Brief Overview of the Bible

Is the Bible true?  Can we really trust the Bible?  Does the Bible have the answers for the problems I face in my life?  Where do I begin?  These are important questions that everyone has faced at one time or another. 

The Bible is our Sword (Ephesians 6:10-17)

1. Hearing the Word (Romans 10:17
2. Reading the Word (Revelation 1:3)
3. Studying the Word (2 Timothy 2:15)
4. Memorizing the Word (Psalm 119:11)
5. Meditating on the Word (Psalm 1:2)

The Name

The English word Bible comes from the Greek word Biblos, which means papyrus or paper, or any form of written material.

Reasons You Can Trust The Bible

1. It is inspired by God:  2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16
2. It is miraculous in its agreement
3. 40 different authors
4. Most of the authors did not know each other, but they spoke about every major moral subject without contradicting each other!
5. It was written in 3 languages:  Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek
6. It was written by men from different professions (Shepherd, Fisherman, King, Soldier, Doctor, Tax Collector, Farmer…)
7. It was written over a period of 1,500 years
8. It is accurate to the smallest detail

• For example, the Prophecies about Jesus.  The last prophecy was given over 400 years BEFORE its fulfillment!

1. His virgin birth
2. He would be born in the village of Bethlehem
3. He would be given gifts by kings
4. He would perform miracles
5. He would use parables in his teaching
6. He would be betrayed by a friend for 30 pieces of silver
7. He would be crucified with thieves
8. Soldiers would cast lots for his garments

These are just eight of the hundreds of prophecies about Jesus in the Bible. What are the odds of just eight prophecies being fulfilled? Peter Stoner, former professor at Westmont College, worked out the odds with twelve different classes of 600 college students.  Their calculations were examined by the American Scientific Affiliation and found to be accurate. 

The odds of just eight of the 456 prophecies of Jesus being fulfilled?  One in One hundred million billion!  That’s 100,000,000,000,000,000.

That would be like taking one-inch square tiles and covering every surface of land on earth.  Under one of the tiles is a gold star.  Then, walk the planet and bend down one time and pick up one tile.  And that tile you pick up would have the star on the bottom!   

Jesus said, “Everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”  Luke 24:44

I. The Structure of the Bible
66 Books total
    a. 39 Old Testament books
    b. 27 New Testament books.

II. How to Study the Bible
a. Three Stages of Bible Study
    i. Understand:  What does the passage actually say?
    ii. Explain:  What does the passage actually mean?
    iii. Apply:  What does the passage mean today?

III. Jesus Christ in the Bible
a. Types of Christ (Typology)
    i. Christ is found throughout the Bible.
        1. Pillar verse:  Luke 24:27