What is the Bible?

Written by Ed Allen
 Sunday, 04 January 2009 09:00

The Bible

mp3

Sermon Notes

Wycliffe Vision Statement: “God’s Word accessible to all people in the language of their heart.”

In defense of the Bible

2 Timothy 3:14-17

14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

What is the Bible?

  1. A library of books with a very human history
    • We do not have the original books or letters.
    • We do not have a detailed account of why the authors were moved to write what they wrote.
  2. A library of books recounting God’s activity among human beings.
    • 66 Old Testament Books
    • 27 New Testament Books
    • Written over 100’s of years
    • Remarkably consistent theologies
    • Based on key eye witness accounts
      • Archaeological evidence supports it’s reliability
        • Example: JEDP Documentary Hypothesis
    • Predictions which come true
    • Well-documented miracles that confirm the message
    • The biographies of Jesus look very much like authentic, reliable accounts
      • Using women as eye witnesses which was unheard of during this time
      • Leaving in the failings of the “Heroes”
    • The first converts were also eye witnesses – hard to fool!
  3. A sacred library of books inspired by God
    • Paul seems to be saying “try it and see that it works” (2 Timothy 3:14-17)
    • The Bible calls us to believe it because (1) it is true, and (2) it works.
    • 2 Peter 1:20–21
    • John 10 – Jesus quotes the Bible authoritatively
    • 2 Peter 3:15–16 — Peter equates Paul’s writings with the “Other Scriptures.”
  4. A rich, often unused, resource for spiritual life

Resources

General Apologetics

  • C.S. Lewis (esp. Mere Christianity)
  • Ravi Zacharias
  • Norman Geisler
  • Lee Strobel: his is easy to read and also has some videos on YouTube

Apologetics related to the reliability of Scriptures

  • Craig Bloomberg
  • F.F. Bruce
  • Craig Bloomberg
  • Lee Strobel

Skeptics

If you have some doubts, do some work!

Join us in reading the New Testament in the first quarter.

Small Group Questions

Ice Breaker Question:

What do you think is the authority most people rely on for daily decisions and life perspective: popular conventions, horoscopes/palm readings, philosophical writings, opinion and advice from friends and family, Bible or other religious literature? OR What is the earliest memory you have of the Bible, and what was your attitude or perspective about it?

Study Questions

  1. What are some of your doubts with regards to the Bible? How have you felt about them? How have you dealt with them so far?
  2. How does the fact that the Bible has “a very human history” affect your confidence in it?
  3. Paul is clear that “all Scripture is God-breathed” in 2 Timothy 3:16. Which part of the Bible do you find most challenging to believe is inspired by God? What is the larger context of chapter 3, and what is the significance of this statement in light of it?
  4. Paul speaks of the Bible being “useful”. How have you seen its usefulness in teaching, rebuking, correcting and training? Which of the four do you find yourself mostly expecting from the Bible? Describe Paul’s own confidence about this in vv. 14-17. Where are you in your personal expectations of the Bible?
  5. How have you seen the Bible recount or shed light on God’s activity in your own life (or in the world)?
  6. Looking at the paragraph before and after, what is the value of confidence in the divine nature of the Bible in 2 Peter 1:20-21? How does this motivate you to deal with your doubts?
  7. When is the last time you felt encouraged from the Bible?
  8. How has this discussion affected the way you see God? How then does it change your attitude and/or response to the Bible now? What is one thing that you can begin or change in light of this?
Website developed by ChurchKatalyst