“THY WORD IS ESTABLISHED IN HEAVEN”. Prepared for Grace International South Africa Pastor’s Training in Apologetics

““THY WORD IS ESTABLISHED IN HEAVEN”THY WORD IS ESTABLISHED IN HEAVEN”

Prepared for Grace International South Africa Pastor’s Training in Apologetics

Cornerstone Bible Church

Excerpts from The Da Vinci Code

“The Bible is a product of man, my dear. Not of God. The Bible did not fall magically from the clouds. Man created it as a historical record of tumultuous times……”

(p. 231)

The Bible is a “Divinely Inspired”

Book

The Bible is a “Divinely Inspired”

Book“inspired” God-breathed.

“All Scripture is God-breathed..”

2 Timothy 3:16 - (NIV)

“God produced….the scriptures” (Benjamin Warfield)

The Bible is the product of GOD.

“inspired” God-breathed.

“All Scripture is God-breathed..”

2 Timothy 3:16 - (NIV)

“God produced….the scriptures” (Benjamin Warfield)

The Bible is the product of GOD.



THE BIBLE CLAIMS TO BE A DIVINE REVELATION

THE BIBLE’S CLAIM

BY DIRECT STATEMENTS

BY ATTRIBUTINGWORDS OF MEN

TO GOD

BY JESUS CHRIST’SATTITUDE TO-WARDS O.T.



“God Said” appears 9 times in first chapter of the First book (Genesis) of the Old Testament.

“The Lord Spoke” appears 560 times in the first 5 books of the Old Testament.




The Old Testament claims to be God speaking over 3800 times.

Old Testament Prophets claim their message came direct from God. Example:

Isaiah - +20 timesEzekiel - +60 timesJeremiah - +100 times



Prophets were told to write down what God said.

“And Moses wrote down all the word of the Lord ….” (Exodus 24:4)

God told the prophet Jeremiah “Write all “Write all the words which I have spoken to you in a the words which I have spoken to you in a book” book” Jeremiah 30:2 See also 36:2 Jeremiah 30:2 See also 36:2



BY ATTRIBUTING WORDS OF MEN TO GOD

What DAVID spoke is referred to as Scripture which the HOLY SPIRIT spoke

Dr. Luke the Physician and Historian recorded in Acts 1:16 that The Apostle Peter said that “THE HOLY SPIRIT SPOKE THE SCRIPTURE concerning JudasTHROUGH THE MOUTH OF DAVID” see Psalm 41:9




The Apostle PAUL’S WRITINGS accepted as the WORD OF GOD

The Apostle Peter places the writings of Paul in par with (Old Testament) scriptures (2 Peter 3:16)




The Apostle PAUL’S WRITINGS accepted as the WORD OF GOD

The Thessalonians received The Thessalonians received Paul’s writings and “accepted Paul’s writings and “accepted it it not as the word of mennot as the word of men, but , but as it actually is, as it actually is, the word of the word of GodGod” (1 Thess 2:13). ” (1 Thess 2:13).


In I Tim. 5:18 the Apostle Paul cites an Old Testament reference (Deut. 25:4) and a New Testament reference (Luke 10:7) and calls both of them “Scripture.”

“For the Scripture says ………the worker deserves his wages.”

[Deut 25:4 (OT) and Luke 10:7 (NT) 1 Tim. 5:18 (NT)]




JESUS’ ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE OLD TESTAMENT

Jesus confirms His witness to the extent of the Old Testament

“From the Blood of Abel to the Blood of Zachariah” (Luke 11:51; Matthew 23:35)


JESUS CHRIST’S WITNESS TO THE OLD TESTAMENT

“from Genesis (Abel the first martyr – Genesis 4) the first book Of the Hebrew Bible to Chronicles (Zachariah The last martyr – 2 Chronicles 24) to the last book of the Hebrew Bible.

Jesus CONFIRMED the DIVINE AUTHORITY and INSPIRATION of the entire HEBREW BIBLE. The Bible Jesus used.

“From the Blood of Abel to the Blood of Zachariah” (Luke 11:51; Matthew 23:35)



“…“….all things that are written about me (Jesus) in the .all things that are written about me (Jesus) in the LAW OF MOSESLAW OF MOSES and the and the PROPHETSPROPHETS and the and the PSALMS PSALMS Must be fulfilled”Must be fulfilled” (Luke 24:45)(Luke 24:45)

THE THREE DIVISIONS OF THE HEBREW BIBLE ACCEPTED BY JESUS

AS DIVINELY INSPIRED



“For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” (Matthew 5:18)

Matthew 5:18 in the Aramaic language. The jot is highlighted in red.



“……“……THE OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES TESTIFY OF ME”THE OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES TESTIFY OF ME” (John 5:39)(John 5:39)

Word of God=ScriptureGod Said Scripture SaidGen. 12:3 Gal. 3:8

Ex. 9:16 Rom. 9:17

Scripture=Word of GodScripture Said God SaidGen 2:24 Matt 19:4-5

Ps 94:7 Heb 3:7

Ps 2:1 Acts 4:24-25

Is 55:3 Acts 13:34

Ps 16:10 Acts 13:35

Deut 32:43 Heb 1:5-6

Ps 104:4 Heb 1:5-6

Ps 95:7 Heb 1:5-6

Ps 102:26 Heb 1:5

For prophecy never had its origin For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter (2 Peter 2:21)2:21)


REVELATION & INSPIRATION


A thought inThe mind of God

The mind ofthe human authors

“…“….men spoke from .men spoke from GodGod 1 Peter 2:211 Peter 2:21


ORIGINALMANUSCRIPTS

The minds ofthe human authors

“Men spoke from God…

As they were carried As they were carried along by the Holy along by the Holy SpiritSpirit


THE HOLY SPIRIT

GIRDED WITH UNKNOWN TRUTH (eg. Genesis)

GUIDED AS THEY WROTE

GUARDED AGAINST ERRORS

Even when recording known facts the Holy Spirit guided and guarded against errors ( Luke 1:1-4)

ORIGINALMANUSCRIPTS


INSPIRATION

GURANTEES:

AUTHENTICITY –GOD’S ORIGINAL WORD

ACCURACY – WITHOUT ERROR

AUTHORITY - THUS SAITH THE LORD


History Books Law Books Poetry books


HARMONY OF THE BIBLE ATTESTS TO ITS INSPIRATION

WRITTEN OVER 1600 YEAR SPAN (approximately 1500 BC to AD 100).60 GENERATIONS40 + AUTHORSDIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE (KINGS, PRIESTS,SHEPHERDS ETC) DIFFERENNT PLACES- (WILDERNESS, PALACE, PRISON)DIFFERENT TIMES (WAR, PEACE, ADVERSITY,PROSPERITY)DIFFERENT MOODS (JOY, SORROW, DESPAIR)3 DIFFERENT CONTINENTS (ASIA, AFRICA, EUROPE)3 LANGUAGES (HEBREW, ARAMIC, GREEK)WIDE VARIETY OF LITERARY STYLES(POETRY, HISTORY ETC)DIFFERENT CONTROVERSAL SUBJECTS

(Adapted from Evidence for Christianity by Josh McDowell- 2006)

WHEN BROUGHT TOGETHER THERE IS ABSOLUTE HARMONYPRESENTING A SINGLE UNFOULDING STORY.


STORY OF THE BIBLE

PERSON of Jesus Christ

PLAN of Redemption

PROGRAM of the ages

HISTORY WRITTEN IN ADVANCE

HISTORY is HIS STORY



THE EARTHTHE EARTH

GREEK MYTHOLOGYGREEK MYTHOLOGYHINDU HINDU MYTHOLOGYMYTHOLOGY

JOB 26:7JOB 26:7


SUPPORT OF THE EARTHSUPPORT OF THE EARTH

Earth Support in Rig-VedaHINDU SCRIPTURES

Mythology has remained part of the body of Hindu Literature, and the myths relating to creation are Important because they contain the symbolic Imagery of how the cosmos came into being.

And when the myth is studied, it becomes easy to See how the nature of the myth can be traced to the Original Hindu world-view.

(Article ‘Cosmology to Mythology” by Roshiela Benimadho, Abhimanyu (Article ‘Cosmology to Mythology” by Roshiela Benimadho, Abhimanyu Bhogal & Sindhu Bhogal – South Africa published in Veda Jyoti Vol 3 Bhogal & Sindhu Bhogal – South Africa published in Veda Jyoti Vol 3 Issue 1March 2006 Page 5 researched and produced by the:Issue 1March 2006 Page 5 researched and produced by the:Arya Pratinidhi Sabha – Durban South Africa )Arya Pratinidhi Sabha – Durban South Africa )

Earth Support in Rig-VedaHINDU SCRIPTURES

Our flat world, stood on the heads of a number of on the heads of a number of elephants.elephants.. The elephants stood on a turtleelephants stood on a turtle and the the turtle on a cobra snaketurtle on a cobra snake.

Earth Support among Greeks

Greek mythology had Atlas supporting the earth.

Earth from the Moon

This famous photo of This famous photo of Earth was taken by Earth was taken by astronauts on the astronauts on the Apollo 8 mission as Apollo 8 mission as they orbited the Moon they orbited the Moon in 1968.in 1968.

EarthEarth held up by no material supportheld up by no material support

EARTH from the Apollo 17 spacecraft 1972

Earth Support in the Bible

“God hangs the earth upon nothing”

(Job 26:7)


SHAPE OF THE EARTHSHAPE OF THE EARTH


SHAPE OF THE EARTHSHAPE OF THE EARTH

Our flat worldflat world, stood on the on the heads of a number of heads of a number of elephants.elephants.. The elephants elephants stood on a turtlestood on a turtle and the the turtle on a cobra snaketurtle on a cobra snake. Rig -Rig -VedasVedas

HINDU MYTHOLOGYHINDU MYTHOLOGY

Shape of Earth – The Bible Isaiah 40:22 (about 700BC)

[God] sits enthroned above [God] sits enthroned above the the circlecircle of the earth, of the earth,………. ……….

SHAPE of Earth in Job 26

[God] has [God] has described a described a circlecircle on the face of the on the face of the waters, at the waters, at the boundary boundary between light and between light and darkness.darkness.

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS

The Bible inspired Christopher Columbus to sail aroundThe Bible inspired Christopher Columbus to sail aroundThe world at the time when science believed that theThe world at the time when science believed that theEarth was flat and that he would fall at the otherEarth was flat and that he would fall at the otherend of the earth. end of the earth.

Shape in Modern Science

• Earth is pretty close to circle



The Old Testament was The Old Testament was written mainly in Hebrew, written mainly in Hebrew, with some Aramaic.with some Aramaic.

The letter “aleph”in Hebrew script.

A sample ofAramaic letters.

The New Testament The New Testament was written in Greek.was written in Greek.

A sample of Greek letters.

The letter “alpha” in Koine Greek dialect.

Documents

“THY WORD IS ESTABLISHED IN HEAVEN”. Prepared for Grace International South Africa Pastor’s Training in Apologetics