Why study the Bible?

1. Why study the Bible? 173rd Fraternal Gathering of the Ontario Christadelphian Ecclesias Mountain Grove Chapel Friday October 21st, 2016

2. Great literary works

3. Is the Bible True?

4. I Corinthians 2:6-16, “6Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.9But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.10But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God… 

5. …11For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

6. Archaeology • 5000 manuscripts, parchments, papyri • Tel Dan Stele (right) discovered in 1993 • Hazael’s victory over Jehoram and Ahaziah • First discovery of it’s kind

7. Non Biblical Sources • Records from Egypt, Assyria, Babylon and Rome help verify scripture • Josephus (right), mentions more than a dozen individuals from the Bible in his writing • Other sources include Jewish Talmud and other historians (Suetonius, Tacitus and Pliny the Younger)

8. Literary Consistency • 66 books, written over 1500 years by 40 different authors • Eyewitness accounts will have discrepancies • Mark 10:46, Luke 18:35 (one blind man) and Matthew 20:30 (two blind men) • Context is key (I John 3:6)

9. Fulfilled Prophecy • There are over 300 fulfilled prophecies of Christ’s life, death and resurrection in the OT that are fulfilled in the NT • Prophecy defined: a specific declaration or description of something future that comes to pass • Destruction of Tyre (Ezekiel 26)

10. Prophecy of Destruction of Tyre • 6 prophecies against Tyre in Ezekiel 26 • Many nations would come against Tyre (vs. 2) • The city would become a bare rock (vs. 4, 14) • Fisherman would spread nets over it (vs. 5) • Nebuchadnezzar would destroy mainland city (vs. 7-14) • Debris would be thrown into the water (vs. 12) • The city would never be rebuilt (vs. 20-21)

11. Fulfillment of the Prophecy

12. Undesigned Coincidences • Small, seemingly insignificant details combined with other details give deeper meaning to a passage • Joshua 4:19, 5:10 • Rahab and the spies • Exodus 9:31

13. The Israelites • One of the longest surviving peoples in history • Promises to Abraham: Great Nation (power and number), inherit Canaan as an everlasting inheritance • Blessings would be amazing if they followed God’s instruction

14. Deuteronomy 11:18-23, “18Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. 19And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 20And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates: 21That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth. 22For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him; 23Then will the LORD drive out all these nations from before you, and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves.” 

15. The Ups and Downs of Israel • Led through wilderness by Moses, entered Promised Land under Joshua • Thrived under leadership of David and Solomon • Kingdom split, disobedience ensued, given into the hands of other nations • Destruction of temple in AD 70 • Remnant remains throughout the centuries

16. Nation Restored • Balfour Declaration 1917 • May 14, 1948 nation is restored • Prophecies fulfilled (Amos 9:14-15) • 6 day war in 1967 • Turmoil ever since

17. God working in our lives • God will guide us • Isaiah 41:10 • Romans 8:28 • I Peter 5:6

18. Faith is necessary • Cannot prove the Bible 100% • We must have faith • Romans 10:17 • How do we find the faith? • Matthew 7:7 • Through study and prayer

19. What are the benefits? • Clearer understanding of God’s plan/purpose • We have been given a role to play • Light in a dark world (Psalm 119:105) • Satisfaction from spiritual hunger (Psalm 119:103) • Quenching our thirst with living water (John 4:14) • Prepared to give an answer (I Peter 3:15)

20. How do we study? • Open mind and without bias • II Peter 1:20-21 • Entirely on God’s inspired Word, honoured as Truth • Matthew 4:4 • Can be intimidating, but God has created Scripture for all to hear and understand

21. Ways to study • How to read the Bible effectively • Daily Readings plan (Robert Roberts/Chronological etc) • Character/Theme study • Group study • Study aids (Strong’s Dictionary, Concordance, Christadelphian works etc)

22. Ethiopian Eunuch • Philip commanded to go into the desert • Eunuch on his way home from worshipping in Jerusalem • Faithful man • Philip was eager to help him understand • II Peter 3:9 • II Timothy 3:15 • He understands and commits to baptism

23. Our Divine Tool

24. Hebrews 4:12, “12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

25. Christ as our example • Not only read it, but live it • Word made flesh (John 1:14) • John 8:31-32, “31Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” 

26. Why study the Bible? • Belief and Faith in it’s truth is essential • Many outside factors point to it’s truth • Benefits include a sense of purpose, a proper way to live, the hope of an everlasting Kingdom • Comfort • Proverbs 30:5, “5Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.”

27. James 1:21-25, “22But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

28. Joshua 1:8, “8This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

29. II Timothy 3:14-17, “14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”