The B-I-B-L-E
Chapter 1: How Do I Know The B-I-B-L-E is God’s Word?
Chapter 2: Does The B-I-B-L-E Talk to Me?
Chapter 3: Is My B-I-B-L-E Reliable?
Chapter 4: How Do I Use My B-I-B-L-E?
“The B-I-B-L-E, it is God’s Word to me.
I will obey God’s Holy Word, the B-I-B-L-E!”
That’s what I teach the children in our Preschool/Kindergarten chapels! A simple, child-like trust in the Bible is essential. Jesus himself said, “Anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it (Mark 10.15)." He meant that we should have that child-like faith in God’s Word, the Bible.
A little child believes the Bible is God’s Word. So do we! Unlike little children, we can dig deeper into why we believe the Bible is God’s Word.
Chapter 1: How Do I Know The B-I-B-L-E is God’s Word?
How did it all start?
The best place to find out about how the Bible came to be is to look at the experience of the first prophet, Moses. God doesn’t change—his method of revealing his will for us does not change. Like any well-run institution, there should be a set of governing principles set out quite early in the game. Let’s go to the beginning of prophecy, a familiar story, Exodus 3-4. Have we overlooked something?
Read Exodus 3.1-11
Why does God refer to himself as “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob?”
What is Moses’ reaction to God?
Why has God appeared to Moses?
What is Moses’ objection?
Read Exodus 3.12-22
What is Moses’ objection now?
Why is God so “chatty” with Moses?
How can Moses know what the future will hold?
Read Exodus 4.1-9
What is Moses’ objection now?
How will Moses be able to prove that he really has been sent by God?
Read Exodus 4.10-12
What is Moses’ objection now?
What does the Lord promise to do for Moses?
Read Exodus 4.13-17
What is Moses’ real hang-up?
Explain Moses’ relationship to Aaron in light of God’s relationship with Moses.
What does Exodus 3.1-4.17 say about the Bible?
Apply these passages to Moses’ experience in light of Exodus 3-4.
Prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit 2 Peter 1.21
This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 1 Corinthians 2.13
Looking at Moses’ “installation” as God’s prophet, what could you come up with as the three marks of a prophet?
1. _____________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________
How Do I Know Whether He is a Prophet?
God didn’t leave it up to our insight to come up with the marks of a prophet. He clearly gives them to us through Moses. In Deuteronomy Moses goes through all the laws God has already given the Children of Israel with a view to the future when they will live in the Promised Land and Moses will be gone.
At Mount Sinai, God spoke to Moses in the hearing of the Children of Israel, “so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you (Exodus 19.9).” But the Children of Israel could not stand the sound. They begged Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die (20.19).”
Moses predicted that the Lord would continue to use prophets to speak to the people. But the certification that Moses had was not going to be repeated. Sinai was a one-shot event. How could people know if a prophet had really risen among them? God gave them the marks of a prophet.
Read Deuteronomy 18.17-22
17 The LORD said to me: "What they say is good. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. 19 If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account. 20 But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded him to say, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, must be put to death."
21 You may say to yourselves, "How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?" 22 If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.
How are coming prophets going to be exactly like Moses?
What is one sign that the people will know the prophet is from God?
How would the people know that a prophet is not from God?
This was so important, Moses had already covered the same ground earlier, in Deuteronomy 13.1-5
1If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, 2and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, "Let us follow other gods" (gods you have not known) "and let us worship them," 3you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. 4It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him. 5That prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he preached rebellion against the LORD your God; he has tried to turn you from the way the LORD your God commanded you to follow. You must purge the evil from among you.
What added mark of a prophet is mention in these words of Moses?
So, let’s review and get the three marks of a prophet:
1. _____________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________
Of the three marks of a prophet, what one is the essential one?
Everything he says must agree with previous Scripture given by God.
It Worked!
Consider the following incidents to show these marks served God’s people well.
17
Then Micaiah answered, "I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd, and the LORD said, 'These people have no master. Let each one go home in peace.'"26
The king of Israel then ordered, "Take Micaiah and send him back to Amon the ruler of the city 27and say, 'This is what the king says: Put this fellow in prison until I return safely.'"28
Micaiah declared, "If you ever return safely, the LORD has not spoken through me." He added, "Mark my words, all you people!"34
But someone drew his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between the sections of his armor. The king told his chariot driver, "Wheel around and get me out of the fighting. I've been wounded." 35All day long the battle raged, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans. The blood from his wound ran onto the floor of the chariot, and that evening he died. 1 Kings 22:17, 26-28, 34-35What do you suppose happened to Micaiah and why?
Micaiah was released from prison by dead King Ahab's servants. He had accurately predicted the future and the Lord had brought it about. Only the Lord could reveal the future and so only through Micaiah had the Lord spoken. Even these unbelieving government officials would have shown (even if it was forced) a respect for God's Word that would have released Micaiah.
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For additional reference, see Isaiah 37.33-37
What About the Apostles?
The apostles held a very specific job in God’s plan of salvation. Look at these passages to find out what their job was.
When the apostles were going to fill Judas Iscariot’s place, Peter puts forth the qualifications of an apostle:
“It is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection Acts 1.21-22.
You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1.8
What was the job description of an apostle and what were the requirements?
An apostle was to be an eyewitness to the life, work, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. He would tell other people about Jesus, either in his spoken or written words. Therefore he had to be with Jesus from his baptism to the day he was taken up into heaven.
Does this also include writing, like the prophets did?
My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message. John 17.20
Yes! Their message would be transitory if it were only limited to their spoken word. Elsewhere Jesus mentions that this message of the kingdom would reach the whole world and only then the end would come. A written message is envisioned.
How were the apostles different from the prophets?
In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son. Hebrews 1.1-2
The apostles spoke about what Jesus had done and said, whereas the prophets predicted what Jesus would do and would say.
How were the apostles exactly like the prophets?
The disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it. Mark 16.20
The spoke (and wrote) the Word of God and even performed miracles. Of course, their witness agreed with earlier revelations by God.
Did They Know They Were Writing the Bible?
Consider these passages before you answer.
Therefore this is what the LORD says concerning the king of Assyria: Isaiah 37.33
“This is what the Lord says” appears in the Old Testament over 400 times!
After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea. Colossians 4.16
The word of the Lord came to me. Ezekiel 34.1
Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father. Galatians 1.1
“You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation. John 11.50-51
Did they?
The believers did. The unbelieving Caiaphas did not.
Did They Know?
Did They Know They Were Hearing the Writers of the Bible?
Consider these passages before you answer.
When you received the Word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually, the word of God. 1 Thessalonians 2.13
Consider these fallen Old Testament people in exile from Jerusalem who aren’t even believers!
3
He said: "Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation, 4obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says.' 5And whether they listen or fail to listen-for they are a rebellious house-they will know that a prophet has been among them. Ezekiel 2.3-5And then there’s wicked King Jehoikim.
22
It was the ninth month and the king was sitting in the winter apartment, with a fire burning in the firepot in front of him. 23Whenever Jehudi had read three or four columns of the scroll, the king cut them off with a scribe's knife and threw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll was burned in the fire. 24The king and all his attendants who heard all these words showed no fear, nor did they tear their clothes. 25Even though Elnathan, Delaiah and Gemariah urged the king not to burn the scroll, he would not listen to them. 26Instead, the king commanded Jerahmeel, a son of the king, Seraiah son of Azriel and Shelemiah son of Abdeel to arrest Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet. Jeremiah 36:22-26Did they?
Absolutely!
The Canon
Canon is a Greek loan word which means “rule.” A papyrus reed was used as a means of measurement and then the word became used for something “that measured up,” an accepted list. The accepted list of books of the Bible is called the canon.
Here’s how historians say the canon formed.
The Old Testament
Following the fall of Jerusalem, rabbis and scribes gathered in the town of Jamnia under the leadership of Rabbi Akiba. The Old Testament canon was set with the Torah (the first five books of Moses), the Prophets (Isaiah through Malachi) and the Writings (Joshua-Song of songs). The Apocrypha, included in the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament, was excluded. The Hebrew Masoretic text follows this canon and excludes the Apocrypha.
The New Testament
Under attack by heretics who not only wanted to deny the Old Testament, but much of the New Testament, the early Christian church wrestled with the issue of what was God’s Word and what wasn’t. It easily followed the leading of Jamnia with the Old Testament. In church councils in Rome, Hippo and Carthage from 382-419 AD it fixed the New Testament canon in its present form.
Objections
Modern religious scholars insinuate many books (like the Gospel of Thomas) were left out of the Bible because, “history is written by the victors.” Differing doctrinal viewpoints struggled for supremacy in the New Testament Church—through the political power of the councils, the canon came about.
Luther objected to James. He felt it went contrary to the teachings of the Bible on salvation by faith alone. He wrote, “I will not have him in my Bible to be numbered among the true chief books.” Luther’s Works.35.397 He later softened his view to “I cannot include him among the chief books.” He did, however, include James seamlessly into his German translation of the Bible among the rest of the New Testament writings. He also included the Apocrypha, though he set them off from the rest of the Old Testament.
Can you see a danger in this way of approaching what should be and what shouldn’t be “in” the Bible?
Yes! We become the judges over God's Word. We put our reason ahead of the clear words of God.
Can you see a better way of what should be and what should not be in the Bible?
Judge those books that claim for themselves canonicity, that claim they are the Word of God. Follow God's words carefully. Make sure there are no contradictions in the writings. For example, the whole Old Testament canon can be accepted on the basis of Jesus' words to the Pharisees that all the blood from Abel to Zechariah who was slain between the pillars near the altar, will be required of this generation. He was referring to murders noted in Genesis and 2 Chronicles, the first and last books of the Jewish Old Testament. Hence, everything that was in Jesus' Bible, should also be in ours, including at least one book, Esther, which we might have trouble finding room for if we were only relying on our own reason to decide what's in and what's not.
You Be the Judge and Put the Writings to the Test!
Should the following be in the Bible? (write Y for "yes" or N for "no" for your response)
Y Books written by an apostle
Y Books written by Moses
Y Books written by an accepted prophet
Y “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.”
N Simon Peter said to them: Let Mary go away from us, for women are not worthy of life. Jesus said: Lo, I shall lead her, so that I may make her a male, that she too may become a living spirit, resembling you males.
Verbal Inspiration
“Are you conservative or liberal?” What it boils down to is “What is the Bible?” Every denomination is split on this issue. One side answers, “The Bible is the Word of God.” The other side, loathe to say, “We don’t believe that stuff, anymore,” says, “The Bible contains the Word of God.”
What does the Bible have to say for itself?
Look at these passages and check the appropriate column.
Is Contains
a When you received the Word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually, the word of God. 1 Thessalonians 2.13
a Your word is truth. John 17.7
a All Scripture is God-breathed, and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3.17
a These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. Revelation 2.8
How can a church be “liberal” and still claim to believe the Bible?
They are either consciously lying or have so fooled themselves that they actually believe the Bible would teach what they believe. In our society, "liberal" is defined basically as those churches which do not believe everything the Bible says. Since Americans still sort of want their churches to believe the Bible, they have to come up with some way to defend the Bible, yet still make room for their false beliefs which the Bible condemns. So they will come up with the "contains" idea. The Bible contains God's word, they will say. It will also contain error and mistakes--obviously those teachings they disagree with!
Next chapter: Does the B-I-B-L-E Talk to Me?