Chapter 1:
The Nature and Purpose
of the Bible
OVERVIEW of the Bible
The PURPOSE of the Bible
BASIC STORYLINE of the Bible
Functions of the Bible
• Conviction of sin
• Correction and Instruction
• Spiritual Fruitfulness
• Perseverance
• Joy and Delight
• Ultimate Authority in Doctrine and Deed
C-H-R-O-N-O-L-O-G-Y
of the Bible’s Composition
Timeline of Biblical Events and
Books
Adam and Eve
(LTA)
Noah
(LTA)
The calling of Abraham
2000 B.C.
The exodus
1446 B.C. (Moses authors 1rst books)
The monarchy begins
1050 B.C. (God chooses Saul)
King David
1010-970 B.C
King Solomon
970-930 B.C.
The divided kingdom
931 B.C (Israel/Judah divide)
The Assyrian exile
722 B.C. (Samaria destroyed)
The Babylonian exile
586 B.C. (Jerusalem destroyed)
The Persian period
537 B.C. (return of Jews under Cyrus)
Timeline of Biblical Events and
Books
Second Temple finished
515 B.C.
Nehemiah/Ezra
Mid-400s B.C.
Malachi (last OT book)
430 B.C.
Intertestamental period
430 B.C.-A.D. 45
Jesus’ birth
7-4 B.C.
Jesus’ ministry
A.D.
27-30
Jesus’ crucifixion
A.D.
30
First NT book(s) written
A.D. 45
Revelation written
A.D.
90 (last book of NT)
Chapter 2:
The Organization of the
Bible
The Basic Division—
The Testaments
Number and Order of the Old
Testament Books
THE OLD TESTAMENT
1. LAW
2. HISTORICAL BOOKS
3. WISDOM BOOKS
4. PROPHETICAL BOOKS
LAW
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
HISTORICAL BOOKS
• Joshua
• Judges
• Ruth
• 1-2 Samuel
• 1-2 Kings
• 1-2
Chronicles
• Ezra
• Nehemiah
• Esther
WISDOM
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
(Song of Songs)
PROPHETICAL BOOKS
Major Prophets
Minor Prophets
Isaiah
Hosea-Malachi
Jeremiah
(The Twelve)
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
NUMBER AND ORDER OF
NEW TESTAMENT BOOKS
GOSPELS AND ACTS
Mathew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
PAULINE LETTERS
Romans
1-2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1-2 Thessalonians
1-2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
GENERAL LETTERS AND
REVELATION
Hebrews
James
1-2 Peter
1-3 John
Jude
Revelation
CHAPTER DIVISIONS
VERSE DIVISIONS
Chapter 3:
The Authorship of the Bible
Theories of Inspiration
The Intuition Theory
The Illumination Theory
The Dynamic Theory
The Dictation Theory
The Verbal Plenary Theory
DUAL AUTHORSHIP OF
SCRIPTURE
VARIATION WITHIN DUAL AUTHORSHIP
Some Implications of Dual
Authorship
•The Purpose of the Human Author
•Divine Patterns of Foreshadowing
•Meaning Exceeding the Conscious
Intent of the Human Author?
Inspiration & Incarnation
Chapter 4:
The Authority and Accuracy
of the Bible
THE VOCABULARY OF
INERRANCY
• Inerrant / Inerrancy
• Infallible / Infallibility
• Inspired / Inspiration
• Neo-orthodox / Neo-orthodoxy
• Trustworthy / True / Authoritative
SCRIPTURE’S CLAIMS
ABOUT ITSELF
• NUMBERS 23:19
• PSALM 12:6
• 2 TIMOTHY 3:16
• 2 PETER 1:21
• JOHN 10:35
• HEBREWS 1:1-2
THE HISTORIC VIEW OF THE
CHRISTIAN CHURCH
QUALIFICATIONS OF
INERRANCY
1. APPLIES ONLY TO AUTOGRAPHS
2. RESPECTS AUTHORIAL INTENT AND
LITERARY CONVENTIONS (NOTE:
ORDER OF EVENTS IN THE
GOSPELS)
3. ALLOWS FOR PARTIAL REPORTING,
PARAPHRASING, AND SUMMARIZING
QUALIFICATIONS OF
INERRANCY…
4. ALLOWS FOR PHENOMENOLOGICAL
LANGUAGE
5. ALLOWS FOR THE REPORTING OF
SPEECH WITHOUT THE ENDORESEMENT
OF THE TRUTHFULNESS OF THAT SPEECH
6. DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE BIBLE GIVES
DEFINITIVE OR EXHAUSTIVE INFO ON
EVERY TOPIC
7. NOT INVALIDATED BY COLLOQUIAL OR
NONSTANDARD GRAMMAR/SPELLING.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
DEALING WITH DIFFICULT
TEXTS
•
•
•
•
•
•
BE SURE YOU ARE INTERACTING WITH
REAL TEXTS
APPROACH THE TEXT IN TRUST, NOT AS A
SKEPTIC
PRAY
KEEP IN MIND THE “QUALIFICATIONS OF
INERRANCY”
SEEK COUNSEL
BE WILLING TO SET A TEXT ASIDE FOR
FURTHER CONSIDERATION RATHER THAN
Chapter 5:
The Textual History of the
Bible
Overview of Textual
Issues
The Copying of Ancient Texts
THE OLD TESTAMENT
THE NEW TESTAMENT
THE BEGINNING OF
THE GOSPEL OF JOHN
FROM CODEX SINAITICUS.
Samples of Textual Variants
Unintentional Errors
• Errors of Sight
• Errors of Hearing
• Errors of Writing
• Errors of Judgment
Intentional Errors
• Revising Grammar and Spelling
• Harmonizing Similar Passages
• Eliminating Apparent Discrepancies and
Difficulties
• Conflating the Text
• Adapting Different Liturgical Traditions
• Making Theological or Doctrinal Changes
Early Christian Orthodoxy and
Other Ancient Manuscripts
Chapter 6:
The Canon of the Bible
OLD TESTAMENT CANON
NEW TESTAMENT CANON
1. APOSTOLIC
2. CATHOLIC
3. ORTHODOX
T.C. HAMMOND
ON THE NT CANON…
1. NT BOOKS WRITTEN A.D. 45-100.
2. COLLECTED AND READ IN THE
CHURCHES A.D. 100-200.
3. COMPARED AND EXAMINED WITH
OTHER WRITINGS A.D. 100-200.
4. COMPLETE AGREEMENT A.D. 300-400.
Ordering of Hebrew Scriptures in
the First Century
JEWISH SCRIPTURE (24 Books)
LAW
THE CHRISTIAN OT (39 Books)
HISTORICAL BOOKS
Genesis
Genesis
Exodus
Exodus
Leviticus
Leviticus
1-2 Chronicles
Numbers
Ezra
Numbers
Deuteronomy
1-2 Samuel
1-2 Kings
Deuteronomy
Nehemiah
Joshua
Esther
Judges
Ruth
Ordering of Hebrew Scriptures in the First Century
JEWISH SCRIPTURE (24 BOOKS)
THE CHRISTIAN OT (39 BOOKS)
PROPHETS
WISDOM BOOKS
FORMER PROPHETS
Joshua
Job
Judges
Psalms
Samuel
Proverbs
Kings
LATTER PROPHETS
MAJOR PROPHETS
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
(Song of Songs)
Jeremiah
Ezekiel
MINOR PROPHETS
Hosea—Malachi (The 12)
THE ORDERING OF HEBREW SCRIPTURES IN THE
FIRST CENTURY
WRITINGS
PSALMS
PROPHETIC BOOKS
MAJOR PROPHETS
JOB
PROVERBS
RUTH
SONG OF SOLOMON
ISAIAH
JEREMIAH
LAMENTATIONS
ECCLESIASTES
LAMENTATIONS
ESTHER
EZEKIEL
DANIEL
DANIEL
EZRA—NEHEMIAH
CHRONICLES
MINOR PROPHETS
HOSEA—MALACHI (THE 12)
THE APOCRYPHA
CANON IN VARYING CHRISITAN
TRADITIONS
PROTESTANTISM
OLD TESTAMENT
PENTATEUCH (Gen.-Duet.)
PROPHETS
FORMER (Josh.-Kings)
MAJOR (Isa., Jer., Ezek.)
MINOR (The Twelve)
WRITINGS
PROTESTANTISM
NEW TESTAMENT
GOSPELS
ACTS
PAUL (and HEBREWS)
GENERAL EPISTLES
JAMES-JUDE
REVELATION
ROMAN CATHOLICISM
OLD TESTAMENT
PENTATEUCH (Gen.-Deut.)
PROPHETS
FORMER (Josh.-Kings)
MAJOR (Isa., Jer., Ezek.)
MINOR (The Twelve)
WRITINGS
ROMAN CATHOLICISM
APOCRYPHA
TOBIT
JUDITH
ADDITIONS TO ESTHER
WISDOM OF SOLOMON
ECCLESIASTICUS (SIRACH)
BARUCH (+LETTER OF
JEREMIAH)
PRAYER OF AZARIAH
SUSANNA
BEL AND THE DRAGON
1 MACCABEES
2 MACCABEES
ROMAN CATHOLICISM
NEW TESTAMENT
GOSPELS
ACTS
PAUL (and HEBREWS)
GENERAL EPISTLES
JAMES—JUDE
REVELATION
GREEK ORTHODOX
OLD TESTAMENT
PENTATEUCH (Gen.-Deut.)
PROPHETS
FORMER (Josh.-Kings)
MAJOR (Isa., Jer., Ezek.)
MINOR (The Twelve)
WRITINGS
GREEK ORTHODOX
APOCRYPHA
TOBIT
JUDITH
ADDITIONS TO ESTHER
ECCLESIASTICUS (SIRACH)
PRAYER OF AZARIAH
SUSANNA
BEL AND THE DRAGON
1 MACABEES
2 MACABEES
1 ESDRAS (or 3 Ezra)
PRAYER OF MANASSEH
3 MACABEES
4 MACABEES (appendix)
PSALM 151
GREEK ORTHODOXY
NEW TESTAMENT
GOSPELS
ACTS
PAUL (and HEBREWS)
GENERAL EPISTLES
JAMES—JUDE
REVELATION
The Apocrypha is not
Scripture:
1. Jews never accepted these books.
2. Contains factual and theological errors.
3. Roman Catholic Church did not officially
recognize these books until 1546.
4. The New Testament never cites the
Apocrypha as Scripture.
IS THE CANON CLOSED?
Chapter 7:
Modern Translations of the
Bible
The Original Languages of the Bible
History of the English Language
History of the English Bible
WYCLIFF
TYNDALE
The Bible in Modern English
EARLY ENGLISH BIBLE TRANSLATIONS
1382
Wycliff Bible1rst complete
translation of the
Bible (Vulgate)
1526
Tyndale Bible 1rst printed NT in
English on Greek
1535
Coverdale 1rst complete
printed English Bible
1537
Matthew’s Bible Edited by John
Rogers. First licensed
English Bible
EARLY ENGLISH BIBLE TRANSLATION
1539
The Great Bible Revised
Matthew’s Bible
1560
Geneva Bible NT-Tyndale
OT-Hebrew
Verse divisions
Calvinistic ftnotes
1568
Bishop’s Bible Revised Great Bible
by Anglican bishops
EARLY ENGLISH BIBLE
TRANSLATIONS
1610
1611
Douay-Rheims Literal rendering of
the Vulgate by
Roman Catholics
KJV
Translated by
committee of
scholars
APPROACHES TO
TRANSLATION
DYNAMIC EQUIVALENCE
VS.
FORMAL EQUIVALENCE
PARAPHRASES
The KING JAMES VERSION
RECENT TRANSLATION
DEBATES