A Case for the Bible: The importance of knowing “about” the Bible, and how to study it, when practicing Christian Apologetics

Last week we looked at some alarming statistics concerning Biblical illiteracy in our culture today, even among practicing Christians. Developing a Biblical worldview takes time and practice. Knowing the Bible is a lifetime commitment and part of what we should desire as we grow closer to our Lord and Savior Jesus.

How much time do you spend in God’s Word? If Bible study is new for you or you’ve never made a commitment to it before, if possible get with a group of fellow Christians over the next few weeks (or you can do it on your own) and go through this study, which will include reading your Bible on a regular basis, but first…

Biblical Literacy Quiz

To get an idea of where you stand in some basic Bible knowledge take a few minutes and answer the following questions to the best of your ability. No worries if you have trouble—just make a commitment to grow in your knowledge from this point on!

Directions: Note the letter that you believe best answers each question, then check your answers (and your grade) at the end of this post.

All questions are concerning the Christian Bible:

1. How many books are there in the Christian Canon?

a. 27   b. 39   c. 52   d. 66   e. 77

2. Which category of books is not part of the Old Testament?

a. History   b. Major Prophets   c. Gospels   d. Wisdom literature   e. Pentateuch

3. Which of these is not one of the Gospels?

a. John   b. Timothy   c. Matthew   d. Luke   e. Mark

4. What book talks about the beginning of the Church?

a. Matthew   b. Genesis   c. Acts   d. Ecclesiastes   e. Proverbs

5. Which of these is not part of the Torah?

a. Leviticus   b. Exodus   c. Genesis   d. Joshua   e. Deuteronomy

6. What is the first book in the New Testament?

a. Isaiah   b. Genesis   c. Revelation   d. John   e. Matthew

7. What is the shortest book in the Bible?

a. 3 John   b. Joel   c. Philemon   d. Jude   e. Amos

8. Which of these is not a character in the Bible?

a. Boaz   b. Justus   c. Onesimus   d. Rona   e. Seth

9. What is the last book in the Old Testament?

a. Haggai   b. Revelation   c. Zechariah   d. Malachi   e. Micah

10. How many books are in the New Testament?

a. 22   b. 27   c. 39   d. 31   e. 13

11. How many books are in the Old Testament?

a. 27   b. 21   c. 29   d. 39   e. 25

12. Who wrote first and second Timothy?

a. John   b. Timothy   c. Matthew   d. Paul   e. Luke

(higher difficulty…)

13. What was the name of the blind man Jesus healed on his way from Jericho to Jerusalem?

a. Bartimaeus   b. Bartholomew   c. Zacharias   d. Barnabas

14. Which one of these was not one of the original twelve disciples?

a. Simon   b. Mark   c. James   d. Andrew

15. What was the name of the young man Paul raised from the dead after he fell from a third story window?

a. Eutychus   b. Timotheus   c. Zacharias   d. Lazarus

16. What was the name of John the Baptist’s mother?

a. Deborah   b. Dinah   c. Elisabeth   d. Martha

17. What was the name of the High Priest’s servant whose ear Peter cut off?

a. Caiphus   b. Malchijah   c. Crispus   d. Malchus

18. In Revelation, which of these is not one of the seven churches Jesus speaks about?

a. Ephesus   b. Athens   c. Smyrna   d. Thyatira

19. Who is the deceased girl that Peter raised from the dead in Joppa?

a. Rebekah   b. Judith   c. Adah   d. Tabitha

20. Who was John the Baptist’s father?

a. John   b. Zebedee   c. Zacharias   d. Zeboim

What is the correct chronological order for the following people:

21. a. Abraham-Adam-Noah-Moses;  b. Adam-Noah-Abraham-Moses;  c. Adam-Moses-Abraham-Noah

22. a. Joshua-Jacob-David-Solomon;  b. Joshua-Solomon-David-Jacob;  c. Jacob-Joshua-David-Solomon

23. a. Rahab-Ruth-Bathsheba-Tamar (mother of Perez);  b.Tamar-Ruth-Bathsheba-Rahab;  c. Tamar-Rahab-Ruth-Bathsheba

24. a. Hezekiah-David-Josiah-Rehoboam;  b. David-Rehoboam-Hezekiah-Josiah;  c. Josiah-Hezekiah-David-Rehoboam

25. a. Abraham-Jacob-Joseph-Moses;  b. Jacob-Joseph-Moses-Abraham;  c. Moses-Jacob-Abraham-Joseph

Short Answer Question: You only have one minute to answer (because that is usually the attention span in most conversations). You are in a group conversation and the following question comes up:

• How did we get the Bible, and how do we know what we have is correct?

(Check you answers at the end of this post)

Why is it important to know basic answers to questions like these?

Have you ever been in one of those “water cooler” conversations at work, or in a social setting, where people begin to talk about religion and end up attacking Christian beliefs? Do you begin to feel uncomfortable or try to change the subject? If a Christian is silent when our foundational beliefs are attacked or twisted what damage does that do to others in the room who have not made decisions for Christ?

As Christians we should be able to give an answer for the hope that we have in Christ Jesus (1 Peter 3:15), and we should be able to defend foundational things including facts about the Bible itself. When people misquote, misrepresent and, or misinterpret Scripture it is up to us to make corrections (with gentleness and respect of course). However, if we are not trained or have not practiced to do this we cannot be effective ambassadors for Jesus as we are called to be (Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Corinthians 5:20).

There are a few basics things we can do to train (and we will cover them over the length of this series): 1) Get to know the big picture of the Bible and some of the simple basics of its structure; 2) become familiar with the apologetics of the Bible; 3) commit to regular Bible study using the simple method of interpretation called Hermeneutics.

HERMENEUTICS (studying and interpreting the Bible in proper context)

READING—STUDYING—MEDITATING

Know the difference

Reading: Get the big picture (the story) by reading the Bible in large chunks—an individual book or a complete storyline within a book—just like any good novel.

Studying: Get a study Bible and some tools like a Bible dictionary or concordance, and then use the hermeneutic method below.

Meditating: Pick out Scripture (after doing the above) and pray over it, thinking on its application for your life.

Watch this short clip on how NOT to study the Bible, by 2BeLikeChrist:

There are three important principals to follow when studying Scripture:

Principle #1: 

Never read or study a Bible Verse by itself

Reading a Bible verse by itself and trying to interpret what it means based on “what you feel” can be dangerous, especially if you are leading a study. You will most likely get a wide range of opinions and trouble may arise. Many cults have begun this way because of twisting the Scriptures to fit a personal agenda.

Watch Out for Twisted Scripture!

• Scripture twisting refers to what happens when people interpret the Bible out of context or change the words and original meaning to suit their own beliefs.
• Scripture twisting has happened in movements that have rejected Christianity like Islam, and ones that try to correct or add to Christianity like Mormonism and Jehovah Witnesses.

Twisting God’s Word has been the basis for most cults

Cults: “A group of people claiming to know or speak the truth of God but who reject the historic teachings of the Christian Church and twist, add to, or try to correct the Bible.”

• Cults are usually the result of a single individual who claims to have been given divine insight.
• The major teachings of a cult come from the use of another “book,” a vision from an angel, or false interpretations of the Bible. 

The Apostle Paul addressed this problem to the young Galatians:

“I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!”  Galatians 1:6-9

Scripture twisting has been done since the beginning of time:

In Genesis 3:1-5, Satan tells Eve…

“Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden? …You will not surely die, …for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God’” (Satan lied of course)

Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians warns the Church about deceptive teachers:

“These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.”  2 Corinthians 11:13-15

The Apostle John, writes to early Christian believers:

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”  1 John 4:1

The Apostle Peter warns about false teachers:

“…which untaught and unstable ‘people’ twist to their own destruction, as ‘they do’ also the rest of Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”  2 Peter 3:16b-18a

How can we avoid false teaching?

We can imitate the Bereans who daily checked out Paul’s teachings with what was in the Scriptures:

“Now these (the Bereans) were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scripture daily ‘to see’ whether these things were so.”  Acts 17:11

Principle #2:

Use Hermeneutics

Hermeneutics describes the task of explaining the meaning of the Scriptures. Using hermeneutics helps us to accurately understand what the message (verse, or passage) is trying to communicate and it is easy to do once you understand a few basic principles for reading literature in its historical context:

1. Author and Audience: Who wrote it, when and to whom?
2. Purpose: Why was it written, when and from where? What was going on in the culture at the time of the events? What did God want them to know? What is the genre’?
3. Context: What is the flow of thought? Read before and after the verse or passage to get the big picture. This sometimes requires reading the whole book in one sitting and taking notes or doing outlines. Cross-referencing other passages from other books of the Bible can be helpful here.
4. Interpretation: What does the verse or passage mean? This is done only after studying the context. It should relate to the overall purpose. You can also summarize
5. Application: How can we apply it to our culture and lives? 

*It is important to follow this order. If you start with personal application instead of author and audience you may not get the correct context and thus misapply it to your life.

Principle #3:

Use cross-referencing

One of the most amazing things about the Bible, and one of the main reasons we know we have the correct books, is that it supports itself.

• All 66 books written hundreds of years apart, and in some cases over a thousand years apart, support and reference each other.
• There are at least 2800 cross-references in Scripture.
• At times when you find a difficult passage, or concept, it is helpful to see where else in the Bible it is talked about.

The Bible supports the Bible!

Cross References…

1. are usually listed in the side or middle margins of a study Bible for individual verses.
2. help support the section of Scripture you are studying by showing other locations in the Bible where you can find similar themes, further information, or confirmation of the subject.
3. help in doing word studies.
4. are powerful because they show the commonality in thought and theme across both the Old and New Testaments.
5. show the unveiling of God’s redemptive plan throughout history from Genesis through Revelation.
6. were used by Jesus and the Apostles as they regularly quoted from the Old Testament.
7. validate the authors and books of the Bible as they often quote each other.

Cross-referencing examples:

• Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.  Deuteronomy 6:5-6
• Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-38

or..

• The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Psalm 23:1
• “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” John 10:11

Example of a topical cross-reference study:

Lust of the flesh, lust of the eye and pride of life: This is emphasized in Scripture as the reason for the fall of humankind, and the reason for evil and suffering we endure in this life. Jesus’ overcomes these three things in the wilderness temptation. Near the end of the New Testament John warns the Church.  See…

• Genesis 3: The Fall
• Matthew 4: Jesus’ overcomes Satan’s temptation
• 1 John 2: John’s warning to the early Church

Jesus used cross-referencing and in doing so He validated the Old Testament as historical by referencing people and places that were real, not myth. For example, in the Gospel record Jesus refers to Adam and Eve, Noah, Sodom and Gomorrah, Jonah and many other events and prophets. 

See… Matthew 10:15; 12:40; 19:4; 22:29; 22:43-44; Mark 7:13; Luke 11:28; 17:26

Jesus also said (concerning the Old Testament):

• This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms. Luke 24:44
• Jesus speaking to the Jews on a Sabbath Day said… You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me… John 5:39
• 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. Matthew 5:18
• Scripture is always true. John 10:35b

According to the United Bible Societies’ Greek Testament, there are 343 Old Testament quotations in the New Testament and 2,309 allusions and parallels. As New Testament believers, we cannot “unhitch” the Old Testament from our faith.

Going Deeper

“Ancient Words,” by Greg Koukl, President of Stand to Reason Apologetics Ministry (www.str.org) and Koukl’s book: “The Story of Reality”

Watch Greg’s presentation on this topic here (his presentation starts at about the 26 minute mark):

Other Recommended books:

“Playing with Fire,” by Walt Russell

“God Breathed,” by Josh McDowell

Reflection

1. What is hermeneutics?
2. Summarize the three important principles to remember when doing Bible study:
3. Prayer focus: Pray for a group to study with, or a prayer partner to keep you accountable in your commitment to study the Bible. 

Answers to the quiz:

1d  2c  3b  4c  5d  6e  7a  8d  9d  10b  11d  12d  13a  14b  15a  16c  17d  18b  19d  20c  21b  22c  23c  24b  25a

Grades: A+ = All 25 correct, plus a confident response to the short answer question;  A = 23-24;  B = 20-21;  C = 17-19;  D = 15-16;  F = 14 or less

The short answer question will be covered over the next few posts – stayed tuned and you will be able to formulate a surprisingly simple yet concise answer for that question!

Bible Study

Each week we do a Bible study to practice our Bible study skills. This week read or re-read 1 Corinthians chapter 13, then answer the following questions:

1. Chapter 13 is often referred to as the chapter of love. In context it is not about romantic love but a more complete type of love (agape). What are the negative effects of using our spiritual gift without love. (13:1-3)
2. What are the positive characteristics of this type of love? (13:1-8)
3. Paul describes what will happen when the “perfect” comes (because now we only know in part). Why is love the greatest gift to have? (13:9-13)
4. Copy 13:12-13 for memory.

Join us next week as we continue our new series called “A Case for the Bible!”

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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in!  Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.

Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.

Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15