INTRODUCTION:
This study is designed to introduce the student to basic
facts about the Bible and also to introduce some principles that should be
employed in one's search of the Holy Scriptures. We are told in 2 Timothy 2:15
to "handle accurately the word of truth." There are indeed some basic
guidelines found in the Scripture to equip the student of the Word so as to
fulfill the exhortation to deal correctly with God's Word.
PERSONAL PREPARATION FOR BIBLE STUDY:
Personal preparation in the study
of the Scripture cannot be overemphasized. First and foremost, we must have
believed in Jesus Christ as our Savior because the "natural man" cannot accept
or understand the things of the Spirit of God. They are spiritually appraised (1
Cor 2:14).
God's word claims that it is divinely inspired (2 Tim 3:16-17) so we must
begin our study by accepting that statement as fact. This is not a leap of faith
as some would have you believe, but is indeed just a step of faith which we will
see as this study progresses.
We also must pray for wisdom in understanding the Scriptures. God's Word
tells us if we lack wisdom to ask for it, because God will give it to us freely
(James 1:5).
Passionate prayer for correct knowledge and discernment will be answered
because it is clearly within God's will (1 John 5:14 cf Mat 7:7-8).
We also must be willing to be diligent and patient in our study ( 2 Tim
2:15), because many things of God's Word are not readily discernible. When we
realize that we are finite beings trying to comprehend the infinite mind of God
in a small way, it is easy to see that it will take some time.
Your spiritual life is also of great importance in your desire to know. The
Lord Jesus Christ said that "if anyone is willing to do His will, he shall know
of the teaching (John 7:17)." If what you desire is simply an intellectual quest
and not a relationship with the living God, then the knowledge you gain will
always be lacking and distorted. Sadly, many people study God's word so that
they can walk by sight, but the greatest theologian of the Church, the Apostle
Paul, said that he "walked by faith and not by sight (2 Cor 5:7)." We enter into
salvation by grace through faith (Eph 2:8-9), and as we have entered, so we are
to walk (Col 2:6), therefore we are to learn God's word in order to have a
greater faith.
It is also important that we consistently confess our sins and permit God
to do the cleansing of our lives, so that greater fellowship may be attained
with Him (1 John 1:6-10).
WHAT IS TO BE GAINED FROM GOD'S WORD:
There is a profound knowledge to be
gained from God's Word as we "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus
Christ (2 Pet 3:14-18). Along with this is our growth in faith as we "hear"
God's Word through the Scriptures (Rom 10:17). God's Word is necessary for the
purification of our lives because it is His Word which is truth (John 17:17). As
we prepare to serve Him, we must put on His armor, which is done by the Holy
Spirit (Eph 6:17). With His Spirit at work in our lives we will also have power
in ministry (Eph 2:10). With this knowledge of His Word, we can practice the
truth in the name of the Lord Jesus (Col 3:16-17) and proclaim it to a lost and
dying world (John 17:17-19; Heb 5:12).
WHAT IS THE BIBLE:
The Bible is not simply another book. Jesus Christ
called it "The Book (Heb 10:7)." Without it man cannot know the absolute
standard of righteousness and the need for grace in his life.
The Bible is the written revelation of the Living Word of God, our Lord
Jesus Christ (Heb 4:12 cf John 5:39-47). It is accepted by faith and proved by
history.
Every single part of the Bible is inspired by God (2 Tim 3:16-17) and is
thus profitable. Inspiration is more than human genius and illumination.
Illumination is the influence of the Holy Spirit upon the student of the Word.
Inspiration is more than revelation which means to take the veil off, it is
divinely initiated. The veil may be removed from a bride, but the bride is yet
to be fully understood. Inspiration is "God's breath" expressing itself through
a human personality.
The Old Testament was written for the most part in Hebrew, except for
Daniel Chapters Two through Seven and Ezra Chapters Four through Seven which
were written in a sister language to the Hebrew, which is Aramaic. All of the
New Testament is written in Koine (common) Greek.
THE DIVISIONS OF THE BIBLE:
The Bible is divided into two Testaments, the
old and the new. A "testament" is a covenant or contract. The "Old" Testament
looks at the original covenants that God made with man concerning the coming
Messiah. The New Testament looks at the arrival of the Messiah and the new
contracts that were made.
There are 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament,
for a total of 66 books that are in the Bible. There are 1,189 chapters with 929
of them in the Old Testament and the other 260 chapters located in the New
Testament. The Old Testament contains 23,214 verses and the New Testament
contains 7,959 verses for a total of 31, 173 verses of Scripture. The 39 books
of the Old Testament were written by over 30 authors. The 27 books of the New
Testament were written by 10 authors.
In the Old Testament, the first five books, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus,
Numbers and Deuteronomy are called the "Torah (Law)," and also called the
"Pentateuch." The Pentateuch is followed by twelve Historical books: Joshua,
Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra,
Nehemiah and Esther. The next grouping contains five Poetical books: Job,
Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon. The poetical books are
followed by the five Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekial and
Daniel. Twelve Minor Prophets then conclude the Old Testament: Hosea, Joel,
Amos, Obadiah, Johan, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah and
Malachi.
The New Testament begins with five Historical books: Matthew, Mark, Luke,
John and the Book of Acts. The Historical books are followed by 21 Epistles and
one book of Prophecy (Revelation).
AN OVERVIEW OF THE BIBLE:
A. Creation of the heavens and earth. Gen 1:1;
2 Pet 3:6
B. Satan's First Rebellion. Gen 1:2 cf Isa 45:18 cf Isa
14:12-14
C. Earth prepared for Man. Gen 1:2-2:3
D. The Headship of the
First Man. Gen 2:4-25
E. Man's subjection to Satan. Gen 3
F. Mankind dealt
with as a whole. Gen 4-10
G. Construction of Babylon. Gen 11
H. Israel
called and blessed. Gen 12
I. Times of the Gentiles.
J. First Advent of
Jesus Christ.
K. Ministry of Jesus Christ.
L. Church called out.
M.
Church called up.
N. Ministry of Antichrist.
O. Second Advent of
Christ.
P. Times of Gentiles-close of Tribulation.
Q. Israel recalled and
blessed.
R. Destruction of Babylonian systems.
S. Mankind dealt with as a
whole.
T. God's subjection of Satan.
U. Headship of Second Adam.
V.
Earth perfected for man.
W. Satan's Final Rebellion.
X. New Heavens and
Earth.
BEGINNING TO STUDY THE BIBLE:
As we seek to understand the Bible, we must
constantly seeks answers to the questions, "who," "what," "when," "where,"
"why," and how?" The answers to these questions must always be considered in
view of two more questions, "how does this let us develop a relationship with
our Lord Jesus Christ," and "how then shall we live?"
We are going to take a simple look at principles that we must keep in mind
while studying the Bible. These principles have been revealed by the Holy Spirit
Himself through the written word. They are principles that we are to pass on
from one generation to the next (2 Tim 2:2) so that we all might grow up in all
respects in our Lord (Eph 4:11-16).
Get Your Bible ready and your Mind a Praying. Lets ask lots of questions in the comments, so we can answer any question on any of our Minds. Blessings.
