1. What Think Ye Of The Bible? Is It Really “Inspired Of God”?

2. Bible is the “book of books” (no book like it in all the literary catalog of the world). This fact, in and of itself, ought to motivate Christians to study, meditate, and commit to memory its contents ( though, sadly, many do not ). Those who love it most understand that, in reality, “the good book” is not a book, per say, but a library consisting of 66 books. What Think Ye Of The Bible? Nature And Content Of The Bible

3. What Think Ye Of The Bible? The Bible Bookcase Old Testament 39 books 4 categories Law (5), Genesis - Deuteronomy History (12), Joshua - Esther Poetry (5), Job - Song Of Solomon Prophecy (17), Isaiah - Malachi 27 books 4 categories Gospels (4), Matthew - John History (1), Acts Epistles (21), Romans - Jude Prophecy (1), Revelation New Testament 2 Major Divisions

4. What Think Ye Of The Bible? The Bible Bookcase 2 Major Divisions As one studies through the Bible library, he/she will note that many common themes run throughout. One of the most significant being the theme of “Biblical inspiration”. I.e. that the content found is “inspired of God”

5. What do we mean by “inspired”? Webster, “ a divine influence or action on a person believed to qualify him or her to receive and communicate sacred revelation ” Peter, “... holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Pet 1:21) moved“moved”, Greek (fer’-o), “ to move by bearing … to be conveyed or borne ” (Thayer Greek-English Lexicon) What Think Ye Of The Bible? Inspiration Defined Kyle Butt “Inspiration, then, means that the actual human writers were “carried” or “moved” by the divine Author to communicate His message” (Behold! The Word Of God, Apologetics Press, Inc., ©2007)

6. Bible repeatedly claims inspiration for itself, “ more than 3,800 times in the OT, the claim is made that the Scriptures are the word (or words) of God ” (Wayne Jackson, Surveying The Evidence, Apologetics Press, Inc., ©2008). –“And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book..” (Exo 17:14) –“The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. ” (2 Sam 23:2) –“Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth” (Jer 1:9) –“the word of the LORD came unto me …” (37 times Ezek, 7 times in Jer, 2 times Zech) What Think Ye Of The Bible? Inspiration Asserted

7. Claims of inspiration are not limited to the OT. –“ 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God... 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth... ” (1 Cor 2:12-13) –“For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you... ” (1 Cor 11:23) –“For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord... ” (1 Thes 4:15) –“ 11... the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ” ( Gal 1:11-12 ) –“All scripture is given by inspiration of God... ” ( 2 Tim 3:16 ) What Think Ye Of The Bible? Inspiration Asserted the Bible claims to be inspired of God Testimony of scripture is clear - the Bible claims to be inspired of God!

8. Why is inspiration important? The whole of Christianity rests on Biblical inspiration ( Rom 10:17 ). If the Bible is not inspired, there can be no assurance of faith, salvation, Heaven, Hell, etc. However, it is one thing to assert inspiration, and another to prove it! So, can we prove inspiration? What Think Ye Of The Bible? Inspiration Asserted

9. 66 books (39 OT, 27 NT) 40 different authors / 1,600 years Diverse occupations / cultures –Moses, Prince of Egypt/Shepherd –Ezra, Scribe –David/Solomon, Kings –Jeremiah, Priest by Birth –Amos, Herdsman –Matthew, Publican (Tax Collector) –Peter/John, Fisherman –Luke, Physician –Paul, Tentmaker What Think Ye Of The Bible? #1 - Unity / Harmony Of The Bible

10. 66 books (39 OT, 27 NT) 40 different authors / 1,600 years What Think Ye Of The Bible? #1 - Unity / Harmony Of The Bible Different Places –Moses, in the wilderness –Paul, in prison –Luke, traveling on mission journey –John, exile on isle of Patmos Different Circumstances –David, times of war –Solomon, times of peace

11. 66 books (39 OT, 27 NT) 40 different authors / 1,600 years What Think Ye Of The Bible? #1 - Unity / Harmony Of The Bible Different Emotions –Heights of joy (e.g. many of the Psalms) –Depths of sorrow & despair (e.g. Lamentations) Different Continents –Asia, Africa, and Europe Different Languages –Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek

12. 66 books (39 OT, 27 NT) 40 different authors / 1,600 years What Think Ye Of The Bible? #1 - Unity / Harmony Of The Bible Complex Subject Matter –Origin of the universe –Origin, purpose, destination of man –Nature and character of God –Origin of sin and death –God’s scheme of redemption –What to expect after death (judgement, Heaven, and Hell)

13. What Think Ye Of The Bible? #1 - Unity / Harmony Of The Bible Despite all this, the Bible exhibits inexplicable harmony, unity, and continuity of thought and purpose (beginning to end). –Paradise lost in Genesis is Paradise regained in Revelation. –Gate to the tree of life closed in Genesis, and opened forevermore in Revelation.

14. What Think Ye Of The Bible? #1 - Unity / Harmony Of The Bible Compared to works of men... –10 men (same occupation, culture, generation, place, emotion, continent, circumstance, and language). –Charge them to write a 25 page thesis on just one controversial topic (healthcare reform, global warming, proper role of government, capital punishment, economy/recession, etc). –These topics not nearly as complex as those addressed by the Bible! –Would you get a 250 page document with perfect harmony, unity, and continuity of thought?

15. What Think Ye Of The Bible? #1 - Unity / Harmony Of The Bible But the Bible does just that - 66 books, 1,600 years, and 40 men from different occupations, generations, places, emotions, circumstances, continents, and languages - one harmonious book. –Happenstance? Serendipitous? –Only one explanation sufficient to explain how such is accomplished... Those who wrote the Bible got their instruction from the same source! (40 different men, but really, just one author - GOD)

16. What Think Ye Of The Bible? #2 - Scientific Foreknowledge Of The Bible Bible does not present itself as a science or medical text book. If inspired of God, one would expect any information revealed in these fields of study to be in harmony with known (and provable) scientific and medical fact. Bible does just that; reveals scientific and medical truths thousands of years before we were able to confirm their validity!

17. What Think Ye Of The Bible? #2 - Scientific Foreknowledge Of The Bible “And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations...” (Gen 17:12) Why day 8? Why not day 7? Or Day 10? Today, we know that blood clotting is dependent upon 3 factors (platelets, Vitamin K, and Prothrombin, a blood clotting protein found in blood plasma). We now know the highest concentration of the factors necessary for coagulation are present on day #8 ( Prothrombin at 110% of normal on day 8 ). Medicine - Circumcision

18. What Think Ye Of The Bible? #2 - Scientific Foreknowledge Of The Bible “For the life of the flesh is in the blood...” (Lev 17:11) Without blood, we would have no way of circulating the necessary oxygen & proteins required in order to survive & reproduce. Hemoglobin in red cells carry oxygen to the brain which, in turn, uses the oxygen to control the rest of the body. A brain w/o oxygen is as useful as a car w/o gas! Blood makes all of the bodily functions possible. Have we always been so knowledgeable about its importance? Medicine - Blood

19. What Think Ye Of The Bible? #2 - Scientific Foreknowledge Of The Bible Until the 19th century, men believed harmful “vapors” entered blood and caused sickness. Leeches were used in cases of fever and other illnesses in an attempt to draw out the blood. “Blood Letting” was also used (veins/arteries just above elbow opened to expunge “contaminated blood” from the body). Led to the death of George Washington (i.e., “a vein was opened, but no relief afforded”, The Death of George Washington, 2001 ). How did Moses, an ancient shepherd, know this nearly 3,500 years before modern medicine was able to grasp this truth? Medicine - Blood (cont)

20. What Think Ye Of The Bible? #2 - Scientific Foreknowledge Of The Bible Num 19 gives instruction for making waters of purification and precautions for those touching dead bodies. Formula called for ashes of a red heifer, hyssop, cedar wood, and scarlet. After thousands of years of study, we now understand that what we are dealing with here is a recipe for antibacterial soap. Lye soap involves ashes from fat of an animal. Hyssop has antifungal properties. Oil from cedar wood contains beneficial properties. Adding scarlet (wool fiber) would render, “the ancient equivalent of LAVA soap” (None Of These Diseases, McMillen & Stern, 2000, page 25) Medicine - Germs

21. What Think Ye Of The Bible? #2 - Scientific Foreknowledge Of The Bible Everyone knows about transmission of disease and infection via germs, right? Ignaz Semmelweis was director of a hospital ward in Vienna General Hospital, 1847. 1 of 6 women who into his ward died of labor fever … Why? Medical students would perform autopsies, wash hands in bloody water, dry on shared common towel, then begin internal examinations on pregnant women … To Europeans in middle 19th century, germs were a foreign concept - Moses was aware of them thousands of years earlier! Medicine - Germs (cont)

22. What Think Ye Of The Bible? #2 - Scientific Foreknowledge Of The Bible Deut 23:12-14 instructed the Israelites to bury their human waste. During the middle ages, human waste was thrown into back alleys, which allowed microorganisms to flourish. Microorganisms infected fleas, which traveled into peoples homes via rats. People were then bitten & infected by the fleas. We remember this as the “black plague” (more than 13 million people died). Yet, thousands of years before this, God had given instruction to prevent such a tragedy from occurring! Medicine - Sanitation

23. What Think Ye Of The Bible? #2 - Scientific Foreknowledge Of The Bible Oceanography Paths in the seas (Psa 8:8, proven in mid-1800’s) Water cycle (Eccl 1:7, 11:3, Amos 9:6) Springs / recesses (trenches) of the deep (Job 38:16) Perfect seaworthy dimensions for large cargo vessel (Gen 6:15) Examples From Other Fields Astronomy Rotundity of the Earth (Isa 40:22) Suspension of Earth on nothing (Job 27:6) Light travels in a path, or “way” (Job 38:19) The parting of light (Job 38:24) Sun has an orbit (Psa 19:4-6, verified 06-1999)

24. What Think Ye Of The Bible? #2 - Scientific Foreknowledge Of The Bible Physics Earth, like a garment, is wearing out (Heb 1:11) 2nd law of Thermodynamics (as time increases, entropy sets in) Creative activities “finished” ( never to occur again, Gen 2:1) 1st law of Thermodynamics (matter/energy cannot be created/or destroyed) Examples From Other Fields Biology Things reproduce after their kind (Gen 1:11,12,21,24) Four fleshes (1 Cor 15:39, men, beasts, birds, fish) Life given, not spontaneously generated (Acts 17:25) These are but a few of the many scientific / medical truths revealed!

25. What Think Ye Of The Bible? #3 - Predictive Prophecy “When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him” (Deut 18:22) Five principles that govern the validity of genuine prophecy… –It must be a specific, detailed declaration (no vague generalities) –Sufficient period of time elapse between prophecy and fulfillment –Language of the prophecy should be in clear, understandable terms –No historical overtones (not based on past or current societal conditions) –Must be fulfilled precisely and completely (every minute detail)

26. What Think Ye Of The Bible? #3 - Predictive Prophecy Bible is resplendent with such prophecies... –Isaiah 13, prophecy against city of Babylon foretelling its destruction of the city some 200 years before it occurred. –Ezekiel 26, prophecy against city of Tyre foretelling its destruction some 1,900 years before ultimate fulfillment. –Isaiah 19, prophecy depicting the fall of Egypt, revealing it would be destroyed more by civil war within, as opposed to outside forces. –Zephaniah 2, prophecy foretelling the destruction and utter desolation of the city of Nineveh. History records that, in every instance, without fail, events transpired exactly as prophesied.

27. What Think Ye Of The Bible? #3 - Predictive Prophecy (Messianic) Prophecy Fulfillment Born Of A VirginLuke 1:26-31 Born In The City Of BethlehemLuke 2:1-7 Micah 5:2 Isa 7:14 Would Be A Slaughter Of ChildrenMatt 2:16-18 Would Speak In ParablesMatt 13:34,35 Psa 78:2-4 Jer 31:15 Rejected By His Own PeopleJohn 1:11 Isa 53:3 Betrayed By A Close FriendLuke 22:47,48 Psa 41:9 Betrayed For 30 Pieces Of SilverMatt 26:14,15 Zech 11:12 Spat On And StruckMatt 26:67,68 Isa 50:6 Numbered With TransgressorsMark 15:27,28 Isa 53:12 Gamble For His ClothingMatt 27:35,36 Psa 22:17,18 No Bones BrokenJohn 19:32-36 Psa 34:20 Buried With The RichMatt 27:57-60 Isa 53:9 Would Be ResurrectedMark 16:6,7 Psa 16:10

28. As remarkable as these are, barely scratches the surface; Bible foretells of many other things: –Born of a woman (Gen 3:15, Gal 4:4) –To bruise Satan’s head (Gen 3:15, Heb 2:14) –Of the seed of Abraham (Gen 22:18, Luke 3:34) –Of the tribe of Judah (Gen 49:10, Heb 7:14) –Of the royal lineage of David (2 Sam 7:12, Luke 1:32) –Forerunner to announce his arrival (Isa 40:3, Matt 3:1-3) –Judah still possessed her own king (Gen 49:10, Matt 2:22) Time elapsed ranges from 500 to 1,200 years, depending on the prophecy) What Think Ye Of The Bible? #3 - Predictive Prophecy (Messianic)

29. Conservative scholars tell us there are over 300 messianic prophecies in the OT. What are the chances that any one individual could fulfill every prophecy? –Mathematicians P.W. Stoner and R.C. Newman took just 8 of the prophecies, and computed the probability of one man fulfilling them to be 10 17 (10 followed by 17 zeros), “Investigating Christian Evidences, Thompson & Harrub” Some charge that Christ “faked” the fulfillment of the prophecies; how could He fake such things as family lineage, city of birth, or the massacre of children? What Think Ye Of The Bible? #3 - Predictive Prophecy (Messianic)

30. What Think Ye Of The Bible? Preponderance of the evidence is overwhelming - the Bible is, as it claims to be, inspired of God. If you wish a more comprehensive study, I recommend...

31. What Think Ye Of The Bible? Many accusations have been, and continue to be, made - but not one legitimate contradiction has ever been proven! Last eve I passed beside a blacksmith’s door And heard the anvil ring with vesper chime; When looking in, I saw upon the floor Old hammers worn with beating years of time. “How many anvils have you had”, said I “To wear and batter all these hammers so”? “Just one”, said he; then said with twinkling eye, “The anvil wears the hammers out, you know”. And so, I thought, the anvil of God’s word For ages skeptics’ blows have beat upon; Yet, though the noise of falling blows was heard, The anvil is unharmed - the hammers gone! The Anvil Poem