the nature and purpose of the bible overview of the bible bible is a collection of writings that...
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OVERVIEW of the BibleOVERVIEW of the BibleBible is a collection of writings that Christians consider uniquely inspired and authoritative. One unified book composed of 66 literary works. 2 Tim 3:16 “All Scripture is God-breathed.”
Testament means “Covenant” in Latin. OT and NT represent at a basic level, two covenants between God and His people. Exodus 19-31 Mosaic Covenant and New Covenant promised in Jeremiah 31:31 (new heart), fulfilled in Christ’s death and resurrection.
The PURPOSE of the BibleThe PURPOSE of the Bible
To reveal Jesus Christ in order to make a person wise for salvation through faith in Christ (2 Tim 3:15). Not a set of rules and laws to their own end.
John 5:39 “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me.”
Functions of the BibleFunctions of the Bible• Conviction of sin
• Correction and Instruction
• Spiritual Fruitfulness
• Perseverance
• Joy and Delight
• Ultimate Authority in Doctrine and Deed
• Conviction of sin
• Correction and Instruction
• Spiritual Fruitfulness
• Perseverance
• Joy and Delight
• Ultimate Authority in Doctrine and Deed
Timeline of Biblical Events and BooksTimeline of Biblical Events and BooksAdam and Eve
Noah
The calling of Abraham
The exodus
The monarchy begins
King David
King Solomon
The divided kingdom
The Assyrian exile
The Babylonian exile
The Persian period
Adam and Eve
Noah
The calling of Abraham
The exodus
The monarchy begins
King David
King Solomon
The divided kingdom
The Assyrian exile
The Babylonian exile
The Persian period
(LTA) Long Time Ago!
(LTA)
2000 B.C.
1446 B.C. (Moses authors 1rst books)
1050 B.C. (God chooses Saul)
1010-970 B.C
970-930 B.C.
931 B.C (Israel/Judah divide)
722 B.C. (Samaria destroyed)
586 B.C. (Jerusalem destroyed)
537 B.C. (return of Jews under Cyrus)
(LTA) Long Time Ago!
(LTA)
2000 B.C.
1446 B.C. (Moses authors 1rst books)
1050 B.C. (God chooses Saul)
1010-970 B.C
970-930 B.C.
931 B.C (Israel/Judah divide)
722 B.C. (Samaria destroyed)
586 B.C. (Jerusalem destroyed)
537 B.C. (return of Jews under Cyrus)
Timeline of Biblical Events and BooksTimeline of Biblical Events and BooksSecond Temple finished
Nehemiah/Ezra
Malachi (last OT book)
Intertestamental period
Jesus’ birth
Jesus’ ministry
Jesus’ crucifixion
First NT book(s) written
Revelation written
Second Temple finished
Nehemiah/Ezra
Malachi (last OT book)
Intertestamental period
Jesus’ birth
Jesus’ ministry
Jesus’ crucifixion
First NT book(s) written
Revelation written
515 B.C.
Mid-400s B.C.
430 B.C.
430 B.C.-A.D. 45
7-4 B.C.
A.D. 27-30
A.D. 30
A.D. 45
A.D. 90 (last book of NT)
515 B.C.
Mid-400s B.C.
430 B.C.
430 B.C.-A.D. 45
7-4 B.C.
A.D. 27-30
A.D. 30
A.D. 45
A.D. 90 (last book of NT)
THE OLD TESTAMENT
1. LAW2. HISTORICAL BOOKS3. WISDOM BOOKS4. PROPHETICAL BOOKS
THE OLD TESTAMENT
1. LAW2. HISTORICAL BOOKS3. WISDOM BOOKS4. PROPHETICAL BOOKS
HISTORICAL BOOKSHISTORICAL BOOKS
•Joshua
•Judges
•Ruth
•1-2 Samuel
•1-2 Kings
•Joshua
•Judges
•Ruth
•1-2 Samuel
•1-2 Kings
•1-2 Chronicles
•Ezra
•Nehemiah
•Esther
•1-2 Chronicles
•Ezra
•Nehemiah
•Esther
WISDOMJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of Solomon(Song of Songs)
WISDOMJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of Solomon(Song of Songs)
PROPHETICAL BOOKSPROPHETICAL BOOKSMajor Prophets
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Major Prophets
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Minor Prophets
Hosea-Malachi
(The Twelve)
Minor Prophets
Hosea-Malachi
(The Twelve)
PAULINE LETTERSRomans1-2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1-2 Thessalonians1-2 TimothyTitusPhilemon
PAULINE LETTERSRomans1-2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1-2 Thessalonians1-2 TimothyTitusPhilemon
GENERAL LETTERS AND REVELATION
HebrewsJames1-2 Peter1-3 JohnJudeRevelation
GENERAL LETTERS AND REVELATION
HebrewsJames1-2 Peter1-3 JohnJudeRevelation
CHAPTER DIVISIONSCHAPTER DIVISIONS
Early Church (and Jesus!) often just referenced a book in general, or a specific event, but had no means for further specification. Jesus in Mark 12:26 speaks of Moses as “the passage about the bush, when God spoke to him.”
Current chapter divisions added in early 1200s by Archbishop of Canterbury Stephen Langton. Unwise to make too big a deal about meaning based on chapter arrangements or mathematical wizardry (Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code)
Verse DivisionsVerse Divisions
Added in 1551 by Robert “Stephanus” Estienne, a printer from Paris. First Bible to contain verse divisions was the Geneva Bible of 1560. Verse divisions are questioned today, but it is unthinkable to rework the system after so many years. Avoid creative biblical mathematics!
SCRIPTURE’S CLAIMS ABOUT ITSELFSCRIPTURE’S CLAIMS ABOUT ITSELF•NUMBERS 23:19
•PSALM 12:6
•2 TIMOTHY 3:16
•2 PETER 1:21
•JOHN 10:35
•HEBREWS 1:1-2
•NUMBERS 23:19
•PSALM 12:6
•2 TIMOTHY 3:16
•2 PETER 1:21
•JOHN 10:35
•HEBREWS 1:1-2
QUALIFICATIONS OF INERRANCYQUALIFICATIONS OF INERRANCY1. APPLIES ONLY TO AUTOGRAPHS
2. RESPECTS AUTHORIAL INTENT AND LITERARY CONVENTIONS (NOTE: ORDER OF EVENTS IN THE GOSPELS)
3. ALLOWS FOR PARTIAL REPORTING, PARAPHRASING, AND SUMMARIZING
1. APPLIES ONLY TO AUTOGRAPHS
2. RESPECTS AUTHORIAL INTENT AND LITERARY CONVENTIONS (NOTE: ORDER OF EVENTS IN THE GOSPELS)
3. ALLOWS FOR PARTIAL REPORTING, PARAPHRASING, AND SUMMARIZING
QUALIFICATIONS OF INERRANCY…QUALIFICATIONS OF INERRANCY…4. ALLOWS FOR PHENOMENOLOGICAL
LANGUAGE
5. ALLOWS FOR THE REPORTING OF SPEECH WITHOUT THE ENDORESEMENT OF THE TRUTHFULNESS OF THAT SPEECH
6. DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE BIBLE GIVES DEFINITIVE OR EXHAUSTIVE INFO ON EVERY TOPIC
7. NOT INVALIDATED BY COLLOQUIAL OR NONSTANDARD GRAMMAR/SPELLING.
4. ALLOWS FOR PHENOMENOLOGICAL LANGUAGE
5. ALLOWS FOR THE REPORTING OF SPEECH WITHOUT THE ENDORESEMENT OF THE TRUTHFULNESS OF THAT SPEECH
6. DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE BIBLE GIVES DEFINITIVE OR EXHAUSTIVE INFO ON EVERY TOPIC
7. NOT INVALIDATED BY COLLOQUIAL OR NONSTANDARD GRAMMAR/SPELLING.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DEALING WITH DIFFICULT TEXTSRECOMMENDATIONS FOR DEALING WITH DIFFICULT TEXTS
• BE SURE YOU ARE INTERACTING WITH REAL TEXTS
• APPROACH THE TEXT IN TRUST, NOT AS A SKEPTIC
• PRAY
• KEEP IN MIND THE “QUALIFICATIONS OF INERRANCY”
• SEEK COUNSEL
• BE WILLING TO SET A TEXT ASIDE FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION RATHER THAN FORCE HARMONIZATION
• BE SURE YOU ARE INTERACTING WITH REAL TEXTS
• APPROACH THE TEXT IN TRUST, NOT AS A SKEPTIC
• PRAY
• KEEP IN MIND THE “QUALIFICATIONS OF INERRANCY”
• SEEK COUNSEL
• BE WILLING TO SET A TEXT ASIDE FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION RATHER THAN FORCE HARMONIZATION