B I B L E Basic Instruction

B. I. B. L. E. : Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth

“The Bible is to us what the star was to the wise men; but if we spend all our time in gazing upon it, observing its motions, and admiring its splendor, without being led to Christ by it, the use of it will be lost on us. ” ~ Thomas Adams

“It is somewhat misleading to think of the early Bible as a neatly defined ‘book’ in the sense of a single unified literary work, or even as an anthology. In reality, it was an ancient library. ” ~ Jeffery L. Sheler

“The Holy Scriptures are our letters from home. ” ~ St. Augustine of Hippo

“It is not the work of the spirit to tell you the meaning of Scripture, and give you the knowledge of divinity, without your own study and labour, but to bless that study, and give you knowledge thereby. ” ~ Richard Baxter

“I have spent a lot of time looking through the Bible – for loopholes. ” ~ W. C. Fields

“The Bible is not only a book which I can understand, it is a book which understands me. ” ~ Emile Caillet

“The Bible as a book stands alone. There never was, nor ever will be, another like it. As there is but one sun to enlighten the world naturally, so there is but one Book to enlighten the world spiritually. ” ~ A. Galloway

“The Bible is the greatest benefit which the human race has ever experienced. A single line it the Bible has consoled me more than all the books I ever read besides. ” ~ Immanuel Kant

“Everything of God gets expressed in Jesus, so you can see and hear him clearly. ” ~ Eugene Peterson

“God is not silent. It is the nature of God to speak. The second person of the Holy Trinity is called ‘The Word’. The Bible is the inevitable outcome of God’s continuous speech. It is the infallible declaration of His mind. ” ~ A. W. Tozer

“Most people are bothered by those passages of Scripture they do not understand, but the passages that bother me are those I do understand. ” ~ Mark Tain

“I want to know one thing, the way to heaven: how to land safe on that happy shore. God himself has condescended to teach the way; for this very end he came from heaven. He has written it down in a book! Oh, give me that book! At any price, give me the book of God! I have it: here is knowledge enough for me. Let me be hom unius libri: ‘A man of one book’. ” ~ John Wesley

“If I were the devil, one of my first aims would be to stop folk from digging into the Bible. ” ~ J. I. Packer, Theologian

“Truth is tough. It will not break like a bubble at a touch; nay, you may kick it about all day like a football, and it will be round and full at evening. ” ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes

“Test everything. ” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5: 21, TNIV

“Truth is tough. It will not break like a bubble at a touch; nay, you may kick it about all day like a football, and it will be round and full at evening. ” ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes

“Test everything. ” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5: 21, TNIV

We should not believe in the Bible because we have a need to believe in something. We should believe the Bible because it gives evidence of being true.

We were created to be believers. We’re wired for faith!

Diversity of Books 66 different Books

Diversity of Authors Moses – A political leader Joshua – A military leader David – A Shepherd, and King Solomon – A Philosopher, and King Matthew – A Government Employee Luke – A medical doctor Paul – A well-educated Rabbi Peter – A fisherman John – An Eyewitness to Jesus

Diversity Of Times About 1500 B. C. E. – 100 C. E.

Diversity Of Locations Wildernesses Prisons Palaces

Diversity Of Continents 13 Countries in 3 Continents… Africa Asia Europe

Diversity Of Languages Hebrew Aramaic Greek

Diversity Of Genres History Poetry Law Parable Biography Prophecy Official Church Correspondence Personal Correspondence Apocalyptic

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that God’s people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. ” ~ 2 Timothy 3: 16 -17, TNIV

“The things which I write to you are the Lord's commandment. ” ~ 1 Corinthians 14: 37, NASB

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ” ~ John 14: 6, TNIV

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. ” ~ John 1: 1 -2, TNIV

“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various 2 but in these last days he ways, has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. ” ~ Hebrews 1: 1 -2, TNIV

“…God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. ” ~ 1 Timothy 3: 15, TNIV

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, 20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. ” ~ Ephesians 2: 19 -20, NRSV

CATHOLICS = The church gave us the Bible, therefore the church is authoritative over the Bible. Hence, Church traditions and teachings can be binding, even if not found in the Bible. PROTESTANTS = The apostles gave us the Bible (Ephesians 2: 20), but they’re dead now. So their teaching in the Bible is our only authority. BIC’s = The church, gathered around the Bible, is God’s primary way of teaching His people. So, yes, the Bible, rightly understood and properly proclaimed, is authoritative. But it can only be rightly understood in community with the church.

“Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God whether I am speaking on my own. ” ~ John 7: 17 (NRSV)