First Principles Introduction What is a first principle

First Principles Introduction What is a first principle? • A Bible first principle is a fundamental doctrine where a correct understanding affects other First Principles and salvation is at stake, i. e. – John 17: 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

First Principles Introduction Why is a correct understanding of the Bible’s principles important for eternal life? • The Bible’s first principles begin with understanding of God and His marvellous plan of salvation which involves the work of Jesus and the hope of the kingdom to come. Again John 17: 3 is helpful for it says knowledge of God and Jesus is so important that eternal life is at stake! – John 17: 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

First Principles Introduction What is so helpful for Christadelphians to have the BASF? – The BASF acts like a anchor so that one is not tossed to and fro with “every wind of doctrine” that comes along. • Ephes. 4: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Looking at Appendix #2, why do so many churches have so many false beliefs? False doctrine spreads like leaven until it corrupts the “whole” loaf (church). – Matthew 13: 33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman (mother church) took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole (daughter churches) was leavened. – Matthew 16: 11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? 12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine (1322 “didache”) and of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

First Principles Authority of the Bible 1. Give six Bible passages that show the Bible's claim that throughout its length, it is God's inspired word. A. Example #1 (2 Tim. 3: 15 -17) All Scripture was given by the inspiration of God therefore the authority is not the human writers but Almighty God. B. Example #2 (2 Peter 1: 21) The holy Scriptures are not man's own knowledge or invention. C. Example #3 (1 Peter 1: 10 -12) Shows that much of the holy Scriptures when revealed to the prophets wasn't always understood by those prophets. D. Example #4 (Hebrews 1: 1, 2) The Scriptures when revealed by God to His prophets vary in time, agency, method and form. E. Example #5 (Matthew 5: 17 -19) The confirmation by Jesus of the law and prophets even to the last jot and tittle. F. Example #6 (John 10: 34, 35) The Scriptures cannot be broken otherwise they become of none effect.

First Principles Authority of the Bible 2. What were the five listed requirements needed to establish proof that a Bible prophecy is God inspired. A. The prophecies were written before the foretold events B. The predicted events were of a nature that no amount of human foresight could anticipate them. C. The events were not probabilities likely to develop but rather improbable and seemingly impossible at the time of their pronouncement. D. The predictions are incapable of two or more constructions. E. The prophecies are of such a nature as to be continually in danger of being falsified down to our own day.

First Principles Authority of the Bible 3. (True/False) 2 Tim. 3: 15 -17 supports the Bible claim that the whole Bible is God inspired. Circle the correct answer and then support your answer. – – False Books like the epistles of John and the Revelation are thought to have been written after 2 nd Timothy.

First Principles Authority of the Bible 4. In 2 Pet. 1: 20, what does it mean by "the scriptures is not of any private <2398> interpretation"? – The meaning is that the scriptures are not “ones own” work but were guided by God’s holy spirit power. • 2398 idios {id'-ee-os} AV - his own 48, their own 13, 13 privately 8, 113 (1) pertaining to one's self, one's own, belonging to one's self

First Principles Authority of the Bible 5. Give three reasons why the famous historian Arnold Toynbee said: "Judaism doesn't fit into the cycle of the rise and fall of civilizations"? • The Jews should have disappeared 2000 years ago. • They remained separate even though persecuted. • Israel's land was to be a possession of strangers yet never cultivated by them and after 2000 years the Jews returned and became a nation again.

First Principles Authority of the Bible 6. What is the name of the important first principle that the previous quotes by Arnold Toynbee supports? • The Authority of the Bible.

First Principles Authority of the Bible 7. What is the name of the late leader of Iraq who tried to undermine the prophet Isaiah by rebuilding Babylon? • Saddam Hussein

First Principles Authority of the Bible 8. (re: the 12 listed items supporting the Bible's authority) Arrange these items in order of their level of importance in supporting the Bible's claim that it is the inspired word of God. State why you selected your first choice. – Prophecy, Creation, Structure, Theme, Accuracy, Archaeology, Science, Medicine, Resurrection, Fact, Character, Little things. – Prophecy since man can’t foretell the future in detail over thousands of years.

First Principles Authority of the Bible 9. About thirty years ago, Egypt and Syria tried to head up the Arab world forming the United Arab Republic. List some Bible reasons why this was not successful. • Eze 17: 14; 29: 14 that Egypt would be a base kingdom. • Isa. 19 that Egypt is to be brought low by civil war and a cruel fierce king would take over before delivered by Jesus in v. 20.

First Principles Authority of the Bible 10. The Creation Research Society says the creation in Genesis chapter 1 all took place 6000 years ago. Why does this interpretation cause many to not believe the Bible is God inspired? What is an interpretation that eliminates this difficulty? • Science shows the Andromeda Galaxy is 2 million light years away therefore the beginning is far older then 6000 years. • This difficulty is removed since Gen. 1: 1 doesn’t say when the beginning was. Furthere is good evidence of a time gap in Gen. 1: 2 plus the 4 th day of creation supports after showing the “firmament of Heaven” is the earth’s atmosphere, that God didn’t create the sun, moon and starts on the 4 th day but back in Gen. 1: 1.

First Principles Authority of the Bible 11. (Bible Marking) Find space in your Bible or add a separate page to your Bible under the heading: – "The Authority of the Bible" and include support under the following divisions: • The Bible's claim: 2 Tim. 3: 15 -17; 2 Pet. 1: 21; etc. • Evidence supporting the Bible's claim: – Prophecy: Israel - Deu. 28; Lev. 26; Eze. 36, 37, 38 – Archaeology: . ". . . there are no archaeological findings that controvert a Biblical reference. " (Dr. Nelson Glueck) – Structure: 70 books, 40 writers over 2000 years with perfect unity and consistency throughout!