Bible in the Making

Luzon City Churches Jubilee 2005 The Bible in the Making 1 The Bible in the Making - Intro Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. - Ps 119:89 NIV 2 What is the Bible? The Bible is the record of God’s revealed word to mankind. It is called “Bible” from “Ta Biblia” (meaning “The Books”) 3 Facts about the Bible  written in span of about 1500 years  written by around 40 authors in 3 languages, in 3 continents, in very different contexts  yet, it shows complete coherence and unity of thought 4 How were the words given? “inspired by God” (2 Tim 3:16) “men carried along by the Spirit” (2 Pet 1:21) with guidance, compiled by: dictation of words from God God-given visions oral tradition written records 5 On what materials were Bible words written? Stone/Pottery Vellum/Parchment Papyrus Papyrus Scroll, then Codex Sheets of plant pulp Paper originals copies 6 On what materials were Bible words written? Stone/Pottery 7 The Bible Record Stone/Pottery 8 The Bible Record Vellum/Parchment 9 The Bible Record Papyrus 10 The Bible Record Papyrus Scroll, then Codex 11 The Bible Record Papyrus Scroll, then Codex 12 The Bible Record Sinaiticus & Leningrad Codices 13 On what materials were Bible words written? Stone/Pottery Vellum/Parchment Papyrus Papyrus Scroll or Codex Sheets of plant pulp Paper Now, computers, PDAs, etc. 14 How were the words copied?  Priests, then Scribes Teachers, Expositors Masoretic Jews -intense dedication -fear of God -attention to detail -destruction of faulty/old copies -methods of checking accuracy 15 Every word is important Matt 5:18 shows the power of the Bible I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. - Jesus 16 Every word is important … not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 17 How did God protect the book? Examples of Divine Providence The Making of the Septuagint Development of Printing Discovery of Dead Sea Scrolls Survival from Nazi campaigns, etc. 18 Divine Providence Septuagint Alexander the Great - conquest 19 Divine Providence Septuagint Alexandria, one city named after Alexander the Great 20 Divine Providence Septuagint  ATG dies  Ptolemies take over Egypt 21 Divine Providence Septuagint Soter, cultural devt Philadelphus Demetrius Need for a Greek OT 22 Divine Providence Septuagint Alexander the Great Ptolemies Alexandrian Library Philadelphus Greek prominence Septuagint (LXX) 23 Divine Providence Development of Printing Development of writing History of Press 24 Divine Providence Printing Guttenburg, et al 25 Divine Providence Printing Reformation Religious sponsors Bible translators 26 Divine Providence Printing Bible translators 27 Divine Providence Printing Development of writing History of Press Guttenburg et. al. Reformation + Bible translators Religious sponsors 28 Divine Providence Dead Sea Scrolls Copying of Bible challenged Discovery of Scrolls 29 Divine Providence Dead Sea Scrolls 30 Discovery of the Scrolls 31 Discovery of the Scrolls 32 Divine Providence Dead Sea Scrolls Copying accuracy challenged Discovery of Scrolls Resulting research Impact for us 33 Divine Providence Survival of Nazi campaigns, etc. Bible has always had enemies Hitler’s rise to power Subsequent hate campaigns Liberal Theology Perseverance of the Bible 34 Divine Providence Nazi campaign, etc. Bible has always had enemies Hitler’s rise to power 35 Divine Providence Nazi campaign, etc.  Subsequent hate campaigns  Liberal Theology  Perseverance of the Bible 36 Perseverance of the Bible No other book has been so chopped, knived, sifted, scrutinized, and vilified… -Bernard Ramm Yet, consider its duplication... - more manuscript evidence than Plato or Shakespeare - translated in more than 2,200 dialects 37 Perseverance of the Bible Look at its popularity!  UBS sells 110,000 bibles a day  Each one on earth could have 5 bibles  #1 best seller of all time 38 Perseverance of the Bible No other book has known anything approaching this constant circulation. - Greenslade, Cambridge History of the Bible 39 How should we respond? THE BIBLE… 40 How should we respond? THE BIBLE… I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread. - Job 23:12 NIV If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of mine. - Jn 8:31 NASB 41  Seize it! How should we respond? THE BIBLE… Truly happy people are those who carefully study God’s perfect law that makes people free, and they continue to study it. They do not forget what they heard, but they obey what God’s teaching says. - Ja 1:25 NCV 42  Search it! How should we respond? THE BIBLE… Remember what Christ taught and let his words enrich your lives and make you wise. - Col 3:16a LB As for us, there’s no question--we can’t keep quiet about what we’ve seen and heard. - Acts 4:20 TMB 43  Share it! How should we respond? THE BIBLE…  Seize it!  Search it!  Share it! 44 Luzon City Churches Jubilee The Bible in the Making 45 Luzon City Churches Jubilee The Bible in the Making 46