WORLD BIBLE SCHOOL
Introduction Lesson: Lesson 1
“The Book”
Instructions:
1. Read the lesson.
2. In the _Reply Section_, answer the questions and complete the Student Introduction.
3. Return the Reply Section to me via e-mail, to be graded. I will review your lesson and send you the results. Feel free to continue study. I only ask that you do each study in the order specified.
A Map for Life
These are times of change. Every day we face new decisions, new demands, and new dangers. How are we to find our way safely through all of these? How are we to guide our families and especially our young ones? There are maps for every part of the world. But is there a map for the greatest journey of all, life itself?
A Map for Death?
We enjoy birthdays, but they also remind us that none of us is getting younger! Sadly, every funeral reminds us: We too will go where we have never been before. The Bible treats death as the reality it is.
“Death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart” (Ecclesiastes 7:2).
“Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
“You do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a while and then vanishes” (James 4:14).
How quickly this one, brief life passes. To ruin it by choosing a wrong direction would be a terrible waste. Yet how can we be sure of life’s true purpose and direction? How can we be certain that we have made the proper preparation for what lies beyond death? Many people believe that there is a Map to guide us safely through life and death — The Bible.
Can we call any book — “The Book”?
How can a book come to have such a title — “The Book”? As you will see, the Bible fully deserves that title.
Old Copies
How many ancient copies from the New Testament still exist? Well over 4000! The oldest of these dates back very closely to the time when the New Testament was first written. In these matters, no other ancient book is even near to being like the Bible.
Translation
The Bible was first written in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. It has come into our modern languages through translation. So important is its message that the Bible (or parts of it) has been translated into 2,000 languages. Over 80% of the world’s people speak these languages. No book has been – and continues to be – translated more widely than the Bible.
Printing
The Bible was the first book printed for the ordinary people. Year after year the Bible continues to be the “top seller” in the world. No other book comes close to it.
Honesty
The Bible’s complete truth and honesty make it quite different from other books and writings that record ancient history. The Bible shows both the good and bad (even the VERY bad) in Israel’s greatest leaders. Whether king or slave, rich or poor, man or woman, all were measured by the same ruler, “the law of the LORD.”
Writing
The Bible was written by 40 men during a period of 1600 years. Since most of these writers were not alive at the same time, they could not work together in any direct way. Yet the Bible has one continuing story flowing through it. It forms a complete, united picture. No other book has been written like this. In the most amazing way, it joins centuries of history with the highest wisdom.
Following
It is not surprising then that well over a quarter of the world’s population claims some belief in the Bible. Three great world religions claim roots linked with the Bible.
The Writers of the Bible Claimed to Speak from God
In seeking a Map for life, we should open the Bible because of the claims it makes. Again and again it assures us that it is the pure word of God. Look at these examples from the pages of the Bible:
Moses
Moses said the Ten Commandments were written “by the finger of God” on stone tablets (Exodus 31:18). He reported that God spoke with him “face to face, as a man speaks with his friend” (Exodus 33:11).
King David
King David said, “The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; His word was on my tongue. The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel spoke (this) to me” (2 Samuel 23:2-3).
Jeremiah
Jeremiah wrote, “The word of the LORD came to me, saying,”… I appointed you as a prophet to the nations…you must go to every-one I send you to and say whatever I command you…” Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “Now, I have put my words in your mouth” (Jeremiah 1:5-9)..
There are well over 2000 places in the Bible where the prophets said things like:
The Lord said unto me…
These are the words of the Lord…
This is what the Lord says…
We must seriously ask, “Did these prophets have a bad habit of lying? Or were they speaking the truth, since God really did speak through them?”
Jesus
Jesus assured us that these Bible prophets spoke the truth. Jesus relied on their reports of history (Matthew 12:40; 24:37-39). He trusted in all their writings, and taught us to have the same trust (Matthew 5:17-19; Luke 16:17, 29; 24:27,44; John 5:39-47). Jesus quoted often from “the Law and the Prophets.” He based His arguments on specific words they used (Matthew 19:5-6; 22:32). When Jesus did this, He reminded us,
“The Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35).
How can Scripture be so fully trusted? Because it comes from God, not men. Quoting from Moses’ writing, Jesus said, “Have you not read what GOD said to you?” (Matthew 22:31). When Jesus quoted from the Psalms, He said that David spoke “by the Holy Spirit” (Mark 12:36).
Jesus himself claimed to speak from God. Jesus said, “I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that His command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say”
(John 12:49-50).
Jesus also made this very bold statement of power:
“All authority in heaven and earth has been given unto me; therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…” (Matthew 28:18-20).
The Apostles
The apostles were leaders chosen by Jesus in the early days of Christianity. Here is how Jesus gave to them His message for all people:
“The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of every- thing I have said to you…When He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all Truth…” (John 14:26, 16:13).
Thus the apostle Peter, and those with him, taught “by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven” (1 Peter 1:12; also 2 Peter 3:2; Acts 2). The apostle Paul was able to say:
“This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit… What I am writing to you is the Lord’s command” (1 Corinthians 2:13; 14:37).
“When you received the Word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the Word of men, but as it actually is, the Word of God” (1 Thessalonians 2:13).
Scriptures
The Scriptures are the holy writings from God. Even before the New Testament was completed, this is how Paul describes the importance of Scripture:
“The Holy Scriptures… are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correction and training in
righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:15-17).
Paul urged his friend Timothy to be a good student of the Scriptures. Why? Because they are “the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). The apostles’ writings make them even more valuable to all who seek truth, for to the apostles Jesus promised “all truth” (John 16:13). There can be no doubt what the Bible is claiming to be: The Guide Book, or Map, from our Maker who gave us our special purpose and who calls us to fulfill that purpose.
REPLY SECTION
Complete and Return the Following via E-mail
Questions on the Introduction Lesson: Part One “The Book”
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
Type in the letter (a, b, or c) representing the correct answer:
[ ] 1. {Exodus 33:11} The LORD spoke to Moses… (A)face to face, (B)at Sinai Mountain, (C)of the future
[ ] 2. {2 Samuel 23:1-3} “The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me” was said by… (A)Saul, (B)Solomon, (C)David
[ ] 3. {Jeremiah 1:5-9} God, when making Jeremiah a prophet, touched Jeremiah’s… (A)eye, (B)mouth, (C)hand
[ ] 4. {John 10:35} Jesus said that Scripture cannot be… (A)understood, (B)copied, (C)broken
[ ] 5. {Matthew 28:18-20} Jesus said that He had… (A) all knowledge, (B)all healing, (C)all authority
[ ] 6. {John 12:49-50} Jesus said His words came from… (A)Himself, (B)the Father, (C)the Angels
[ ] 7. {John 16:13} The Holy Spirit would guide the apostles into…(A)all power, (B)all truth, (C)all nations
[ ] 8. {1 Thessalonians 2:13} Paul said that his teaching was the word of… (A)men, (B)God, (C)wisdom
[ ] 9. {2 Timothy 3:15-17} All Scripture is… (A)one united story, (B)in ancient languages, (C)God-breathed
DISCUSSION QUESTION
1. What would you give to someone who asked you for a GUIDE (a “map”) to lead him all his life? Why would you choose that guide?
Logo and text copyright @ 1993 by World Bible School, Austin, Texas. All Rights Reserved.
Clay Martin