TEACHING NOTES Introduction‌ This session is intended to provide answers to the following questions: What is the series about? What is the Bible? How should we use the Bible? ‌ What is this series about? The Making of the Bible will show us the history of inspiration to translation. The making of the Bible refers to the entire process of God inspiring men to write Scripture, make copies, and compose it into collections. ‌ Series Overview Part 1: What is the Bible? Part 2: The Hebrew Bible ‌Part 3: The New Testament Part 4: English Translations ‌ What is the Bible? ‌Let’s begin with what the Bible claims about itself: ‌The Bible claims to be the Divine Word of God and that it is true. ‌ Disclaimer: This should not be used to prove that the Bible is true. For example, “the Bible is true because the Bible says so” is circular reasoning and in no way proves that the Bible is true. There are many other great ways to show the mountain of evidence that the Bible is true. ​ 2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. ‌ All Scripture = Grk. pas graphe - Paul is specifically referring to the Old Testament, and possibly the earliest Gospels. When Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy (approx. AD 67-68), the New Testament was still being written. ‌ Breathed out by God = Grk. theopneustos - Literally, inspired by God. We call this doctrine “inspiration.” In modern theology this is a loaded doctrine that is often misunderstood. ‌ Inspiration: God is the ultimate source of the content of Scripture and the means by which that content has been communicated. ‌ God’s Spirit led His people to write, copy, compose, and compile Scripture. Therefore, the Bible is the result of a divine + human endeavor. ‌ The original documents of Scripture in the original language are inspired by God. ‌ Note: Translations are NOT divinely inspired, nor are they infallible. Inspiration was not instant, but was a long process of writing, composing. Authors did not write under a trance. God’s Spirit guided the author’s life, experiences, mindset, and skills. God’s Spirit guided later scribes to copy and compose/edit documents. This entire process is inspiration. Did later scribes edit the original documents? There are many places, especially in the Old Testament, that show the work of later scribes to edit the documents for future generations. These are not negative edits—meaning they did not take away from the text. Scribes often added explanation of certain places and events to help us understand. For example, the end of Deuteronomy (the death of Moses) shows that Moses was not the only author—the book is written from the perspective of someone that is already living in the Promised Land much later in history. In the New Testament Gospel of John, the end of the book shows John was not the only author (John 21:24). Scribal edits are part of the inspiration process and should not be viewed negatively. ‌ How should we use the Bible? ‌ Profitable = Grk. ophelimos - beneficial, useful. Paul is telling us what the Bible should be used for and its benefits. Paul provides a list of four beneficial uses. ‌ Teaching = Grk. didaskalia - instruction, doctrine. In Greek, this is a noun that could be translated “the teaching” or “the doctrine.” The Old Testament reflects the teaching/doctrine of Israel’s scriptures. The New Testament reflects the teaching/doctrine of Jesus and the apostles. ‌ Scripture is useful as the absolute standard for doctrine and practice. ‌‌ Reproof = Grk. elegmos - strong rebuke or refuting error. This is correction in the negative sense—correcting destructive ideas and behaviors. ‌‌ Scripture is useful for removing errors in our doctrine, thinking, and behavior. ‌‌ Correction = Grk. epanorthosis - positive correction for improvement. This is correction in the positive sense—adding what is necessary for improvement. ‌‌ Scripture is useful for adding what improves or elevates the way we think and live. ‌‌ Training in righteousness = Grk. paideia en ho dikaiosyne - Literally, instruction in the righteousness. The word for “training” here implies long-term guidance or upbringing. Righteousness is more a relational term than merely a behavioral term. Righteousness is doing what is right for maintaining a relationship. Scripture gives us the instructions for maintaining right relationships with God and others. ‌ Scripture is useful for living upright or in right relationship with God and fellow humans. ‌‌ That the man of God may be complete = This applies to both men and women because the Greek word anthropos is the word for human being. Paul states that all Scripture is designed to make humans “complete” (Grk. artios), which refers to being proficient, capable, well fitted for an intended function. ‌‌ Equipped for every good work = The Greek word for “equipped” is exartizo, which means to bring to an end or finish. So, Paul is saying that the Scripture helps us to fulfill or complete the good works that God created us to accomplish. ‌‌ Scripture gives us everything we need to accomplish our God-given purpose. ‌ That’s what the Bible claims about itself. ‌Now let’s discuss what the Bible literally is. ‌ The Bible is... A collection of ancient literature ‌Written over a period of 1,500 years ‌Over 40 authors, multiple scribes ‌66 documents, 3 languages, multiple genres ‌One cohesive story ‌ The Bible is not... A moral handbook ‌A theological dictionary A science textbook ‌A historical record that follows modern historical standards ‌ Terms to Understand Autographs: the original documents Copies: handwritten by scribes ‌Collection: compilation of several documents ‌Codex: compilation of collections ‌