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The word "Bible" comes from the Greek word biblia, which means "books." The word was transliterated directly from Greek into English and "smoothed" with an English ending. The word "Holy" was later added because of the Bible's divine origin. Thus, we have the name of the book we call the Holy Bible. The biblia or Bible is not just one book but an assembling of 66 books. The writing of these books (some as small as 1or 2 pages in your Bible) took a total of about 1500 years, and was accomplished by at least 40 different writers. Men were directed to write as they were "moved" (carried along) by the Holy Spirit. MONDAY Inspiration Inspiration by God simply means "God Breathed." Men were so "moved" or carried along by the Holy Spirit of God so as not to make any mistakes in their writings. The text was not dictated to them word for word, but these men were so superintended that while they wrote there were no errors. II Timothy 3:16-17 All ______________________is given by ___________________________of God, and is ________________________for ____________________, for __________________, for ______________________, for ______________________in ____________________; That the man of God may be ____________________, throughly _____________________ unto all good _______________. II Peter 1:21 For the _________________________ came not in old ___________ by the will of man: but ___________ ____________ of God ______________________ as they were _____________________ by the __________ ________________. Acts 1:16 Men and brethren, this ____________________ must needs have been __________, which the ____________________ by the mouth of _______________________ spake before _______________________Judas, which was ____________________ to them that took ______________________. QUESTIONS: Write the first five books of the Old Testament. __________,__________,__________,__________,__________. Write the first five books of the New Testament. __________,__________,__________,__________,__________. Tuesday Divisions of the Bible Upon examination of the Bible, we find two major divisions within its covers -- the Old Testament and the New Testament. A testament is a "will," much like a will we would have drawn up by a lawyer that our heirs will read and execute when we die. These two testaments are sometimes referred to as "covenants" in the New Testament. Whichever word we use, they all refer to the same document. Hebrews 9:16-17 For where a ______________________ is, there must also of ___________________________ be the ___________________ of the ___________________________. For a _____________________________ is of force after men are ______________: ______________________ it is of no ________________ at all while the __________________________ liveth. Hebrews 8:6 But now hath he ________________________ a more ___________________________ ministry, by how much also he is the _________________ of a better ____________________, which was __________________ upon better ________________________. QUESTIONS: Write the first five books of the Old Testament. __________,__________,__________,__________,__________. Write the first five books of the New Testament. __________,__________,__________,__________,__________. Wednesday The Old Testament Within each of these testaments, the old and the new, there are also divisions. Jesus himself divided the Old Testament into three smaller divisions, and we sometimes divide the New Testament into three divisions. Jesus describes the divisions found in the Old Testament as the Law, The Prophets, and The Psalms. (Luke 24:44). The "law" would include the first five books of the Bible, sometimes called the "Pentateuch:" Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The division referred to as the "Prophets" includes Joshua through Malachi. "Psalms" includes the book of Psalms, and possibly the books of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon. However, remember that Jesus was not so much making a division as he was explaining that these books provided predictions about Him. Luke 24:44 And he said unto them, ___________ are the words which I __________ unto you, ____________ I was yet with ____________, that all things must be __________________, which were _______________ in the ____________ of ____________, and in the ________________, and in the __________________, concerning me. Luke 16:16 The ________ and the ______________________ were until ___________: since that time the ___________________ of __________ is ________________, and every man _____________________ into it. Ephesians 5:19 ___________________ to yourselves in _________________ and ________________ and ____________ ______________, singing and making _________________ in your heart to the _____________. Colossians 3:16 Let the ________ of Christ dwell in you ___________ in all ____________________; ________________ and ___________________ one another in _________________ and ____________ and _____________ songs, singing with _____________ in your ____________ to the Lord. QUESTIONS: Write the first five books of the Old Testament. __________,__________,__________,__________,__________. Write the first five books of the New Testament. __________,__________,__________,__________,__________. Thursday The New Testament The New Testament could be divided any number of ways, depending upon the type of study being done. We will divide these 27 books covering the ministry of Christ and the actions of the early church, with doctrinal direction for today's church and a revelation into the future, into these three divisions: History, Doctrine, and Prophecy. History The first five books of the New Testament -- Matthew through Acts -- are included in the division we call History. These books cover a period of time prior to the birth of Christ until about 33 - 36 AD. We find the account of Christ's life in the first four books, which we call the "Gospels," and the work of the early church in the book called Acts of the Apostles. John 20:30-31 And many other __________ truly did Jesus in the __________ of his _________, which are not ____________ in this _____________: But these are ________________, that ye might ___________ that Jesus is the ___________, the __________ of __________; and that _________________ ye might have ___________ through his ____________. Doctrine The next section of the New Testament falls into what we call "Doctrine." This included the letters (sometimes called epistles) to various churches and individuals. James 1:25 But ____________ looketh into the ______________ law of ___________, and __________________ therein, he being not a _________________ hearer, but a ______________ of the work, this man shall be _____________________ in his ________________. Prophecy The last division, "Prophecy," contains only one book - Revelation. Revelation 1:19 Write the _________ which thou hast _________, and the things ___________ __________, and the things _____________ shall be ______________. QUESTIONS: Write the first five books of the Old Testament. __________,__________,__________,__________,__________. Write the first five books of the New Testament. __________,__________,__________,__________,__________. Friday The Rule of Interpretation When reading the scripture, it is important to understand how to interpret what you are reading. There are five questions listed below that will help you figure out most scriptures. 1. Who is speaking? Always read enough of the passage to figure out who is saying the words. There are many characters in the Bible, some good, some bad, and often their conversations are recorded without any comment by the writer as to whether what they are saying is true or untrue. It, therefore, becomes important to know who is doing the speaking before proper interpretation can be done. 2. To whom is he speaking? After determining who is doing the speaking, then decide if he is talking to us, our neighbor, or someone a thousand years ago. 3. When was he speaking? This is important because commands given during a certain time period are no longer binding on us today. For example, God told Adam to dress and keep the garden of Eden. This could hardly apply to any of us today since we don't even know where the garden of Eden is. 4. About what is he speaking? Sometimes this can be the most difficult of the five rules to apply. What is the subject under consideration? 5. What is the context in which he is speaking? You cannot simply pick out one or two verses of scripture and expect to get a correct interpretation without reading all the scriptures around them. One must look at the verses, sometimes chapters, before and after the verse under consideration to get a clear understanding. Apply these rules to Acts 8:31 : "And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me?..." and decide -- 1. Who is speaking? ____________________________________________________ 2. To whom is he speaking? ______________________________________________ 3. About what is he speaking? ____________________________________________ 4. When was he speaking? _______________________________________________ 5. What is the context?____________________________________________ QUESTIONS: Write the first five books of the Old Testament. __________,__________,__________,__________,__________. Write the first five books of the New Testament. __________,__________,__________,__________,__________.
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