THE BIBLE
Text:
2 Timothy 3:16 Psalm 119:89, 105, 130 2 Peter 1:20-21 Psalm 12:6-7 Matthew 5:18; 24:35 Mark 13:31 Luke 21:33 Revelation 22:18-19.
- WHAT SOME GREAT MEN SAID ABOUT THE BIBLE
- Abraham Lincoln:
I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good from the Saviour of the world is communicated to us through this book.
- George Washington:
It is impossible to rightly govern the world without GOD and the BIBLE.
- Charles Dickens:
The New Testament is the very best book that ever was or will ever be known in the world.
- Sir Isaac Newton:
There are more sure marks of authenticity in the BIBLE than any other profane history.
- Sir Winston Churchill:
“The Impregnable Rock of Holy Scripture”. We rejected with scorn all those learned and laboured myths that Moses was but a legendary figure. We believe that the most scientific view, the most-up-to-date and rationalistic conception, will find its fullest satisfaction in taking the Bible literally and in identifying one of the greatest human beings with the most decisive leap forward ever made discernible in the human story.
We may be sure that all events, names, places, numbers, and places happened just as they are set out according to Holy Writ. The Bible was written by God Himself through inspiration. The Bible has been preserved perfectly by God Himself throughout the ages and without any mistakes so that God’s people may always say with all confidence that they have the perfect and inspired Word of God with them today and always.
23
II. CONTENTS OF THE BIBLE
OLD TESTAMENT – 39 BOOKS
- HISTORICAL BOOKS – “Rise and Fall of the Jewish Nation”
- Genesis (Book of Beginnings)
- Exodus (Departure of the Israelites out of Egypt)
- Leviticus (Religious life of Israel under the priests)
- Numbers (Numbering of the Israelites in their wilderness wanderings)
- Deuteronomy (The Second Giving of the Law)
- Joshua (Conquest of the Promised Land under Joshua)
- Judges (The Nation under the Judges)
- Ruth (Of Royal lineage)
- 1 Samuel (Israel chose her first king)
- 2 Samuel (Israel under the kings)
- 1 Kings (Israel divided under the kings)
- 2 Kings (Israel exiled under the kings)
- 1 Chronicles (A historical record of the Southern Kingdom)
- 2 Chronicles (A historical record of the Southern Kingdom)
- Ezra (The Jews returned from exile)
- Nehemiah (Rebuilding the City Walls)
- Esther (God’s hand in the Nation’s affairs)
- POETICAL BOOKS – “Literature of the Nation’s Golden Age”
- Job (Afflictions of a righteous man)
- Psalms (Songs of the Jews, for comfort, encouragement and worship)
- Proverbs (The Wise Sayings of King Solomon)
- Ecclesiastes (The Preacher reflects on life’s problems)
- Song of Solomon (Song of Supreme Excellence)
- Lamentations (Laments of Jeremiah after the destruction of Jerusalem)
- PROPHETIC BOOKS – “Literature of Dark Days”
- Isaiah
- Jeremiah
- Ezekiel Major Prophets (FOUR)
- Daniel
- Hosea
- Joel
- Amos
- Obadiah
- Jonah
- Micah
Minor Prophets (TWELVE)
- Nahum
- Habakkuk
- Zephaniah
- Haggai
- Zechariah
- Malachi
NEW TESTAMENT – 27 books
- GOSPELS – “Good News of the King and Kingdom”
- Matthew
- Mark
- Luke
- John
- ACTS – “Thy Kingdom Come”
- Acts of the Apostles or the Holy Spirit
- EPISTLES – “Further Teachings and Principles of the Kingdom”
- Romans
- 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians
- Galatians
- Ephesians
- Philippians Colossians 13. 1 Thessalonians 14. 2 Thessalonians
- 1 Timothy
- 2 Timothy
- Titus
- Philemon
- Hebrews
- James
- 1 Peter
- 2 Peter
- 1 John24. 2 John
- 3 John
- Jude
- REVELATION (Apocalyptic) – “Things that must shortly come to pass”
- Revelation
III. WHAT IS THE BIBLE?
The BIBLE is GOD’S WORD. It is inerrant, infallible divinely inspired and perfectly preserved for us by God throughout the ages.
The BIBLE is the account of GOD’s dealings with Man, from the beginning until the end of all things. It tells of Man’s creation, fall and redemption. It reveals GOD’S PLAN of SALVATION for Man. It reveals GOD’S WILL for you and me. It is God revealing Himself to sinful Man.
The Old Testament message is: The Saviour is coming! The New Testament says: The Saviour is come! Both Testaments say: The Saviour is coming again!
The BIBLE has the solution to all the world’s complex and insoluble problems. It has the solution to your problems – every one of them, without exception.
The BIBLE IS THE WORD OF EVERLASTING LIFE.
- HOW DID THE BIBLE COME TO BE WRITTEN?
THE AUTHOR WAS GOD HIMSELF (The Doctrine of Inspiration)
While human agents were responsible for the actual writing of the books of the BIBLE, the AUTHOR or MASTER MIND of the BOOK is GOD HIMSELF.
Let GOD’S WORD state the case (the Highest Authority):
“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” (2 Peter 1:21). [Emphasis added]
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God …” (2 Timothy 3:16).
1 Thessalonians 2:13 declares, “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” [Emphasis added]
In the writing of the book of REVELATION, the LORD JESUS addressed the Apostle John with these words: “Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter” (Revelation 1:19).
What grounds are there for saying that the Author of the BIBLE was GOD HIMSELF? A good question! Let us give a reasonable answer.
The BIBLE has 66 BOOKS.
Written by some 40 men, in many different walks of life
over 60 generations and 1,600 years in widely separated areas
on 3 continents (Asia, Africa, Europe), in 3 languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek).
Yet when the 66 Books are put together as the HOLY BIBLE, they form one harmonious volume, telling forth one story: GOD’S LOVE FOR SINFUL MAN. There is just one theme from beginning to end, with no self-contradictory or conflicting areas. ONLY ONE HARMONIOUS BOOK – A DIVINE BOOK!
How could this be, except for this one fact: behind the many scribes was ONE
AUTHOR, GOD.
Therefore, throughout the Bible, “Thus saith the Lord …” recurs again and again.
Then by way of contrast, let us consider this proposition. Supposing we were to call on ten eminent writers in our generation, all from one walk of life, in one place, at one time, and in one language, to write independently on some controversial subject, what do you think the result would be?
Do you think there would be agreement and harmony when the ten essays or books are put together? The result will very likely, be a conglomeration of differing and conflicting views. We may call it a sort of literary hotchpotch.
Considering then the manner in which the Bible came to be written, there can be no other explanation than this: THE AUTHOR WAS GOD HIMSELF.
Beyond all the explanations, this belief is a matter of FAITH.
V. OBJECTIONS TO THE BIBLE
Until some 200 years ago, the Bible was accepted without question as GOD’S INFALLIBLE AND INERRANT WORD. Since that time, however, so-called theologians, archaeologists and seminary professors had begun to cast doubts about certain parts of the Bible, in particular, those recorded accounts of miracles and supernatural events e.g. the Creation, the Flood, the crossing of the Red Sea by the Israelites, the fall of Jericho in the Old Testament, and the miracles of Jesus and those in both the OT and NT, His Resurrection and the Ascension in the New Testament. This was due largely to the humanistic invention called Redaction and Textual Criticism which came into existence in the nineteenth century. These liberals attack the Word of God from the authorship of the Bible to the content of the Bible itself with their godless speculations and man-centred arguments saying that the Bible has mistakes.
Whereas formerly the Bible was accepted in total as GOD’S WORD, now the modern scholars and critics say that the Bible “contains God’s Word”, thereby injecting doubt and implying that the Bible also contains other things besides God’s Word. Scholars of the modernist-liberal schools maintain that large sections of the Bible were “myths” and “legends”, while other parts which could not be reconciled with modern scientific knowledge were regarded as mistakes.
We shall not go into too many of these objections to the Bible, but we shall just consider a few of the more common ones.
- “The Bible is out-of-date”
This implies that the Bible is behind the times and probably irrelevant for modern man.
To this objection we answer thus: GOD’S WORD may be “old” – the Bible dates back twenty to thirty centuries. However, GOD’S WORD does not grow old. It remains always fresh, relevant and up-to-date. The Bible has the solution to every human problem, now or 3,000 years ago. Psalm 19:7-11, “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.”
Whereas textbooks, especially those of scientific subject, become outdated and useless after only a few years (unless they undergo periodic revision), the Bible remains the same – unchanged and unchanging from the beginning until now – ONE EDITION ONLY.
To say that the Bible is out-of-date only reveals one’s ignorance and unbelief.
- “The Bible contains many mistakes”
This is a serious charge and if substantiated must mean the downfall of the Bible. It can then no longer be regarded as the WORD OF GOD. Let us examine the statement.
What “mistakes” do the critics mean? To label those parts which conflict with “scientific opinion” as “mistakes” is incorrect and very short-sighted. Modern “Scientific” opinion is constantly changing and scientific knowledge is extremely limited. While science can study, observe and measure present day physical phenomena, it has no way of applying the same methods to events which happened a long time ago, or to events of the spiritual or supernatural realm.
Some forty years ago, Harry Rimmer of New York offered a substantial monetary reward to anyone who could prove in a court of law that there was any mistake in the Bible. He engaged a Christian lawyer James E Bennett to defend his case. When the reward was announced in the newspaper, many enemies of the Bible lodged their claims. Their cases were heard before a judge in the law courts.
Despite many varied charges and attacks on GOD’S WORD, not one person could prove that there was even one mistake in the Bible. Nobody got the reward!
Their subtle deception includes statements like, “These mistakes are minor. They involve only names of people and places, and numbers which do not affect a person’s salvation. Therefore it is all right to hold in your hands a Bible with mistakes.” These kinds of man-centred arguments have been the tool of the evil one for centuries. They continue to be used today because of their effectiveness. Do not be fooled by these man-centred arguments. Remember that any reasoning or argument that is man-centred cannot be from God, for God is always God-centred.
The perfect God has given to us the Perfect Bible. The perfect God has also preserved His perfect Bible perfectly for us throughout the ages. If the Word of God has any mistake no matter how small, the doctrine of Inspiration and the character of God would be doomed and man would be in danger of losing his faith.
While men’s opinions and scientific speculations keep changing, like ocean tides and currents, the Bible stands through every age, FIRM and UNMOVED, like the ROCK OF GIBRALTAR.
“For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89).
“The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever” (Psalm 12:6-7).
“For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled” (Matthew 5:18).
“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35).
- “The Bible is unscientific”
While the Bible is not a textbook of science (it was not meant to be such), no such statement of the Bible relating to any scientific topic has ever been found to be in error.
On the contrary, the Bible reveals many scientific facts centuries before scientists discovered them. Here are a few examples.
- Until the invention of the telescope in the 17th Century, astronomers used to count the stars (Ptolemy counted 1056, Kepler counter 1005).
Over 2,000 years before, the Bible has pronounced: “The host of heaven cannot be numbered” (Jeremiah 33:22).
- Ancient men had no knowledge of what supported the earth. The Greeks used to imagine that the world was held up by the strong man “Atlas”. The Indians pictured the earth being supported by four elephants.
A long time ago (over 3,000 years) GOD’S WORD said: He hangeth the earth upon nothing (Job 26:7). In recent years, space explorers and satellites in orbit have given us beautiful pictures of our earth “floating” in space, hanging on nothing.
- Until Columbus sailed round the world in the 15th Century, men used to think that the world was flat.
Over 2,000 years before that, the Bible said of God: “It is he that sitteth upon the circle (sphere) of the earth” (Isaiah 40:22).
We could go on further in “making a case for the Bible” but really there is no need to do so. For many, a man’s mind, once made up, is set for good, and much argument will not change it.
God says to man and of man: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8,9).
It is a fact that those who criticise the Bible most are often those who know it least! If our God cannot work miracles, but is limited by physical laws like man, then HE is no GOD. But HE is the CREATOR and HIS ACTS belong to the realm of the SUPERNATURAL AND SUPERHUMAN.
There is no searching of His understanding. The Bible records for us GOD’S
MIGHTY ACTS!
- WHAT IS OUR B-P CHURCH’S STAND ON THE BIBLE?
CALVARY PANDAN B-P CHURCH GOSPEL SAFEGUARD: VPP
Senior Pastor Dr Tow published this in the Church’s Weekly Bulletin on 1st January 2006: Praise God, after much waiting on the Lord, He has enabled me to draft for Calvary Pandan (leaders and members) a statement which will lead us into “green pastures and still waters.”
Reader, pray as you ponder on this “12-point Statement.”
- All true sons of the Reformation believe: “The just shall live by faith and faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 1:17; 10:17). Stated another way, “We are born again of the incorruptible Word of God, which Word endureth for ever and by it the gospel is preached” (1 Peter 1:23, 25).
- As true sons of the Reformation we believe that God’s Word which is incorruptible and endureth for ever is equally “inerrant” (without mistake) and “infallible” (incapable of making mistake).
- Since its founding Calvary Bible-Presbyterian Church has written into its Constitution belief in the inerrant and infallible Word of God (Article 4.2.1):
We believe in the divine, verbal and plenary inspiration of the Scriptures in the original languages, their consequent inerrancy and infallibility, and, as the Word of God, the Supreme and final authority in faith and life;
- In this “article of faith” the “Scriptures in the original languages” refers to the original copies of God’s Word known as the “autographs,” which over time and with “wear and tear” are no longer in existence.
- The Scriptures we use today are the King James Version (KJV, KJB), the time-honoured and beloved Bible of the Reformation. Whenever we refer to our Constitution 4.2.1, we hold up the KJV or KJB as God’s Word, “inerrant and infallible.”
- By the fruit we know the tree: the KJB is the “fruit” derived from the “tree” the “source texts” or “MSS” (manuscripts). We believe that God’s inerrant and infallible Word, as represented by the KJB had been derived from equally inerrant and infallible source texts or MSS or “Apographs” (copies
of the Autographs).
- Question: Can we identify these texts?
- Answer: Absolutely. Our great God did not leave Himself without witness, but preserved perfectly a body of MSS: the Masoretic Hebrew Old Testament Text, and the “Received” New Testament Text (Textus Receptus).
From these perfectly preserved copies of God’s inspired, inerrant, infallible Scriptures, is derived our KJB.
- What is “VPP”?
V is “Verbal,” meaning “word for word” (Websters Dict.) P is “Plenary,” meaning “complete or absolute” (Websters Dict.)
P is “Preservation” meaning “kept from corruption or error.”
- “VPP of Scripture” refers to the supernatural and providential care of God over the ages (Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter I, VIII; see also Ps 12:6,7; Matt 5:18, 24:35; 1 Pet 1:25), safeguarding the transmission of the MSS by scribes or copyists, so that the body of texts (Masoretic Hebrew OT and Received Greek NT) have been kept pure as the “good tree” giving us the “good fruit,” the KJB.
- As the attacks on God’s Word increase in intensity, God’s faithful remnant people also increase and intensify in their loyalty to God’s Word without which the Gospel’s entire foundation would collapse.
- Calvary Pandan Bible-Presbyterian Church upholds the inspired and preserved Word of God by a “threefold cord” which cannot be broken, namely:
- Constitution 4.2.1
- The VPP of God’s Word
- The KJB, the Reformation Bible.
We hold the “highest view” of the Holy Scripture. We do not claim to understand every part of the BOOK. There are parts which we just do not fully understand. Of these, we say “We don’t know”. Some parts may puzzle and perplex. But that does not mean the BIBLE is wrong. Only our understanding is incomplete.
Martin Luther, the Sixteenth Century Reformer, believed and taught that the Bible was infallibly true in all its parts. Luther quoted Augustine’s letter to Jerome in which he wrote, “This I have learned to do: to hold only those books which are called the Holy Scriptures in such honour and I finally believed that not one of the Holy Writers ever erred.”
Luther endorsed this view of Augustine and he stated: “The Scriptures cannot err. It is certain that the Scriptures cannot disagree with itself. It is impossible that Scriptures should contradict itself, only that it so appears to the senseless and obstinate hypocrites.”
When Luther found an apparent discrepancy or contradiction with respect to chronology, he refused to side with “those who said that the Scripture is evidently wrong.”
Luther said, “I conclude that matter with humble confession of my ignorance for it is only the Holy Ghost who knows and understands everything.”
VII. STATEMENT ON TEXTUAL PRESERVATION BY
THE ENGLISH SESSION OF CALVARY PANDAN BIBLE-PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (April 2006)*
- We affirm our unshakable adherence to our Church Constitution 4.2.1, believing that God has given us His inspired Word in the original languages, inerrant and infallible.
- We believe that the texts of Scripture that reflect the qualities of Godbreathed Scripture are the Hebrew Masoretic Text (MT)1 and the Greek Received Text (TR)2. These texts of Scripture are the most faithful, authentic,
1
The Calvary Pandan B-P Church (CPBPC) accepts as the best edition of the Hebrew Masoretic text the one prepared in 1524–25 by Jacob ben Chayyim and known, after David Bomberg the publisher, as the Bomberg text. This text underlies the Old Testament in the Authorised Version. [adapted from The Trinitarian Bible Society]
2
The Greek Received Text is the name given to a group of printed texts, the first of which was published by Desiderius Erasmus in 1516. The CPBPC believes that the latest and best edition is the text reconstructed by F.H.A. Scrivener in 1894. This text was reconstructed from the Greek underlying the New Testament of the Authorised Version. [adapted from The Trinitarian Bible Society]
*
On 10 March 2008, the Board of Elders of both the English and Mandarin Congregations of Calvary Pandan B-P Church unanimously declared that the doctrine of VPP is the official doctrine of the Church.
holy, pure, true, infallible, trustworthy, excellent, self-authenticating, necessary, sufficient, perspicuous, self-interpreting, authoritative and inerrant (Psalm 19:7-9, Psalm 119). They are consequently to be received as the Word of God (Ezra 7:14; Nehemiah 8:8; Daniel 9:2; 2 Peter 1:19) and the correct reading at any point is to be sought within these texts.
- We uphold the Authorised (King James) Version to be the Word of God – the best, most faithful, most accurate, most beautiful translation of the Bible in the English language, and do employ it alone as our primary scriptural text in the public reading, preaching, and teaching of the English Bible.
- We uphold the Chinese Union Version (CUV) to be the Word of God the best, most faithful, most accurate, most beautiful translation of the Bible in the Chinese language, and do employ it alone as our primary scriptural text in the public reading, preaching, and teaching of the Chinese Bible.
- We firmly believe that the only real security for the future of the Church isnot “preservation” written on paper or anything else, but fidelity to the Word permanently written into the hearts of those who lead God’s people in each generation, preserving them faithful in service.
We must be humble if we want to understand GOD’S WORD, and we must also PRAY for the HOLY SPIRIT to be our TEACHER. “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law” (Psalm 119:18).
POEM ON THE BIBLE
“Within this wondrous volume lies The mystery of mysteries;
Happiest they of human race
To whom their God has given grace
To read, to fear, to hope, to pray,
To lift the latch, to find the way;
And better had they n’er been born
Who read to doubt, or read to scorn.”
~ Sir Walter Scott ~
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).
May this light shine your pathway every day!
Lesson 3: The Bible
BIBLE KNOWLEDGE QUIZ 3: THE BIBLE
Fill in the blanks (one letter for each space):
- The Bible is an account of God’s dealings with __ __ __ .
- It reveals God’s __ __ __ __ of Salvation for Man.
- The Bible has the solution to ALL our __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ .
- The author of the Bible is __ __ __ .
- All Scripture is given by __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ of
Underline the correct answer:
- The Bible
- contains God’s Words(b) rarely makes mistakes (c) is God’s Word.
- Those who criticise the Bible most are often those who
- love it best
- know it least
- preach the Gospel.
- We believe God’s Word to be the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Word of God.(a) perfect (b) unreliable (c) doubtful (d) errant.
- The Bible has
- 44 books(b) 99 books (c) 66 books.
- We should read the Bible
- sometimes (b) daily
(c) yearly (d) when we feel like it.