April 20, 2008
What We Believe - About the Bible

Steve Lane

A. Introduction

We believe that the Bible is the written Revelation of God.
1 Thessalonians 2: 13
2 Timothy 3: 15 - 17
2 Peter 1: 20 - 21
Deuteronomy 4: 2
Deuteronomy 32: 46 - 47
B. History of the Bible

The uniqueness of the Bible
Luke 24: 27
Luke 24: 44 - 45

The Bible opens with the beginnings, and closes with the ending of this world.
The last Old Testament Prophet was Malachi, around 435 BC.
Malachi 3: 1 - 4
Malachi 4: 1 - 6
The New Testament begins with the coming of the Messiah.
The story of God reconciling man to Himself.
A clear, common theme -- 40 different men, over a period of 1600 years.
Hebrews 1: 1 - 2
The prophets of Israel were known and tested.
The Dead Sea Scrolls
Seven main Hebrew manuscripts.
"We have given practical proof of our reverence of our own scriptures. For although long ages have now passed, no one has ventured either to add or to remove, or to alter a syllable; and it is instinct with every Jew... to regard as the Decrees of God... and to even cheerfully die for them."

-Flavius Josephus
Greek manuscripts
Codex Alexandria
Codex Vaticanus
Codex Sinaiticus

They knew what was being written was scripture -- God's words. ( 2 Peter 3: 15 - 16 )
1 Timothy 5: 17 - 18
Luke 10: 17

All New Testament books were written by Apostles, or those closely associated with The Apostles.

Historical, geographical and scientific proofs.

Historically accurate, scientifically sound and internally consistent.
Revelation 22: 18 - 19

We use the term inerrant to refer just to the original manuscripts.

C. What will You do with it?

Hebrews 4: 12 - 13
James

John 6: 63 His Words are life
Psalm 1: 1 - 2 Blessed is the man who delights in the Word and meditates on it.
Psalm 119: 11 - 16

Do you continue in your anger? Do you continue in your doubt -- in your disobedience?

Daily persevere in His Word and...
Psalm 119: 28 - 32