The Bible

What is the authority in your life?

Those who believe something must have a reason

for their beliefs. Just as there are standards in the
business world, in government, and in education –
the Christian needs an absolute standard for his
beliefs, his duties, indeed his whole conduct.
Many people have as their authority CONSCIENCE.

“Let your conscience be your guide!” they say.

This sounds good, but according to
Titus 1:15 the conscience may be _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ;
according to 1 Timothy 4:2, _ _ _ _ _ _ and
according to 1 Corinthians 8:7, _ _ _ _.
Unto the pure all things are pure: but
unto them that are defiled and
unbelieving is nothing pure; but even
their mind and conscience is defiled.

TITUS 1:15
 Speaking lies in hypocrisy;
having their conscience seared
with a hot iron;

1 T I M OT H Y 4 : 2
 Howbeit there is not in every man that
knowledge: for some with conscience of
the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing
offered unto an idol; and their
conscience being weak is defiled.

1 CORINTHIANS 8:7
 Other people, especially religious folk, have the
CHURCH or man-made CREEDS as their authority.

Again, such standards are unreliable – man is involved.

Colossians 2:8 warns us against
P _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and T _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .

(Look up and read Matthew 15:3,6,9.)

Beware lest any man spoil you through
philosophy and vain deceit, after the
tradition of men, after the rudiments of
the world, and not after Christ.

C O LO S S I A N S 2 : 8
But he answered and said unto them,
Why do ye also transgress the
commandment of God by your
tradition?

M AT T H E W 1 5 : 3
 And honour not his father or his
mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye
made the commandment of God of
none effect by your tradition.

M AT T H E W 1 5 : 6
But in vain they do worship me,
teaching for doctrines the
commandments of men.

M AT T H E W 1 5 : 9
For the Christian, only the BIBLE, the Word of God, is
the unchanging authority for faith and practice.

This study will teach what the Bible is, why you can take
it as your authority, and how to use it as a child of God
What is The Bible?
 WHAT IS THE BIBLE?

A. The Bible is a collection of _ _ books, divided into two

major sections known as the OLD & NEW
__________.

A. Other names given to the Bible are:

1. The _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ . Romans 10:17.
2. The _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . II Timothy 3:15.
 Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by
hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

2 Timothy 3:15 And that from a child thou

hast known the holy scriptures, which are
able to make thee wise unto salvation
through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
 WHAT IS THE BIBLE?

C. The Books of the Bible are not arranged chronologically, but

rather “topically.” Both the Testaments have their Books set in
groups, as shown on the next page.

(All new Christians experience difficulty at the first in finding the

Books of the Bible, especially during a preaching service. Don’t be
embarrassed to use the index in the front of your Bible or to accept
the assistance of another Christian. The more you use your Bible,
the sooner you will become familiar with the location of its Books.)
 LAW Genesis – Deuteronomy

HISTORY Joshua – Esther

OLD TESTAMENT
WISDOM Job – Song of Solomon

(MAJOR) Isaiah – Daniel

(From the close of the Old PROPHECY
Testament (Malachi) to the birth
(MINOR) Hosea – Malachi
of Jesus Christ (Matthew), over
400 years transpired. These years
GOSPEL Matthew – John
are called “Silent Year.”)

HISTORY Acts

(PAULINE) Romans – Philemon

NEW TESTAMENT EPISTLES
(GENERAL) Hebrews – Jude

PROPHECY The Revelation

 How did we
receive The Bible?
 HOW DID WE RECEIVE THE BIBLE?

The Bible is not just a book, but it is

THE BOOK – different from any other book that has or
will be written. The Bible is a SUPERNATURAL Book
because of the way in which God gave it to mankind.
 HOW DID WE RECEIVE THE BIBLE?

A. Look up and write out II Peter 1:21

“For the prophecy came not in old time by the

will of man: but holy men of God spake as they
were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
 HOW DID WE RECEIVE THE BIBLE?

This verse of Scripture teaches us three vital facts concerning how we

got the Bible:

1. It was not made up by men. (“…came not by the will of man…”)

2. Men of God wrote the Bible. (“…holy men of God spake…”)
3. God authored the Bible. (…as they were moved by the Holy Ghost…”)
 HOW DID WE RECEIVE THE BIBLE?

B. God used human writers to pen His Words.

1. God used about 40 different men from all walks of life to
write down the Bible. This was accomplished over a period
of some 1,500 years.

2. Most of the Old Testament was originally written in HEBREW.

The New Testament was originally written in GREEK.
 HOW DID WE RECEIVE THE BIBLE?

C. God authored the Bible

A good way to illustrate this miracle is to consider how you

would write things down on paper. It is the PEN, which actually
does the writing – but it only writes as you move it. The
characteristics of the script will depend on the kind of pen you
use. Write your name down on paper using a “fine ball-point pen”
and a “felt marking pen” – same words, different appearance!
 HOW DID WE RECEIVE THE BIBLE?

1. The Holy Spirit moved the human writers of the Bible in

such a way that they recorded the very words and sense
of God, though couched in their own literary style.

2. The way in which God gave us the Bible is called

INSPIRATION
a. Because the Bible is the INSPIRED Word of God, we
can take it as the authority for all we believe and do.
 HOW DID WE RECEIVE THE BIBLE?

BEWARE of men who say, “The Bible BECOMES the

Word of God” when it speaks to you personally.
Look up Matthew 24:35 and 1 Corinthians 2:13.
According to these passages, God has inspired the
_ _ _ _ _ (not just the ideas & thoughts).
Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass
away, but my words shall not pass away.

1 Corinthians 2:13 Which things also we

speak, not in the words which man's wisdom
teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth;
comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
 HOW DID WE RECEIVE THE BIBLE?

BEWARE of men who say, “The Bible

CONTAINS the Word of God,” meaning there
are parts of it which are not God’s word. Look
up 2 Timothy 3:16. According to this scripture
verse, how much of the Bible is inspired? _ _ _
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness:
 HOW DID WE RECEIVE THE BIBLE?

b. Because the Bible is inspired of God, it is _ _ _ _

from beginning to end. Psalm 119:160

“Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one

of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.”
- Psalm 119:160
Do we have the
Bible today?
 DO WE HAVE THE BIBLE TODAY?

The original manuscripts of the Bible have long been lost.

Does this mean we no longer have the sure Word of God?

A. Look up Psalm 12:6,7 and Matthew 24:35.

Not only did God give us His Word, but He also

promised to P _ _ _ _ _ _ _ it until the end of the world.
 Psalm 12:6,7 [6] The words of the Lord are
pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of
earth, purified seven times. [7] Thou shalt
keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them
from this generation for ever.

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass

away, but my words shall not pass away.
 DO WE HAVE THE BIBLE TODAY?

B. How has God preserve His Word?

God has providentially kept His Word from destruction and
corruption in 2 ways:
1. Down through the centuries, the Lord has raised up men with a
love for His Word to keep it from harm. Zealous Jewish patriots,
simple Bible-loving Christians, (in particular, our Baptist forefathers)
have kept the Scriptures available to all generation. Satan has on
numerous occasions attempted to remove the Bible from the face
of the earth. Hellish decrees have seen the Bible banned, burnt,
banished, and battered by scornful men.
 DO WE HAVE THE BIBLE TODAY?

B. How has God preserve His Word?

2. The Hebrews text of the Old Testament has been faithfully
preserved by fastidious Jewish scribes – it is called the Masoretic
Text. The Greek text of the New Testament has been faithfully
preserved in what is called the Textus Receptus, or Received Text.

Almost 2,700 ancient manuscripts of the New Testament, along with

some 2,000 lectionaries (selected readings) still exist today – the
majority of them attesting to the Received Text.
 DO WE HAVE THE BIBLE TODAY?

C. Do we need to understand Hebrews and Greek

to know the Bible?

NO! The preservation of God‟s Word extends to our English

Bible. The ONLY version of the Bible Translated from the
Masoretic Text and the Textus Receptus Is the KING JAMES
VERSION of 1611A.D.,also known as the Authorized Version.
 DO WE HAVE THE BIBLE TODAY?

1. When you hold a copy of the King James Version (KJV), you
hold in your hands the Word of God.

2. BEWARE of all other translations such as the Revised

Standard Version, the New International Version, New
American Standard Version, Good News Bible, the New English
Bible-they are all based upon corrupt manuscripts and contain
serious error.
Why do we need
the Bible?
 WHY DO WE NEED THE BIBLE?

A. Look up 1 Peter 2:2; Matthew 4:4; 1

Corinthians 3:2; Hebrews 5:12-13; Psalm
19:10; and Jeremiah 15:16.

According to these Scriptures,

the Bible is our spiritual _ _ _ _ .
1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere
milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written,

Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word
that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

1 Corinthians 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not

with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it,
neither yet now are ye able.
Hebrews 5:12-13 [12] For when for the time ye ought to be
teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the
first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as
have need of milk, and not of strong meat. [13] For every one
that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he
is a babe.

Psalm 19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than
much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Jeremiah 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them;
and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart:
for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.
 WHY DO WE NEED THE BIBLE?

According to these Scriptures,

the Bible is our spiritual _ _ _ _ .
 WHY DO WE NEED THE BIBLE?

B. Look up Hebrews 4:12 and Ephesians 6:17.

The Bible is our spiritual _ _ _ _ _ .

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful,

and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the
dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and
marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the
heart.
Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the
sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God
 WHY DO WE NEED THE BIBLE?

C. Look up Psalm 119:11. This verse teaches

us the Bible keeps us from _ _ _.

Psalm 119:1 Thy word have I hid in mine

heart, that I might not sin against thee.
 WHY DO WE NEED THE BIBLE?

D. Look up Psalm 119:105. According to this

Scripture, the Bible is life’s ____________________.
(Use your words).

Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and

a light unto my path.
 WHY DO WE NEED THE BIBLE?

E. Look up II Timothy 3:16 again. The Bible is

profitable for _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ , _ _ _ _ _ _ _ , _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ ,and _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .

II Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration

of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness:
 WHY DO WE NEED THE BIBLE?

F. Look up 1 Thessalonians 4:18 and Psalm 119:50.

The Word of God is for our _ _ _ _ _ _ _

1 Thessalonians 4:18 Wherefore comfort one

another with these words.

Psalm 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for

thy word hath quickened me.
What should we do
with the Bible?
 WHAT SHOULD WE DO WITH THE BIBLE?

A. John 5:39 - “Search the scriptures; for in them ye

think ye have eternal life: and they are they which
testify of me.”

B. II Timothy 2:15 - Study to shew thyself approved

unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

C. James 1:22 - But be ye doers of the word, and not

hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
 WHAT SHOULD WE DO WITH THE BIBLE?

Acts 17:11 - These were more noble

than those in Thessalonica, in that they
received the word with all readiness of
mind, and searched the scriptures
daily, whether those things were so.
 WHAT SHOULD WE DO WITH THE BIBLE?

D. I Corinthians 2:13 - Which things also we speak, not

in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which
the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with
spiritual.
E. II Timothy 4:2 - Preach the word; be instant in
season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
long suffering and doctrine.
F. Psalm 1:2 - But his delight is in the law of the Lord;
and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
 WHAT SHOULD WE DO WITH THE BIBLE?

Joshua 1:8 - This book of the law shall

not depart out of thy mouth; but thou
shalt meditate therein day and night, that
thou mayest observe to do according to
all that is written therein: for then thou
shalt make thy way prosperous, and then
thou shalt have good success.
 WHAT SHOULD WE DO WITH THE BIBLE?

G. Colossians 3:16 – Let the word of Christ dwell in you

richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one
another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

H. Psalm 119:11- Thy word have I hid in mine heart,

that I might not sin against thee.
 WHAT SHOULD WE DO WITH THE BIBLE?

G. Colossians 3:16 – Let the word of Christ dwell in you

richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one
another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

H. Psalm 119:11- Thy word have I hid in mine heart,

that I might not sin against thee.
 You may wish to write the following
statement in your Bible as a truthful
reminder:

“THIS BOOK WILL KEEP YOU

FROM SIN –OR SIN WILL KEEP
YOU FROM THIS BOOK”
READING ASSIGNMENT:
Read through Psalm 119 (24 verses per day). This
is called the “Word of God Chapter,” and is the
longest chapter in the Bible.

MEMORIZATION:
Try to memorize Psalm 119:9,11
 MEMORIZE:

[9] Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his

way? by taking heed thereto according to thy
word. [11] Thy word have I hid in mine heart,
that I might not sin against thee.
PSALM 119:9,11
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