What does the Bible say about the Bible?

     by Kathryn Capoccia

     Young Adults Sunday School Class
    
     All Scripture references are taken from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW
     INTERNATIONAL VERSION (C) 1978 by the New York Bible Society, used by
     permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

© Copyright Kathy Capoccia 2000.  This file may be freely copied, printed out,
and distributed as long as copyright and source statements remain intact,
and that it is not sold.
I. What does the Bible say About The Bible?

   A. Introduction

      1. methodology- "who, what, when, where, why, how"

      2. personal introduction and testimony

      3. class introductions

   B. Study

      1. Facts

         a) Who wrote the Bible?

            1) human authors: 40 different men-

               1PE 1:10-12  "Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who
               spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched
               intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the
               time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them
               was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and
               the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that
               they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of
               the things that have now been told you by those who have
               preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from
               heaven. Even angels long to look into these things."

               DEU 18:18  "I will raise up for them a prophet like you from
               among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and
               he will tell them everything I command him."

               JER 1:9  "Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my
               mouth and said to me, 'Now, I have put my words in your
               mouth.'"

               WHO IS THE MOST FAMOUS O.T. AUTHOR?

               WHO IS THE MOST FAMOUS N.T. AUTHOR?

               *THINK OF SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO WROTE THE BIBLE AND NAME
               SOME;

               a] Moses; a political leader

               b] Peter; a fisherman

               c] Amos; a herdsman

               d] Nehemiah; a cupbearer

               e] Daniel; a prime minister

               f] Luke; a doctor

               g] David; a shepherd, soldier, and king

               h] Solomon; a king

               i] Matthew; a tax collector

               j] Paul; a rabbi

               k] Ezra; a scribe

            2) God Himself-3,808 times in the Bible the writers testified
               that they were writing God's words. *this is from "Focus on
               Fact" by John F. MacArthur, Fleming H. Revell Company (1977)
               pg. 45.

               a] the O. T. writers believed that the Bible was the word of
                  God.

                  AMO 3:7  "Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without
                  revealing his plan to his servants the prophets."

                  ISA 1:2  "Hear, O heavens! Listen, O earth! For the LORD
                  has spoken."

               b] the N.T. writers believed the O.T. was the word of God.

                  ROM 15:4  "For everything that was written in the past
                  was written to teach us, so that through endurance and
                  the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."

                  2PE 1:21  "For prophecy never had its origin in the will
                  of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along
                  by the Holy Spirit."

                  HEB 1:1  "In the past God spoke to our forefathers
                  through the prophets at many times and in various ways."

                  JAM 4:5  "Or do you think Scripture says without reason
                  that the spirit he caused to live in us envies
                  intensely?"

               c] the N.T. writers believed the N.T. was the word of God.

                  2PE 3:16  "He [Paul] writes the same way in all his
                  letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters
                  contain some things that are hard to understand, which
                  ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the
                  other Scriptures, to their own destruction."

                  1TI 5:18  "For the Scripture says, 'Do not muzzle the ox
                  while it is treading out the grain,' and 'The worker
                  deserves his wages.'"

                  *Paul quotes from DEU 25:4 in the former and LUK 10:7 in
                  the latter.

                  REV 19:9  "Then the angel said to me, 'Write: 'Blessed
                  are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the
                  Lamb!' And he added, 'These are the true words of God.'"

                  REV 21:5  "Then he said, 'Write this down, for these
                  words are trustworthy and true.'"

         b) What is the Bible?

            1) definitions:

               a] "bible"- book

               b] "scripture"- writings

               c] "holy"- according to God

            2) description:

               a] collection of books.

               b] supernatural: "living and active"

                  HEB 4:12  "or the word of God is living and active.
                  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even
                  to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges
                  the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

         c) When was it written?

            1) time span? 1500 yrs., 40 generations

            2) oldest book? Job

            3) newest book? The Revelation of Jesus Christ

         d) Where was it written?

            1) on three continents; Asia, Africa, and Europe

               a] in the desert- Moses

               b] in Israel-

               c] in Babylon- Daniel, Ezekiel, Jeremiah

            2) in different circumstances;

               a] Moses wrote while in the desert

               b] Jeremiah wrote while in prison

               c] Daniel wrote while living in a palace and on a hillside

               d] Paul wrote in prison

               e] Luke wrote while traveling

               f] John wrote while imprisoned on the isle of Patmos

               g] Solomon wrote as king

            3) in different languages

               a] Hebrew was the major O.T. language

               b] Aramaic was the language of the Near East- Daniel has
                  parts in this language

               c] Greek was the N.T. language

         e) How many books are there? 66

            1) O.T.? 39

            2) N.T.? 27

         f) What is the King James Version of the Bible?

            It was the Bible that King James of England commissioned and
            sanctioned in the 16th century after being pressured to do so
            by the German translation of the Bible by Martin Luther and the
            English translation (an illegal activity) by William Tyndale.
            It was written in the everyday language of the people, not in a
            fancy, spiritual style.

         g) Why was the Bible written?

            1) it instructs us about:

               a] God's character and attributes

                  i] He is personal

                     EXO 3:14  "God said to Moses, 'I Am Who I Am. This is
                     what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I Am has sent
                     me to you.'"

                     GEN 1:26  "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our
                     image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the
                     fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the
                     livestock, over all the earth, and over all the
                     creatures that move along the ground.'"

                     PSA 110:1  "The LORD says to my Lord: 'Sit at my right
                     hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your
                     feet.'"

                     MAT 28:19  "Therefore go and make disciples of all
                     nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and
                     of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

                 ii] He is moral

                     EXO 34:6,7  "And he passed in front of Moses,
                     proclaiming, 'The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate
                     and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and
                     faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and
                     forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does
                     not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the
                     children and their children for the sin of the fathers
                     to the third and fourth generation.'"

                iii] He is the source of all creation

                     ROM 11:36  "For from him and through him and to him
                     are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen."

                     ACT 17:24  "The God who made the world and everything
                     in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not
                     live in temples built by hands."

                     ACT 17:28  "'For in him we live and move and have our
                     being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are
                     his offspring.'"

               b] His expectations of us

                  i] He wants us to be saved

                     2PE 3:9  The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise,
                     as some understand slowness. He is patient with you,
                     not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to
                     repentance.

                 ii] He wants us to be Spirit filled

                     EPH 5:15-18  "Be very careful, then, how you live--not
                     as unwise but as wise, making the most of every
                     opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do
                     not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will
                     is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to
                     debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit."

                iii] He wants us to be sanctified

                     1TH 4:3,4  "It is God's will that you should be
                     sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;
                     that each of you should learn to control his own body
                     in a way that is holy and honorable."

                 iv] He wants us to be submissive

                     1PE 2:13-15  "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to
                     every authority instituted among men: whether to the
                     king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who
                     are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to
                     commend those who do right. For it is God's will that
                     by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of
                     foolish men."

                  v] He wants us to suffer

                     1PE 4:12-19  "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the
                     painful trial you are suffering, as though something
                     strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you
                     participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you
                     may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you
                     are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are
                     blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on
                     you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or
                     thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a
                     meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not
                     be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
                     For it is time for judgment to begin with the family
                     of God; and if it begins with us, what will the
                     outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of
                     God? And, 'If it is hard for the righteous to be
                     saved, what will become of the ungodly and the
                     sinner?' So then, those who suffer according to God's
                     will should commit themselves to their faithful
                     Creator and continue to do good."

                     *this list was taken in its entirety from "Take God's
                     Word For It" by John F. MacArthur, Regal Books (1980),
                     pg.91.

            2) it calls us into personal communication with God Himself

               ACT 17:27  "God did this so that men would seek him and
               perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far
               from each one of us."

               JER 33:3  "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you
               great and unsearchable things you do not know."

            3) it makes us accountable- we have a standard we can be
               measured against

               REV 20:12  "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing
               before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was
               opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged
               according to what they had done as recorded in the books."

               ROM 1:20-23  "For since the creation of the world God's
               invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine
               nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what
               has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although
               they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave
               thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their
               foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be
               wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the
               immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and
               birds and animals and reptiles."

               HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW WHAT THE CANON OF THE BIBLE IS?

               a] "canon" means standard-

                  the cannon is the list of true or "officially accepted
                  list of books" in the Bible

               b] the canon was determined by five principles:

                  i] is it authoritative- did it come from God

                 ii] is it prophetic?- was it written by a man speaking for
                     God?

                iii] is it authentic?- "when in doubt throw it out"

                 iv] is it dynamic?- was it life changing?

                  v] was it received, collected, read, and used?- was it
                     accepted by the people of God?

                     *this is from "Evidence That Demands a Verdict" by
                     Josh McDowell, Campus Crusade for Christ (1972), pg.
                     29.

         h) How do we know we can trust it?

            1) by the way it was prepared- scribes meticulously hand
               copying it; counting the letters of each row and each page,
               every letter, syllable, word , and paragraph.

            2) by the number of old copies that exist that we can compare
               to itself.

            3) because historical evidence validates it.

            4) because science validates it (JOB 26:7; GEN 9:4; GEN 1:1).

            5) because the martyrdom of the saints testifies to its
               truthfulness.

            6) because signs and wonders validated it (2CO 12:12).

            7) because it has survived:

               a] through time- more copies of the Bible exist than any
                  other book.

               b] through persecution- many have tried to outlaw it.

               c] through criticism- many have tried to attack its
                  veracity.

      2. What does it say about itself?

         a) It is inspired- "God breathed"

            2TI 3:16  "All Scripture is God-breathed... and is useful for
            teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness".

            1CO 2:13  "This is what we speak, not in words taught us by
            human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing
            spiritual truths in spiritual words."

            JOH 17:8  "For I gave them the words you gave me and they
            accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you,
            and they believed that you sent me."

            EXO 4:15  "You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I
            will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do."

            DEU 4:2  "Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract
            from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give
            you."

            MAT 16:17  "Jesus replied, 'Blessed are you, Simon son of
            Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my
            Father in heaven.'"

         b) It is authoritative- "thus saith the LORD"- 933 times in the O.
            T.

            EZE 3:10,11  "And he said to me, 'Son of man, listen carefully
            and take to heart all the words I speak to you. Go now to your
            countrymen in exile and speak to them. Say to them, 'This is
            what the Sovereign LORD says,' whether they listen or fail to
            listen."

            ISA 45:23  "By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all
            integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee
            will bow; by me every tongue will swear."

         c) It is eternal-

            PSA 119:89  "Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in
            the heavens."

            MAT 24:35  "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will
            never pass away."

            1PE 1:25  "But the word of the Lord stands forever."

            PSA 119:160  "All your words are true; all your righteous laws
            are eternal."

         d) It is infallible

            MAT 5:18  "I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth
            disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a
            pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything
            is accomplished."

            ISA 55:11  "So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will
            not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and
            achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

            PSA 19:7  "The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul.
            The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the
            simple."

         e) It is inerrant- it needs no revision

            PSA 19:7  "The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul.
            The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the
            simple."

            PRO 30:6  "Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and
            prove you a liar."

            PRO 30:5  "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to
            those who take refuge in him."

            JOH 17:17  "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth."

            2SA 7:28  "O Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your words are
            trustworthy."

         f) It is complete

            JUD 1:3  "Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to
            you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and
            urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all
            entrusted to the saints."

            REV 22:18,19  "I warn everyone who hears the words of the
            prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God
            will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if
            anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will
            take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the
            holy city, which are described in this book."

         g) It is profitable

            JOS 1:8  "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your
            mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful
            to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and
            successful."

            2TI 3:16,17  "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for
            teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
            so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every
            good work."

            2TI 3:15  "...the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you
            wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."

         h) It is binding

            MAT 5:19  "Anyone who breaks one of the least of these
            commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called
            least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and
            teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of
            heaven."

            ISA 45:23  "By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all
            integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee
            will bow; by me every tongue will swear."

         i) It is effective

            ISA 55:10,11  "As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
            and do not return to it without watering the earth and making
            it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and
            bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
            It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I
            desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

            1TH 1:5  "Because our gospel came to you not simply with words,
            but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep
            conviction."

      3. Miscellaneous Scriptures:

         MAT 22:37  "Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your
         heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'"

         PRO 1:24-28  "But since you rejected me when I called and no one
         gave heed when I stretched out my hand, since you ignored all my
         advice and would not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh at
         your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you-- when
         calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you
         like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you. 'Then
         they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me
         but will not find me.'"

         HEB 1:1-3  "In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the
         prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days
         he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all
         things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the
         radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being,
         sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided
         purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the
         Majesty in heaven."

         JOH 8:47  "He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason
         you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."

         MAT 5:17  "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the
         Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

         MAT 26:24  "The Son of Man will go just as it is written about
         him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be
         better for him if he had not been born."

         JOH 10:35  "If he called them 'gods,' to whom the word of God
         came--and the Scripture cannot be broken--"

         LUK 18:31  "Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, 'We are
         going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the
         prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.'"

         1CO 2:7  "No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has
         been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time
         began."

         1CO 2:14  "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things
         that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him,
         and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually
         discerned."

         PSA 119:18  "Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your
         law."

         1CO 2:15,16  "The spiritual man makes judgments about all things,
         but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: 'For who has
         known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?' But we have
         the mind of Christ."

         MAT 4:4  "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that
         comes from the mouth of God."


Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "Kathy Capoccia's Sunday School Lessons" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
Box 119
Columbus, New Jersey, USA, 08022
Websites: www.biblebb.com and www.gospelgems.com
Email: tony@biblebb.com
Online since 1986