Back to Basics February Give me the Bible

Back to Basics February Give me the Bible What is the Bible?

What is the Bible? • The account of God’s work and purpose for this world and His creation. • Jesus is the focal point! John 1: 1 -4, 14, Rev. 19: 11 • Bible, (βιβλος, biblos) – book. Used some 45 times in the NT.

Facts about the Bible • A collection of 66 books; 39 – OT; 27 – NT • Written by 40 different men from varied background, 3 languages, 3 continents, over 1600 years – Yet it’s message is united. • Various literary styles

Facts about the Bible • The first book to be mass produced with movable type (the Gutenberg Bible – 1450 AD) • #1 best seller of all time – 5 billion+ copies since 1815. Sells around 50 per minute • Complete Bible in 340 languages , with portions in at least 2100 languages.

Called: • The book – Heb. 10: 7 • The Law of the Lord – Psa. 19: 7 • The Word of God – Heb. 4: 12, Luke 11: 28, Eph. 6: 17

Called: • Word of Christ – Col. 3: 16 • The Gospel – Rom. 1: 16 • The word of life – Phil. 2: 16

Called: • Words of the Lord – Psalm 12: 6, 1 Pet. 2: 25 • Holy scripture, scripture– John 5: 39, Rom 1: 2 Acts 17: 11, 2 Tim. 2: 15 • Oracles of God – 1 Pet. 4: 11, Rom. 3: 2, Heb. 5: 12, Acts 7: 38

Described: • Inspired– 2 Tim. 3: 16, 17 θεόπνευστος, theophneustos - the breath of God! • Truth – John 17: 17, Psa. 119: 151, 160 ἀλήθεια, alatheia – actual, upright

Described: • A sword– Eph. 6: 17, cf. Heb. 4: 12 Able to engage the enemy Pierce the heart • Perfect – Psa. 19: 7, Jas. 1: 25 Not lacking anything, without error

Described: • Living and powerful– Heb. 4: 12 IT works and is effective • A Lamp (light) – Psa. 119: 105, 2 Pet. 1: 19, cf. John 3: 21 It enlightens, reveals & exposes

Described: • Food – Matt. 4: 4, 1 Pet. 2: 2 Heb. 5: 12 -14 IT nourishes, gives us strength • A mirror– James 1: 22 -25 Reflects our image, reveals

Described: A fire – Jer. 23: 29, ““Is not My word like a fire? ” says the LORD, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? ” cf. 1 Pet 1: 22, Jer. 20: 9 It purifies us, tests us

Described: • A hammer – Jer. 23: 29 IT can break down barriers, break through the hardened heart • Seed – Luke 8: 11, 1 Pet. 1: 23 -25 It can grow within us

Described: • Enduring – 1 Pet. 1: 25, Psa. 119: 160 It will not end nor be defeated. • These descriptions demonstrate the impact His word can have in our lives if we apply it – Matt. 7: 21 -23, Jas. 1: 25

What can the Bible do? • It reveals God – Rom. 1: 16, 17 • Gives us life, leads us to salvation – John 20: 30 -31, 1 Cor. 15: 1 -2

What can the Bible do? • Gives us faith – Rom. 10: 17 • Makes us complete 2 Tim. 3: 16, 17

What can the Bible do? • All that we need to be godly – 2 Pet. 1: 3 -5 • It is a resource that governs our life for good, teaches us how to get along, manage relationships, live morally, etc.

What can the Bible do? • It gives us refuge as we deal with troubles • It gives us hope beyond this life in a world that robs us of hope.

• “The Bible was not given for our information, but for our transformation. ” D. W. Moody

Back to Basics What does the Bible mean to you?