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HISTORY
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BIBLE
The fascinating story of how we got the Bible in its present form actually starts thousands of years ago
HOW WE GOT OUR BIBLE
Most Christians understand that the Bible they hold in their hands is the inspired Word of God. Yet very few have a general understanding of the origin of the Bible.
THE BIBLE THROUGH THE AGES
What is the origin of the books we have today in the Bible? What are variants? How do you interpret the Bible? How did the many different versions develop?
THE ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE BIBLE
An extremely detailed seven part article
RELIABILITY
A REMARKABLE BOOK
What makes the Bible the only book we can accept as divinely inspired since it does not glow in the dark, levitate or exhibit any physical qualities that might be seen as supernatural. How can we know beyond a shadow of doubt that the Bible is and always was the only Word of God? How is it possible to determine the validity and the authenticity of the claims made by these Scriptures. (Several Articles)
OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW OF THE BIBLE
A one page overview of both new and old Testaments.
THE BIBLE.. IT’S 66 BOOKS IN BRIEF
(A short Commentary on each book of the Bible)
(Old Testament) (New Testament)
SURVEYING THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS
A More Detailed look at the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation. This book surveys the history of God’s redeeming grace. It reviews Old Testament history, disclosing the stream of God’s redeeming purposes flowing down through the older times. It reviews New Testament history, disclosing the broadening and deepening of that purpose for us men and for mankind in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ and his Church.
HELPFUL HINTS
HOW CAN ANYONE BE CERTAIN OF THE BIBLE'S MEANING?
God has communicated many things to us through the Bible. Some things are more difficult to understand, but he has gone out of his way to make his main message clear to us (Jn. 20:31; 2 Tim. 3:16). He has done this in three ways.
IS PRIVATE INTERPRETATION POSSIBLE?
Does the phrase “no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation” (2 Peter 1:20) mean that we can’t understand the Bible for ourselves?
HOW TO CHOOSE A STUDY BIBLE
Overwhelmed by the number of choices in today’s glutted study Bible market? Let an expert on the subject guide you through the maze. The designation "study Bible" can refer to two things. In some contexts it refers to the translation itself, to a version of the Bible suitable for study. More often, however, it refers to a translation plus a set of features designed to help one read and study the text.
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WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE?
Start At The "Beginning" No one would expect to comprehend a novel like "Tom Sawyer" or mysteries like "Sherlock Holmes" if they began in the middle of the story or just read the conclusion. Yet many people read the Bible in such a fashion and are then perplexed by this "difficult" book. Actually, it is amazing that folks get as much out of the Bible as they do with such methodology.
SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES
Do not expect to master the Bible in a day, or a month, or a year. Rather expect often to be puzzled by its contents. It is not all equally clear. Great men of God often feel like absolute novices when they read the Word. The apostle Peter said that there were some things hard to be understood in the epistles of Paul [2 Peter 3.16)
BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION... 12 GOLDEN RULES
What basic and common sense rules should we apply to reading Scripture?
HOW TO READ THE BOOK
It is true that Bible Study is hard work. Preparing for Young People's Society is hard work. However, these are not impossible works. If we follow some basic guidelines, we can definitely grow in our ability to read and understand God's Word.
HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE
Without love of God the Bible has little chance of being much read; but without an intelligent method a nascent love for it may be arrested or even extinguished. Love quickens study; and study, pursued in the right way, increases love.
TEN STEPS TO BIBLICAL LITERACY
"I know I should read the Bible more often, but I just don't enjoy doing it: I get frustrated when I don't understand a verse, and I get bored reading verses I've already read and understand. It's such a chore." Few people would put it so bluntly as this. But if we were honest with ourselves, most of us would have to admit that such discouraging thoughts are frequent enough, and practically prevent us from reading the Bible at home. In this pamphlet we will take this problem by the horns in a very practical manner, so as to really help those who wish to improve their Bible-reading ways.
HELPFUL HINTS ON READING THE BIBLE
Here are some useful ways to read the Bible more and better. They are not geared towards the regular study of Scripture as such, but are out of the ordinary ways to help get more out of the Bible.
MEDITATING ON GOD'S WORD
The psalmists' interactions with God were often not a silent matter. Just as meditation is linked with the mouth in Joshua 1:8, it is often connected with the mouth or voice in the Psalms. The whole context of Psalm 5:1-3 suggests that the psalmist's meditation is something vocal and audible, for it involves words, the voice, crying, prayer, and hearing.
WHAT NOT TO DO
NEVER READ A BIBLE VERSE
The numbers in front of the sentences give the illusion the verses stand alone in their meaning. They were not in the originals but added hundreds of years later. Chapter and verse breaks sometimes pop up in unfortunate places, separating relevant material that should be grouped together.
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR IN THE BIBLE
To preach the Bible as "the handbook for life," or as the answer to every question, rather than as the revelation of Christ, is to turn the Bible into an entirely different book. This is how the Pharisees approached Scripture.
ESOTERICISM AND BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION
If esotericists are correct in their approach to Scripture, then orthodox Christians have woefully misrepresented the true meaning of Scripture for almost two full millennia. We must therefore address the question, Is the esoteric method of interpreting Scripture a legitimate method?
EXTERNAL AIDS
USING BIBLE COMMENTARIES
A Word of Caution
THE USE OF CROSS-REFERENCES
One of the fundamental principles of Protestant biblical interpretation is that "Scripture is its own best interpreter."
OTHER QUESTIONS
DOES THE BIBLE CONTAIN CONTRADICTIONS?
Does the Bible contradict itself? That charge is frequently made by skeptics. A careful consideration of the "law of contradiction, " however, will demonstrate otherwise.
RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH
A Few Commonly Misused or Misunderstood Verses.
WHY PEOPLE FIND THE BIBLE DIFFICULT
To the question, Why is the Bible hard to understand? no snap answer can be given; the pert answer is sure to be the wrong one. The problem is multiple instead of singular, and for this reason the effort to find a single solution to it will be disappointing.
REMEMBER
EXPOSITION MUST HAVE APPLICATION
Theology is a set of facts concerning God, man and the world. These facts may be, and often are, set forth as values in themselves; and there lies the snare both for the teacher and for the hearer
ALSO SEE SECTION
BIBLICAL CONTROVERSIES
(Topics Include)
Bible Code or Bible Crock
Apocrypha not in Protestant Bible?
The King James Version
The Textus Receptus
Who So Many Bible Translations?
The Living Bible
Rightly Dividing The Word of Truth
Off-Site Links
StudyLight
Offers Several Bible Commentaries. However First Read
Bible Commentaries.. A Word Of Caution (above)
BibleKeeper.com
is a free online Bible study resource for anyone who is interested in reading and researching scripture on the Internet. They offer the Bible in 28 different languages as well as a variety of versions.....
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