The Bible
How we got the Bible. Over a period of about 1600 years, some 40 different writers recorded the Bible. These writers came from various cultural and educational backgrounds.
The first original handwritten copy of each book of the Bible was called an "autograph copy." The autograph copy of each Old Testament book was written in the Hebrew language.
From these autograph copies, scribes made additional copies in the Hebrew language and circulated them among the people. These additional copies made by the scribes were called "manuscript copies."
In the Second Century BC, these manuscript copies were translated into the Greek language. That translation of the Old Testament scriptures into the Greek language was called the "Septuagint." Jesus quoted from it and even referred to its divisions (Matthew 22:32; Luke 24:44).
The autograph copies of the New Testament books were written in the Greek language. Scribes copied numerous manuscripts and circulated them among the people. Some 5,000 manuscripts have been discovered in different places throughout the East.
Old Testament and New Testament manuscripts have been diligently compared and translated into the English language. Basically two types of translations exist: the dynamic equivalence and formal equivalence. The dynamic equivalence is a translation of the exact thought while the formal equivalence is a translation of the exact word.
The New International Version (NIV) is a dynamic equivalence. The New American Standard Version (NASB) and the King James Version (KJV) are formal equivalence. Scholarly translations do exist. The Bible is reliable.
If the Old Testament had never been translated from the Hebrew language and the New Testament had never been translated from the Greek language into the English language, could you read the Bible? If the Bible had never been translated, we would need to learn both the Hebrew and Greek languages before we could study it. Thank God for reliable translations; for, they greatly assist our study of God's word.
The first translation of the English Bible was initiated by John Wycliffe and completed by John Purvey in 1388. The Bible was divided into chapters by Stephen Langton about 1228. The Old Testament was divided into verses by R. Nathan in 1448 and the New Testament by Robert Stephanus in 1551.
In Great Britain, between 1604 and 1611 during the reign of King James, 54 Bible scholars translated the KJV. This translation is called the King James Version not because King James decided what the resulting translation would be; but, simply because it was translated during his reign and at his encouraging.
Initially, the Bible was written to embrace the culture of human beings who lived on three different continents. It embraced the culture of the human beings who lived upon the continents of: Africa, Asia and Europe.
A. The Eunuch was from Ethiopia on the continent of Africa (Acts 8:27).
B. The disciples engaged in the dispute were from Jerusalem on the continent of Asia (Acts 15:1-4).
C. The apostle Paul left Athens and went to Corinth both are on the continent of Europe (Acts 18:1).
In spite of being initially addressed to only three different continents, the scripture relates and applies to all human beings over the entire world. No Bible writer ever disputed what another writer had written. In spite of many diversities, the Bible uniformly describes:
A. the personality and character of God (Exodus 34:6; Romans 2:4).
B. the personality and character of humankind (Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 1:21-32).
C. the human need for salvation (Exodus 32:32; Matthew 6:12-15; Luke 5:21-24).
D. the anticipation and coming of a savior (Deuteronomy 18:15-19; Acts 3:22-23).
Without divine revelation, the human mind was and is incapable of producing the Bible.
The Two Testaments: The Bible is divided into two "testaments". The first testament is the Old Testament. It contains 39 books. These books are not arranged in chronological order.
It contains five books of Law often called the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy). Laws are generally written in exact terminology with little or no symbolic and figurative language. We can expect the language of these five books to be exact and specific. For example observe the exactness: tenth day, fourteenth day (Exodus 12:3-6).
It contains twelve books of history (Joshua, Judges, Ruth, First Samuel, Second Samuel, First Kings, Second Kings, First Chronicles, Second Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther). These books contain a historical record of the Wilderness Wandering and Promise Land Dwelling of the Israelites.
It contains five books of Wisdom Literature often called Poetry (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon). Poetry is usually written in highly figurative and symbolic language. We can expect these books to contain much figurative language. For example observe the figurativeness: paths of righteousness, shadow of death (Psalm 23:1-6).
It contains seventeen books of Prophecy. Books of prophecy "foretold" or predicted future events, "It will come about after this . . .." (Joel 2:28-32).
Also, books of prophecy "forthtold" or explained the predicted events once they began to occur, "but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel: . . .." (Acts 2:16-21). The prophecy in Joel "foretells" what the prophecy in Acts "forthtells".
Five books of prophecy called the Major Prophets. These are called major simply because of their long length not because of importance (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel and Daniel).
Twelve books of prophecy called the Minor Prophets. These are called minor simply because of their short length not because of lack of importance (Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi).
The second testament is the New Testament. It contains 27 books. These books are neither arranged in chronological order nor order of importance. Sometimes they are arranged according to length.
It contains four gospels, historical narratives of the earthly life of Jesus Christ (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). These books contain information from the time shortly before the birth of Jesus until shortly after his death.
It contains one book of history, (Acts) the historical narrative of where and how Christianity began and grew. This book contains messages preached directly to and for those who had not become disciples of Christ.
It contains twenty-one letters. Nine letters were written to churches (Romans, First Corinthians, Second Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, First Thessalonians, Second Thessalonians).
Twelve letters were written to individuals (First Timothy, Second Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, First Peter, Second Peter, First John, Second John, Third John, Jude).
Romans through Thessalonians were named for the city where the churches were located. First Timothy through Philemon bears the name of the person to whom the letter was addressed. James through Jude bears the name of the one who wrote the letter.
It contains one book of prophecy (Revelation).
Dispensations. The Bible is divided by time into three dispensations. A dispensation is a period of time when a particular system of revealed commands regulates human affairs. Throughout history there have been three different dispensations or periods of time when God used a different system to regulate human affairs.
God has responded differently in different generations toward humankind (Genesis 9:12-15).
I. God's first period was the "Patriarchal Dispensation."
A. It began with the dawn of creation (Genesis 1:28-31).
B. During this time God made a covenant with the descendants of such patriarchs Adam, Noah and Abraham and their descendants (Genesis 6:18; 9:9-17; 15:18; 17:2).
C. During this time God communicated verbally with a leading male in each family called a "patriarch," for He had not yet produced written communication to govern humankind (Genesis 6:13; 9:1; 15:13; 17:1).
D. During this time God required different functions of different families. Noah and his family were the only family whom God requested to build an ark (Genesis 6:13-14).
E. During this time, each patriarch performed priestly functions for his household (Genesis 8:20-9:1).
F. The patriarchal dispensation ended when God gave the Law to Moses on Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19:20-25).
II. God's second period was the "Mosaic Dispensation." It lasted approximately 1,500 years.
A. It began with the giving of the Law to Moses at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 20:1-17).
B. During this time God made a covenant with Moses on behalf of and primarily for the Israelites (Exodus 20:1-2).
C. Through writing, God communicated the conditions of his covenant through the "Law of Moses" which included the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17; Nehemiah 8:1-8).
D. During this time worship was basically confined to the tabernacle (Exodus 25:8-9, 29:42-46, Hebrews 8:2-5, 9:2), temple (1 Kings 6:11-13), and later the synagogue (Luke 4:16). The tabernacle was a portable tent that was 45 feet long by 15 feet wide. While the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, this served as their place of offering sacrifices and worship. The synagogue was a place of worship in each Jewish community. It came into being while the Israelites were in captivity. The temple was a permanent structure erected in Jerusalem. It was the central place where all Jews went to worship, offer sacrifices and study the Law.
E. During this time man, a mere human being, served as high priest for the people. Daily the priest offered sacrifices for his and the peoples' unintentional sins (Leviticus 4:13-35, 5:14-19; Hebrews 5:1-4, 9:1-6, 10:11). Once per year, the Day of Atonement, (the 10th day of the 7th month) the high priest offered sacrifices for all other (intentional) of his and the peoples' sins (Leviticus 16:15-34; Hebrews 9:7).
F. This dispensation ended when God resurrected Jesus and sent the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 1:2-2:47.
III. God's third period is the "Christian Dispensation". It has lasted till the present.
A. It began from the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Acts 1:2-2:47).
B. During this time God made a covenant with His son Jesus Christ on behalf of and toward all human beings (Acts 3:22; Hebrews 8:6-12).
C. God communicated the conditions of this covenant through Jesus Christ and the truths that are contained in the New Testament (John 1:16-17).
D. During this dispensation true worship is never confined to a physical place but a spiritual location, in Christ (John 4:24).
E. Jesus Christ, who was both human and divine, serves as our high priest for the people (Hebrews 3:1-6; 7:12). The priest provided sacrifices for sin and access to God for the people.
F. This dispensation continues into the present.
The Mosaic Dispensation (Old Testament) does not govern us but the Christian dispensation (New Testament) does. Let us examine the transition from the Mosaic to the Christian dispensation (Galatians 3:16-19).
The Law had not always been in effect. God had governed humankind without the Law of Moses. He governed Moses for over 80 years without the Law, for Moses was over 80 years old when God revealed the Law to him at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 7:7; Acts 7:23-30).
God added the Law because of the waywardness of humankind. By attaching penalties to sin, the Law increased awareness of sin. Even the Ten Commandments ordered punishment for its violators (Exodus 35:1-3; Numbers 15:32-36). How many people would drive the speed limit if there was no penalty (fine) for speeding? Penalties increase our awareness of violations of the law.
The Law was designed to last until the seed should come (Galatians 3:19). Jesus Christ was that seed (Galatians 3:16). The Law was designed to last until Jesus came into the world. It brought us to Christ and then Christ released us from the Law (Galatians 3:24-25). We are children of God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by the Law of Moses (Galatians 3:26-27).
Written Review for Lesson Ten
Write within the blank the letter of the term that is related within the lesson and then transfer answers to the ANSWER SHEET. Five points each.
1. ___ major prophet A. High Priest
2. ___ New American Standard B. Additional copies from the autograph copy
3. ___ manuscript copy C. Dynamic Equivalence
4. ___ New International Version D. Formal Equivalence
5. ___ Jesus E. Jeremiah
Fill in the blanks. Five points each.
1. The first original handwritten copy of each book of the Bible was called an _____________ copy.
2. Autograph copies of the New Testament were written in the________________ language.
3. Laws are generally written in ______________ terminology.
4. Poetry is generally written in highly _______________________ and symbolic language.
5. God made a covenant with Jesus on behalf of all ____________________.
True or False. Five points each.
1. ______ The formal equivalence is a translation of the original thought.
2. ______ Without divine revelation, the human mind was and is incapable of producing the Bible.
3. ______ The books of the New Testament are arranged in chronological order.
4. ______ Sometimes books are arranged according to their length.
5. ______ The Mosaic Dispensation ended when God resurrected Jesus and sent the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.
Circle the one answer that best answers the question or completes the statement and then transfer answers to ANSWER SHEET. Five points each.
1. A prophecy of "foretelling"
A. explained current happenings
B. predicted future happenings
C. announced current applications of previous predictions
D. both A & B
E. both A & C
2. The Mosaic Dispensation began with the . . . and ended with the . . .
A. birth of Adam . . . death of Abraham
B. giving of the law to Moses . . . the resurrection of Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost
C. coming of the Holy Spirit . . . return of Jesus
D. The birth of Moses . . . birth of Jesus
E. none of the above
3. The Bible uniformly describes
A. the personality and character of God
B. the human need for salvation
C. the human need for an English translation of the Bible
D. both A & B
E. both B & C
4. The
A. KJV and the NIV are dynamic translations
B. NASB is a formal equivalence translation
C. KJV and the NIV are formal equivalence translations
D. both A & B
E. both B & C
5. Additional copies of the Bible made by scribes are called
A. manuscript copies
B. Septuagint copies
C. autograph copies
D. translation copies
E. dynamic copies
