Psalm 118:8-9Psalm 118:8-9

88 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. trust in man. 99 It is better to take refuge in the It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.Lord than to trust in princes.

The Amazing BookThe Amazing Book

Basics of the BibleBasics of the Bible

2 Sections (Old Testament, New Testament)2 Sections (Old Testament, New Testament) 66 Books66 Books Old Testament: 929 ChaptersOld Testament: 929 Chapters New Testament: 260 ChaptersNew Testament: 260 Chapters Total 1189 ChaptersTotal 1189 Chapters 31,173 verses31,173 verses

Basics of the BibleBasics of the Bible

Shortest Chapter in the BibleShortest Chapter in the Bible Psalm 117Psalm 117 594 Chapters Before Psalm 117594 Chapters Before Psalm 117

Longest Chapter in the BibleLongest Chapter in the Bible Psalm 119Psalm 119 594 Chapters After Psalm 119594 Chapters After Psalm 119

594+594+1(Psalm 118)=1189 total chapters594+594+1(Psalm 118)=1189 total chapters

Basics of the BibleBasics of the Bible

Total #of chapters: 1189Total #of chapters: 1189 31,173 verses—means the middle verses is 31,173 verses—means the middle verses is

Psalm 118:8-9Psalm 118:8-9 Psalm 118:8-9: It is better to take refuge in the Psalm 118:8-9: It is better to take refuge in the

Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princesrefuge in the Lord than to trust in princes

At the center of the Bible it tells us to trust in At the center of the Bible it tells us to trust in the Lordthe Lord

What does the Bible say about itself?What does the Bible say about itself?

Bible is God’s WordBible is God’s Word 2 Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is God-2 Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is God-

breathed”breathed” 2 Peter 1:20-21 “Above all you must 2 Peter 1:20-21 “Above all you must

understand that no prophecy of Scripture came understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

What does the Bible say about itself?What does the Bible say about itself?

God’s word has been around from the beginningGod’s word has been around from the beginning John 1:1-5, John 1:14John 1:1-5, John 1:14 God’s word isn’t going away anytime soonGod’s word isn’t going away anytime soon Psalm 119:89 “Your word, o Lord is eternal it stands Psalm 119:89 “Your word, o Lord is eternal it stands

firm in the heavens”firm in the heavens” Isaiah 40:8 “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but Isaiah 40:8 “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but

the word of our God stands forever”the word of our God stands forever” Matthew 5:18 “I tell you the truth, until heaven and Matthew 5:18 “I tell you the truth, until heaven and

earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of the pen will by any means disappear from the stroke of the pen will by any means disappear from the law until everything is accomplished.”law until everything is accomplished.”

What Describes the Word of God?What Describes the Word of God?

SwordSword Ephesians 6:17 “Take the helmet of salvation Ephesians 6:17 “Take the helmet of salvation

and the sword of the spirit, which is the word and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.”of God.”

Jesus used the sword of the spirit against SatanJesus used the sword of the spirit against Satan Matthew 4:1-11Matthew 4:1-11 Light in the Darkness, UnderstandingLight in the Darkness, Understanding Proverbs 6:23, Psalm 119:30Proverbs 6:23, Psalm 119:30

Reliability of the BibleReliability of the Bible

3 Tests to test the reliablity of the Bible3 Tests to test the reliablity of the Bible Bibliographic Test: How accurate are the copies that Bibliographic Test: How accurate are the copies that

we have today?we have today? Internal Test: Do the writers of the Bible claim their Internal Test: Do the writers of the Bible claim their

writings as true?writings as true? External Test: What does outside evidence say about External Test: What does outside evidence say about

the Bible?the Bible?

Reliability of the Bible: Reliability of the Bible: Bibliographic TestBibliographic Test

Manuscript Evidence for Ancient Writings

Author Written Earliest Copy Time Span # Manuscripts

Caesar 100-44 B.C. 900 A.D. 1,000 yrs 10

Plato 427-347 B.C. 900 A.D. 1,200 yrs 7

Thucydides 460-400 B.C. 900 A.D. 1,300 yrs 8

Tacitus 100 A.D. 1100 A.D. 1,000 yrs 20

Suetonius 75-160 A.D. 950 A.D. 800 yrs 8

Homer (Iliad) 900 B.C. 400 B.C. 500 yrs 643

New Testament 40-100 A.D. 125 A.D. 25-50 yrs 14,000

Reliability of the Bible: Reliability of the Bible: The Internal TestThe Internal Test

Do the writers of the Bible believe what they Do the writers of the Bible believe what they wrote?wrote?

John 19:35, 21:24John 19:35, 21:24 1 John 1:1-41 John 1:1-4 2 Peter 1:16-182 Peter 1:16-18 Luke 1:1-4Luke 1:1-4

Reliability of the Bible: Reliability of the Bible: The External TestThe External Test

Bible is a collection of historical documentsBible is a collection of historical documents Law of MosesLaw of Moses Daniel 5 accuracyDaniel 5 accuracy Critics want to discredit LukeCritics want to discredit Luke Greek, Roman, Jewish sources mention JesusGreek, Roman, Jewish sources mention Jesus Secular letter found comparing the death of Secular letter found comparing the death of

Jesus, Socrates, PythagorasJesus, Socrates, Pythagoras

What is the Word of God to Us?What is the Word of God to Us?

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

Comforts us: Romans 15:4Comforts us: Romans 15:4 Strengthen our Faith: Romans 10:17, Strengthen our Faith: Romans 10:17,

Psalm19:8, 119:130Psalm19:8, 119:130 Helps protects us from sin: Psalm 119:11Helps protects us from sin: Psalm 119:11

The Word of God JudgesThe Word of God Judges

John 12:47-48John 12:47-48 Hebrews 4:12-13 “For the Word of God is living and Hebrews 4:12-13 “For the Word of God is living and

active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attutdes of the marrow; it judges the thoughts and attutdes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account”the eyes of him to whom we must give account”

The Bible’s CallThe Bible’s Call

Acts 17:10-12; Study the BibleActs 17:10-12; Study the Bible James 1:22-25; Do what it saysJames 1:22-25; Do what it says 2 Timothy 4:1-5; Be prepared2 Timothy 4:1-5; Be prepared Deut 32:46-47; Take God’s word to heartDeut 32:46-47; Take God’s word to heart Romans 1:16; Power of God’s SalvationRomans 1:16; Power of God’s Salvation