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From "GODS PLAN FOR MAN" written by Finis Jennings Dake.  WHAT THE BIBLE IS, SOME BIBLE FACTS The Bible is God's inspired revelation of the origin and destiny of all things. It is the power of God unto eternal salvation and it is the source of present help for body, soul, and spirit (Romans 1:16; and John 15:7). It is God's will and testament to men in all ages, revealing the plan of God for man here and now and in the next life. It is the record of God's dealings with man; past, present, and future. It contains God's message of eternal salvation to all who believe in Christ and of eternal damnation to those who rebel against the gospel. As a literary composition, the Bible is the most remarkable book ever made. It is a divine library of sixty-six books, some of considerable size, and others no larger than a tract. These books include various forms of literature, history, biography, poetry, proverbial sayings, hymns, letters, directions for elaborate ritualistic worship, laws, parables, riddles, allegories, prophecy, drama, and all other forms of human expression. They embrace all manner of literary styles. It cannot be excelled from any standpoint. It is the book that contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts binding, its histories true, and its decisions immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the Christian's charter. Here Heaven is opened, and the gates of Hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill your memory, rule your heart, and guide your feet in righteousness and true holiness. Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully, meditatively, searchingly, devotionally, and study it constantly, perseveringly, and industriously. Read it through and through until it becomes part of your being and generates faith that will move mountains. It is a mine of wealth, the source of health, and a world of pleasure. It is given to you in this life, will be opened at the judgment, and will last forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the least to the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents. THE BIBLE IS It is a mirror to reflect (James. 1:23); hammer to convict (Jeremiah. 23:29); fire to refine (Jeremiah. 23:29); seed to multiply (1 Pet. 1:23); laver to cleanse (Eph. 5:26; John 1 5:3); lamp to guide (Psalms 119:105); and food to nourish, including milk for babes (1st Peter 2:2), bread for the hungry (Matthew 4:4), meat for men (Hebrews 5:11-14), and honey for dessert (Ps. 19:10). It is rain and snow to refresh (Isa. 55:10); a sword to cut (Hebrews 4:12); a bow to revenge (Habakkuk 3:9); gold to enrich (Psalms. 19:7-10); and power to create life and faith (1st Peter 1:23; Romans 10:17). GENERAL FACTS ABOUT THE BIBLE HOW THE BIBLE WAS GIVEN TO MAN It was given through the audible voices of God (Matthew 3:16-17; 17:5; John 12:28; Deut. 5:24); of angels (Acts 7:38; Heb. 2:2); of prophets (Acts 3:21; 2nd Peter 1:21); of Jesus Christ (Heb. 1:1-3; Rev. 1:1); and of the apostles (Acts 1:2; Eph. 4:7-11). It came through visions (Isaiah 6; Daniel 7-8; Ezek. 1); DREAMS (Daniel 2; Matthew 1:20; 2:12); REVELATION (Galatians 1:15-16; Eph. 3:3); and INSPIRATION (2nd Timothy. 3:15-17). LANGUAGES OF THE BIBLE The Old Testament was written in Hebrew and Aramaic. The New Testament was written in Greek. DIVISIONS OF THE BIBLE (King James Version) There are two main divisions-The Old Testament made up of thirty-nine books, and the New Testament made up of twenty-seven books. Each Testament is divided into five main divisions. The Old Testament is divided into the Pentateuch or five books of Moses-Genesis through Deuteronomy; twelve historical books-Joshua through Esther; five poetical books-Job through the Song of Solomon; five books of the Major Prophets-Isaiah through Daniel; and twelve books of the Minor Prophets-Hosea through Malachi. The New Testament is divided into the four Gospels-Matthew through John; the historical book-Acts; the fourteen Pauline Epistles-Romans through Hebrews; the seven General Epistles-James through Jude; and the prophetical book-Revelation. AS A WHOLE The Bible as a whole is divided into sixty-six books, 1,189 chapters, and 31,214 verses, made up of 773,746 words and 3,566,480 letters. There are nearly 1,250 promises to all men in various ages, but only about 500 that can be definitely claimed by modern Christians. Many promises concerned Israel and certain natural peoples and nations of the past, present, and future that do not specifically concern the present life of Christians. There are, however, an abundance of promises for Christians covering every known need in this life and the life to come. The longest two words are in Isaiah 8:1 and in the title of Psalms 56; the longest verse, Esther 8:9; shortest verse, John 11:35; middle book, Micah; middle verse, Psalm 118:8; middle and shortest chapter, Psalm. 117; longest book, Psalms; shortest book, 2nd John; longest chapter, Psalm 119; chapter divisions made, 1236 A. D. Four verses in Psalms 107 are alike, 8th, 15th, 21st, and 31st. Also 2nd Kings 19 and Isaiah 36, Ezra 2 and 7, and 2nd Chronicles 36:22-23 and Ezra 1:1-3 are alike. There are twenty-six unknown books mentioned in the Bible. Since the invention of printing there have been over 1,330,231,815 Bibles printed and sold in England and Europe besides those in other lands. Over 30,000,000 are now distributed annually. The first complete English Bible was finished in 13 80 A. D. The first printed was the Gutenberg Bible, 1450 A. D. The only uninspired parts of Bibles are the divisions of the chapters and verses, references, marginal notes, chapter and page headings, footnotes, summaries of chapters, and all other parts except the original text. THE APOCRYPHAL BOOKS In some large family Bibles there is a section of fourteen books called the Apocrypha, a group of spurious books that were rejected from our present canon of Scripture because: 1 They did not pass the tests required of inspired books. 2. They were not written or approved by a prophet. 3. They were not recognized by the Jews as inspired and as a part of Scripture. 4. They were not recognized or even quoted by Christ and the Apostles, a fact more striking as Paul quotes twice from heathen poets. 5. The last Old Testament prophet predicted the next messenger to come to Israel from God would be the forerunner of Christ (Malachi 3:1). Most of these books were written during this period between Malachi and Christ. 6. Divine authority is not claimed by their authors, and by some it is virtually disowned (2nd Maccabees 2:23; 15:38). 7. They contain statements at variance with the Bible history. 8. They are self-contradictory and opposed to doctrines of Scripture. 9. Josephus did not regard them as Scripture. He lived at the time of the apostles and stated that the present books of the Old Testament which are in our version are the only inspired books (see Josephus, Book I, section 8). 10. They were not a part of the ancient versions of Scripture. 11. They were first added after 300 A. D. The Laodicean Council in 363 A. D. rejected them as being not inspired, thus proving by that time some were claiming inspiration for them. They first appeared in the Vatican Version of the fourth century. At the Council of Trent in 1546 A D., the Catholics accepted six of these books as inspired and added them to their modern versions of Scripture. They are the Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus, Tobit, Judith, and 1st and 2nd Maccabees. 12. Philo and others did not regard them as inspired. 13. The lack of prophetic element in them, and apparent imitation of other books of the Old Testament that are inspired. 14. Too free use of imagination, giving rise to silly stories, and the lack of spiritual force and power. |
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