The Bible - Its Origin
 

English	Origin	Theme	Main Character	Application
Latviski	Pirmavots	Tēmats	Pamata Persons	Izlietošan

Welcome to a unique study of the most amazing book ever printed. The Bible continues to be
the most enduring and lasting book in the world and every well-educated individual ought to
have some knowledge of its content. In these four lessons you will learn about the Bible's
origin, its theme, its main character and its practical instructions for life.

 The word "Bible" simply means "book." It is one supreme and incomparable book. It surpasses other books in authority, antiquity, literary style, and popularity. This study about the origin of the Bible will help us understand why the Bible is so extraordinary. It will help us see why no human mind has ever fully comprehended the message of the Bible or fully measured its value.

A. THE AGE OF THE BIBLE

It is older than any other book. The earliest written portions of Scripture date back more than 3,300 years. However, its message has been fresh and relevant to men in every age and generation. Its pages are still producing new gems of truth, even to those who study them the most.

B. THE DEMAND FOR THE BIBLE

It is by far the most widely circulated book in the world. Since 1804 more than 800 million Bibles and Scripture portions have been issued. These figures come from the British and Foreign Bible Societies. Every year more than 22 million copies of the complete Bible and New Testament are circulated around the globe. It has been translated more than any other book. Each year there is an increase in the number of translations. The following figures reflect this steady growth:

In 1500 A.D. it had been printed in 14 languages
In 1600 - about 40 languages
In 1800 - about 72 languages
In 1900 - about 567 languages
In 1937 - about 1,000 languages
In 1977 - 1,603 languages

C. THE UNIQUENESS OF THE BIBLE

1. It has set a standard for law and morality. The Ten Commandments continue to be the basis for civil law throughout the world.

2. It has a power to transform the lives of men.

3. It speaks with authority: "Thus saith the Lord."

4. It remains indestructible and living despite the many violent at tacks which have been waged against it.

We will now proceed to study the two areas which intertwine to make the  Bible such an amazing book. Unless we understand both of these areas,  namely, Inspiration and Revelation, we will never grasp the truth about the origin of the Bible.

A. INSPIRATION - Key Verse: II Timothy 3:16.

1. The word "inspiration" means "God-breathed." All Scripture is God-breathed. On the original parchments every sentence, every word, every line was placed there in complete agreement with the will of God. The veritable author of the Bible is God.

2. Inspiration is then the process by which human authors are used by God to write accurately that which is revealed and recalled.

3. God used human authors to write down the words He wanted. He watched over them as they wrote so no errors would be recorded. According to II Peter 1:19-21 the men who penned the Scriptures were chosen by God from different cultures, classes, ages, and professions. It is interesting to note how varied were the professions of men. Among them were shepherds, farmers, tent-makers, physicians, fishermen, priests, philosophers and kings. Despite these differences in occupation and the span of years it took to write it, the Bible is an extremely cohesive and unified book.  Consider some of the individual men and notice how well- suited their lives and personalities were for their writings:

David was a shepherd boy, who wrote most of the Psalms. : Perhaps the most beloved Psalm David wrote was Psalm 23, the Shepherd Psalm.

Moses was a man raised in courts of the Egyptian leaders He later became the leader of his own nation, Israel.

Solomon was a wise and worldly King of Israel. He wrote the  book of wisdom, Proverbs.

Daniel was a prophet, who was prepared in the courts of a heathen king. He wrote on international history and prophecy.

Paul was a brilliant man, who was trained in law. He wrote concerning the legal aspects of justification in the book of Romans.

4. The Scriptures were written by forty different men during a 1500 year period, yet there is not one contradiction in their writing. Discrepancies alleged by critics of the Bible have proven to be misinterpretations caused by taking statements out of context. How did these men know what to write? Where did they get the material? The answer to these questions is found by studying the meaning of "Revelation."

B. REVELATION

1. Revelation is the activity of God in communicating truth to the mind of the Bible writer.

2. The key verse is II Peter 1:20. A clearer translation reads: "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture comes forth from one's own ideas." God revealed His ideas to each writer.

3. God used various methods and instruments to reveal the Scriptures to His chosen authors:

Direct Voice. God visibly wrote certain truths Himself (Exodus 31:18).

Dreams. God used men's dreams as a channel through which He revealed prophetic truths (Daniel 2:1-49).

Men. The personal experiences and spiritual lives of individuals were used by God (Psalm 51).

Natural World. The universe which God created declared Him (Psalm 19:1-6; Romans 1:19-23).

Historic Events. God used the events of men to reveal His will. The Old Testament Books: Genesis through Esther.

C. SUMMARY OF TERMS

Revelation is God's activity in giving truth to the human mind. Inspiration is God's activity in producing a record of His revealed and recalled truth.

A.     UNITY OF SCRIPTURE

The Bible is one book even though there are sixty-six books. The first book was written approximately 1425 B.C. and the last around 95 A.D. This in itself would be a tremendous obstacle to the unity of any book. Yet the Bible is an orderly and harmonious account of the whole history of God's dealings with men.

B. AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE

If there is a God and He has spoken, then what He says is authoritative. God is the source of all authority and that authority is expressed in revelation. The whole tone of Scripture is that of final authority (Isaiah 8:20). That authority is indestructible (Matthew 24:35).

C.  FULFILLED PROPHECY

Only God knows and can perfectly predict the future. There are numerous instances in Scripture where God predicts the future precisely.

1.      Isaiah prophesied the virgin birth of Jesus (Isaiah 7:14). This prophecy was fulfilled 700 years later (Matthew 1:18, 22, 23).

2.      Micah predicted the exact birthplace of the Messiah (Micah 5:2). This prophecy was fulfilled 500 years later (Luke 2:4, 6, 7).

3.      David predicted Christ's crucifixion in detail hundreds of years before this method of death was ever used (Psalm 22).

4.      Isaiah foretold Christ's suffering and atonement 700 years before Christ's death (Isaiah 53:4-6).

D. THE TESTIMONY OF CHRIST CONCERNING THE SCRIPTURES

This is the crowning proof of the inspiration of the Bible. Christ said, "To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth" (John 18:37).

1. He believed the Law and the prophets (Matthew 5:17, 18).

2. He believed in Solomon (Matthew 6:29).

3. He believed in Moses (Matthew 8:4).

4. He believed in Abraham (Matthew 8:11).

5. He believed the story of Sodom and Gomorrah (Matthew 10:15).

6. He quoted the Old Testament Scriptures (Matthew 21:13, 16,42;  22:28-33; 36-40).