The Bible: frequently asked questions

The Bible: frequently asked questions Small group discussions to help you get to grips with Bible basics

Contents A brief word from us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 FAQ 1: What is the Bible all about anyway? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 FAQ 2: Why couldn’t the Bible be more user-friendly? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 FAQ 3: How did the Bible come down to us? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 FAQ 4: Does the Bible still matter to us today? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 FAQ 5: How can we make the best use of the Bible? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 A few suggested resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 FAQ 6: Does everyone have access to the Bible? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

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A brief word from us The Bible is by far the best-selling book of all time and it’s still making a remarkable impact around the world, yet many of us have only a hazy idea of its message.

It often seems confusing. It isn’t in chronological order, and it isn’t always easy to read. Some of it doesn’t seem to apply to us at all.

This series of discussions for small groups will look at some of the frequently asked questions about the Bible and why it is important. We hope that as you go through them you’ll feel more excited and equipped to dive into the Bible.

How to use this study We’ve developed this as a resource for small groups. We’ve filled it with information, but we hope you will be much more excited about using it as a platform for discussion than as a lesson plan. If you are leading a group, you might like to read the text chunks with your group, pick out the key points for them, or ask the group to read it ahead of your discussions. Decide if you want to turn to extra Bible passages; we’ve included some suggestions.

Where you see a little dot (like ◦ this) before a word, you can find the definition in the glossary. The words in the glossary are also listed at the end of each section.

Wycliffe Bible Translators believes that the Bible is amazing, life-changing and the best way for people to know who God is. And, as you go through the studies, we think you’ll come to share our view that the Bible is the most precious gift we could give to those who still don’t have access to it.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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FAQ 1· What is the Bible all about anyway?

Question: What is the Bible all about anyway?

In this discussion... a bird’s eye view of the Bible, thinking about what it says, where it’s from and what the point is.

Take a look at the book What do you think of first when you think of the Bible? For many, the first thing that comes to mind is a big and black book, bigger than most other books and on funny paper. Even digitally, you can end up having to scroll through loads to get to the bit you’re looking for. Why does it have to be so big?

It is, in fact, a mini-library, with 66 separate titles. The word ‘Bible’ literally means ‘books’. These books were originally written over a period of about 1,500 years, mainly in one of two languages by about 40 people, including fishermen, kings, prophets, poets and historians. The timeline of the Bible covers a period that begins before the creation of the world and goes on beyond the end of time as we know it. So it’s not surprising that the Bible includes a lot of different things, like laws, history, prophecy, poetry, biography and letters.

The Bible ‘library’ is in two main parts: the Old and the New Testaments (◦‘testament’ means ‘◦ covenant’ or ‘agreement’). The Old Testament tells us about the creation of the universe and the early history of the earth. It focuses on God’s chosen people, the Jews, and looks forward to Jesus’ coming as the ◦ Messiah who would save the world.

The New Testament starts with the miraculous birth of the Lord Jesus, his life, ministry, death, resurrection and ◦ascension into heaven. This is followed by the start of Christian churches and the valuable letters written to them.

These two testament parts go together. It has been said that ‘the New is in the Old concealed and the Old is in the New revealed.’

Discuss 1. Why are the Psalms printed in short lines but in John’s Gospel the lines run across the column? Why does the book of Proverbs look so different to other books?

2. Jesus often quoted from the Old Testament (e.g. Matthew 4:1-11): what does that say to us?

Take a look at the Author ‘All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realise what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.’ 2 Timothy 3.16-17 The Bible is a book about God that comes to us from God. He tells us all we need to know in this life about who he is, what he is like, what he does and what he requires of us. God reveals his awesome nature and ◦holy character in the Bible. Here we discover that God is the almighty, eternal creator of the universe who cares about the world he

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FAQ 1· What is the Bible all about anyway? has made. The whole Bible declares itself to be the ‘word of God’, so what the Bible says is what God says!

Read all about it: 2 Timothy 3:15-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21and Luke 24:45-47.

Although God used a range of authors, each with their own background and style, the Spirit of God ◦inspired the outcome so every word they wrote was as God intended. The Bible stands alone among all the books ever written since no other book bears the stamp of God’s authority.

Discuss 3. Who is mentioned in the first and last verses of the whole Bible? Is that significant?

4. King David was not perfect; he committed adultery. Is it a contradiction for an imperfect man like David to call the law of God perfect, even though he wrote parts of it? (e.g. Psalm 19.7-10)

Take a look at the message ‘Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings.”’

John 8:31 Soon after the Bible begins, things go wrong. The people God made for himself and declared to be ‘very good’ are tragically changed. In Adam and Eve, humanity rebelled against God and is now in a desperate condition because of ◦ sin. Israel’s repeated failures in the Old Testament story bear this out. We too hopelessly struggle for integrity, purity and peace. So often the good that we want to do is what we fail to do and the evil we want to avoid we end up doing! The Bible declares God’s verdict – guilty as charged.

That’s why it is all the more amazing that God’s message declares his love for the people who are ‘unfit for purpose’.

God has provided the answer to our sin and rebellion. That answer is Jesus himself. Jesus came to pay the penalty of our sin by dying as our substitute on Read all about it: the cross. The victory he accomplished in his death is displayed by his Genesis 3, Isaiah 53:5-6, resurrection from the dead. He lives and he saves all those who ◦ repent and John 3:16-18. trust in him. The grand theme of the Bible isn’t just an idea: it’s ‘Jesus’.

Discuss 5. Why is it necessary to understand Genesis 3 before we can fully grasp the message of John 3?

6. If God loved sinners enough to forgive them, why did Jesus have to die for it to happen?

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FAQ 1· What is the Bible all about anyway?

Take a look at the purpose The Bible’s truth applies to us now, as much as it did to the original readers. Just as its teaching about sin applies to us today, so also its message of forgiveness and grace in Jesus apply to us too. Even though none of the original books were written to us personally, God had us in mind: they were written for us, and as we try to understand more about God and his relationship with people, we will know more about how we should respond and live.

Discuss 7. If the Bible is full of important content for us, how do we get at it? (More on this in FAQ 5: How can we get the best out of the Bible?)

8. What did G. K. Chesterton mean when he said, ‘It’s not the parts of the Bible I don’t understand that bother me; it’s the parts I do understand’? Do you ever feel like this?

These words are defined in the glossary: Testaments, Covenant Messiah, Sin, Holy, Inspiration, Repent, Ascension

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FAQ 2· Why couldn’t the Bible be more user-friendly?

Question: Why couldn’t the Bible be more user-friendly?

In this discussion... find out how the Bible fits together and how that can help us make sense of it.

Getting stuck in Leviticus Starting to go through the Bible from the first page soon gets us into stories about actual people and that’s not too daunting. Exodus also has a lot of narrative, but it’s Leviticus which is the crunch for many. Leviticus is a book of laws – lots of laws! What on earth have they got to do with me?

If God is so concerned to speak to us, why is the book so complex? Why could he not have given us something more easily accessible? We are going to look at three reasons for the Bible’s complexity and at one key to unlock it.

Discuss 1. If you have ever tried to go through a whole Bible book (e.g. Matthew) from start to finish, how far did you get?

Have you tried to read through the whole Bible?

2. Why is it hard to explain to someone how the Bible books fit together?

One book with a big message ‘Look, God is greater than we can understand.’ Job 36:26 The Bible seems complex because its message is too great to convey in a few simple stories. It is a book about God, the almighty Creator of this vast universe, unique in majesty, infinite in holiness, matchless in love. Our small minds cannot readily grasp his awesome reality. He is communicating the incomprehensible.

To bridge this gap his masterstroke was to come to us himself. In the Bible, we learn that God became a man. He didn’t just translate his message into human language, but translated himself into human form. So we don’t have to fumble around in the dark, searching for a hidden God. Instead, the God of light has come to shown us his glory.

Read all about it: Genesis 3, Isaiah 53:5-6, John 3:16-18.

When it came to recording the message, God himself, as the ◦Holy Spirit, became the author of the whole Bible. He used about 40 different men of many generations and guided them in what they wrote. Referring to the Old Testament Paul says, ‘All Scripture is God-breathed’, so the breath of the ◦infallible God makes sure that every word is true to his intended meaning. We call this ◦ inspiration. Peter too, insists that the Bible’s human authors did not make up the message themselves, but says that men spoke from God as they were ‘carried along by the Holy Spirit’.

Although the story of the Old Testament is largely concerned with the one nation of Israel, the message is not only for them. Abraham, the Jewish ◦patriarch, was told that his people would be a blessing to all peoples on earth. The prophet Isaiah reminds them they are to be a light to the ◦Gentiles (the non-Jewish nations). Jesus tells his followers to take the good news that he is the long-promised saving king far beyond Jerusalem to the ends of the

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FAQ 2· Why couldn’t the Bible be more user-friendly? world. God’s message of love was not only for those living in Bible times. In Jude’s letter he says that the faith was entrusted to God’s people once and for all time.

Discuss 3. What are the main differences between the Bible and other books? Do you think there is a difference between the Bible and the holy books of other faiths?

4. Can we learn anything about God from a book like Esther, which doesn’t mention him?

One book with lots of content The Bible seems complicated because it covers so much ground. The writing itself took place over a period of more than 1,600 years, in two languages – Hebrew and Greek – and is divided into two ◦ testaments. The books are not in strict chronological order: some overlap and some repeat stories found elsewhere.

The Old Testament has the story of creation, humanity’s rebellion against God, God’s ◦covenant promise to Abraham and then the centuries-long account of the chosen people of Israel. The people failed to keep their side of the covenant with God. In one sense their history is a sorry cycle of blessing, rebellion, challenge and being brought back. Major figures in Israel’s history foreshadowed what the bringer of the New Covenant would be like: •

As prophet he speaks God’s word to us.

•

As priest he gives his life as a sacrifice for our ◦ sins.

•

As king he keeps us safe under his rule.

Four hundred years after the last book of the Old Testament was finished, the New Testament records carry on the story, as Jesus bursts on to the scene in the unlikely form of Mary’s baby. Following his death and dramatic resurrection he returns to Heaven and sends his Holy Spirit to empower and expand his church. God’s people faced repeated threats to their lives and health but benefitted from the counsel of the ◦apostles. We see too the community life of Jesus’ church, trace the victorious triumph of the King and the assured prospect of God’s perfect future kingdom.

Discuss 5. Why do Christians still read the Old Testament today?

6. Did God have any reason to wait so long before sending Jesus?

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FAQ 2· Why couldn’t the Bible be more user-friendly?

One book with many styles One reason of why the Bible is so complex is that it uses different styles of writing. In the Old Testament, we get...

•

Details of the laws God gives to Israel,

•

Hebrew poetry, like the Psalms, that reflect the worship and spirituality of God’s people,

•

The prophetic writings that urge the people to take God’s word seriously and foretell the complete fulfilment in the new covenant.

The New Testament has •

Four life-stories of Jesus (the Gospels),

•

Church history in Acts,

•

Letters to some of the first churches (the ◦epistles), which cover what Christians believe and what their community should be like,

•

Revelation, which depicts Christ’s ultimate victory in symbolic language.

Taken together these styles present one harmonious message of God’s saving love in action, covering the full range of human experience.

Discuss 7. Can you name some of the books that fit into the categories above?

8. Can you think of a time your experience matched up with an experience described in the Bible?

Looking to Jesus ‘Then Jesus said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.”’ Luke 24:44

The key to unlocking the Bible is to look for the main subject of the whole book, which is Jesus Christ himself. Every part of the Bible has something to tell us about him.

•

The laws expose our sin and our need for Jesus.

•

Old Testament history prepares the way for the coming of Jesus.

•

The stories of his life and death display God’s provision of Jesus.

Reports of how people responded show what it means for us to be trusting Jesus.

Accounts of church life show us how we should ourselves be modelling Jesus.

Those pictures of God’s people in Heaven encourage us to be hoping in Jesus.

• • •

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These words are defined in the glossary: Holy Spirit, Covenant, Apostles, Epistles, Infallible, Patriarch, Gentiles

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FAQ 3· How did the Bible come down to us?

Question: How did the Bible come down to us?

In this discussion... a brief history of the amazing journey across nations and languages the Bible has travelled to get to us.

Our Bible written ‘Joshua recorded these things in the Book of God’s Instructions…’ Joshua 24:26 The first five of the 66 books that make up the Bible are called the ◦ Books of Moses, who has traditionally been thought of as the author. Moses not only engraved words on stone (Exodus 28:9) but recorded Israel’s law and early history on papyrus scrolls (Exodus 17:14). All the Old Testament was hand-written on scrolls like these, mostly in Hebrew, by a range of human authors across 14 centuries (including Joshua, above). The last Hebrew prophet, Malachi, wrote over 400 years before the birth of Jesus.

But soon after Malachi, Greek became more widely used in Israel than Hebrew, so Jewish scholars translated the whole Old Testament into Greek. This version is known as the ◦ ‘Septuagint’, from the Latin word for 70, as it is thought that 70 or so scholars were involved in producing it.

Although Jesus and the disciples spoke Aramaic, a language similar to Hebrew, and the Latin-speaking Romans remained the dominant political power, Greek was still the language of widest communication. Consequently the remaining 27 books that form the New Testament were written in Greek. These too were hand-written and, although we have none of the original manuscripts, we do have hundreds of copies going back to the 4th century.

Discuss 1. Why do you think that a book as old as the Bible has remained in use for so many centuries?

2. Customs in Bible times were different from ours. How are the differences about marriage reflected in Matthew 25:1-13?

Our Bible translated ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: In those days ten men from different nations and languages of the world will clutch at the sleeve of one Jew. And they will say, “Please let us walk with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”’ Zechariah 8:23 As the Greek culture faded in the Roman Empire, Latin became the main language and, towards the end of the 4th century, the Bible was translated into Latin by a monk called Jerome. This Latin translation is called the ◦ ‘Vulgate’ version, because the Bible was now in the ‘vulgar’ or common tongue. After some opposition to this version it eventually became the only Bible in general use for many centuries. It was this Latin Vulgate that was brought to Britain in the 6th century by missionaries like Columba and Augustine.

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FAQ 3· How did the Bible come down to us?

Our Bible in English ‘… we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.’ Acts 15:19 Probably the first translation of any part of the Bible into ◦ Old English was by Bishop Aldhelm of Sherborne, who produced a version of the Psalms in 700 AD. A little later another monk, the Venerable Bede, abbot of Jarrow monastery, translated part of John’s Gospel into Old English, completing his work on the day he died in 735 AD. In another monastery on an island off the Northumbrian coast, the Lindisfarne Gospels were being beautifully illustrated and written in Latin; about 300 years later a word-for-word Old English translation was added underneath the Latin on the pages of the Gospels.

It was not until the 14th century that a complete Bible in English was produced by John Wycliffe, who wanted ordinary people to be able to understand the Bible. He and his followers, called ◦ ‘Lollards’, completed the entire Bible just before his death in 1384. The Lollards travelled about, reading and explaining the Bible to people wherever they went. There are about 170 copies of parts of this Bible which still survive today. Sadly, church opponents of Wycliffe’s teaching banned his Bible in 1408. Many copies were burned and John Wycliffe was declared a heretic, so after his death his remains were dug up and burnt.

Discuss 3. Why would the church of that day want to ban or burn the Bible?

4. What big changes can you see between the two versions of Hebrews 1:1-2 below?

Hebrews 1.1-2 as John Wycliffe translated it: God that spake sumtyme bi profetis in many maners to oure fadris at the last in these daies he hath spoken to us bi the sone whom he hath ordeyned eir of alle thingis and bi whom he made the worldis.

Hebrews 1.1-2 in the New Living Translation: Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe.

Our Bible printed Major progress followed when printing was invented in Europe in 1450 (although the Chinese had been printing since 868 AD). William Tyndale translated and printed the New Testament and the first five books of the Old Testament into English. Such was the opposition that it had to be printed in Germany and smuggled into England in bales of wool and casks of wine. Tragically betrayed by an alleged friend, Tyndale was arrested, imprisoned and then burnt at the stake in Belgium in 1536. As he died he prayed, ‘Lord, open the King of England’s eyes,’ a prayer which was ultimately to be wonderfully answered.

In 1535 Miles Coverdale produced the first complete printed English Bible. He used Tyndale’s work and translated the rest from Latin or German. In 1539 he produced a revision which became known as the ‘Great Bible’. King

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FAQ 3· How did the Bible come down to us?

Henry VIII commanded that a copy should be placed in every church. Copies were so expensive and precious that they were chained to the lecterns in churches to stop them being stolen.

Throughout the century, several other versions followed. When James I became King of England in 1603, it was agreed that a new edition of the Bible should be produced, based on the Hebrew and Greek texts, although in the end it was largely based on Tyndale’s translation. Fifty scholars worked on this version and it was finally published in 1611. It became known as the ‘Authorised’ or ‘King James’ version, and became the standard English Bible for nearly 400 years.

Discuss 5. What part of the process of English Bible translation do you find challenging?

6. Why do you think the Authorised (King James) version was the standard Bible for so long?

Our Bible revised A ‘Revised Version’, produced in 1885, never replaced the ‘King James’ in popular use. Since then there have been many translations and paraphrases, varying in faithfulness to the original languages and in their use of contemporary English.

We are thankful to God for those who, often at great cost, worked to provide us with the Bible in our own language of English so that we today can read it, benefit from it and respond to its message.

Discuss 7. Of the different English versions you have read, which do you prefer and why?

8. What is the value of different people using different English versions?

These words are defined in the glossary: Books of Moses, Septuagint, Vulgate, Old English, Lollards

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FAQ 4· Does the Bible still matter?

Question: Does the Bible still matter to us today?

In this discussion... The Bible is very old and can seem old fashioned too. We find out how and why it’s still relevant.

Nobody believes that anymore!

Outdated. That would be the way many today regard the Bible. Science has disproved it. Morals have outgrown it.

Politicians ignore it. Celebrities haven’t even heard of it. They don’t even know the Bible, let alone believe it.

Discuss 1. How much teaching about the Bible did you receive at school?

2. Does the Bible teach ‘money is the root of all evil’ as many say? (1 Timothy 6:10) Can you think of any other common myths about what the Bible says?

God’s word is for all people ‘Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding.’ Proverbs 2:2 The thrilling declaration to his readers that ‘God so loved the world’ shows that God’s love reaches beyond the chosen race of Israel to all the other nations. There will be no postmodern Jesus for a postmodern age, any more than there was a special boiler-suited Jesus for the Industrial Revolution. Only one Jesus is needed. His complete obedience, his ◦ atoning death and his resurrection life are sufficient to save people from every century.

Since there is only one Saviour for all generations, so there is only one message for all generations. God’s word matters today just as much as it mattered on Read all about it: the ◦ Day of Pentecost. On that day, God took steps to enable all those present John 3:16, Acts 2, to receive the message; equally, we must ensure that people of our generation 2 Timothy 3:15-17, Jude 3. can receive it too. Jude’s letter refers to ‘the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints’, reminding us that the message was complete and adequate for every need of every church in every age. It did not need to be adapted but to be faithfully communicated and carefully applied.

This is not a simple task. The message was given within Hebrew and Greek cultures millennia ago. Even the original Bible languages have changed since then, and the domestic and working lives of Jesus’ followers even more so. We cannot simply read off the Jewish dietary laws of Leviticus and expect them to be sufficient for healthy eating in our age. Our task is to discern the universal principles of timeless Scripture and show how they remain relevant to our life today.

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FAQ 4· Does the Bible still matter?

Discuss 3. God sent the message to all nations. Why do some people consider the God of the Bible ‘racist’ and why is it an inaccurate description?

4. In what ways do our working lives differ from that of the slaves in New Testament times? (e.g. Ephesians 6.5-8) How can passages like this be relevant to us?

Issues for our generation ‘Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.’ Romans 15:4

Think, for a moment, of the Western world. Despite better education and rising living standards, the generation beginning the third millennium is racked with uncertainty. We still have unresolved issues in the Middle East, nuclear threats, global warming and mountains of national debt, not to mention fearsome unemployment figures. Today’s idols are celebrities and sports stars, yet their personal lives are often a mess. No one has any idea why pornography and child abuse seem to appeal to otherwise normal people. Technology has opened the way to infinite electronic communications but people are still aching for real, personal relationships. No one offers a realistic hope of a peaceful life in the foreseeable future. Respect for authority has broken down.

The Bible is relevant to these issues. Let’s start with that matter of authority. The Bible teaches that our Creator has universal authority over all he has made, exercising it through rulers and families. So rebellion against them amounts to rebellion against him. Rather than being surprised at the inborn weakness and wickedness of human nature, God’s word traces this conflict back to the fall of our first parents and shows that such ◦ sin is now endemic to the whole human race.

It is against this dark background that the Bible shows the bright hope of ◦redemption and new life in Jesus. Far from being pessimistic about the present mess, God’s purpose is full of hope and confidence for all who trust in him. Jesus is the saviour for every kind of fractured relationship and every kind of failure. Gratitude to him then becomes our motive to put the needs of others first and live as God intended us to. Far from being outdated, the Bible is the timeless message which answers every generation’s ills.

Discuss 5. Why aren’t we surprised that people all over the world have a conscience about right and wrong?

6. Jesus offered hope to his friends facing Roman persecution. What hope does he offer to someone learning they have contracted AIDS?

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FAQ 4· Does the Bible still matter?

Living the story ‘But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.’ James 1:22

If the Bible is that good, the cynics argue, why don’t we see more proof that it works? That’s the rub. That’s the challenge to those of us who know the Bible is God’s truth. ‘Now that you know these things’, Jesus said, ‘you will be blessed if you do them.’(John 13:17) Each example of hypocrisy and every media exposure of inconsistency gives our generation another excuse to justify their unbelief. No wonder people deny the relevance of the Bible when they see those they perceive as religious leaders explaining away its plain meaning. Convincing our contemporaries that the Bible still matters today will take more than the arguments of ◦ apologetics.

What it calls for is Christians willing to defend its truth but then to put it into practice. When we’re ready to love as Jesus loved, to serve as Jesus served, to pay the costly price of self-sacrifice in our own communities – only then will there be some chance of our generation seeing the Bible’s relevance to them as well.

Discuss 7. Share examples of times when you have tried to practically apply what the Bible says to your actions.

8. Can you think of ways that the early churches’ actions would have seemed radical to their society? (E.g. Acts 2:42 -47 or 4:32-37)

These words are defined in the glossary: Day of Pentecost, Apologetics, Atoning (Atonement), Redemption

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FAQ 5· How do we make the best use of the Bible?

Question: How do we make the best use of the Bible?

In this discussion... even if we know that the Bible is good, it can still be difficult to regularly read or listen to it. These are our tips.

The African official Shortly after the start of the Christian church, after Jesus’ return into heaven, an official from the royal court of Ethiopia was driving south from Jerusalem.

With him in his chariot he had part of Isaiah, an Old Testament prophecy, and he was reading it.

Read all about it: Acts 8:26-40.

But the Bible isn’t the easiest book to understand (see FAQ 2 in this series) so God sent a Christian leader called Philip to explain that Scripture and tell him the good news about Jesus. The key to getting the best out of the Bible is to get ourselves into the Bible but, like the official, we sometimes need a hand.

Here are our top 4 ways to get into the Bible’s message.

1· Starting off ‘Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions.’ Psalm 119:18 Our first way is probably the easiest and most obvious: get into the Bible. You don’t need to have pages of study notes or world experts or a degree in theology – you can get into it by yourself. And just because we have a mental image of people lugging around huge, archaic black books doesn’t mean you need to. You can listen to the Bible rather than reading it – that’s actually the way the message was originally heard. Don’t be put off by well-meaning warnings about different translations and interpretations; with the hundreds of available translations in English (and many other languages) you can find one that is most comfortable for you.

God wrote all we need to know about his Son in the Bible. When we ask, he gives us his Spirit to explain it for us.

The Reformers used to speak about the ◦ ‘perspicuity’ of Scripture, that it is clear and its meaning transparent.

Humility is far more important than a degree in theology.

Whatever part of the Bible you are in it is helpful to ask these questions as you reflect on it: •

What does it tell me here about God?

•

Is there a promise I can rely on or a duty to fulfil?

•

Is there a warning here for me to heed or a sin to avoid?

•

What lesson can I learn to help me through today?

Discuss 1. Share (honestly!) why we find it so hard to find time regularly to get into the Bible.

2. Have your group found any Bible reading plans useful? wycliffe.org.uk/biblefaqs

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FAQ 5· How do we make the best use of the Bible?

2 ·Studying in groups ‘The people of Berea were more open-minded … and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.’ Acts 17:11

Without a doubt, small group Bible study has proved the route God has used for thousands to take their own first steps of faith. You may even be in one now!

It often works well when the teaching is first introduced and explained, then questions are encouraged in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. It’s great when someone has prepared the Bible passage in advance, and has themselves grasped its meaning and application. A particular danger is the ‘democratic’ approach – if most of the group think one meaning is right, then it must be! But it’s not necessarily so, is it?

We in the UK are spoilt for choice for study outlines. There is a wide range of booklets and websites offering help, from individual Bible books to Bible characters and practical topics.

Discuss 3. Why do you think some people get more from small groups than from sermons?

4. What group style helps you most: Bible study, topical, any questions or nothing prepared?

3 ·Listening to preaching ‘Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things.’ 2 Timothy 2:7 Most of us have already benefitted from preaching but surprisingly few of us have ever been taught how to listen well. Jesus himself urged his friends to ‘consider carefully what you hear’, advice that’s really important when we remember that we and the speakers are only jars of clay in which the treasure of God’s truth is contained. No preacher is perfect: it’s only the Bible truth that is!

Read all about it: Mark 4:24, 2 Corinthians 4:7.

Here’s a basic four-step approach to hearing preaching many have found useful: 1.

2.

Take it in – listen while the preaching’s going on and if it helps you, take some notes.

Think it through – take time later in the week to return to thinking about the message, having another look at the relevant passages.

3.

Pray it – pray about what affected you and how you were challenged.

4.

Live it out – make an effort to put it into practice.

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FAQ 5· How do we make the best use of the Bible?

Discuss 5. Try to recall a sermon which helped you. What made it memorable?

6. Why do we sometimes go home from church spiritually unfed?

4 ·Watching carefully Print and audio are not the only formats that the Bible is available in. For centuries, people have been creating Scripture-based artwork, music and drama. These are all ways that can help us interact with the message of the Bible.

There are also loads of films of the Bible available. Some, like The JESUS Film, follow the text of a book of the Bible in film format. There are also plenty of resources that focus on just a short part of the Bible (a book or a passage) and some that cover the whole story of the Bible in an overview form. There’s lots for children too (it might seem childish, but some of the children’s ones are clearer and more engaging than the adult ones!).

So why not get started?

Discuss 7. How might watching a Scripture film make you think differently about the Bible?

8. What other ways of getting into the Bible have you tried or would you like to try?

This word is defined in the glossary: Perspicuity

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A few suggested resources Getting started If you are coming to the Bible for the first time, find a modern version and begin with Mark, the shortest Gospel. Try to find out more about Jesus himself. Is he who he claims to be? Why did he come? Is he really alive today? Does it affect me? All the answers are there. It can be the beginning of a life-changing story for you.

You can also get great audio New Testament recordings (Contemporary English Version) as podcasts and downloads from The Bible Society (it’s called You’ve Got the Time, and is available from biblesociety.org.uk/ygtt) or with Bible apps such as Youversion or Bible.is.

Personal and group Bible study A number of UK agencies can supply notes to help your personal Bible reading for various age groups. Three of the most popular in the UK are: • thegoodbook.co.uk • scriptureunion.org.uk and associated devotional site, wordlive.org • biblereadingnotes.org.uk

Bible versions There are simply hundreds of versions of the Bible available in English – but don’t be overwhelmed! Probably the most popular of the modern translations is the New International Version (NIV). In this series we’ve used the New Living Translation (NLT). For longer passages, it might be easier to use a version like The Message, which aims to communicate the message of the whole passage, not just the verse or the words (so it doesn’t contain verse numbers for each verse but for sections).

If your church uses a different version, it might be worth trying that one out (but don’t worry if it doesn’t click – they are all communicating the same overall message).

For trying them out, you can read each on Biblegateway.com or listen at Bible.is. However, for regular reading, you may find it more helpful to buy a copy (of the book, download the app or buy the audio).

These two sites will also serve if your mother tongue is not English, but is widely spoken. However, if your mother language is less widely spoken, Worldbibles.org will direct you to places where you can find the Bible printed, on audio or in film versions, if a translation is available.

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A few suggested resources Films The JESUS Film has been translated into hundreds of languages around the world. It is based on the Gospel of Luke. You can get it as a DVD from agape.org.uk or view it online at jesusfilm.org/film-and-media/watch-the-film.

Other Scripture-based films you might enjoy include The Bible Collection (DVDs by Lace DVDs), an awardwinning series covering parts of the Old and New Testaments, and The Visual Bible (a series including The Gospel According to Matthew, The Gospel of John and The Book of Acts): these follow the text of the Bible, provide brief introductions and are recommended for the actors’ excellent portrayals of Jesus.

There are several children’s Bible films: you could try the Read and Share DVD Bible series. The makers of Veggie Tales do a series called What’s in the Bible?, a Bible overview. These are all available from eden.co.uk or amazon.co.uk.

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FAQ 6· Does everyone have access to the Bible?

Question: Does everyone have access to the Bible?

In this discussion... Surprisingly, many in the world still can’t access the Bible in a form that is clear for them. This discussion covers the need and the obstacles.

Job done?

The Bible has been around for so long surely everyone must have it by now. For many of us, we probably assume that. In the UK we have had the Bible for hundreds of years and missionaries have been working for centuries, travelling, teaching and translating, even in places like China. The Bible has been a best-seller all over the world in every continent. It is God’s word for all nations and for all generations and most now have access to the Bible in a language in which they are fluent.

But not all do. There are still millions of people without one word of the Bible available to them in their mother tongue. There’s still a lot of work to do.

Discuss 1. What is the best thing you have learned from the Bible?

2. Can you suggest a place where people might not yet have a Bible in their language?

What is meant by ‘access’?

‘There are many different languages in the world, and every language has meaning.’ 1 Corinthians 14:10 In the UK, most people are monolingual; English is the only language we speak. Foreign languages were often optional at school but not many of us have become proficient in one.

Few of us in Britain realise that in many countries of the world, multiple languages are spoken. Nigeria, for example, has over 500 different languages, each representing a distinct people group across a huge land mass. In the north, many will also speak Hausa so they can trade and take part in civic life. It is not unusual to find people who also speak two or three other neighbouring languages from their district. Many will tell you, however, that while they have access to the Bible in another language, for it to touch their heart they much prefer it in their mother tongue.

It may even have a more serious impact than preference. In one church in Nigeria that had always used Hausa rather than the local language, church-goers watched The JESUS Film (a film based on Luke) in the mother tongue and were shocked. ‘Jesus died for our ◦ sins? For our sins?’ they asked. ‘We had always thought that he died for his own sins.’

They had been attending the church for years!

It is often those minority languages which do not have their own Bible translation and each may be the mother tongue, and the preferred option, for hundreds of thousands of people.

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FAQ 6· Does everyone have access to the Bible?

That is not the only ‘access’ issue. For centuries some people groups have developed their distinctive culture entirely as oral communities. They have a common unwritten memory bank of history, tradition and religion, all of it transmitted by generations of oral story-tellers. They have never felt the need to write anything down. To give them access to the Bible as a written translation would be both inappropriate and unhelpful; but oral Scriptures, in the form of recordings of Scripture or sets of Bible stories designed to be easily repeatable, are eagerly received. Many are distributed on solar-powered audio players or through phones.

Often the last people to find out information are Deaf communities, and that’s true for the good news too. No sign language has a complete Bible. Following Jesus’ example in Mark 7, work has now begun on surveying the needs of the 230 sign languages we know about across the world. Increasingly, videos of parts of the Bible in sign language are becoming available.

Discuss 3. Is there someone in your group whose first language is not English? Ask them to tell you how it feels to meet another speaker of their mother tongue.

4. What do you think life is like for the almost one billion adults who can’t read at all?

Progress so far ‘When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.’ Acts 2:6

It did not take the first Christians long to see the need to translate the Bible for the new churches that were founded in the Middle East. Syrian, Egyptian and Latin were some of the first. As the gospel spread, so did Bible translations. By 1500 there were 35. It took another 300 years for this to double to 70 but in the next 100 years more vigorous work raised the number to over 500. The next century saw even more spectacular progress and now almost 2,800 languages have access to some part of Scripture. This covers all of the major languages and most, but not yet all, the people in the world.

Over the centuries cultures change and so do languages. The King James Bible from 1611 is 400 years old so no wonder it has seen numerous revisions. Dated expressions can hinder our understanding. Many early translations into major languages need similar updating so that today’s generation can have access to God’s word in a form that is natural for contemporary speakers.

Discuss 5. How do you explain the rapid increase in Bible translations over the last 100 years?

6. Which English version of the Bible do you prefer to use and why?

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FAQ 6· Does everyone have access to the Bible?

The task that remains Of the thousands of languages still without any Scripture, most are spoken in remote parts of Asia and Africa.

Linguists need to locate these groups, make initial surveys of their speech forms and discern whether what they are hearing is a dialect capable of sharing an existing translation or is a sufficiently distinctive language to require its own.

Some government leaders promote a major language for the sake of national unity but they still insist that primary schooling is in the child’s mother tongue. That’s why they are glad to encourage these surveys and the linguistic follow-up that is required.

Because of changes in communities – where they live, and how they relate to other communities, their nation and the world – languages are prone to change. Some are now spoken by only a few older people and will soon die out altogether. What we do know is that, among those millions of people still waiting for God’s word, some die every day without ever having heard of his love.

Our attitude to this task ‘I will gather all nations and peoples together, and they will see my glory.’ Isaiah 66:18 The parallel has sometimes been made with global needs for access to clean water. In our comfortable homes we take our taps for granted and forget how many millions lack this provision and suffer the consequent risks to their health.

Interestingly, it has been shown that where a translation programme begins in a rural community one of the first benefits is a reduction in infant mortality rates. The language team will translate basic health manuals and teach women to read them. Often only a few simple hygiene improvements can make a huge difference to the health of their children. Local leaders are understandably grateful and doors are more open when Bible stories also become available.

The more we appreciate our own access to clean water the more we will want others to have it. So it is with the Bible. Once we have begun to value it for ourselves, we will not want those thirsty millions to wait any longer. What can we do now to help them?

Discuss 7. What kinds of problems hinder God’s people reaching the last language groups?

8. What more can our church do to share in this task?

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Glossary of terms Apologetics – reasoned arguments to justify faith. (FAQ 4) Apostles – leaders of the early church who had been witnesses of Jesus during his time on earth (and, for the Apostle Paul, a little later). They wrote letters and preached to the early churches. (FAQ 2) Ascension – when Jesus returned to Heaven in his human body after his resurrection. You can read about it in Luke 24:50-53 and Acts 1:6-11. (FAQ 3) Atone, Atonement – Jesus paying the penalty for our sins by his death so that we could be reconciled to God. (FAQ 4) Books of Moses – also called the Pentateuch. These are the first 5 books of the Old Testament – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy – and tradition says that they were mostly written by Moses. (FAQ 3) Covenant – an agreement between people, particularly in the Bible between God and humans. (FAQ 2) Day of Pentecost – the day that the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles and early believers. You can read about it in Acts 2. (FAQ 4) Epistles – the letters of the New Testament, penned by the apostles. (FAQ 2) Gentiles – in the Bible, non-Jewish people. (FAQ 2) Holy, Holiness – the word the Bible uses for God being perfect, without sin and distinct from us. (FAQ 1) Holy Spirit – God is three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. They are distinct but connected in eternal relationship, and all three are one God. (FAQ 2) Infallible – never failing or never wrong. (FAQ 2) Inspiration – from spire (meaning ‘breathe’). This refers to God ‘breathing’ out the Bible through human authors as he communicated the Bible. (FAQ 1) Lollards – a belittling name given to followers of John Wycliffe, who believed that the Bible should be available in English to ordinary people. (FAQ 3) Messiah – God’s promised king, given a special nature and purpose by God to save his people. It is a translation of the word ‘Christ’. (FAQ 1) Old English – doesn’t refer to really old old-fashioned English, but a different language spoken by the Anglo-Saxons living in what is now Britain. Modern English is based partly on Old English, but mixed with Latin, French, Germanic languages and many more. (FAQ 3) Patriarch – the ‘fathers’ of the people of Israel: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and his sons. (FAQ 2) Perspicuity – the idea that Scripture has a clear and understandable meaning. (FAQ 4)

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Glossary of terms Redemption – buying something back. In the Old Testament, people could be redeemed from slavery, for example, by being bought out of it. We use it to describe the way Jesus bought us back from sin at the cost of his own life.

(FAQ 4) Repent – the word the Bible uses to describe the act of turning away from a life in rebellion against God’s direction, and towards God. (FAQ 1) Septuagint – the first translation of the Old Testament into Greek, traditionally said to have been translated by 70 men: Septuagint means 70. You might see it written elsewhere as LXX, which is 70 in Roman numerals. (FAQ 3) Sin – the word the Bible uses to describe the way humans rebel against God and his commands. (FAQ 1) Testaments – the Old and the New Testaments are the two big parts of the Bible. A ‘testament’ is a covenant or agreement. (FAQ 1) Vulgate – the Latin translation of the Bible, done by Jerome in the later part of the 4th century. The name comes from the fact that Latin was the ‘vulgar’ or ‘common’ language. (FAQ 3)

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About Wycliffe Bible Translators Worldwide there are more than 200 million people in around 2,000 languages who do not have access to the story of God’s love for his people – the story of the Bible – in the language they understand best, their ‘heart’ language.

Wycliffe Bible Translators believe that the Bible is the best way for people to come to know and understand who God is. Our vision is that by working with churches, organisations and individuals from around the world, all people will have access to God’s word in a language they truly understand.

Wycliffe UK Ltd. is a charity registered in England and Wales, number 251233, and a charity registered in Scotland, number SC039140.

wycliffe.org.uk

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Wycliffe Bible Translators The Clare Charity Centre Wycombe Road, Saunderton Buckinghamshire HP14 4BF T: 0300 303 1111 E: askus@wycliffe.org