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What does the Bible Say... About Itself?
a study about the reality of the preserved Word of God
by Wes Spurling
Lesson One
What does the Bible Say...??
bs ...About itself?
FIRST: From where do the following passages say Scripture originates?
· Exodus 32:16 _______________________________________________
And who was used? __________________________________________
· Hosea 8:12 _________________________________________________
· Zechariah 7:12 ______________________________________________
And who was used? ___________________________________________
· John 17:8 ___________________________________________________
· Galatians 1:11-12 ______________________________________________
· Ephesians 3:3 _________________________________________________
· 1Thess. 2:13 __________________________________________________
· Hebrews 1:1-2 ________________________________________________
And who was used? ____________________________________________
· 2Peter 1:21 ___________________________________________________
And who was used? ______________________________________________
Question: Does it seem there is any part of the Bible that doesn’t come from God?
______________________________________________________________
Question: How about the Old and New Testaments, is there any difference as far as whether God was the source? _________________________________________________
Why? ___________________________________________________________
______________________________________ (see Jn. 5:46-47 & 2Pet. 3:1-2)
Read 2 Timothy 3:16
Question: According to 2Tim. 3:16, which parts of the Bible come from God?__________________________ Further, are there any parts of the Bible, which we call "Scripture", which were NOT put there by God? ________________________
What does the word “inspiration” mean to you? [NAS=”inspired”; NIV=”God-breathed”]______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________
Question: There are some who say that when God used human instruments to write the Bible, their ‘human-ness’ shows (their personalities and sometimes even their culture). They say we must separate out those aspects of Scripture which were simply a reflection of those personalities or times. This was to be done to clarify what God actually said, and the truths that apply to us today. How does that fit with the verses you’ve just
read? __________________ _________________________________________________________
Definitions: "inspiration of God" = 'God breathed'
"inspire" = 'to infuse or suggest ideas or monitions supernaturally; to communicate divine instructions to the mind'
"inspired" = 'informed or directed by the Holy Spirit' {N. Webster, 1828}
Personal Question: Do you believe the Bible is 'inspired' by God and why? ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________
Are there any questions that come up in your mind as you consider all this?
_________________________________________________________
If so, what are they? _________________________________________
_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________
Lesson 2
What does the Bible Say...??
...About itself?
SECOND:, What do the following verses say is an essential characteristic of God’s word?
John 17:17 ______________________________________
Psalms 119:151 __________________________________
2 Cor. 1:18 ______________________________________
As God speaks truth, what can we trust will not be found in His words?
1 John 1:5 ______________________________________
James 1:17-18 ___________________________________
1 Cor. 14:33 ____________________________________
From the following passages, is God prone to lie? Can He lie? Why?
Num. 23:19, 1 Sam. 15:29, Malachi 3:6 & Ps. 89:34-35 ______________________________________________________
Do we, by our actions, sometimes make God a liar? If so, how? (consider 1 John 1:10 & 5:10)
___________________________________________________________
Read Psalms 138:2
Question: Knowing God’s priority is truth, how do you now feel about your Bible? How would you have felt if you believed God’s word might not be all-truthful? ___________________________________________________________
Question: Does God have different truths for different people? _________________ (Explain your answer in the margin) Another way of asking this would be, are there some parts of the Bible which simply do not have any application in your life? _______________________________________
Can you provide a verse to support your answer? ____________________________
Question: According to the verses you’ve read, are there any parts of the Bible, which we call "Scripture", which contain ‘un-truths’? _________________ What does the word “infallible” mean to you? __________________________ _______________________________________________
Question: There are some who say that when God used human instruments to write the Bible, some ‘un-truths’ could not be avoided and have crept in. They say we must separate out those aspects of Scripture which are a reflection of ‘human error’. This needs to be done to clarify the pure truth of what God actually said. How do those thoughts reflect God’s attitude toward truth in the verses you’ve just read?
________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________
Definitions: “infallible”: ‘(1) not capable of erring; entirely exempt from liability to mistake; to be infallible is the prerogative of God only;’ (2) ‘not liable to fail, or to deceive confidence; certain; as infallible evidence..’
{N. Webster, 1828}
Personal Question: Do you believe the Bible to be God’s Word, and do you believe it to be infallible? ____________________________________
Are there any questions that come up in your mind as you consider all this? ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________
If so, what are they? ____________________________________
_______________________________________________ _______________________________________________
Lesson 3
What does the Bible Say...??
...About itself?
THIRDLY, Not only is God a truthful speaker, and not a liar, but all His words are what? ___________________________________
(see Jn. 17:17, 2 Sam. 7:28, Psalms 119:142 & 151)
In fact, when did God’s words become true?
Psalms 119:160 __________________________________
Did Jesus claim His words to be truth?
John 14:6 ______________________________________
(see also Luke 4:25, 9:27, 12:44, 21:3, 22:22, John 8:14, 16, 40, 45-46, 16:7)
Were Jesus words recognized as truth?
Mark 12:32 _____________________________________
(see also Mt.22:16, Mk.12:14, Lu. 20:21 & Jn.1:17)
Question: What does it mean, God’s words were true? Does it mean they were true only when He said them? Or does it mean they are still true today? ________________________________________________
Why do you say that? ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________
Question: Beyond truthful, can you see any additional, subtle qualities of God’s words mentioned in Psalms 12:6? (see also Psalms 19:8b & 119:140) _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________
Question: When it says, “…as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times…” (Ps. 12:6), what does that make you think of? How does the process of refining silver relate to God’s word? ______________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________
Psalms 19:7-9 “The law of the LORD is perfect <without blemish>, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure <faithful, established, verified>, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right <upright, righteous, straight>, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure <clear, sincere>,
enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean <pure, fair>, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true <reliable, stable> and righteous <justified> altogether.”
Question: Do you think God cares if His words are true? In other words, does God endeavor to be sure His words to us are true? _____________________
Why do you say that? ______________________________ _______________________________________________
Question: What does the word “inerrant” mean to you? _____________________ __________________________________________________________
Question: There are some who say that when God used human instruments to write the Bible, ‘errors’ were inevitable. They say we need to identify those errors for the sake of clarity. How do those thoughts reflect God’s attitude toward truth in the verses you’ve just read? ________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________
Definitions: “inerrant” ‘(1) without error or possibility of (2) ‘not wandering, fixed; making no mistakes’{N. Webster,1828}
Personal Question: Do you believe the Bible to be God’s Word, and do you believe it to be inerrant? ________________________________________________________
Are there any questions that come up in your mind as you consider all this? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________
If so, what are they? __________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
Read Revelations 21:5
Lesson 4 ( EBC Men 01-05-02 )
What does the Bible Say...??
...About itself?
FOURTH: What do the following verses say will happen to the LORD’s Word over time?
· Psalms 33:11 _________________________________
· Psalms 105:8 (& 1 Chron. 16:15) _________________
· Psalms 111:7-8 ________________________________
· Psalms 119:89-90 ______________________________
· Psalms 119:152 _______________________________
· Psalms 119:160 _______________________________
· Proverbs 19:21 ________________________________
· Isaiah 40:8 ___________________________________
· Isaiah 59:21 __________________________________
· Jeremiah 31:35-36 _____________________________
· 1 Peter 1:23-25 ________________________________
…. in fact, the Old & New Testaments say God has already done this. (Joshua 23:14 & 1 John 2:7)
…. and Jesus said:
· Matthew 24:35 _________________________________________ (see also Mark 13:31 & Luke 21:33)
To what degree will God care for His Word?
· Matthew 5:18 ___________________________________________ (see also Luke 16:17)
Question: Based on the previous verses, does it seem to you that God is especially concerned in keeping His Word intact over time?__________________________________
Question: Why do you think it is of importance to God to keep His Word intact over time? ________________________________________________
Is it important to you? Why? ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________
Question: Based on the previous verses, is it possible that a portion of God’s Word is lost or hopelessly altered? ________________________________
Question: Based on verses studied, is it possible that God would inspire His Word, error-free, and then choose not to preserve it? _________________
Can you think of any reasons God might choose not to preserve His Word? ________________________________________________
Question: There are some who say that over time, errors have entered the text of the Bible we now have. They say we must separate out those aspects of Scripture which have been altered, added or deleted to clarify what God actually said. How does that fit with the verses you’ve just read? ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________
Definitions: "preserved" = 'saved from injury, destruction, or decay; kept or defended from evil’ {N. Webster, 1828}
Question: Can we/should we hope to have a Bible that has lasted error-free from the beginning?
Personal Question: Do you believe the Bible has been preserved over time by God and why? ________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________
Are there any questions that come up in your mind as you consider all this? _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________
If so, what are they? ____________________________________
_______________________________________________ _______________________________________________
To be continued... (01-01-02)
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