Church of Christ Studies

THE BIBLE--IS IT DIVINE?

Psa. 19; 1 Cor. 2:9-13

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I. INTRODUCTION

    1. This is an age of skepticism.

    2. We need to study the ground of our faith.

    3. Hence, is the Bible divine? 1 Pet. 3:15.

 

II. DISCUSSION

     1. The Bible is a great library. Old Testament has 39 books and 929 chapters; the New Testament has 27 books
          with 260 chapters.

     2. The name "Biblos" means "The Book." What makes it greater than any other book?

          a. Scriptural testimony. This is admissable. A criminal may testify for himself.
               (1) 2 Pet. 1:21; 2 Tim. 3:1647; 1 Thee. 2:13; 1 Tim. 4:1; 1 Cor. 2:943.

          b. The Bible claims to be divine. It is a good book. Therefore, it cannot lie and be a good book.

     3. Is it divine?

          a. Antiquity. It is one of the oldest books. God preserved it. It came down amid enemies.

          b. Impartiality.

               (1) History books are not always impartial. Example: Cause of the Civil War.

               (2) There is no attempt to paint in colors. It tells the truth on friend and foe.

               (3) Examples: "Who shall be graetest?" Mat. 20. Denial of Christ by Peter. David. 2 Sam. 11. 11

          c. Calmness. No emotion is displayed and no excitement evident in describing events. Examples:

               (1) Murder of John the Baptist.

               (2) Gethsemane, betrayal, trial, crucifixion, agony on the cross, resurrection and ascension.

               (3) Only one way to account for this: It is the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

          d. Brevity.

               (1) As books the gospels were brief. There was so much to write. Jno. 21:25.

               (2) The baptism of Christ is told in 12 lines by Matthew. The transfiguration is told in 8 verses.
                      Death of James is related in 11 words. Only a few verses used to tell of the resurrection.

          e. Harmony of the writers.

               (1) There are 66 books with about 40 writers who were kings, fishermen, scholars, etc., and who wrote in different
                      ages, countries and races with no discords.

               (2) Unity in diversity. -

          f. Prophecy and its fulfillment.

              (1) Babylon. Isa. 13:19.

              (2) The Jews.

              (3) About 200 prophecies concerning Christ were fulfilled.

         g. The Good it has done.

              (1) "By their fruits."

              (2) Civilization.

              (3) Woman elevated.

              (4) It is always on the side of right.

              (5) Wicked lives have been changed.

        h. From the literary standpoint it is the greatest.

             (1) It is food for the learned and ignorant

             (2) Writers and speakers draw from it.

             (3) It contains history, law, poetry, astronomy, etc.

         i. The Bible is here. How came it here?

             (1) Good men would not write it. Bad men could not.

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III. CONCLUSION

       The Bible is divine.