The Nature and Purposeof the BibleThe Nature and Purposeof the Bible

OVERVIEW of the BibleOVERVIEW of the BibleBible is a collection of writings that Christians consider uniquely inspired and authoritative. One unified book composed of 66 literary works. 2 Tim 3:16 “All Scripture is God-breathed.”

Testament means “Covenant” in Latin. OT and NT represent at a basic level, two covenants between God and His people. Exodus 19-31 Mosaic Covenant and New Covenant promised in Jeremiah 31:31 (new heart), fulfilled in Christ’s death and resurrection.

The PURPOSE of the BibleThe PURPOSE of the Bible

To reveal Jesus Christ in order to make a person wise for salvation through faith in Christ (2 Tim 3:15). Not a set of rules and laws to their own end.

John 5:39 “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me.”

BASIC STORYLINE of the BibleBASIC STORYLINE of the Bible

See Vaughn Roberts’ Overview of the Bible

Functions of the BibleFunctions of the Bible• Conviction of sin

• Correction and Instruction

• Spiritual Fruitfulness

• Perseverance

• Joy and Delight

• Ultimate Authority in Doctrine and Deed

• Conviction of sin

• Correction and Instruction

• Spiritual Fruitfulness

• Perseverance

• Joy and Delight

• Ultimate Authority in Doctrine and Deed

C-H-R-O-N-O-L-O-G-Yof the Bible’s CompositionC-H-R-O-N-O-L-O-G-Yof the Bible’s Composition

Timeline of Biblical Events and BooksTimeline of Biblical Events and BooksAdam and Eve

Noah

The calling of Abraham

The exodus

The monarchy begins

King David

King Solomon

The divided kingdom

The Assyrian exile

The Babylonian exile

The Persian period

Adam and Eve

Noah

The calling of Abraham

The exodus

The monarchy begins

King David

King Solomon

The divided kingdom

The Assyrian exile

The Babylonian exile

The Persian period

(LTA) Long Time Ago!

(LTA)

2000 B.C.

1446 B.C. (Moses authors 1rst books)

1050 B.C. (God chooses Saul)

1010-970 B.C

970-930 B.C.

931 B.C (Israel/Judah divide)

722 B.C. (Samaria destroyed)

586 B.C. (Jerusalem destroyed)

537 B.C. (return of Jews under Cyrus)

(LTA) Long Time Ago!

(LTA)

2000 B.C.

1446 B.C. (Moses authors 1rst books)

1050 B.C. (God chooses Saul)

1010-970 B.C

970-930 B.C.

931 B.C (Israel/Judah divide)

722 B.C. (Samaria destroyed)

586 B.C. (Jerusalem destroyed)

537 B.C. (return of Jews under Cyrus)

Timeline of Biblical Events and BooksTimeline of Biblical Events and BooksSecond Temple finished

Nehemiah/Ezra

Malachi (last OT book)

Intertestamental period

Jesus’ birth

Jesus’ ministry

Jesus’ crucifixion

First NT book(s) written

Revelation written

Second Temple finished

Nehemiah/Ezra

Malachi (last OT book)

Intertestamental period

Jesus’ birth

Jesus’ ministry

Jesus’ crucifixion

First NT book(s) written

Revelation written

515 B.C.

Mid-400s B.C.

430 B.C.

430 B.C.-A.D. 45

7-4 B.C.

A.D. 27-30

A.D. 30

A.D. 45

A.D. 90 (last book of NT)

515 B.C.

Mid-400s B.C.

430 B.C.

430 B.C.-A.D. 45

7-4 B.C.

A.D. 27-30

A.D. 30

A.D. 45

A.D. 90 (last book of NT)

The Organization of the BibleThe Organization of the Bible

The Basic Division— The Testaments

The Basic Division— The Testaments

THE OLD TESTAMENT

1. LAW2. HISTORICAL BOOKS3. WISDOM BOOKS4. PROPHETICAL BOOKS

THE OLD TESTAMENT

1. LAW2. HISTORICAL BOOKS3. WISDOM BOOKS4. PROPHETICAL BOOKS

LAWGenesisExodus LeviticusNumbers Deuteronomy

LAWGenesisExodus LeviticusNumbers Deuteronomy

HISTORICAL BOOKSHISTORICAL BOOKS

•Joshua

•Judges

•Ruth

•1-2 Samuel

•1-2 Kings

•Joshua

•Judges

•Ruth

•1-2 Samuel

•1-2 Kings

•1-2 Chronicles

•Ezra

•Nehemiah

•Esther

•1-2 Chronicles

•Ezra

•Nehemiah

•Esther

WISDOMJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of Solomon(Song of Songs)

WISDOMJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of Solomon(Song of Songs)

PROPHETICAL BOOKSPROPHETICAL BOOKSMajor Prophets

Isaiah

Jeremiah

Lamentations

Ezekiel

Daniel

Major Prophets

Isaiah

Jeremiah

Lamentations

Ezekiel

Daniel

Minor Prophets

Hosea-Malachi

(The Twelve)

Minor Prophets

Hosea-Malachi

(The Twelve)

NUMBER AND ORDER OF NEW TESTAMENT BOOKSNUMBER AND ORDER OF NEW TESTAMENT BOOKS

GOSPELS AND ACTSMathewMarkLuke JohnActs

GOSPELS AND ACTSMathewMarkLuke JohnActs

PAULINE LETTERSRomans1-2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1-2 Thessalonians1-2 TimothyTitusPhilemon

PAULINE LETTERSRomans1-2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1-2 Thessalonians1-2 TimothyTitusPhilemon

GENERAL LETTERS AND REVELATION

HebrewsJames1-2 Peter1-3 JohnJudeRevelation

GENERAL LETTERS AND REVELATION

HebrewsJames1-2 Peter1-3 JohnJudeRevelation

CHAPTER DIVISIONSCHAPTER DIVISIONS

Early Church (and Jesus!) often just referenced a book in general, or a specific event, but had no means for further specification. Jesus in Mark 12:26 speaks of Moses as “the passage about the bush, when God spoke to him.”

Current chapter divisions added in early 1200s by Archbishop of Canterbury Stephen Langton. Unwise to make too big a deal about meaning based on chapter arrangements or mathematical wizardry (Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code)

Verse DivisionsVerse Divisions

Added in 1551 by Robert “Stephanus” Estienne, a printer from Paris. First Bible to contain verse divisions was the Geneva Bible of 1560. Verse divisions are questioned today, but it is unthinkable to rework the system after so many years. Avoid creative biblical mathematics!

The Authority and Accuracy of the BibleThe Authority and Accuracy of the Bible

SCRIPTURE’S CLAIMS ABOUT ITSELFSCRIPTURE’S CLAIMS ABOUT ITSELF•NUMBERS 23:19

•PSALM 12:6

•2 TIMOTHY 3:16

•2 PETER 1:21

•JOHN 10:35

•HEBREWS 1:1-2

•NUMBERS 23:19

•PSALM 12:6

•2 TIMOTHY 3:16

•2 PETER 1:21

•JOHN 10:35

•HEBREWS 1:1-2

THE HISTORIC VIEW OF THE

CHRISTIAN CHURCH

THE HISTORIC VIEW OF THE

CHRISTIAN CHURCH

QUALIFICATIONS OF INERRANCYQUALIFICATIONS OF INERRANCY1. APPLIES ONLY TO AUTOGRAPHS

2. RESPECTS AUTHORIAL INTENT AND LITERARY CONVENTIONS (NOTE: ORDER OF EVENTS IN THE GOSPELS)

3. ALLOWS FOR PARTIAL REPORTING, PARAPHRASING, AND SUMMARIZING

1. APPLIES ONLY TO AUTOGRAPHS

2. RESPECTS AUTHORIAL INTENT AND LITERARY CONVENTIONS (NOTE: ORDER OF EVENTS IN THE GOSPELS)

3. ALLOWS FOR PARTIAL REPORTING, PARAPHRASING, AND SUMMARIZING

QUALIFICATIONS OF INERRANCY…QUALIFICATIONS OF INERRANCY…4. ALLOWS FOR PHENOMENOLOGICAL

LANGUAGE

5. ALLOWS FOR THE REPORTING OF SPEECH WITHOUT THE ENDORESEMENT OF THE TRUTHFULNESS OF THAT SPEECH

6. DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE BIBLE GIVES DEFINITIVE OR EXHAUSTIVE INFO ON EVERY TOPIC

7. NOT INVALIDATED BY COLLOQUIAL OR NONSTANDARD GRAMMAR/SPELLING.

4. ALLOWS FOR PHENOMENOLOGICAL LANGUAGE

5. ALLOWS FOR THE REPORTING OF SPEECH WITHOUT THE ENDORESEMENT OF THE TRUTHFULNESS OF THAT SPEECH

6. DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE BIBLE GIVES DEFINITIVE OR EXHAUSTIVE INFO ON EVERY TOPIC

7. NOT INVALIDATED BY COLLOQUIAL OR NONSTANDARD GRAMMAR/SPELLING.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DEALING WITH DIFFICULT TEXTSRECOMMENDATIONS FOR DEALING WITH DIFFICULT TEXTS

• BE SURE YOU ARE INTERACTING WITH REAL TEXTS

• APPROACH THE TEXT IN TRUST, NOT AS A SKEPTIC

• PRAY

• KEEP IN MIND THE “QUALIFICATIONS OF INERRANCY”

• SEEK COUNSEL

• BE WILLING TO SET A TEXT ASIDE FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION RATHER THAN FORCE HARMONIZATION

• BE SURE YOU ARE INTERACTING WITH REAL TEXTS

• APPROACH THE TEXT IN TRUST, NOT AS A SKEPTIC

• PRAY

• KEEP IN MIND THE “QUALIFICATIONS OF INERRANCY”

• SEEK COUNSEL

• BE WILLING TO SET A TEXT ASIDE FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION RATHER THAN FORCE HARMONIZATION

Modern Translations of the BibleModern Translations of the Bible

APPROACHES TO TRANSLATIONAPPROACHES TO TRANSLATION

DYNAMIC EQUIVALENCE VS.

FORMAL EQUIVALENCE

DYNAMIC EQUIVALENCE VS.

FORMAL EQUIVALENCE

PARAPHRASESPARAPHRASES