UNIT ONEINTRODUCTION

SECTION I

Christ: The Key to the Inspiration and Canonization of the Bible

Common questions about the Bible:

• What is the Bible all about?

• How can I understand its meaning?

• Why are there sixty-six books in the Bible?

• How do I know it’s the Word of God?

• Jesus Christ is the key to both the inspiration

and the interpretation of the Bible.• Jesus Christ confirmed the collection of books as both complete and authoritative.

What will we learn from our introduction?

I. CHRIST AND THE INSPIRATION OF THE BIBLEA. The New Testament is a Historically Accurate Document

• Tacitus, Roman Historian (A.D. 112) Christ “…was put to death by Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea in the reign of Tiberius” (Annals XV.44).

Evidence of the life of Jesus outside of the New Testament:

• Josephus, First-century Jewish Historian Jesus “the so-called Christ” whose disciples “reported that He had appeared to them three days after His crucifixion and that He was alive” (Antiquities XVIII.33; XX.9.1).

• Lucian, second-century satirist Referred to Christ as “…the man who was crucified in Palestine.”

• The Jewish Talmud “On the eve of Passover they hanged Yeshu (of Nazareth)…in that he hath practiced sorcery and beguiled and led astray Israel” (Babylonia, Sanhedrin 43a).

• Pliny the Younger (A.D. 112) Recorded that early Christians met to sing “…a hymn to Christ as to a God, and bound themselves to a solemn oath, not to do any wicked deeds…” (Epistles X.96).

• Complete NT written by 75 A.D.

The reliability of the New Testament:

• Tacitus’ Histories – 2 copies dated 1,000 years after he wrote.

• Livy’s History of Rome – 20 partial copies

• Hindu Mahabharata – only know 90% of text

• Over 5,000 manuscript copies of NT copied with

over 99% accuracy (less than 1% affecting no significant teaching).

B. What Jesus Taught about the Inspiration of the Bible.

• John 10:35; Luke 24:44; Matt. 22:29; Matt. 5:18; 2 Tim. 3:16

1. Some general claims about the Old Testament.

2. Some specific claims about the Old Testament.• Matt. 19:4; Matt. 23:35; Luke 17:27; Luke 20:37; Luke 4:25; Matt. 12:40; Matt. 24:15

II. CHRIST AND THE CANONIZATION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Canon means “rule” or “norm”• It refers to the sacred writings which are the rule or norm for faith and practice among believers.

• So where does the Apocrypha fit in?

• Apocrypha: 11 books added by the Roman Catholic Church at the Council of Trent in 1546 A.D.

• Simple answer: It doesn’t!

• Jesus never quoted, approved, or accepted the apocrypha.

• Tobit, Judith, the additions to Esther, Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus, Baruch, the Letter of Jeremiah, the Prayer of Azariah,

Susanna, Bel and the Dragon, and I and II

Maccabees (written between 200 B.C. and

the time of Christ)

You have 10 minutes to come up with your best answer to the following question from your friend. You may use your notes:

“My youth pastor said that I should start studying the Old Testament. I’m not really interested in it. I think I

only need to know what Jesus said. Do you have any good reasons as to why I should study it?”

SECTION 2

Christ: The Key to the Interpretation of the Bible

What is the correct way to interpret the Bible?

• The answer: Christ is our guide; He is the key to the interpretation of the Bible.

• Jesus claimed five times that He is the theme of the entire Old Testament: Matt. 5:17; Luke 24:27; Luke 24:44; John 5:39; Heb. 10:7

The Bible must be interpreted Christocentrically (i.e., Christ-centered)

There are three ways in which we can see Christ in the Bible:• Christ is the theme of both testaments of the Bible.• Christ is the theme of each of the eight sections of the Bible.• Christocentric themes and truths can be found in all 66 books of the Bible.

I. CHRIST IS THE THEME OF BOTH THE OLD AND THE NEW TESTAMENT• OT: Christ anticipated NT: Christ realized• OT: Salvation prepared for NT: Salvation provided by Christ• OT: Prophecies foretold Christ NT: Fulfilled by Christ• The promises of salvation in the OT are brought to completion in the presence of Christ in the NT (Matt. 1:21).

II. CHRIST IS THE THEME OF EACH OF THE EIGHT SECTIONS OF THE BIBLE

Eight Basic Topical SectionsOld Testament New Testament

The Law (Gen.-Deut.) Gospels (Matt.-John)History (Josh.-Esther) History (Acts)Poetry (Job-Song of Sol.) Epistles (Rom.-Jude)Prophecy (Isa.-Mal.) Prophecy (Rev.)

Parallel Movement Between the Old Testament and New Testament

The Law History

Jewish nation is chosen to provide the foundation for the coming Christ

Jewish nation makes preparation for the

Christ

Dow

nwar

d

Outward

Old Testament

Poetry Prophecy

Jewish nation’s aspirations for Christ

Jewish expectation of Christ

Forward

Upw

ard

Old Testament

New Testament

Gospels History

Manifestation of Christ

Propagation of Christ

Dow

nwar

d

Outward

Epistles Prophecy

Interpretation of Christ to the

believers

Consummation of all things in Christ

Forward

Upw

ard

New Testament

YOUR MISSION:

Produce a set of 4 movie posters for the Bible using 1 of the 8 basic topical sections for each poster.