ANCIENT WORDS: THE BIBLE

•         God’s Word is divine (Ps. 119:89). The Bible is the Word of God not just “contains” it.

•         God’s Word is inspired (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21). God inspired the “words” not just the ideas. “All Scripture is God-breathed.”

•         God’s Word is inerrant (truth–Jn. 17:17).

           □          Jesus affirmed its accuracy (Mt. 5:18).

           □          History confirms its accuracy (Lk. 1:1-4).

           □          Prophecy proves its accuracy (Mic. 5:2).

           □          Archaeology verifies its accuracy (Dead Sea scrolls).

           □          Unity (single message in the whole) demonstrates its accuracy (Acts 8:35).

           □          Testimony establishes its accuracy (1 Pet. 1:23).

           □          Universality shows its accuracy (Ps. 19:3).

           □          Longevity reveals its accuracy (Is. 40:8).

•         God’s Word is infallible (Ps. 19:7-8; God–incapable of error). The Bible, written to communicate redemption, is not a science or history book, but when it speaks on science or history it does so accurately.

•         God’s Word is authoritative (Rom. 4:3).

•         God’s Word is convicting (Jas. 1:22-25).

•         God’s Word is alive (Mt. 4:4; Heb. 4:12).

•         God’s Word is eternal (1 Pet. 1:25).

•         God’s Word is sacred (2 Tim. 3:15).

•         God’s Word is redemptive (2 Tim. 3:15).

•         God’s Word is complete (Jn. 20:31).

•         God’s Word is sufficient (Ps. 119:105).

•         God’s Word is Christ-centered (Lk. 24:27, 44-46; Jn. 5:39-40; Heb. 1:1-3; 1 Pet. 1:10-12).

•         God’s Word is faith-centered (Rom. 10:17).

•         God’s Word is understandable (Neh. 8:8).

INTERPRETATION QUESTIONS

•         What is the kind of literature?

•         What is the context?

•         What is the historical situation?

•         What is the setting of the passage?

•         What is the grammatical meaning?

•         What is the author’s purpose?

•         What is the exact thought of the author?

•         What is the simplest interpretation?

•         What is the literal interpretation?

•         What is the meaning of the text for today?