The Bible - one book
The Bible - one book
When you open the Bible and look at the Table of Contents, the Bible looks like a collection of books. There are two main divisions: the Old Testament, with 39 books (46 if you are looking at a Catholic Bible), and the New Testament, with 27 books. The books of the Old Testament were written about some special people that God chose to use, to tell a story. The people didn't know it, but they were like actors. They thought they were living their lives just like we do, but God worked behind the scenes, so that everything he needed to tell his story, happened. [1]
Then God chose men to record the 'play'. [2] He gave them a very special language. It is called Hebrew. Hebrew is unlike any other language. Hebrew words get their meaning from the meaning of the letters. [3] [4] And the letters get their meaning from the New Testament which was written about 4000 years after the first Hebrew word was written. [5]
Let that sink in. The letters get their meaning from something that wouldn't happen for 4000 years. This is proof that there is an invisible God, who no man has seen [6] , and that the Bible is His book!
As men recorded the 'play', the history of people just living their lives, they actually wrote about Jesus and the cross. Every word they wrote participates in telling the story of Jesus. [7] His story is hidden in childish riddles and word-play. The history is also a mystery. [8]
The authors knew nothing about Jesus. [9] God quietly guided what they saw and heard in such a way, they they could only write what they wrote. He didn't force their hands. They freely wrote what they wrote. Because God was so involved in their lives, their writings flowed from their being. [10]
God wrote his book this way as an analogy of how he works in the world. People live the way they choose to live, but God is invisibly and silently working behind the scenes to tell His story.
The Bible is one book, authored by God, and hidden in the writings of men.
References
- ↑ De 28:37 And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb [parable], and a byword, among all nations whither the LORD shall lead thee.
- ↑ 2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.
- ↑ 1Jo 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
- ↑ 1Jo 5:8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
- ↑ Ge 1:1
- ↑ Joh 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [him].
- ↑ Lu 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
- ↑ Ro 16:25 ¶ Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
- ↑ Mt 13:17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous [men] have desired to see [those things] which ye see, and have not seen [them]; and to hear [those things] which ye hear, and have not heard [them].
- ↑ 2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.
