Pre-servants – Oct 2, 2009

Bible – I’m Living It

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Bible Facts – Miscellaneous FactsThe bible has 66 books (not counting the Apocrypha) 39 OT + 27 NTThe Bible contains 1189 chapters.The Old Testament has 929 chapters and the New Testament has 260 chapters.The longest chapter in the Bible is Psalm 119, and the shortest is Psalm 117.The longest verse is Esther 8:9, and the shortest is John 11:35.

The Bible was written: over a 1500 year span (from 1400 B.C to A.D. 100) over 40 generations over 40 authors from many walks of life (i.e. - kings, peasants, poets, philosophers, fishermen, statesmen, scholars)

in different places (i.e. - wilderness, dungeon, palaces) at different times (i.e. - war, peace) in different moods (i.e. - heights of joy, depths of despair) on three continents (Asia, Africa, and Europe) in three languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek)

24,000 manuscripts (2nd most is 643)

99.5% are in agreement (most were spelling mistakes or word order, none altered the meaning of the verse)

> 2,000 languages (2nd most is 200)

Manuscript Evidence for Ancient Writings

Author Written Earliest Copy Time Span # Mss.

Caesar 100-44 B.C. 900 A.D. 1,000 yrs 10

Plato 427-347 B.C. 900 A.D. 1,200 yrs 7

Thucydides 460-400 B.C. 900 A.D. 1,300 yrs 8

Tacitus 100 A.D. 1100 A.D. 1,000 yrs 20

Suetonius 75-160 A.D. 950 A.D. 800 yrs 8

Homer (Iliad) 900 B.C. 400 B.C. 500 yrs 643

New TestamentNew Testament 40-100 A.D.40-100 A.D. 125 A.D.125 A.D. 25-50 yrs25-50 yrs 24,00024,000

Purity: Ps 19:8 ; 119:9; Jn 15:2Purity: Ps 19:8 ; 119:9; Jn 15:2“The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes”“How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.”“You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.”

Retain it: Ps 119:11Retain it: Ps 119:11“Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” Converts you: Ps 19:7Converts you: Ps 19:7“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul”

Lamp & Light: Ps 119:105Lamp & Light: Ps 119:105“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Yummy: Jer 15:16Yummy: Jer 15:16“Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and

rejoicing of my heart”

Joy : Ps 19:8Joy : Ps 19:8“The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart”

The Bible Provides:

Bible is meant to be lived….

“for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doersdoers of the law will be justified” (Rom 2:13)

“But be doersdoers of the word, and not hearers only” (Js 1:22)

“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have worksworks?” (Js 2:14)

Hear Accept Do.

Bible is meant to be lived….

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrinedoctrine, for reproofreproof, for correctioncorrection, for instructioninstruction in righteousness” (2Tim 3:16)

“…the words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are lifelife” (John 6:63).

Questions to ask after reading a passage

— Sin to confess?

— Promise to claim?

— Attitude to change?

— Command to keep?

— Example to follow?

— Prayer to pray?

— Error to avoid?

— Truth to believe?

— Something to thank God for?

Practical Tips:

1) Read daily

2) Decide on place and time.

3) Don’t leave until at least 1 is answered (story of Jacob wrestling with God).

4) WRITE KEY VERSE

5) Memorize 1 verse/week

Homework

1) How can we prove the authenticity of the bible? OR

2) For 1 month, write down daily God’s message for you.