2 Timothy 3:15-17

12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

• The Bible is not “a book.” It is a collection of “books.”

• There are 66 books that make up the Bible: 39 in the Old Testament 27 in the New Testament.

The Bible…

• Over 40 different authors• Over 1,500 years• In 3 different languages• On 3 different continents• Not one contradiction or

mistake

The Bible…

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness

17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct.

We believe…

2 Timothy 3:16 - All Scripture is given by inspiration of God

2 Peter 1:20-21 - holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit

Hebrews 1:1 – God… spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets

1. God Spoke to Man

Habakkuk 2:2 - Then the LORD said: "Write the vision and make it plain

Jeremiah 30:2 - Thus says the LORD, “Write in a book…all the words that I have spoken to you.”

Isaiah 30:8 - Go, write it …on a tablet, and on a scroll, that it may be for time to come…

2. Men wrote it down

Written Inspiration is not “Mechanical Dictation”

God did not dictate revelation to be written down word for word. He inspired the writers to express ideas in a way that fully captured God’s intent but retained the writer’s personality.

“Verbal-Plenary Inspiration”

2. Men wrote it down

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:1 & 14

Habakkuk 2:2 - Then the LORD answered me and said: "Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.

3. The writings were copied and circulated

Habakkuk 2:2 - Then the LORD answered me and said: "Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.

The original writings or “autographs” were inspired, not the copies or “manuscripts.”

3. The writings were copied and circulated

Geniza Fragments – AD 400

Ben Asher Manuscripts – AD 700

Aleppo Codex – AD 950

Codex Leningradensis – AD 1008

Codex Vaticanus (LXX) – AD 350

Codex Sinaiticus (LXX) – AD 350

Dead Sea Scrolls – 200 BC

Oldest OT Manuscripts

Geniza Fragments – AD 400

Ben Asher Manuscripts – AD 700

Aleppo Codex – AD 950

Codex Leningradensis – AD 1008

Codex Vaticanus (LXX) – AD 350

Codex Sinaiticus (LXX) – AD 350

Dead Sea Scrolls – 200 BC

Oldest OT Manuscripts

P52 - AD 125

Bodmer P66 – AD 200

Chester Beatty P46 – AD 200

Bodmer P75 – AD 250

Chester Beatty P45 – AD 250

Codex Sinaiticus – AD 350

Codex Vaticanus – AD 350

Over 5,600 NT Manuscripts

Old Latin Testaments – AD 195

Old Syriac NT – AD 300

Coptic Versions – AD 300

Latin Vulgate – AD 380

Wycliff English Version - 1380

Tyndale English Version - 1526

King James Version – 1611

Earliest Versions of Bible

5600 manuscripts generated thousands of variants between them

4. The writings were studied for credibility

5600 manuscripts generated thousands of variants between them …200,000 variants

4. The writings were studied for credibility

Textual Criticism

The practice of examining the vast number of manuscripts to determine the accuracy or probability of accuracy to the original autographs.

4. The writings were studied for credibility

Textual Criticism

"The New Testament has not only survived in more manuscripts that any other book from antiquity, but it has survived in a purer form than any other great book - a form that is 99.5 percent pure.“

- A General Introduction to The Bible” Geisler & Nix

4. The writings were studied for credibility

To “Canonize” is to “confirm that it is authentic”

1 John 4:1 - Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

5. The writings were “Canonized”

To “Canonize” is to “confirm that it is authentic”

It was when church sorted through the mass of ancient writings to recognize what was inspired by God and declare it as an authoritative rule of faith and conduct.

5. The writings were “Canonized”

Is it Authoritative?

Is it Prophetic?

Is it Authentic?

Is it Dynamic?

Is it Accepted?

5. The writings were “Canonized”

Council of Carthage – AD 397

Canon 24. Besides the canonical Scriptures, nothing shall be read in church under the name of divine Scriptures. Moreover, the canonical Scriptures are these: (then follows a list of the books of the Old and New Testaments)

5. The writings were “Canonized”

King James Version – 1611

New American Standard – 1971

New International Version – 1973

New King James Version – 1982

YouVersion Bible App - 2008

6. Modern Bibles Developed

Isaiah 55:11 - So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

The Word of God is still powerful and changing lives today!

Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The Bible continues to bear fruit as God’s Word

2 Timothy 3:15-17