Revision as of 18:11, 23 September 2014

The Bible

A book of books. Not all Bibles are the same. Speak of the canon.

Divine origin

The Bible claims to be of Divine origin.

Claim for the Old Testament:

2Ti 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Testimony of the apostles that Jesus fulfilled the OT prophecy:

Ac 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Gospels are a record of the testimony of the disciples, and how Jesus fulfilled prophecy.

Authorization for the apostles to lead the church:

Mt 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Mt 18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Endorsement of Paul's writings:

2Pe 3:15 And account [that] the longsuffering of our Lord [is] salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

2Pe 3:16 As also in all [his] epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as [they do] also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

If it is of Divine origin, but they are different, which one is true?

The Bible is unique in many ways. Josh McDowell's "Evidence that demands a verdict" (1) examines claims that the Bible is unique in one of it's sections. It's been many years since I have reviewed it. But claims of uniqueness are unsatisfactory when used subtly to imply divine origin.

There is a single characteristic which sets apart divinely inspired Old Testament scripture; they are speak of the Messiah in the genre of riddle.

חידה 'chiydah' riddle

(h. understand ח creation י from the word ד heard ה)

Old Testament

Tanakh (Hebrew: תנ"ך) is an anagram for the threefold division of the Hebrew Scriptures:

Lu 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Writings which prophesy of Jesus the Messiah are scripture. It is like "Where's Waldo". Writings which do not have this hidden aspect, are not scripture. You do not need to trust others to determine this, but are capable of learning it for yourself and recognizing his word.

Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Torah תרה ("Teaching")

Generally refers to the first five books of the Bible, also called the Pentateuch

Genesis, Bereshith (בראשית)

Exodus, Shemot (שמות)

Leviticus, Vayikra (ויקרא)

Numbers, Bamidbar (במדבר)

Deuteronomy, Devarim (דברים)

However, Torah also refers to everything that God has revealed. We might say "Every word which proceeded from the mouth of God" or even more, everything that God has said about himself in every way he said it. Jesus is the living Torah.

Nevi'im נביאים ("Prophets")

Ketuvim כתבים ("Writings")

New Testament

Gospels

Writings which testify what Jesus said and did to fulfill prophecy.

Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Letters

Writings which explain how we should then live, since Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus authorized the apostles to set practice in the church.

Mt 18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

And Peter compared Paul's writings to scripture.

2Pe 3:15 And account [that] the longsuffering of our Lord [is] salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

2Pe 3:16 As also in all [his] epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as [they do] also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Notes

(1) Unsolicited endorsement. I receive nothing for having a link here. --> From the start 02