The Bible is God's Holy Word                     CHAPTER ONE

Bible Study is using God's Holy Word.  In order to effectively search out God and determine who He is and how He works, you must accept on faith that the Bible is truly God's word.  Without this basic foundation of faith there is no basis on which we can seek a better understanding of God and His works except by personal experience and opinions.  Therefore, it will be necessary for you to accept on faith that The Bible is The Word of God, written by men, who were divinely inspired by God, and were under the influence and power of the Holy Spirit as they wrote.  Its end and purpose is to present to men and women salvation through Jesus Christ.  It is the revelation of the will of God for all mankind and reveals the supreme standard of all human conduct.  The Bible presents the principles by which God will judge us.

Written originally in Hebrew and Greek more than eighteen centuries ago, The Bible is now available in whole or in part, in more than a thousand languages.  The original Hebrew and Greek were particular human languages, not some divine dialects.  The books were written by human authors whose vocabularies and styles of writing varied.  Their writings were colored by human circumstances and experiences.  Christians affirm that the Bible is the supreme authority for faith and practice and search its pages for God's message.

The word "Bible" designates the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments that is used by Christian churches.  Judaism recognizes only the scriptures of the Old Testament.  Other religions and religious sects have their own sacred writings that are sometimes called bibles.  However, there is only one Bible.  It is incomparable and unique as far as all other "sacred" literature is concerned, because:It is the divine revelation of God to mankind.It is God-given and inspired and is different from all other religious literature.It discloses God's plans and purposes for the ages of time and eternity.It centers in God, who became man in Jesus Christ, the Savior of mankind.

There are many opinions as to the authority and revelations given in the Bible.  Some want to believe that certain Scriptures are correct and others are not.  This is a very dangerous approach to the Scriptures.  If you cannot believe the story of Jonah being swallowed by the whale and staying there three days, how can you believe that: 

(1) Jesus was born of a young maiden, who was a virgin; 
(2) His father was the Holy Spirit;
(3) He died on a cross and came back to life from death in three days; and,
(4) He visited his friends and disciples for a few days and then ascended into Heaven in bodily form to live with God in Heaven?

The only way you can read the Bible without complete confusion is to accept, on faith, that it is the inspired, infallible and authoritative Word of God. It contains no error.  It does not contradict itself.  Also, you must understand that the best commentary on the Bible is the Bible.  It explains itself if you take the time to search out the scriptures and ask the Holy Spirit to open your understanding to it's meaning.

BIBLE VERSES ABOUT THE INSPIRED  WORD OF GOD

ABOVE ALL, you must understand that no prophecy in scripture ever came from the prophets themselves or because they wanted to prophesy.  It was the Holy Spirit who moved the prophets to speak from God. (2 Peter 1:20-21 LBT).

You have been taught the holy scriptures from childhood, and they have given you wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.  ALL scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives.  It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right.  It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.  (2 Timothy 4:15-17 LBT).

John the Beloved wrote these words at the end of his book "Jesus' disciples saw Him do many other miraculous signs besides the ones recorded in this book.  But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in Him you will have life."  John 20:30-31 LBT.

Jeremiah 36:1-2              Cor. 10:11               Luke 24:44-46               2 Tim 3:15-17

2Peter 1:21                    John 5:39                2 Peter 3:16                  John 29:30-31

1  John 5:13                   Acts 1:16                Rev. 14:13                    Romans 15:4


God Created the Heavens and the Earth      Chapter Two