1-The Bible - NKJ

1. The Bible Is Inspired by God.
2 Peter 1:21 For _prophecy_ never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy _Spirit_.

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for _instruction_ in _righteousness_,

2. The Bible, As God's Word, Is True and Dependable.
Psalms 119:160 The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your _righteous_ _judgments_ endures forever.

Psalms 12:6-7 The words of the Lord are pure words, Like silver tried in a furnace of earth, Purified seven times. [7] You shall keep them, O Lord, You shall _preserve_ them from this _generation_ forever.

3. God's Word Is Eternal.
Matthew 24:35 _Heaven_ and earth will pass away, but My words will by no _means_ pass away.

4. God Gives Us the Scriptures for Various Reasons.
Romans 15:4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the _patience_ and comfort of the _Scriptures_ might have hope.

2 Timothy 3:15 And that from childhood you have known the Holy _Scriptures_, which are able to make you wise for _salvation_ through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

5. The Scriptures Point to Jesus.
John 5:39 You search the _Scriptures_, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which _testify_ of Me.

6. The Holy Spirit Will Help Us to Understand.
John 16:13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own _authority_, but _whatever_ He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

7. Our Hearts Must Be Open to Spiritual Things.
1 Corinthians 2:13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy _Spirit_ teaches, _comparing_ spiritual things with spiritual.

8. We Must Compare Scripture with Scripture.
Isaiah 28:9-10 "Whom will he teach _knowledge_? And whom will he make to _understand_ the _message_? Those just weaned from milk? Those just drawn from the breasts? [10] For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little."

9. Truth Comes to Open Minds.
John 17:17 _Sanctify_ them by Your truth. Your _word_ is truth.

John 7:17 If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know _concerning_ the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own _authority_.

10. Important Characteristics of the Bible.
(1) Its unity: The Bible at first sight appears to be merely a collection of ancient literature. However, considering that it was written by approximately forty authors over a period of nearly sixteen hundred years, its unity is amazing. The plan of salvation is revealed progressively from Genesis to Revelation. There is unity in its theme: The Messiah is promised throughout the Old Testament and declared in every New Testament book to have come in the person of Jesus Christ. And there is complete harmony of teaching: The doctrines of the Old and New Testament are the same.

(2) The history it portrays: The Old Testament embodies the oldest history of any people in the world. William F. Albright, the greatest archaeologist of the twentieth century, wrote, "hebrew national tradition excels all other in its clear picture of tribal and family origins. In Egypt and Babylonia, in Assyria and Phoenicia, in Greece and Rome, we look in vain for anything comparable. There is nothing like it in the tradition of the Germanic peoples. Neither India nor China can produce anything similar. "-The Biblical Period From Abraham to Ezra (new York: Harper, Torch Book, 1963), p. 27.

(3) Its survival: The Bible, compared with other ancient writings, has more manuscript evidence than any other piece of classical literature-in spite of early attempts by Roman emperors to destroy it. For example, there are more than five thousand known Greek manuscripts of the New Testament in existence. Homer's Iliad is second with only 643 manuscripts that have survived.

The reason for this phenomenon is the Holy Spirit, the real author of God's Word. He inspired all the human authors and ensured that the biblical historians presented an accurate picture. He watched over the history and preservation of the Bible.

Contributed by: Gerard Pfandl, Associate Director of the Biblical Research Institute of the General Conference. Taken from "the Prophetic Gift", Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide, December 31, 2008.

Next Bible Study: 2-Who God Is

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