5.

1. Lesson 1 “The Bible” Foundation Class

2. The Bible is a revelation of God, coming from God, and flowing through man, to
man. The Bible is the only inspired and infallible divine revelation ever given to man
and is the supreme authority in all matters of faith and morals. The Holy Spirit
breathed upon human vessels the very thoughts and words He wanted written. The
word flowed through the human vessels involving their emotions, personalities and
frame of references, without violating such. Yet the Holy Spirit guarded and preserved
every thought, phrase and word from any error, omission or inaccuracy.
3. Is the Bible inspired by God? To answer this question we must first examine what
inspiration is, and what is the criteria to examine inspiration. The Bible declares its
own inspiration in: 2 Tim 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,
rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,(NIV) So inspiration can be defined
as INSPIRATION : A technical term for the Holy Spirit's supernatural guidance of
those who received special revelation from God as they wrote the books of the Bible.
The end result of this inspiration is that the Bible conveys the truths which God wanted
His people to know and to communicate to the world. God Breathed
4. The proof that the Bible is inspired are: 1. The Miracles of the Bible. 2. The Bible’s
Prophecy and Fulfillment . 3. The Numerical Structure of the Bible.
5. 4. The Unity of the Bible. A. Harmony of Themes: The Creator Colossians 1:6 The
Beginning Revelation 1:8 The Seed of the Woman Matthew 1:23 B. Harmony between
Old and New Testament: The New is in the Old contained The Old is in the New
explained: The New is in the Old concealed The Old is in the New revealed:
6. 5. The miraculous Preservation of the Bible 6. The Influence of the Bible
7. Where did the Bible come from? The Bible is sixty six books, written over a period
of 1600 years, by approximately 40 different authors. There were kings, statesmen,
prophets, peasants, fishermen, herdsmen, priests, tradesmen, and prisoners who
wrote the Bible in three different languages. 2 Pet 1:21 For the prophecy came not in
old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the
Holy Ghost.(KJV) Gal 1:11-12 I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached
is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught
it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.(NIV) Rom 3:1-2 What
advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? Much
in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God.(NIV) I
Jn 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen
with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched-- this we
proclaim concerning the Word of life.(NIV)
8. Why is the Bible divided into two Testaments? 1. God’s revelation to man is
Progressive (Isaiah 28:9-13) 2. The Old Testament was Preparatory to the New
Testament 3. The Old Testament set forth the Type and Shadow of the New
Testament church (Hebrews 8:5; 10:1) 4. That which happened in the Old Testament
was written for our learning (Romans15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11)
9. Why should we study the Bible? 1. It is our Spiritual Food so we can grow. Matthew
4:4 2 Peter 2:2 2. It is what God wants to Speak to us Today Psalm 19:7-10 3. God
Commands us to study His Word. 2 Timothy 2:15 4. It Trains us in Holy Living and
makes us Wise. . 5. The Bible gives us Peace . Psalm 119:165
10. 6. By the Word we can meet the Temptations of life. Psalms 119:11 I have hidden
your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.(NIV) 7. By the Word we can
 have true Success in life. Joshua 1:8 Additional benefits are: It uncovers sin and
mistakes, it gives us power to pray and it helps understand the teachings of the Bible.
11. How should we study the Bible? As much as our natural bodies require food and
water our spiritual man requires the same. For us to grow in knowledge and wisdom of
the things of God we must devote ourselves to: 1. Daily reading habit, a time when we
can devote our entire attention to reading and nothing else! 2. Read it prayerfully and
mediate upon it. 3. Read it systematically, not just a bit here a bit there. 4. Read the
whole Bible, chapter by chapter reading every word and making your Bible with notes,
highlighters, illustrations, etc...