The Bible
One unified story that leads to Jesus!
Did God write the Bible?
There is no other book that compares with the Book of Books. Known around the world as the Bible, it was written during a span of 1,600 years by over forty different human authors. The word “Bible” comes from the Greek word biblos. Strong’s Concordance defines biblos as a written book, roll, or volume that sometimes is sacred in nature.
The Bible is not a compilation of random thoughts and ideas. It is one unified story that leads its hearers to Jesus. If the claims the Bible makes about itself are correct, then it is indeed sacred!
Internal Evidence
The Scripture verses listed below make some pretty incredible claims. They provide a line of evidence that supports the Bible’s own claim to be the Word of God. This line of proof is known as internal evidence.
All of the Bible’s authors understood their work to have been superintended by God. The prophecies concerning the person known throughout the world as Jesus were penned by the writers of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). In Matthew 5:17-18, Yeshua (Jesus) declared that the Word of God (Old Testament) had to be fulfilled in Him. The very character of God demanded it. The writer of Hebrews reported that God spoke directly to the prophets of the Old Testament and also to His own Son in the New Testament.
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The Bible makes incredible claims about itself! One must conclude that either the Bible is the Word of God, or that it is chock full of lies. The Bible does not give its readers any middle ground to stand on. Take out a piece of paper and write down the following verses. Read them all and record what it has to say about the Bible.
Deuteronomy 6:6-9, Joshua 1:8, 2 Samuel 22:31, Psalm 1:2, Psalm 12:6, Psalm 119:9, Proverbs 30:5-6, Isaiah 55:10-11, Jeremiah 15:16, Daniel 10:21, Mark 13:31, Luke 16:17, John 2:22, Acts 17:11, Romans 10:17, 2 Timothy 2:15, 1 Peter 1:23-25, Revelation 1:2, Revelation 22:18
From Moses to John, the first writer to the last, every author wrote exactly what Good intended. They words are the very words of God. If you’ll take the time to look up these passages it will become very clear what the Bible itself claims to be!
External Evidence
The Bible’s claim that it is the Word of God is supported by abundant proofs along a second line known as external evidence. This line of evidence has frequently convinced the harshest of the Bible’s critics that it is indeed the Word of God.
Continuity: The sixty-six books of both the Old and New Testaments are not just an anthology of the collected works of a wide variety of different authors. From Genesis to Revelation there is a continuously unrolled progression of thought that can be seen by all who take the time to read it carefully. The Bible’s authors came from many walks of life. They were everyday people that included priests, kings, doctors, fishermen, farmers, and poets.
Progression: The sequence of events contained in the twenty-two historical books of the Bible reveal a divine plan that has always been in the mind of God. In addition to His written Word, God is also the author of the events of history. It is His Story!
Doctrine: The doctrines of the Bible are built on the foundation of its historical narrative. The doctrinal themes include the nature of God, sin and salvation, programs for the entire world, plans for the Jewish people, and His purposes for the Church. Type is followed by anti-type. Prophecy is proven in its fulfillment.
Theme: The most important and continuous theme of the Bible is the anticipation, presentation, realization, and exaltation of Israel’s long awaited Messiah, the Savior of the whole world for those who believe. His name is Yeshua. Most of the world knows Him as Jesus. Like the Bible itself, everyone has an opinion about Jesus. All you have to do is ask someone what they think about Jesus to get a conversation started.
Character: The Bible is a supernatural book. The Bible alone comes straight from the mind of God. A simple cursory reading reveals that this is no ordinary book. It could not have been written by any single man or group of men.
Perfection: Not once does the Bible contradict itself. Supposed contradictions vanish with the additional information that the Bible itself presents. The “holy” books of every religion in the world have come from the imagination of men, fueled by the rebellion of Satan himself. They are filled with contradictions. The Bible is clearly different. It alone comes from the mind of God.
Get in the game!
Ask almost anyone anywhere, “Do you have any thoughts or opinions about the Bible? ” and you will likely get a response. Comments will be positive, negative, or ambivalent. Interestingly, almost everyone has an opinion they would like to share. So let them.
Now that you have read this article and looked up the verses above, ask some people what they think about the Bible. Come back to this page and share what you discover with your community.
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