Pre-servants – Oct 2, 2009

Bible – I’m Living It i

Bible Facts – Miscellaneous Facts The bible has 66 books (not counting the Apocrypha) 39 OT + 27 NT The Bible contains 1189 chapters. The Old Testament has 929 chapters and the New Testament has 260 chapters. The longest chapter in the Bible is Psalm 119, and the shortest is Psalm 117. The longest verse is Esther 8:9, and the shortest is John 11:35. The Bible was written:Psalm 119Psalm 117Esther 8:9John 11:35 over a 1500 year span (from 1400 B.C to A.D. 100) over 40 generations over 40 authors from many walks of life (i.e. - kings, peasants, poets, philosophers, fishermen, statesmen, scholars) in different places (i.e. - wilderness, dungeon, palaces) at different times (i.e. - war, peace) in different moods (i.e. - heights of joy, depths of despair) on three continents (Asia, Africa, and Europe) in three languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek)

Bible Facts – Miscellaneous Facts 24,000 manuscripts (2 nd most is 643) 99.5% are in agreement (most were spelling mistakes or word order, none altered the meaning of the verse) > 2,000 languages (2nd most is 200)

Manuscript Evidence for Ancient Writings AuthorWrittenEarliest CopyTime Span# Mss. Caesar B.C.900 A.D.1,000 yrs10 Plato B.C.900 A.D.1,200 yrs7 Thucydides B.C.900 A.D.1,300 yrs8 Tacitus100 A.D.1100 A.D.1,000 yrs20 Suetonius A.D.950 A.D.800 yrs8 Homer (Iliad)900 B.C.400 B.C.500 yrs643 New Testament A.D. 125 A.D yrs 24,000

Purity: Ps 19:8 ; 119:9; Jn 15:2 “The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes” “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.” “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.” Retain it: Ps 119:11 “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” Converts you: Ps 19:7 “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul” Lamp & Light: Ps 119:105 & Jn 8:12 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” “I am the light of the world, he who follows me shall not walk in darkness,” Yummy: Jer 15:16 “Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart” Joy : Ps 19:8 “The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart” The Bible Provides:

Bible is meant to be lived…. doers “for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified” (Rom 2:13) doers “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only” (Js 1:22) works “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?” (Js 2:14) does “Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Mt. 7:21) Hear Accept Do.

Bible is meant to be lived…. doctrinereproof correctioninstruction “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2Tim 3:16) life “…the words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63).

Questions to ask after reading a passage — Sin to confess? — Promise to claim? — Attitude to change? — Command to keep? — Example to follow? — Prayer to pray? — Error to avoid? — Truth to believe? — Something to thank God for?

Practical Tips: 1) Read daily 2) Decide on place and time. 3) Don’t leave until at least 1 is answered (story of Jacob wrestling with God). 4) WRITE KEY VERSE 5) Memorize 1 verse/week

Homework 1) How can we prove the authenticity of the bible? OR 2) For 1 month, write down daily God’s message for you.