1-The Bible - RSV

1. The Bible Is Inspired by God.
2 Peter 1:21 Because no _prophecy_ ever came by the _impulse_ of man, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for _correction_, and for training in _righteousness_,

2. The Bible, As God's Word, Is True and Dependable.
Psalms 119:160 The sum of thy word is truth; and every one of thy _righteous_ _ordinances_ endures for ever.

Psalms 12:6-7 The promises of the LORD are promises that are pure, silver refined in a furnace on the ground, _purified_ seven times. [7] Do thou, O LORD, protect us, guard us ever from this _generation_.

3. God's Word Is Eternal.
Matthew 24:35 _Heaven_ and earth will pass away, but my _words_ will not pass away.

4. God Gives Us the Scriptures for Various Reasons.
Romans 15:4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by _steadfastness_ and by the _encouragement_ of the scriptures we might have hope.

2 Timothy 3:15 And how from childhood you have been _acquainted_ with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for _salvation_ through faith in Christ Jesus.

5. The Scriptures Point to Jesus.
John 5:39 You search the _scriptures_, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear _witness_ to me;

6. The Holy Spirit Will Help Us to Understand.
John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own _authority_, but _whatever_ he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

7. Our Hearts Must Be Open to Spiritual Things.
1 Corinthians 2:13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, _interpreting_ _spiritual_ truths to those who possess the Spirit.

8. We Must Compare Scripture with Scripture.
Isaiah 28:9-10 "Whom will he teach _knowledge_, and to whom will he _explain_ the _message_? Those who are weaned from the milk, those taken from the breast? [10] For it is precept 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 in the truth; thy _word_ is truth.

John 7:17 If any man's will is to do his will, he shall know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am _speaking_ 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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