Last week we finished our introduction session with an overview and application for Bible study using a basic hermeneutical method so that we have the proper background and context for our Old Testament study. This week we are looking at a few of the many resources that can help with Bible study in preparation of digging into the Books of Moses, beginning with Genesis, along with some reasons to study the Old Testament.

Here is this week’s class presentation:

Overview notes from the presentation:

Before diving into a serious Bible study it would be good to reflect on things that can help you in this commitment. Take a few minutes and inventory what you already have. Then look at some of the recommendations and explanations for the difference resources you might want to get.

Reflection

1. What study Bible and Version do you use, and why?
2. What Bible study aids do you use, and why?

Resources and Reasons:

Spending Daily Time With God

It is important to set aside regular time to spend with God in prayer in Bible study. Having tools and a plan will help you do this. Share your ideas with others and check out the following suggestions:

Get a good study Bible:

Study Bibles are usually topical in nature and have notes that help you understand, or apply, what you are reading from the version. Examples include: Study Bibles for men, women, teens or kids; study Bibles with a focus like Archeology, Apologetics or Cultural Background; or study Bibles that just have commentary to give additional understanding. It is important to remember that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and commentaries are human attempts at explaining the theology – always make the Bible your first and foremost reference source.

• The “Life Application Study Bible” in NASB, NIV or NLT is a good recommendation as it has both commentary and life application.

Bible versions:

There are three basic categories of Bible versions. It is important to note that these version have been translated only once from the original languages (not multiple languages as skeptics claim), and are designed to help the reader better understand in their own language (as language is ever changing).

Literal Translations:

Word for word translations. Most difficult reading, but works closest to the original Hebrew/Greek. Best type for study purposes.

-New American Standard Bible

-King James Version

-New King James Version

-Revised Standard Version

-New Revised Standard Version

-English Standard Version

Dynamic Equivalent:

Thought for thought translations. Clearer reading with closest meaning possible – finds equivalent concepts in English. Can be used for study, but cross-referencing with literal translations is recommended.

-New International Version

-[Holman] Christian Standard

-New Living Translation

-New English Version

-Revised English Version

Paraphrases:

Easiest to read, with story like qualities. Not recommended for in-depth study.

-Message Bible

-Good News Bible

-Living Bible

-Phillips

-New Century Version

Other resources to help you study:

Supplemental books

• Knowing The Bible 101, by Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz
• Essential Bible Companion, by John H. Walton, Mark L. Strauss, and Ted Cooper Jr.
• Timelines and Charts (and other quick reference guides) from Rose Publishing

Websites and Apps

• Biblegateway.com – App and website for Bible reading, studies, commentaries and articles
• Biblehub.com – App and website for Bible study, Hebrew and Greek word studies, and so much more
• Gotquestions.org – for Christian Apologetics and Bible related questions
• truthfaithandreason.com (this website) has weekly blog posts that reviews and gives additional information for topics covered in this class, and others—the posts include video clips and presentations from top Christian Apologists (the website also posts on Facebook and Twitter)

Why Study the Old Testament?

1. It is inspired by God and the New Testament encourages knowledge of it
2. It gives us hope
3. It teaches us what not to do
4. It teaches us what is important to God
5. It reveals God’s character
6. It contains prophecy
7. It is essential to understanding the New Testament
8. It is what Jesus, and the Apostles, were teaching from…

Jesus taught from the Old Testament

• “Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness.” Matthew 9:35
• “When He had completed all His teaching in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum.”  Luke 7:1
• “On one of the days while He was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders confronted Him” Luke 20:1
• “So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.”  John 2:22
• “After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, in order that the Scripture would be fulfilled, *said, “I am thirsty.””  John 19:28

The Apostles taught from the Old Testament

• “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.”   Acts 1:16
• “Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.”  Acts 8:35
• “For he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.”  Acts 18:28
• “But the Scripture has confined everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.”  Galatians 3:22

How do we know we can trust the Bible as God’s Word?

Bible Apologetics
Historical and Literary Facts About the Bible

• The Christian Bible is made up of 66 individual books (39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament), written by 40 different authors, over a period of about 1,500 years, and from 10 different countries
• The Bible has a cast of 2,930 characters depicted in 1,551 places
• The Bible’s human authors (inspired by God) came from various stations of life: Kings, peasants, poets, herdsmen, fishermen, scientists, farmers, priests, pastors, tentmakers, tax collectors, doctors and governors
• The Bible was written in extreme places like the wilderness, dungeons, palaces, prisons, on lonely islands, and in military battles
• The authors wrote on various subjects, including the unknown future

Amazingly the books of the Bible are so united in their historical and narrative themes, and so remarkably linked to one main storyline, that it is considered by scholars to be a “Literary Masterpiece! 

The Bible is the best-selling book of all time with over six billion (plus) copies sold since the invention of the printing press, and the Bible meets and exceeds all historical and literary requirements for excellence based on scholarly academic standards…

Scholarly Standards
An Apologetic Tool: MAPS-S

M=Manuscripts

• Estimate of 17,000 ancient Old Testament manuscripts and over 25,000 early New Testament manuscripts with 5800 in the original Greek language – the scholarly field of textual criticism finds a 98% agreement for Old Testament and 99.5% agreement for New Testament – add in early lectionaries and quotations from the 1st – 3rd century leaders we can assert 100% accuracy.
• The Bible is a primary source document and contains multiple eyewitness accounts of events, including hostile witnesses, and the New Testament accounts of the first century (AD/CE) life of Jesus and the early Church were written within the lifetime of the people involved in the events (completed by the mid to late first century AD/CE)
• Bibles today, like NASB, NIV or KJV, have only been translated once from the original language and we can check it for ourselves.
  • Old Testament = Hebrew (some parts of Daniel and Ezra are in Aramaic)
  • New Testament = Greek

A=Archeology:

• Over 25,000 (and growing) archeology finds that have confirmed Biblical accounts.
• None have been found that disprove any historical account in the Bible.
• Coinage, pottery and other physical items support Biblical dates, people and events.

P=Prophecy:

• 300 (plus) specific and incidental prophesies from the Old Testament were fulfilled in the life and times of Jesus Christ.
• If even 8 of these prophecies were fulfilled in Jesus it would be equivalent to 1 chance in 10 to the 17th power or 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000!
• None of the Old Testament prophecies have been disproven and many are still to come.
• Scholarly Standards

S=Science:

• The Bible makes no claims that are considered scientific absurdities.
• The Bible has amazing scientific authenticity in the areas of cosmology, biochemistry, medicine, health, nutrition, geology, and the Laws of Nature vs. other so-called Holy Books.
• The evidence found in the “Cosmological and Teleological Arguments” also supports the Creation account vs. evolution.

S=Saved Lives:

• Millions of saved lives are seen through the centuries evidenced by changed lives confessed by the saving work of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
• Individual stories like your cannot be disputed.

A great example of a “saved life” (and a go-to resource) is J. Warner Wallace and his work found on coldcasechristianity.com.

Here is an excerpt from his personal journey from atheism to faith:

Bible Study

Last week we looked at the hermeneutics for the Torah (first five books of the Bible). We will be studying the life of Abraham over the next few sessions. Get a head start by reading Genesis chapters 12-23. There will be upcoming questions broken down into 2 or 3 chapters each session. If you missed our study on Genesis 1-11, you can go back on this site to “A Case for Creation” and view those presentations and posts.

Join us next week as we continue our “Case for the Old Testament: Session 2, Part 2 – Old Testament Apologetics – the Transmission of the Old Testament over time”

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