# 9 of Ten Reasons I Believe the Bible is the Word of God

# 9 of Ten Reasons Why I Believe The Bible Is The Word Of God by R. A. Torrey

NINTH, on the ground of the fact that as we grow in knowledge and holiness we grow toward the Bible.

Every thoughtful person when he starts out to study the Bible finds many things with which he does not agree, but as he goes on studying and growing in likeness to God, the nearer he gets to God the nearer he gets to the Bible. The nearer and nearer we get to God's standpoint the less and less becomes the disagreement between us and the Bible. What is the inevitable mathematical conclusion? When we get where God is, we and the Bible will meet. In other words, the Bible was written from God's standpoint.

Suppose you are traveling through a forest under the conduct of an experienced and highly recommended guide. You come to a place where two roads diverge. The guide says the road to the left is the one to take, but your own judgment passing upon the facts before it sees clear evidence that the road to the right is the one to take. You turn and say to the guide,

"I know you have had large experience in this forest, and you have come to me highly recommended, but my own judgment tells me clearly that the road to the right is the one we should take, and I must follow my own judgment. I know my reason is not infallible, but it is the best guide I have."

But after you have followed that path for some distance you are obliged to stop, turn around and go back and take the path which the guide said was the right one.

After a while you come to another place where two roads diverge. Now the guide says the road to the right is the one to take, but your judgment clearly says the one to the left is the one to take, and again you follow your own judgment with the same result as before.

After you had this experience forty or fifty times, and found yourself wrong every time, I think you would have sense enough the next time to follow the guide.

That is just my experience with the Bible. I received it at first on the authority of others. Like almost all other young men, my confidence became shaken, and I came to the fork in the road more than forty times, and I followed, my own reason, and in the outcome found myself wrong and the Bible right every time, and I trust that from this time on I shall have sense enough to follow the teachings of the Bible whatever my own judgment may say.

Proverbs [GW] 1:1-7; 32:8-9 The proverbs of Solomon, David's son who was king of Israel, given to grasp wisdom and discipline, to understand deep thoughts, to acquire the discipline of wise behavior- righteousness and justice and fairness- to give insight to gullible people, to give knowledge and foresight to the young- a wise person will listen and continue to learn, and an understanding person will gain direction- to understand a proverb and a clever saying, the words of wise people and their riddles. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge. Stubborn fools despise wisdom and discipline. … The LORD says, "I will instruct you. I will teach you the way that you should go. I will advise you as my eyes watch over you. Don't be stubborn like a horse or mule. They need a bit and bridle in their mouth to restrain them, or they will not come near you."

# 8 of Ten Reasons Why I Believe the Bible is the Word of God

# 8 of Ten Reasons Why I Believe The Bible Is The Word Of God by R. A. Torrey

EIGHTH, on the ground of the inexhaustible depth of the book.

Nothing has been added to it in eighteen hundred years, yet a man like Bunsen, or Neander, cannot exhaust it by the study of a lifetime. George Müller read it through more than one hundred times, and said it was fresher every time he read it. Could that be true of any other book?

But more wonderful than this-not only individual men but generations of men for eighteen hundred years have dug into it and given to the world thousands of volumes devoted to its exposition, and they have not reached the bottom of the quarry yet. A book that man produces man can exhaust, but all men together have not been able to get to the bottom of this book. How are you going to account for it? Only in this way-that in this book are hidden the infinite and inexhaustible treasures of the wisdom and knowledge of God.

A brilliant Unitarian writer, in trying to disprove the inspiration of the Bible, says: "How irreligious to charge an infinite God with having written His whole Word in so small a book." He does not see how his argument can be turned against himself. What a testimony it is to the divinity of this book that such infinite wisdom is stored away in so small a compass.

Isaiah [MKJV] 40:1-8 Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak lovingly to the heart of Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is done, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she has received of Jehovah's hand double for all her sins. The voice of him who cries in the wilderness, Prepare the way of Jehovah, make straight a highway in the desert for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked places shall be made level, and the rough places smooth; and the glory of Jehovah shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of Jehovah has spoken. The voice said, Cry! And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the beauty of it is as the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, because the Spirit of Jehovah blows on it; surely the people is grass. The grass withers, the flower fades; but the Word of our God shall stand forever.

1Peter [MKJV] 1:24-25 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of men as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls out, but the Word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the Word preached as gospel to you.

# 7 of Ten Reasons Why I Believe the Bible is the Word of God

# 7 of Ten Reasons Why I Believe The Bible Is The Word Of God by R. A. Torrey

There is more power in that little book to save men, and purify, gladden and beautify their lives, than in all other literature put together-more power to lift men up to God. A stream never rises higher than its source, and a book that has a power to lift men up to God that no other book has, must have come down from God in a way that no other book was.

I have in mind as I write a man who was the most complete victim of strong drink I ever knew; a man of marvelous intellectual gifts, but who had been stupefied and brutalized and demonized by the power of sin, and he was an infidel. At last the light of God shone into his darkened heart, and by the power of that book he has been transformed into one of the humblest, sweetest, noblest men I know to-day.

What other book would have done that? What other book has the power to elevate not only individuals but communities and nations that this book has?

PS. Possibly some of you will share life-change that readers in need will be edified? “Anonymous” is OK signature. Please share His story in your life and I’ll publish in the future.  Thank you.  EBB4 

# 6 of Ten Reasons Why I Believe the Bible is the Word of God

# 6 of Ten Reasons Why I Believe The Bible Is The Word Of God by R. A. Torrey

SIXTH, on the ground of the character of those who accept and of those who reject the book.

Two things speak for the divinity of the Bible-the character of those who accept it, and, equally, the character of those who reject it. I do not mean by this that every man who professes to believe the book is better than every man that does not, but show me a man living an unselfish, devoted life, one who without reservation has surrendered himself to do the will of God, and I will show you a man who believes the Bible to be God's Word. On the other hand, show me a man who rejects the Divine authority of that book, and I will show you a man living a life of greed, or lust, or spiritual pride, or self will.

Suppose you have a book purporting to be by a certain author, and the people best acquainted with that author say it is his, and the people least acquainted with him say it is not; which will you believe? Now, the people best acquainted with God say the Bible is His book; those who are least acquainted with God say it is not. Which will you believe?

Furthermore, as men grow better they are more likely to accept the Bible, and as they grow worse they are more likely to reject it. We have all known men who were both sinful and unbelieving, who by forsaking their sin lost their unbelief. Did any of us ever know a man who was sinful and believing, who by forsaking his sin lost his faith? The nearer men live to God the more confident they are that the Bible is God's Word; the farther they get away from Him the more confident they are that it is not.

Where is the stronghold of the Bible? In the pure, unselfish, happy home. Where is the stronghold of infidelity? The gambling hell, the drinking saloon and the brothel. If a man should walk into a saloon and lay a Bible down upon the bar, and order a drink, we should think there was a strange incongruity in his actions, but if he should lay any infidel writing upon the bar, and order a drink, we would not feel that there was any incongruity.

# 5 of Ten Reasons Why I Believe the Bible is the Word of God

# 5 of Ten Reasons Why I Believe The Bible Is The Word Of God by R. A. Torrey

FIFTH, on the ground of the history of the book, its victory over attack.

This book has always been hated. No sooner was it given to the world than it met the hatred of men, and they tried to stamp it out. Celsus tried it by the brilliancy of his genius, Porphyry by the depth of his philosophy; but they failed, Lucian directed against it the shafts of his ridicule, Diocletian the power of the Roman empire; but they failed. Edicts backed by all the power of the empire were issued that every Bible should be burned, and that everyone who had a Bible should be put to death. For eighteen centuries every engine of destruction that human science, philosophy, wit, reasoning or brutality could bring to bear against a book has been brought to bear against that book to stamp it out of the world, but it has a mightier hold on the world to-day than ever before.

If that were man's book it would have been annihilated and forgotten hundreds of years ago, but because there is in it "the hiding of God's power," though at times all the great men of the world have been against it, and only an obscure remnant for it, still it has fulfilled wonderfully the words of Christ, though not in the sense of the original prophecy, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away."[Jesus speaking: Mk.13:31; Lk.21:33]

# of Ten Reasons Why I Believe the Bible is the Word of God

# 4 of Ten Reasons Why I Believe The Bible Is The Word Of God by R. A. Torrey

FOURTH, on the ground of the immeasurable superiority of the teachings of the Bible to those of any other and all other books.

It is quite fashionable in some quarters to compare the teachings of the Bible with the teachings of Zoroaster, and Buddha, and Confucius, and Epictetus, and Socrates, and Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, and a number of other heathen authors. The difference between the teachings of the Bible and those of these men is found in three points-

First, the Bible has in it nothing but truth, while all the others have truth mixed with error. It is true Socrates taught how a philosopher ought to die; he also taught how a woman of the town ought to conduct her business. Jewels there are in the teachings of these men, but (as Joseph Cook once said) they are "jewels picked out of the mud."

Second, the Bible contains all truth. There is not a truth to be found anywhere on moral or spiritual subjects that you cannot find in substance within the covers of that old Book. I have often, when speaking upon this subject, asked anyone to bring me a single truth on moral or spiritual subjects, which, upon reflection, I could not find within the covers of this book, and no one has ever been able to do it. I have taken pains to compare some of the better teachings of infidels with those of the Bible. They indeed have jewels of thought, but they are, whether they knew it or not, stolen jewels, and stolen from the very book they ridicule.

The third point of superiority is this: the Bible contains more truth than all other books together. Get together from all literature of ancient and modern times all the beautiful thoughts you can; put away all the rubbish; put all these truths that you have culled from the literature of all ages into one book, and as the result, even then you will not have a book that will take the place of this one book.

This is not a large book. I hold in my hand a copy that I carry in my vest pocket and yet in this one little book there is more of truth than in all the books which man has produced in all the ages of his history. How will you account for it? There is only one rational way. This is not man's book, but God's book.

# 3 of Ten Reasons Why I Believe the Bible is the Word of God

# 3 of Ten Reasons Why I Believe The Bible Is The Word Of God by R. A. Torrey

THIRD, on the ground of the unity of the book.

This is an old argument, but a very satisfactory one. The Bible consists of sixty-six books, written by more than thirty different men, extending in the period of its composition over more than fifteen hundred years; written in three different languages, in many different countries, and by men on every plane of social life, from the herdsman and fisherman and cheap politician up to the king upon his throne; written under all sorts of circumstances; yet in all this wonderful conglomeration we find an absolute unity of thought.

A wonderful thing about it is that this unity does not lie on the surface. On the surface there is oftentimes apparent contradiction, and the unity only comes out after deep and protracted study.

More wonderful yet is the organic character of this unity, beginning in the first book and growing till you come to its culmination in the last book of the Bible. We have first the seed, then the plant, then the bud, then the blossom, then the ripened fruit.

Suppose a vast building were to be erected, the stones for which were brought from the quarries in Rutland, Vermont; Berea, Ohio; Kasota, Minnesota, and Middletown, Connecticut. Each stone was hewn into final shape in the quarry from which it was brought. These stones were of all varieties of shape and size, cubical, rectangular, cylindrical, etc., but when they were brought together every stone fitted into its place, and when put together there rose before you a temple absolutely perfect in every outline, with its domes, sidewalls, buttresses, arches, transepts-not a gap or a flaw anywhere. How would you account for it? You would say:

"Back of these individual workers in the quarries was the master-mind of the architect who planned it all, and gave to each individual worker his specifications for the work."

So in this marvelous temple of God's truth which we call the Bible, whose stones have been quarried at periods of time and in places so remote from one another, but where every smallest part fits each other part, we are forced to say that back of the human hands that wrought was the Master-mind that thought.

# 2 of Ten Reasons I Believe the Bible is the Word of God

# 2 of Ten Reasons Why I Believe The Bible Is The Word Of God by R. A. Torrey

SECOND, on the ground of its fulfilled prophecies.

There are two classes of prophecies in the Bible-first, the explicit, verbal prophecies, second, those of the types.

In the first we have the definite prophecies concerning the Jews, the heathen nations and the Messiah. Taking the prophecies, regarding the Messiah as an illustration, look at Isaiah 53, Mic. 5:2, Dan. 9:25-27. Many others might be mentioned, but these will serve as illustrations. In these prophecies, written hundreds of years before the Messiah came, we have the most explicit statements as to the manner and place of His birth, the manner of His reception by men, how His life would end, His resurrection and His victory succeeding His death. When made, these prophecies were exceedingly improbable, and seemingly impossible of fulfillment; but they were fulfilled to the very minutest detail of manner and place and time. How are we to account for it? Man could not have foreseen these improbable events-they lay hundreds of years ahead-but God could, and it is God who speaks through these men.

But the prophecies of the types are more remarkable still. Everything in the Old Testament-history, institutions, ceremonies-is prophetical. The high priesthood, the ordinary priesthood, the Levites, the prophets, priests and kings, are all prophecies. The tabernacle, the brazen altar, the laver, the golden candlestick, the table of shewbread, the veil, the altar of incense, the ark of the covenant, the very coverings of the tabernacle, are prophecies. In all these things, as we study them minutely and soberly in the light of the history of Jesus Christ and the church, we see, wrapped up in the ancient institutions ordained of God to meet an immediate purpose, prophecies of the death, atonement, and resurrection of Christ, the day of Pentecost, and the entire history of the church. We see the profoundest Christian doctrines of the New Testament clearly foreshadowed in these institutions of the Old Testament. The only way in which you can appreciate this is to get into the Book itself and study all about the sacrifices and feasts, etc., till you see the truths of the New Testament shining out in the Old. If, in studying some elementary form of life, I find a rudimentary organ, useless now, but by the process of development to become of use in that animal's descendant, I say, back of this rudimentary organ is God, who, in the earlier animal, is preparing for the life and necessities of the animal that is to come. So, going back to these preparations in the Bible for the truth that is to be clearly taught at a later day, there is only one scientific way to account for them, namely, He who knows and prepares for the end from the beginning is the author of that Book.

# 1 of Ten Reasons I Believe the Bible is the Word of God

# 1 of Ten Reasons Why I Believe The Bible Is The Word Of God by R. A. Torrey

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FIRST, on the ground of the testimony of Jesus Christ.

  Many people accept the authority of Christ who do not accept that of the Bible as a whole. We all must accept His authority. He is accredited to us by five Divine testimonies: by the testimony of the Divine life He lived; by the testimony of the Divine words He spoke; by the testimony of the Divine works He wrought; by the Divine attestation of the resurrection from the dead; and by the testimony of His Divine influence upon the history of mankind. But if we accept the authority of Christ we must accept the authority of the Bible as a whole. He testifies definitely and specifically to the Divine authorship of the whole Bible.

  We find His testimony as to the Old Testament in Mark 7:13. Here He calls the law of Moses the "Word of God." That, of course, covers only the first five books of the Old Testament, but in Luke 24:27 we read, "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself," and in the forty-fourth verse He said, "All things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses and in the prophets and the Psalms." The Jews, divided the Old Testament into three parts-the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms-and Christ takes up each of these parts and sets the stamp of His authority upon it. In John 10:35 Christ says, "The Scripture cannot be broken," thereby teaching the absolute accuracy and inviolability of the Old Testament. More specifically still, it possible, in Matthew 5:18, Jesus says, "One jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled." A jot is the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet-less than half the size of any other letter, and a tittle is the merest point of a consonant-less than the cross we put on a "t,"-and Christ here declares that the Scripture is absolutely true, down to the smallest letter or point of a letter. So if we accept the authority of Christ we must accept the Divine authority of the entire Old Testament.

  Now, as to the New Testament. We find Christ's endorsement of it in John 14:26, "The Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." Here we see that not only was the teaching of the Apostles to be fully inspired, but also their recollection of what Christ Himself taught. We are sometimes asked how we know that the Apostles correctly reported what Jesus said-"may they not have forgotten?" True, they might forget, but Christ Himself tells us that in the Gospels we have, not the Apostles' recollection of what He said, but the Holy Ghost's recollection, and the Spirit of God never forgets. In John 16:13, 14, Christ said that the Holy Ghost should guide the Apostles into "all the truth," therefore in the New Testament teaching we have the whole sphere of God's truth. The teaching of the Apostles is more complete than that of Jesus Himself, for He says in John 16:12, "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit, when He, the Spirit of truth is come, He shall guide you into all the truth." While His own teaching had been partial, because of their weakness, the teaching of the Apostles, under the promised Spirit, was to take in the whole sphere of God's truth.

  So if we accept the authority of Christ we must accept that of the whole Bible, but we must, as already seen, accept Christ's authority.

THE BIBLE IS MYTHOLOGY?

THE BIBLE IS MYTHOLOGY?

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Question: "How do I know the Bible is not just mythology?"

  That the Bible originated in the mind of God makes it not only unique among all books, it is unique among all the treasures on earth. President Abraham Lincoln appropriately referred to the Bible as “the best gift God has given to man.” Indeed it is. It reveals God’s eternal plan of redeeming the fallen human race. Yet even though billions of copies of it have been distributed throughout the world, many continue to question its truth. Is the Bible a book of mythology, or is it the true, inspired Word of God? This question is of the greatest importance to every person, whether they know it or not.
  Many religious texts claim to convey a divine message. The Bible, however, stands alone in that God left absolutely no room for doubt as to whether or not this is His written Word. If anyone undertakes an honest effort to examine the facts, he will find the Bible most assuredly has God’s signature all through it. The very same mouth that spoke all of creation into existence also gave us the Bible.
  Unlike mythology, the Bible has a historical framework. Its characters are real people living in verifiable locations during historical events. The Bible mentions Nebuchadnezzar, Sennacherib, Cyrus, Herod, Felix, Pilate, and many other historical figures. Its history coincides with that of many nations, including the Egyptian, Hittite, Persian, Babylonian, and Roman empires. The events of the Bible take place in geographical areas such as Canaan, Syria, Egypt, Mesopotamia, and others. All this certifiable detail refutes the idea that the Bible is mere mythology.
  Unlike mythology, the Bible has many confirmations in sciences such as biology, geology, astronomy, and archaeology. The field of biblical archaeology has absolutely exploded in the last century and a half, during which time hundreds of thousands of artifacts have been discovered. Just one example: at one time, skeptics used the Bible’s references to the Hittite civilization as “proof” that the Bible was a myth. There was never any such people as the “Hittites,” according to the science of the day. However, in 1876, the first of a series of discoveries was made, and now the existence of the ancient Hittite civilization is well documented. Archaeology continues to bolster the Bible’s historicity. As Dr. Henry M. Morris has remarked, “There exists today not one unquestionable find of archaeology that proves the Bible to be in error at any point.”
  Unlike mythology, the Bible is written as history. Luke wrote his Gospel as “an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us . . . just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses.” Luke claims that he had “carefully investigated everything from the beginning” and so wrote “an orderly account . . . so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught” (see Luke 1:1-4). Did Luke include miracles in his account? Yes, many of them. But they were miracles verified by eyewitnesses. Two thousand years later, a skeptic might call Luke’s account a “myth,” but the burden of proof rests with the skeptic. The account itself is a carefully investigated historical document.
  Unlike mythology, the Bible contains an astounding number of fulfilled prophecies. Myths do not bother with prophecy, but fully one third of the Bible is prophecy. The Bible contains over 1,800 predictions concerning more than 700 separate subjects found in over 8,300 verses. The Old Testament contains more than 300 prophecies concerning Jesus Christ alone, many with amazing specificity. Numerous prophecies have already been fulfilled, and they have come to pass precisely as foretold. The mathematical odds of someone making this number of predictions and having every one of them come to pass are light-years beyond the realm of human possibility. These miraculous prophecies could only be accomplished with the supernatural guidance of Him who sees the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:9-10).
  Unlike mythology, the Bible has transformed a countless number of lives. Yet many people allow the views of others—who have never seriously studied the Bible—to shape their own opinions. Each of us needs study it for ourselves. Put it to the test. Live by the Bible’s precepts and experience for yourself the dynamic and transforming power of this amazing Book. Apply its teachings on forgiveness and see how it can mend a broken relationship. Apply its principles of stewardship and watch your financial situation improve. Apply its teaching on faith and feel a calming presence in your heart even as you navigate through a difficult trial in your life. The Bible works. There is a reason Christians in various countries around the world risk their lives daily to expose others to the life-giving truth of this remarkable Book.
  Ultimately, many who reject God and His revealed Word do so because of pride. They are so invested in their personal beliefs that they refuse to honestly weigh the evidence. To accept the Bible as true would require them to think seriously about God and their responsibility to Him. To accept the Bible as true might require a change of lifestyle. As Erwin Lutzer stated, “The truth is, few people have an open mind, especially about matters of religion. . . . Thus, perverted doctrines and prejudices are easily perpetuated from one generation to another.”
  Millions die every year having bet their eternal souls that the Bible is not true, hoping against hope that it is nothing but a book of mythology, and that God does not exist. It is a risky gamble, and the stakes are very high. We urge everyone to read the Bible with an open mind; let it speak for itself, and may you find that God’s Word is truth (John 17:17).

Recommended Resources: The Quest Study Bible and Logos Bible Software.

While he is not the author of every article on GotQuestions.org, for citation purposes, you may reference our CEO, S. Michael Houdmann.

Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-mythology.html#ixzz32jRUvetL

BIBLE STUDY 101

BIBLE STUDY 101

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

John [MKJV] 1:1-4, 14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and without Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. … And the Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us. And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and of truth. [Please read entire in context.]

One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them. … “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way. “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.  NLT Matthew 5

  Somewhere in our long history men started saying Bible instead of as God identifies. In my opinion this was a subtle step away from “thus says the Lord Jehovah” “All Scripture is breathed out by God”.

  To comprehensively understand and honorably serve God in life, death, and purpose we must trust the veracity of the Word written and living. (Jn.1:1)

  Man’s generic word “bible” generally describes a collection of writings on a topic that is accepted as reliably authoritative and thereby informative on a subject. Examples include assemblage such as The Shooter’s Bible, Birdwatcher’s Bible, Woodworker’s Bible, Organic Gardener’s Bible et al.

  The Bible is an informative collection of writings. But the Bible is distinctively apart from any other bibles in that it is 66 individual books from numerous penmen writing independently of one another wholly dependent on The Author, Sovereign Jehovah God. A further proof that The Bible is exactly what it claims is its being penned over 1500 year period on 3 continents in various languages . . . but harmonious in content and intent. (For more, go to http://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/texts/dasc/TRWIBB.HTM and read R. A. Torrey’s TEN REASONS WHY I BELIEVE THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD or go to http://www.gotquestions.org/why-should-I-believe-the-Bible.html or simply type in the question using Google etc.)

  Herein lies the opening key or remaining barrier to present and eternally beneficial Bible study: How does one see the Bible? Do I see it for what God says it is? His Word! Collective “bible” is our word.

  Hear His Word: “All Scripture is God-breathed, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfected, thoroughly furnished to every good work. … a more sure Word of prophecy, to which you do well to take heed, as to a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the Daystar arises in your hearts, knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture came into being of its own private interpretation. For prophecy was not borne at any time by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke being borne along by the Holy Spirit.” (2Tim.3:16-17; 2Pet.1:19-21)

  Personally, I regard the Bible as Word confirmed from God Almighty beyond all doubt and I’m endeavoring to learn and pay attention to The Author. If I continue in submissive consideration I shall both enjoy and suffer maturation as I wait for final physical deliverance.  

  Are we paying attention? Is there life-proof that we are?  EBB4   

THE DOCTRINE OF GOD - Theism

THE DOCTRINE OF GOD

(Theism)

I. Existence of God

1. God has shown Himself in nature (Romans 1:20).
2. God has shown Himself in the Bible (John 5:39).

II. Attributes of God

1. God is Spirit (John 4:24; I Timothy 6:16).
2. God is eternal (Psalm 90:2; I Timothy 1:17).
3. God is everywhere (omnipresent) (I Kings 8:27; Psalm 139:7-10).
4. God is all-knowing (omniscient) (Job 42:2; Psalm 94:11).
5. God is all-powerful (omnipotent) (Jeremiah 32:27; Matthew 19:26).
6. God is unchanging (immutable) (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17).
7. God is faithful (I Corinthians 1:9; II Timothy 2:13).
8. God is holy (Isaiah 6:3; 1 Peter 1:16).
9. God is righteous (Psalm 116:5; 145:17).
10. God is merciful (Psalm 86:15; 103:8).
11. God is love (John 3:16; I John 4:8).

III. Nature of God

1. God is one being or essence.

1.       God’s being is not divided: God is one. (There is no disunity.) (Deuteronomy 6:4)

2.       God’s being is not multiplied: God is the only one. (There are no other gods.) (Deuterono­my 4:35; I Timothy 2:5)

2. God is three persons.

1.       The Father, Son, and Spirit are eternally dis­tinct (John 15:26; 17:22; Galatians 4:6).

2.       The Father, Son, and Spirit are recognized as God.

a.       The Father is God (John 6:27; I Peter 1:2).

b.       The Son is God (Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8).

c.       The Spirit is God (Acts 5:3, 4; I Corinthians 3:16)

3.       The Father, Son, and Spirit possess attributes of Deity.

	God the Father	God the Son	God the Spirit
Eternal	Psalm 90:2	Revelation 1:8, 17	Hebrews 9:14
Omnipresent	Jeremiah 23:24	Ephesians 1:23	Psalm 139:7-10
Omniscient	Jeremiah 17:10	Revelation 2:23	1 Corinthians 12:11
Omnipotent	I Peter 1:5	II Corinthians 12:9	Romans 15:19
Holy	Revelation 15:4	Acts 3:14	Ephesians 4:30
Righteous	Revelation 16:7	I Corinthians 1:30	Romans 8:4
Loving	II Corinthians 13:14	l John 3:16	Romans 15:30

3. Practical points

1.       The human mind cannot understand fully the fact that God is one being and yet three per­sons.

The human mind can recognize some teach­ings on the nature of God to be false.

THE DOCTRINE OF THE BIBLE

The Doctrine of the Bible

(Bibliology)

I.         Inspiration

A.         Definition of inspiration: the supernatural influ­ence of the Holy Spirit upon the individual        writ­ers of the Bible. This influence of the Holy Spirit resulted in the words of the authors       in the original manuscripts being the very words of God. These words are without error   and are authoritative.

1.       The Holy Spirit worked in the hearts and lives of the writers of the Bible.

2.       Inspiration applies to the original writings, not translations or copies.

3.       The Bible is the Word of God.

a.       The Bible has authority over man.

b.       The Bible does not have any mistakes.

B.         Proofs for inspiration

1.       The Bible says that it is inspired (II Timothy 3:16-17).

2.       The Bible cannot be destroyed.

3.       The Bible is known throughout the world.

4.       The Bible does not contradict itself

5.       The Bible presents standards of living and a way of life that are of God.

6.       The Bible is accurate in its history.

7.       The Bible is accurate in its prophecy.

8.       The Bible provides for man’s physical and spiritual needs.

9.       The Bible has the witness of the Spirit in the hearts of believers

 (I Corinthians 2:11-15).

10.   The Bible has been shown to be inspired by believers who have found its teachings to work (Psalm 119:97-104).

C.         Details of inspiration

1.       The Bible is complete (Revelation 22:18-19).

a.       Nothing should be taken away from the Bible.

b.       Nothing should be added to the Bible.

2.       The Bible is eternal (Psalm 119:89; Matthew 24:35).

II. Canonicity

A.         Definition of canonicity: the study of the way books became part of the Bible.

1.       The decision to make a book part of the bible involved many people.

2.       The decision to make a book part of the Bible involved recognizing the book as an authoritative rule for faith and practice in the church.

B.         Questions asked to determine the canonicity of the New Testament books. (All the             questions had to be answered yes before the book became a part of the New Testament.)

1.       Was the book inspired? (This question was the most important.)

2.       Was the book written by an apostle or some­one who was close to an apostle?

3.       Was the book’s message on a high level spiri­tually?

4.       Was the book received by all the churches?

C.         Details of canonicity

1.       All the books of the Bible were inspired and had authority when they were written. (They became part of the Bible later.)

2.       All the books of the Bible formally became part of the Bible by the fourth century.