"DISCOVERING THE BIBLE"
The information for this study was taken from the Church of God (7th Day) Sabbath School Quarterly. I found it fascinating. Hope you will also. I started this once before but never finished. Starlight*
Much is at stake in this book we call the Bible. The Church of God (7th Day) may rightly be called "a people of the Book." Early pioneers of the movement were unwavering in their commitment to "the Bible and the Bible alone." This commitment has influenced the Church throughout its history, evidence by its strong Bible emphasis and the name of its flagship publication Bible Advocate. The current General Conference vision includes the phrase Bible-based, indicating the Church's continued commitment to the authority and sufficiency of the Bible; the commitment to preach and teach God's Word as inspired, inerrant, infallible, and authoritative; the commitment to going deeper and deeper into God's school of wisdom, even in our age of biblical illiteracy.
This series is designed to examine the claims Christians make concerning the Bible and to base our answers on the Bible's own commentary about itself. What do we mean when we say that the Bible is inspired and inerrant? How can we be sure that the Bible we hold in our hands conveys the message of the original authors? This series will provide a concise survey or overview of this library of sixty-six books. One part of the series encourages a deeper love for the Bible. The final part explores the meaning of biblical authority.
The Bible says that it is not the result of any private human effort but the result of the Holy Spirit's supernatural guidance or superintendence of the thoughts and writings of holy men of old who "spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21). The Holy Spirit not only inspired the writing of Scripture but also opens the eyes of those who read the Bible so that what might ordinarily remain words on a page become beautiful words of life. This is called the doctrine of illumination. May the Lord Jesus Christ, the Living Word open our eyes to the richness and beauty of His written Word, through the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit.
The Bible: AN AMAZING BOOK
The key text for this section is Psalm 19. In Psalm 19 it uses terms such as "fine gold" and "honey" to describe God's law. The Scriptures are rich and beautiful.
To fully capture the richness and beauty of the Bible would require many pages. So let us summarize with the familiar list "The Seven Wonders of the Bible"
1. The wonder of its formation
2. The wonder of its unification
3. The wonder of its age
4. The wonder of its sale
5. The wonder of its interest
6. The wonder of its language
7. The wonder of its preservation
Let's look briefly at each wonder of the Bible.
Its formation. The Bible is a library of sixty-six books, written by some forty authors, over a period of approximately 1,500 years. Though many authors of the Bible's books were contemporaries, most were strangers to one another, making it a wonder how this marvelous library of books has been assembled.
Its unification. The diversity of backgrounds, time periods, and perspectives from which these authors wrote, without contradiction and in perfect harmony, is another remarkable fact of the Bible, and proof of its divine origin.
Its age. The oldest book of the Bible is believed to be Job, covering events that occurred prior to the times of Abraham and Moses. (note: then why isn't it put in before the books that deal with Abraham and Moses?) The precise date of Job's writing is uncertain (the time of events and the date of their recording are different.) The millenniums that have passed since portions of the Bible were written put it in a class all by itself. It's the oldest book ever written, still in circulation.
Its sale. Hands down, the Bible is the best-selling book of all time. Organizations such as the American Bible Society have kept count of Bibles they have distributed. ABS presented the two billionth copy of the Bible to US President Gerald Ford in a ceremony at the White House in 1978.
Its interest. Interest in the Bible extends beyond the boundaries of Judaism and Christianity. Skeptics of the faith, scientist, archaeologists, and scholars from every background have pored over the Scriptures throughout the centuries, curious about its contents.
Its language. The bible was written in Hebrew (Old Testament), and Greek and Aramaic (New Testa-
ment); and has been translated into thousands of languages of people and groups on every continent of the world.
Its preservation. The survival of ancient manuscripts of the Bible over thousands of years, despite catastrophic events in which they could have been destroyed; the failure of enemies of the kingdom to take the Bible out of circulation; and its ongoing distribution in places where it is forbidden, all speak to the great wonder of its preservation.
The purpose of this study is to foster greater appreciation and love for this amazing Book. The following comments by an anonymous author are helpful in this regard, and serve as fitting conclusion to this Introduction:
The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass the soldier's sword, the Chrisitan's charter. Here paradise is restored, heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Chris is the grand object, our good is its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mind of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened in the judgment, and will be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, practice it to be holy.
Much is at stake in this book we call the Bible. The Church of God (7th Day) may rightly be called "a people of the Book." Early pioneers of the movement were unwavering in their commitment to "the Bible and the Bible alone." This commitment has influenced the Church throughout its history, evidence by its strong Bible emphasis and the name of its flagship publication Bible Advocate. The current General Conference vision includes the phrase Bible-based, indicating the Church's continued commitment to the authority and sufficiency of the Bible; the commitment to preach and teach God's Word as inspired, inerrant, infallible, and authoritative; the commitment to going deeper and deeper into God's school of wisdom, even in our age of biblical illiteracy.
This series is designed to examine the claims Christians make concerning the Bible and to base our answers on the Bible's own commentary about itself. What do we mean when we say that the Bible is inspired and inerrant? How can we be sure that the Bible we hold in our hands conveys the message of the original authors? This series will provide a concise survey or overview of this library of sixty-six books. One part of the series encourages a deeper love for the Bible. The final part explores the meaning of biblical authority.
The Bible says that it is not the result of any private human effort but the result of the Holy Spirit's supernatural guidance or superintendence of the thoughts and writings of holy men of old who "spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21). The Holy Spirit not only inspired the writing of Scripture but also opens the eyes of those who read the Bible so that what might ordinarily remain words on a page become beautiful words of life. This is called the doctrine of illumination. May the Lord Jesus Christ, the Living Word open our eyes to the richness and beauty of His written Word, through the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit.
The Bible: AN AMAZING BOOK
The key text for this section is Psalm 19. In Psalm 19 it uses terms such as "fine gold" and "honey" to describe God's law. The Scriptures are rich and beautiful.
To fully capture the richness and beauty of the Bible would require many pages. So let us summarize with the familiar list "The Seven Wonders of the Bible"
1. The wonder of its formation
2. The wonder of its unification
3. The wonder of its age
4. The wonder of its sale
5. The wonder of its interest
6. The wonder of its language
7. The wonder of its preservation
Let's look briefly at each wonder of the Bible.
Its formation. The Bible is a library of sixty-six books, written by some forty authors, over a period of approximately 1,500 years. Though many authors of the Bible's books were contemporaries, most were strangers to one another, making it a wonder how this marvelous library of books has been assembled.
Its unification. The diversity of backgrounds, time periods, and perspectives from which these authors wrote, without contradiction and in perfect harmony, is another remarkable fact of the Bible, and proof of its divine origin.
Its age. The oldest book of the Bible is believed to be Job, covering events that occurred prior to the times of Abraham and Moses. (note: then why isn't it put in before the books that deal with Abraham and Moses?) The precise date of Job's writing is uncertain (the time of events and the date of their recording are different.) The millenniums that have passed since portions of the Bible were written put it in a class all by itself. It's the oldest book ever written, still in circulation.
Its sale. Hands down, the Bible is the best-selling book of all time. Organizations such as the American Bible Society have kept count of Bibles they have distributed. ABS presented the two billionth copy of the Bible to US President Gerald Ford in a ceremony at the White House in 1978.
Its interest. Interest in the Bible extends beyond the boundaries of Judaism and Christianity. Skeptics of the faith, scientist, archaeologists, and scholars from every background have pored over the Scriptures throughout the centuries, curious about its contents.
Its language. The bible was written in Hebrew (Old Testament), and Greek and Aramaic (New Testa-
ment); and has been translated into thousands of languages of people and groups on every continent of the world.
Its preservation. The survival of ancient manuscripts of the Bible over thousands of years, despite catastrophic events in which they could have been destroyed; the failure of enemies of the kingdom to take the Bible out of circulation; and its ongoing distribution in places where it is forbidden, all speak to the great wonder of its preservation.
The purpose of this study is to foster greater appreciation and love for this amazing Book. The following comments by an anonymous author are helpful in this regard, and serve as fitting conclusion to this Introduction:
The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass the soldier's sword, the Chrisitan's charter. Here paradise is restored, heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Chris is the grand object, our good is its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mind of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened in the judgment, and will be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, practice it to be holy.
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