The Nature and Purpose of the Bible

OVERVIEW of the Bible Bible is a collection of writings that Christians consider uniquely inspired and authoritative. One unified book composed of 66 literary works. 2 Tim 3:16 “All Scripture is God-breathed.” Testament means “Covenant” in Latin. OT and NT represent at a basic level, two covenants between God and His people. Exodus Mosaic Covenant and New Covenant promised in Jeremiah 31:31 (new heart), fulfilled in Christ’s death and resurrection.

The PURPOSE of the Bible To reveal Jesus Christ in order to make a person wise for salvation through faith in Christ (2 Tim 3:15). Not a set of rules and laws to their own end. John 5:39 “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me.”

BASIC STORYLINE of the Bible See Vaughn Roberts’ Overview of the Bible

Functions of the Bible Conviction of sin Correction and Instruction Spiritual Fruitfulness Perseverance Joy and Delight Ultimate Authority in Doctrine and Deed Conviction of sin Correction and Instruction Spiritual Fruitfulness Perseverance Joy and Delight Ultimate Authority in Doctrine and Deed

C-H-R-O-N-O-L-O-G-Y of the Bible’s Composition

Timeline of Biblical Events and Books Adam and Eve Noah The calling of Abraham The exodus The monarchy begins King David King Solomon The divided kingdom The Assyrian exile The Babylonian exile The Persian period Adam and Eve Noah The calling of Abraham The exodus The monarchy begins King David King Solomon The divided kingdom The Assyrian exile The Babylonian exile The Persian period (LTA) Long Time Ago! (LTA) 2000 B.C B.C. (Moses authors 1rst books) 1050 B.C. (God chooses Saul) B.C B.C. 931 B.C (Israel/Judah divide) 722 B.C. (Samaria destroyed) 586 B.C. (Jerusalem destroyed) 537 B.C. (return of Jews under Cyrus)

Timeline of Biblical Events and Books Second Temple finished Nehemiah/Ezra Malachi (last OT book) Intertestamental period Jesus’ birth Jesus’ ministry Jesus’ crucifixion First NT book(s) written Revelation written Second Temple finished Nehemiah/Ezra Malachi (last OT book) Intertestamental period Jesus’ birth Jesus’ ministry Jesus’ crucifixion First NT book(s) written Revelation written 515 B.C. Mid-400s B.C. 430 B.C. 430 B.C.-A.D B.C. A.D A.D. 30 A.D. 45 A.D. 90 (last book of NT)

The Organization of the Bible

The Basic Division— The Testaments

THE OLD TESTAMENT 1. LAW 2. HISTORICAL BOOKS 3. WISDOM BOOKS 4. PROPHETICAL BOOKS

LAW Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy

HISTORICAL BOOKS Joshua Judges Ruth 1-2 Samuel 1-2 Kings Joshua Judges Ruth 1-2 Samuel 1-2 Kings 1-2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther

WISDOM Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Solomon (Song of Songs)

PROPHETICAL BOOKS Major Prophets Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Major Prophets Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Minor Prophets Hosea-Malachi (The Twelve)

NUMBER AND ORDER OF NEW TESTAMENT BOOKS

GOSPELS AND ACTS Mathew Mark Luke John Acts

PAULINE LETTERS Romans 1-2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1-2 Thessalonians 1-2 Timothy Titus Philemon

GENERAL LETTERS AND REVELATION Hebrews James 1-2 Peter 1-3 John Jude Revelation

CHAPTER DIVISIONS Early Church (and Jesus!) often just referenced a book in general, or a specific event, but had no means for further specification. Jesus in Mark 12:26 speaks of Moses as “the passage about the bush, when God spoke to him.” Current chapter divisions added in early 1200s by Archbishop of Canterbury Stephen Langton. Unwise to make too big a deal about meaning based on chapter arrangements or mathematical wizardry (Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code)

Verse Divisions Added in 1551 by Robert “Stephanus” Estienne, a printer from Paris. First Bible to contain verse divisions was the Geneva Bible of Verse divisions are questioned today, but it is unthinkable to rework the system after so many years. Avoid creative biblical mathematics!

The Authority and Accuracy of the Bible

SCRIPTURE’S CLAIMS ABOUT ITSELF NUMBERS 23:19 PSALM 12:6 2 TIMOTHY 3:16 2 PETER 1:21 JOHN 10:35 HEBREWS 1:1-2 NUMBERS 23:19 PSALM 12:6 2 TIMOTHY 3:16 2 PETER 1:21 JOHN 10:35 HEBREWS 1:1-2

THE HISTORIC VIEW OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

QUALIFICATIONS OF INERRANCY 1. APPLIES ONLY TO AUTOGRAPHS 2. RESPECTS AUTHORIAL INTENT AND LITERARY CONVENTIONS (NOTE: ORDER OF EVENTS IN THE GOSPELS) 3. ALLOWS FOR PARTIAL REPORTING, PARAPHRASING, AND SUMMARIZING 1. APPLIES ONLY TO AUTOGRAPHS 2. RESPECTS AUTHORIAL INTENT AND LITERARY CONVENTIONS (NOTE: ORDER OF EVENTS IN THE GOSPELS) 3. ALLOWS FOR PARTIAL REPORTING, PARAPHRASING, AND SUMMARIZING

QUALIFICATIONS OF INERRANCY… 4. ALLOWS FOR PHENOMENOLOGICAL LANGUAGE 5. ALLOWS FOR THE REPORTING OF SPEECH WITHOUT THE ENDORESEMENT OF THE TRUTHFULNESS OF THAT SPEECH 6. DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE BIBLE GIVES DEFINITIVE OR EXHAUSTIVE INFO ON EVERY TOPIC 7. NOT INVALIDATED BY COLLOQUIAL OR NONSTANDARD GRAMMAR/SPELLING. 4. ALLOWS FOR PHENOMENOLOGICAL LANGUAGE 5. ALLOWS FOR THE REPORTING OF SPEECH WITHOUT THE ENDORESEMENT OF THE TRUTHFULNESS OF THAT SPEECH 6. DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE BIBLE GIVES DEFINITIVE OR EXHAUSTIVE INFO ON EVERY TOPIC 7. NOT INVALIDATED BY COLLOQUIAL OR NONSTANDARD GRAMMAR/SPELLING.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DEALING WITH DIFFICULT TEXTS BE SURE YOU ARE INTERACTING WITH REAL TEXTS APPROACH THE TEXT IN TRUST, NOT AS A SKEPTIC PRAY KEEP IN MIND THE “QUALIFICATIONS OF INERRANCY” SEEK COUNSEL BE WILLING TO SET A TEXT ASIDE FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION RATHER THAN FORCE HARMONIZATION BE SURE YOU ARE INTERACTING WITH REAL TEXTS APPROACH THE TEXT IN TRUST, NOT AS A SKEPTIC PRAY KEEP IN MIND THE “QUALIFICATIONS OF INERRANCY” SEEK COUNSEL BE WILLING TO SET A TEXT ASIDE FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION RATHER THAN FORCE HARMONIZATION

Modern Translations of the Bible

APPROACHES TO TRANSLATION

DYNAMIC EQUIVALENCE VS. FORMAL EQUIVALENCE

PARAPHRASES