Christianity

Christianity3 for Beginners

Mike Mazzalongo

The Bible

Origin of Bible

• Bible = “Biblia” = Books

Origin of Bible

• Bible = “Biblia” = Books• 39 + 27 = 66

Origin of Bible

• Moses – 1500 BC

Origin of Bible

• Moses – 1500 BC• Pentateuch – first 5 books

Origin of Bible

• Moses – 1500 BC• Pentateuch – first 5 books

• 1500 years

Origin of Bible

• Moses – 1500 BC• Pentateuch – first 5 books

• 1500 years• 28 writers

Origin of Bible

• Moses – 1500 BC• Pentateuch – first 5 books

• 1500 years• 28 writers• 39 books

Old Testament Organization

Jewish Division - 24 Books

1. Law (Genesis to Deuteronomy) = 5 books2. Prophets (Former & Latter) = 8 books3. The Writing (Poetry, History) = 11 books

Old Testament Organization

Modern Division - 39 Books

1. Pentateuch (Genesis to Deuteronomy) = 5 books2. History (Joshua to Esther) = 12 books3. Poetry (Job to Song of Solomon) = 5 books4. Major (Isaiah to Daniel) = 5 books5. Minor (Hosea to Malachi) = 12

books

Old Testament Story

• Beginning of the world.

…only one story

Old Testament Story

• Beginning of the world.• Condition of mankind.

…only one story

Old Testament Story

• Beginning of the world.• Condition of mankind.• Formation of Jewish nation.

…only one story

Old Testament Story

• Beginning of the world.• Condition of mankind.• Formation of Jewish nation.• Promise of a savior.

…only one story

New Testament Origin

• Life of Jesus.

…only one story

New Testament Origin

• Life of Jesus.• His death, burial & resurrection.

…only one story

New Testament Origin

• Life of Jesus.• His death, burial & resurrection.• Establishment of Christianity.

…only one story

New Testament Division1. The Gospels

(Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) = 4 books

2. History (Acts) = 1 books

3. Pauline Epistles (Rom., 1-2 Cor., Gal., Eph., Phil., Col. 1-2 Thess., 1-2 Tim., Titus, Philemon) = 13 books

4. General Epistles (Hebrews, James, 1-2 Peter1-3 John, Jude) = 8 books

5. Prophecy (Revelation) = 1 book

27 books

New Testament Canon

• Apostles were alive.

“Measuring Rod”

New Testament Canon

• Apostles were alive.• Abundance of material.

“Measuring Rod”

New Testament Canon

• Apostles were alive.• Abundance of material.• Jesus’ second coming imminent.

“Measuring Rod”

New Testament Canon

• Canon of Marcion – AD 140

Events that Produced Canon

New Testament Canon

• Canon of Marcion – AD 140• Persecution

Events that Produced Canon

New Testament Canon

• Canon of Marcion – AD 140• Persecution• CODEX Form

Events that Produced Canon

New Testament Canon

• Authorship

Principles for Selection of Canon

New Testament Canon

• Authorship• Value of Book

Principles for Selection of Canon

New Testament Canon

• Authorship• Value of Book• Circulation

Principles for Selection of Canon

New Testament Translations

• Old Testament – Hebrew

New Testament Translations

• Old Testament – Hebrew• Greek translation of Hebrew O.T.

called Septuagint

New Testament Translations

• Old Testament – Hebrew• Greek translation of Hebrew O.T.

called Septuagint• Koine (common Greek)

New Testament Translations

• Old Testament – Hebrew.• Greek translation of Hebrew O.T.

called Septuagint.• Koine (common Greek)

• 5,357 Greek manuscripts

New Testament Translations

• Latin Vulgate – 404 AD / Jerome

New Testament Translations

• Latin Vulgate – 404 AD / Jerome• Common languages (5-14th centuries)

New Testament Translations

• Latin Vulgate – 404 AD / Jerome• Common languages (5-14th centuries)

• Renaissance movement (many translations)

New Testament Translations

• Latin Vulgate – 404 AD / Jerome• Common languages (5-14th centuries)

• Renaissance movement (many translations)

• Gutenberg – 1st printed Bible in 1452

New Testament Translations

• First known English translation - 700AD

New Testament Translations

• First known English translation - 700AD• First complete English Bible

John Wycliffe, 1382

New Testament Translations

• First known English translation - 700AD• First complete English Bible

John Wycliffe, 1382

• First complete English printed Bible William Tyndale, 1526

New Testament Translations• First known English translation - 700AD• First complete English Bible

John Wycliffe, 1382

• First complete English printed Bible William Tyndale, 1526

• King James English translation - 1611

New Testament Translations

• Revised Standard Version (RSV)• American Standard Version (ASV)• New American Standard Version (NASV)• New International Version (NIV)• New Living Translation (NLT)

New Testament Translations

English versions are 99.9% accurate.

Bible Claims

“All scripture is inspired by God…”- II Timothy 3:16a (NLT)

Inspiration

Bible Claims

“..No prophecy in scripture ever came from the prophet’s own initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.”- II Peter 1:20-21 (NLT)

Inspiration

Why Inspired?

• Ability to survive

Why Inspired?• Ability to survive

• Uniqueness

Why Inspired?• Ability to survive• Uniqueness

• Fulfilled prophecy• Isaiah 44:28

• Isaiah 700 BC, Cyrus 600 BC• Mark 10:32-34

Next Lesson

Jesus Christ