (Haggai 2:7-9; Malachi 3:1)
Matthew 21:12
17. Zeal for the Lord (Psalm 69:9)
John 2:17
18. Teach with parables (Psalm 78:2)
Matthew 13:34
19. Miraculous ministry (Isaiah 35:5,6)
Matthew 11:4-6; John 11:47
20. Rejected by His brethren (Psalm 69:8; Isaiah 53:3)
John 1:11
Prophecy and Scripture
Scriptures Showing Fulfilment
21. Stone of stumbling (Isaiah 8:14)
Romans 9:32; I Peter 2:8
22. Hated without a cause (Psalm 69:4; Isaiah 49:7)
John 15:24, 25
23. Rejected by the rulers (Psalm 118:22)
Matthew 21:42; John 7:48
24. Betrayed by a friend (Psalm 41:9; Psalm 55:1214)
John 13:18-21
25. Forsaken by disciples (Zechariah 13:7)
Matthew 26:31-56
26. Sold for thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12)
Matthew 26:15
27. Potter’s field bought (Zechariah 11:13)
Matthew 27:7
28. Smitten on the cheek (Micah 5:1)
Matthew 27:30
29. Spat on (Isaiah 50:6)
Matthew 27:30
30. Mocked (Psalm 22:7,8)
Matthew 27:31, 39-44
31. Beaten (Isaiah 50:6)
Matthew 26:67; 27:26-30
32. Hands and feet pierced (Psalm 22:16; Zechariah 12:10)
John 19:18, 37
33. Not a bone broken (Exodus 12:46, Psalm 34:20)
John 19:33-36
34. Soldiers will gamble for Messiah’s garments (Psalm 22:18)
Luke 23:34; Matthew 27:3536
35. Given vinegar to drink (Psalm 69:21)
Matthew 27:34
36. Numbered with the transgressors (Isaiah 53:12)
Matthew 27:38
37. Buried with the rich (Isaiah 53:9)
Matthew 27:57-60
38. Not see corruption (Psalm 16:10)
Acts 2:31
39. Raised from the dead (Psalm 16:10)
Acts 13:33,34
40 Ascended to the right hand of God (Psalm 110:1)
Hebrews 1:3; Acts 1:9
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These are just some and not all of the Old Testament Scriptures fulfilled by Jesus Christ. There can be no doubt as to His identity. He is the Christ, the Saviour of the world, the true God revealed to us! There also can be no doubt as to the inspiration of the Bible, because these Scriptures were written hundreds of years before Jesus Christ came into this world. As we have seen, the odds against anyone accidentally fulfilling them (as some would like us to believe) are absolutely impossible!
OTHER FULFILLED PROPHECY The Bible foretold the captivity of Israel and Judah, the destruction of Jerusalem, the deliverance of the Jews from exile and their becoming a nation again--all of which has taken place. Jesus Christ Himself foretold of the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, which took place forty years later. Every day we see results, conditions, and experiences that are the direct fulfilment of the prophetic teaching of God’s Word, many of which teachings from a human standpoint seemed ridiculous and absurd years ago. 4. The Bible Compared with Biographies Most biographies, especially autobiographies, seek to remain silent concerning the sins of the main character--but this is not true with the Bible. It “tells it like it is.” It deals very frankly with the sins of its characters, even the most popular ones such as Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David, and Peter. 5. The Bible and History Books The Bible has been accepted by a multitude of scholars as the most accurate and complete history, not only of Israel, but also of many nations of the world, including Assyria, Babylon, Greece, Phoenicia, and Rome. The Old Testament contains the oldest history writings in existence. 6. The Bible and Archaeology Much of the Old Testament, regarding people, places and customs have been confirmed by archaeology. The findings of archaeology have strengthened the faith of believers in the accuracy of the Word of God and caused sceptics to become believers.
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7. Science and the Bible What would the Bible be like if we tried to change it to suit every scientific fad? What would the Bible have been like if man had changed it to go along with scientific teaching in 500 B. C.? 1000 A.D.? Or even 1995 A.D.? Any science book over one year old is outdated, because men are constantly discovering the errors of their suppositions and theories, but the word of God never changes. For example, for hundreds of years, men believed that the earth was flat, not round. If they had simply accepted the word of God, they would not have erred in this matter. The Bible confirms that the earth is round in the book of Isaiah (Isaiah 40:22). 8. The Popularity of the Bible: The Bible has been read by more people and published in more languages than any other book. There have been more copies printed of the Bible, and portions of it, than any other book in history. There is no other book that begins to compare to the circulation of the Bible. The entire Bible has been translated into more than 250 languages and dialects. Parts of it have been translated into more than 750 additional languages. 9. Personal Experience: The Bible is filled with many wonderful promises from God for those who follow its teachings and give their lives to Jesus Christ. When we make the Bible the guide for our lives, God will reveal Himself to us in a very real and wonderful way. The author has had literally thousands of prayers answered. He has been healed miraculously of sicknesses and diseases--without the aid of doctors and medicines. His life has been tremendously changed and blessed by the power of God and His Word. There is no argument that can defeat a personal experience.
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VOCABULARY
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contradiction —
a statement in opposition to another
prophecy —
prediction of future events by a prophet
biographies —
life stories of people
autobiographies —
life stories authors write about themselves
genius
great natural or mental ability
—
archaeology —
the study of the life of ancient people, as by excavation
theories
beliefs about something, without positive proof, such as “the theory of evolution”
—
harmony —
accord, agreement, oneness
controversial —
arguable, debatable, disputable, questionable
transgressors —
those who disobey, break the law, sin
fad
fashion, craze, style, rage, what is popularly accepted at a certain time
—
Lesson Two Test Bible Introduction
1
How many men were used in writing the Bible? ____________
2
The Bible was written over a period of ________ years.
3
The Bible was written under __________ inspiration.
4
To say that the Bible was written by inspiration of God is to say: __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________
5
Prophecy came not in old time by _______________________________ __________________________________________________________
6
Holy men of God spoke and wrote as they were moved by ___________________________.
7
Why is it miraculous to us that the Bible was written with perfect harmony? __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________
8
Why is it that there is no one contradiction in the Bible? __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________
9
What is the greatest proof of the accuracy of the Bible? __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________
10
Give five prophecies concerning Jesus Christ, and the Scriptures which show their fulfillment:
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What other prophecy (concerning Israel) has been fulfilled? __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________
12
How does the Bible compare with other history books of its accounts of nations? __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________
13
How does the Bible compare with archaeological evidence? __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________
14
How does the Bible compare with science? __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________
15
How can a person prove for himself the accuracy of the Bible? __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________
16
What did you find of special interest in this lesson?
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Bible Introduction
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
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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 — 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.
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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 —
having authority
category
a class or division
—
dynamic —
forceful
fragment
—
a part broken off of, an incomplete part
oral
—
spoken, not written
preservation —
the saving and maintaining of, the keeping of
traditions —
the handling down by word of mouth or writing the beliefs, bustoms, etc.
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Lesson Three Test Bible Introduction
1
Name five materials the Bible was written on: ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________
2
What were the writing instruments used? _________________________________________________________.
3
How were the scrolls made? __________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________.
4
Why was the book form better? __________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________.
5
Where were the five books of the Law put for preservation? ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________
6
What were the responsibilities of the scribes? __________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________.
7
What special care did they take to insure accuracy if any errors were found? __________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________.
8
What did they do before they wrote the name of God? __________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________.
9
Who gathered together the Old Testament Canon? _________________.
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10
What test did a book have to pass before it was included in the Old Testament Canon? _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
11
Name two differences between the Hebrew Canon and books that are used by Christian Protestants today. __________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________.
12
What three classifications of the Old Testament did Jesus refer to? _________________________________________________________.
13
What was Jesus dispute with the Pharisees concerning? __________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________.
14
What is the last book of the Old Testament? ______________________.
15
What statement does the Jewish book “Babylonian Talmud” makes that explains why there were no more books? __________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________
16
What were the two factors that determined what should be included in the New Testament canon? __________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________.
17
Did the apostles (Peter and Paul, for example) accept one another’s writings as “Scripture”? __________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________.
18
Upon what foundation was the church of Jesus Christ built on? __________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________.
19
Jesus Himself gave notice that His words were _____________________ _________________________________________________________.
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What did you find of special interest in this lesson?
Bible Introduction
Bible Introduction
Lesson
Four
HOW WE GOT OUR TRANSLATIONS The Bible was written across a period of several centuries. The Old Testament was written in the languages of Hebrew and Aramaic, and the New Testament was written in Greek. Hebrew was the language spoken by the Jewish people before their Babylonian captivity. Only a few portions of the Old Testament were written in Aramaic. The ancient Hebrew text consisted only of consonants, since the Hebrew alphabet had no written vowels. Vowel signs were invented by the Jewish scholars after the 6th century. Except for a few words and sentences, the New Testament was in Greek. During the days of the Grecian Empire, Greek became the universal language and was carried over even into the days of the Roman Empire.
THE SEPTUAGINT Around 277 B. C., seventy scholars in Alexandria, Egypt began a translation of the Old Testament into the Greek language. This translation became known as the Septuagint, which was a Latin word, meaning “seventy”. The Septuagint was widely circulated and was used as the basis for many future translations.
THE VULGATE The Vulgate was a Latin translation of the Septuagint and of the original Greek New Testament. It was made by Jerome, an able scholar from Dalmatia, between 383 and 405 A.D. It could only be read by Catholic monks and clergy who were familiar with the Latin language. Since this was the standard Bible in the Catholic Church for a thousand years, God’s Word was unknown to most of the common people. This is the reason why this period in church history is often called the “Dark Ages.”
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OTHER EARLY TRANSLATIONS Parts of the Old Testament were translated into Syriac as early as the 1st century. A Coptic (ancient Egyptian language) translation of the Old Testament appeared around the 3rd century. The New Testament was translated from Greek into Latin and Syriac around 150 A.D. and into Coptic about 200 A.D. In subsequent centuries, versions appeared in the Armenian, Gothic, Ethiopian, Georgian, Arabic, Persian, and Slavonic languages.
THE FIRST ENGLISH TRANSLATION John Wycliffe, the great reformer, was born around the year 1320 A. D.. He became a lecturer at Oxford, and was one of the most able theologians and scholars in England at that time. He was convinced that the Bible was God’s Word, and was determined to give it to the people in the English language. He translated the whole Bible into the English language from the Latin Vulgate, dividing it into chapters. Although it was copied in handwriting, its circulation was large. Approximately a hundred and fifty manuscripts are still in existence today. His translation took him about twenty‑two years to accomplish, and each new copy took around ten months to be completed. The copies sold for about US $150, thus most people could not afford to buy one. Some people would pay a large amount of money just to be able to read it one hour each day. The Roman Catholics opposed this translation and eventually forbade the reading of this English Bible under the penalty of death. History records a long list of martyrs who died at the stake (burned to death), rather than give up their Bible. Wycliffe died in 1384 A. D. Forty years later, Roman Catholic authorities dug up his bones and burned them, scattering the ashes on the River Swift. The principle that directed his life was: “The sacred scriptures are the property of the people, and that no one should be allowed to take from them.”
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THE EFFECT OF PRINTING UPON BIBLE CIRCULATION Printing was invented in Europe about 1450 A. D. by Gutenberg, a German, who is said to have printed a Bible. Later, in 1476 A. D., printing was introduced into England by Caxton. At that time, some of the Old Testament was printed in Hebrew. This invention greatly increased the circulation of the Scriptures.
WILLIAM TYNDALE In 1525 A. D., William Tyndale, one of the Protestant Reformers, and a contemporary of Martin Luther, made another English translation. He was the first to publish an English New Testament using the printing press. He had to do this partly at Cologne, and partly at Worms, Germany. He worked under great difficulty‑‑in exile, poverty, and distress. Several editions were printed. The testaments were smuggled into England in bales of cotton and sacks of flour. The Roman Catholic Church made every effort to prevent this, and burned thousands of copies. His translation was from Greek and was very accurate. He also translated the first five books of the Old Testament and the book of Jonah into English. In 1535 A.D., he issued a revised version of the New Testament from the original Greek. In 1556 A.D., Tyndale was first strangled, and then burnt at the stake. His last words were: “Lord, open the King of England’s eyes!”
THE GENEVA BIBLE In 1553 A.D., Queen Mary, also known as “Bloody Mary,” came to the throne in England. She was queen for four and a half years. During her reign, the printing, importation, and circulation of Bibles were prohibited, and over three hundred Bible‑loving men were burnt at the stake. In 1558 A.D., Queen Elizabeth came to the throne at the age of 25. At her crowning, she pressed her lips and heart to a copy of the Bible. This caused a great change, which caused most of the people to rejoice. Persecution against Bible‑loving people ceased during her reign.
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In 1560 A.D., a very important edition of the Bible, known as the Geneva Bible, appeared. It received this name because many reformers had fled to Geneva, Switzerland during the persecutions under Queen Mary. While there, they translated this new Bible directly from the original Hebrew and Greek. The Geneva Bible was smaller in size, and became popular. It was the Bible used by Shakespeare, Cromwell, and John Bunyan, and was brought to America by the Pilgrims. The Geneva Bible was important for the following reasons: 1. It used the more easily read Roman type. 2. It was the first whole Bible to be divided into verses 3. It was the first Bible to use italics for the words the translators added for the sake of English idioms, and was not in the original text. 4. It was the first to omit the apocryphal books since their introduction into the Septuagint.
THE APOCRYPHA The Apocrypha are fourteen books that are not a part of the Protestant Bible because: 1. There is no reference to these fourteen books in the New Testament, and no proof of their inspiration. 2. They contain a great deal of legendary fable and some historical errors. 3. The Jewish religion is based entirely on the Old Testament. Although these books were written by Jews during Old Testament times, the Jews themselves have rejected them as inspired of God.
THE KING JAMES VERSION For some sixty years, the Geneva Bible had been the most important Bible in England. The one thing that hindered its popularity was the marginal notes, added by the translator, which included attacks on the divine rights of kings. Other translations were inferior in accuracy.
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Finally, a group of some 1,000 ministers presented a petition to the king, who was King James, a distant relative of Elizabeth. The group of ministers included many Puritans, who were of the strictest of the Protestants. The petition was a request that the king authorize a new translation of the Bible, which would exclude all notes or comments. Over fifty men were carefully chosen and charged by the king that the translation be an exact rendering of the text. These men were among the most learned scholars of that period. They were also spiritual men who did not rely or trust in their own knowledge or deepness of judgement. They prayed for the help of God in their important task. The translators were divided into groups who were given certain sections of the Bible to translate. Their work was then submitted for approval by all the others. The whole Bible was then given to a committee of six, who worked for nine months examining the complete text. Altogether, each portion of scripture was reviewed at least fourteen times before it was brought to the press for printing.
OTHER TRANSLATIONS There are many other translations, such as the Revised Version, American Standard Version, Revised Standard Version, Amplified Version, and New International Version, not to mention the translations into many languages of the world. Some translations are perhaps helpful in the study of the Bible, but none measure up to the King James Version for accuracy! The New King James Version is also an accurate version that simply seeks to use more modern language, replacing the words such as “thee” and “thou.” If the student wishes to pursue further the subject as to which translation is the most accurate one, it is suggested that he obtain a copy of the following book: The Search for the Word of God / A Defense of the King James Version Author: Daniel L. Segraves Publisher: Word Aflame Press 8855 Dunn Road Hazelwood, Missouri 63042 USA
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VOCABULARY
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translation —
the act of putting into the words of a different language
persecution
the causing of pain or suffering for reasons of religion, politics, etc.
—
consonant —
a letter that is not a vowel, such as “b,” “c,” “d,” “f,” and “g”
clergy
—
ministers, priests
ancient
—
of times long past
legendary —
based on stories not proven to be true
pursue
to follow or go on with
—
Lesson Four Test Bible Introduction
1
Most of the Old Testament was written in ________________________.
2
Only a few portions were written in _____________________________.
3
Except for a few words and sentences, the New Testament was written in _________________________________________________________.
4
The meaning of the word “Septuagint” is ________________________.
5
The Septuagint was the first translation of the Old Testament into the _______________ language.
6
God’s Word was chiefly unknown to the common people for a thousand years, because: __________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________.
7
This period of time is known as ________________________________.
8
Who was the first person to translate the whole Bible into the English language? _____________________________________.
9
What did Roman Catholic authorities do with his bones? ____________ _________________________________________________________.
10
What was the principle that directed his life? __________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________.
11
What effect did printing have upon the circulation of the Bible? _________________________________________________________.
12
How did William Tyndale smuggle copies of the New Testament into England? __________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________.
13
How did he die? ____________________________________________.
14
What were his last words? ____________________________________.
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15
During her reign, why was Queen Mary known as “Bloody Mary�? __________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________.
16
Why were the people happy at the crowning of Queen Elizabeth? __________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________.
17
Why was the Apocrypha not included in the Protestant Bible? __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________.
18
What charge did King James give the men chosen to make a new translation of the Bible? __________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________.
19
What care were taken by these 50 men so that the translation would be as accurate as possible? __________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________.
20
What was of special interest to you in this lesson?
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