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Chapter 1 - - - THE BIBLE
Background Of The Word ‘Bible’
The Bible is the world’s greatest book in the world. No other volume has exerted such an influence upon the world down through the centuries. And, even though it is an ancient Book, the information within the book is up-to-date and completely relevant for every man and every situation today.
The reason for the Bible’s greatness is because of its great unique authorship and its ability to survive against every attempt to destroy its existence. The Bible was divinely orchestrated by God Himself as the contents are His Word which He has given to men as a guide and a reference (2 Tim. 3:16, 17).
The word Bible comes from the Greek word “biblos.” The plural form of “biblos” is “biblia,” and by the second century A.D. Christians were using this latter word to now describe their writings. The word “biblia” remained the same from Latin to Old French. But in modern English, the word became Bible.
What Is The Bible?
Just what is the Bible anyway? Is it worth taking the time to study it? The answer to that question depends upon your answer to this question: “Is God worth listening to or should you concern yourself on what God has to say to you or us men?”
The Bible is God’s way of unveiling the truth to us; much needed truth that we would not have known without Him sharing it with us. God has pulled back the curtains for us to see the truth about our history, our present conditions, and our future. There is much we could never have known if not for this special Book which God uses to communicate with us. For instance, we can learn much about nature by observation, but we would never have stumbled on the truth of how nature began. God pulled back the veil and showed us that,
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).
We learned from Jewish secular history that a man named Jesus from Nazareth was crucified. But without God’s communication through the Bible, we would never know that God had planned that Christ had to die for our sins and that He died to save us. The Bible does not tell us everything about life and Godliness, but it does tell us what we need to know about God and our relation to God. We get to discover how we can live according to the will of God, have an abundant life here on earth, and also have eternal life in Heaven. The Bible is divided into two testaments. The Hebrew word for testament is “berith”, meaning “covenant.” The Greek word “diatheke” is translated testament in Heb. 9:19-20 (KJV) but it should be translated “covenant.”
The OT was first called the books of the ‘Covenant of Moses’. Later, Jeremiah wrote that God would make a “New Covenant” with His people, which Jesus came to fulfill through His death. Since then, the former part of the bible is called the Old Covenant (Testament), and the latter is called the New Covenant. We Christians believe that Christ is the theme of both covenants.
Bible Scholars Systematic Approach To Bible Study
Bible scholars use the word Hermeneutics which is the science (principles) and art (tasks) of biblical interpretation by which the meaning of the biblical text is determined. It does seek to answer two questions:
(1) What has God said? And
(2) What does God mean by what He said?
A correct interpretation will determine what the original writings meant to the author and also what it should mean to the first hearers or readers. This means that the interpreter must bridge the gap between his mind and the minds of the biblical writers. At least four related factors must be taken into consideration:
- Language - the basis of Scripture
- Culture - the setting of Scripture.
- Geography - the scenery of Scripture; and
- History - the plot of Scripture. *(Long, p.15)
There are many other words related to hermeneutics that we need to understand. The first two are .... exegesis and exposition.
What Are Exegesis And Exposition?
- EXEGESIS is defined as the determination of the meaning of the biblical text in its historical and literary contexts. Exegesis is the actual interpretation of the Bible, and hermeneutics consists of the principles by which the meaning is determined.
- EXPOSITION is the communication of the meaning of the text along with its relevance to present-day hearers. The other two words we want to discuss are homiletics and pedagogy.
- Homiletics is the science (principles) and art (task) by which the meaning and relevance of the biblical text are communicated in a preaching situation.
- Pedagogy is the science (principles) and art (task) by which the meaning and relevance of the biblical text are communicated in a teaching situation.
Exegesis is the study in private, and exposition is the presentation in public. Exegesis is done in the study; exposition is done in the pulpit or at the teacher’s desk or podium. The primary concern in exegesis is an understanding of a biblical text, whereas the primary concern of exposition is the communication of the meaning of the text.
Original Languages Of The Bible
The Old Testament: All the books of the OT were written in Hebrew, with exception of a few portions that were penned in Aramaic. Daniel 2:4 thru 7:28 was written in Aramaic.
The New Testament
The books of the NT were written in “Koine” which is Greek. Greek was the common language of that day and time.
Greek and Latin Versions
Over time, the Jewish people became immersed in the Greek culture and started speaking Greek because it was the language of learning, business, and commerce. As a result, they produced a Greek version of the OT. It was called the Septuagint and was widely used at the time of Christ and the Apostles. Later when the Roman Empire began to spread its influence and language across the world, there was a need for a Latin version which was the Roman language. The Latin version was adopted, and a translation was commissioned for the Roman Catholics. Just one complete copy of the “Old Latin” Bible, was in circulation around AD 250. Several other versions came along later after this.
The English Translation
The first complete English translation of the New Testament Bible was made available in 1380. John Wycliff is associated with this God-sent blessing, and the Old Testament version followed two years later. Wycliff was bitterly opposed by religious authorities at the time of his work.
After the invention of the printing press, Bibles were printed and given to masses so people could read the Bible and understand for themselves. William Tyndale printed and published the first completed New Testament Bible in the English language.
During this time of his great work on producing the New Testament Bible in the English, Tyndale was banished from England for his work. The opposition against producing and printing the new testament for the general public to read for themselves was so great and the Roman Catholic ecclesiastical powers did not like the idea at all. They knew it would cause them to lose control of the people, coupled with the English political authorities who were also determined to stop Tyndale’s efforts. They sent people to strangle him to death and his body was burned at the stake. His last words were, “Lord, open the King of England’s eyes.” This prayer was answered. Within a year, a complete English Bible was printed and distributed—-not only with the permission of the Throne—but with its sanction. It was the first authorized English Version of the Bible.
In 1611, the first Authorized King James version was printed. The revised version was completed in 1885, and the American Standard Version in 1901.
Within the 20th century, several versions and modern translations have also been produced. Currently, the Scriptures, in part or in whole have been translated into more than 1,100 dialects and tongues. *(Dehaan, Richard. “The World’s Greatest Book”) The success of this can truly prove that God had a hand in the translation and establishment of this Bible and God has also made the Bible the most read book of all time.
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Chapter 2 - - - The Seven Dispensations of Biblical Periods
In the economy of God, there have been different periods of stewardship in which God has tested man concerning special revelations according to His will. These periods of stewardship are known as dispensations. Seven different dispensations can be distinguis...
