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How We Got The Bible? 1 Claims and Criticisms Introduction:
The Bible is fundamental to what we believe as Christians. Therefore, the
question “How we got the Bible?” is fundamental to our faith. It is a good
question that some may be afraid to ask. But we need to be able and give an
answer to our young people, skeptics, non-believers, and others. I)
Basic Premise- the Bible is the Word of God A)
If the Bible is the word of God, we ought to obey it B)
If the Bible is not the word of God, we ought not to obey it. II)
How we got the Bible pertains to: A)
Where did the Bible come from? B)
When was it completed? C)
How was it formed? D)
What proof do we have that it is the word of God? E)
Has it been perverted, or changed from its original meaning? F)
Are there parts left out? G)
Are there errors in the Bible? III)
We can answer the above questions in one of two ways A)
I just believe it is – Buddhist, Muslims, Mormons, etc. will give the same
answer B)
Reason and logic, Acts 17.2-3 1.
Faith is not superstition, Acts 17.22-23 2.
Faith is based on the word of God. Romans
10.17
a. Requires study – reason
b. Explaining – logic and understanding C)
Internal and external evidences IV)
Where did the Bible come from? A)
Bible is a group of Books (biblia) 1.
Written by 40 different writers over 4000 years. 2.
“It is not possible to fix with exact precision the circumstances of the
Bible’s origin. We cannot go to a specific time and place and say that here
the Bible had its birth. As through hundreds of years ancient literary works
took shape in many forms so also from century to century the many books of the
Bible were coming into being separately and under varying conditions. The Bible
is a collection of books, which indeed in indicated from biblia,
i.e. the books” “How We Got the Bible,” Page 19. B)
The Bible is a written Book as opposed to simply oral sayings handed down from
one generation to another. 1.
This allows us to study it for ourselves. 2.
Safe guard it from changes. C)
Chart: Years of Recorded Bible History V)
The Bible claims to be the inspired word of God, 2 Timothy 3.16-17; 2 Peter
1.19-21 A)
All scriptures includes the Old Testament 1.
Claims of the prophets and writers of the Old Testament, Jeremiah
1.4-10
a. Old Testament expressions such as “the word of the Lord came” or
“the Lord spoke,” or “God said” occurs over 3,000 times in the
Old Testament.
b. Proofs of these men being inspired ranges from fulfilled prophecies,
to miracles,
to their acceptance by the Jews. 2.
Jesus gives credence to the prophets by quoting from Deuteronomy, mentioning
Jonah, B)
All scripture includes the New Testament 1.
Hebrews 1.2 God speaks to us today through His Son 2.
Jesus spoke by means of the Holy Spirit, John
14.26 3.
Jesus speaks to us today through the Apostles, 2
Peter 3.1-2 C)
The Bible claims to be the entirety of revelation, Jude 3; 2 Peter 1.3 1.
Critics must find faults or contradictions in the Bible to discredit it. 2.
Some by pass the Bible all together. VI)
Claims of critics and corresponding results A)
Claims 1.
Bible has been perverted by man
a. It was hand written by scribes and mistakes were made
b. There are differences in ancient manuscripts 2.
Part of the Bible has been left out, the so called lost Books of the Bible 3.
Bible is a Catholic document- without the Catholic Church we would not have the
Bible. B)
Corresponding results 1.
Some place more emphasis on books left out than on those in the Bible. 2.
Groups such as the Mormons create their own Bible.
a. Prophet Moroni in 1820 talked to Joseph Smith. He showed Smith the
revelation of God on golden plates.
b. After the plates were transcribed they disappeared. Resulting in a
Book which
Claims to be the “New Revelation of Jesus Christ.” 2.
Jehovah Witnesses have their New World Translation. Their scholars retranslated
the Bible deciding which passages were original. They also created new laws of
grammar to support their doctrine. 3.
Catholic Bible added in Books.
a. 1546 the Council of Trent declared the following books to be a part of
the Bible: Tobit, Judith, 1 & 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch
b. These are all Old Testament books. VII)
The Bible is a recorded Book. A)
The Old Testament, Luke 24.44 (Chart: Division of O. T. Books) 1.
The scriptures were read and studied by the Jews, Acts
8.32-33, 35 2.
Septuagint version or Greek was the text Jesus quoted from.
a. It was read in the synagogues on the Sabbath, Acts
17.2, 11
b. Different in order and number of books but not in content. It is
believed 70 Jewish scholars translated from the Hebrew to the Greek. The
twelve minor prophets are grouped together at make “Twelve.” 3.
New Testament written from about 45 to 96 AD (Chart: N.T. Library)
a. Written by inspired men to individual congregations, a group of
congregations, individuals, and groups of individuals.
b. The writings were respected by Christians in the 1st
century, 1 Thess.
5.27
c. Distributed to other Christians, Colossians
4.16
d. Gospel accounts were by eyewitnesses, Luke
1.1; Acts 1.1; John
20.30-31. Conclusion:
This serves as a stopping point in our study. I know we have not talked about
Jesus as the Son of God or sin/salvation, or many other things that we normally
talk about. However, we urge you to think about your relationship with God. The
Bible says we are created in His image. Man is a spiritual being, possesses a
soul. It is for that reason Jesus died on the cross; so your soul can be saved.
We hope tonight that you will render obedience to Jesus and have your sins
washed away by His blood as you are baptized into His body. |