LAWTON CHURCH OF GOD, LAWTON, OKLAHOMA

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AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE

The Bible is the inspired Word of God. If we do not believe that, there is no reason to study it. Consider these important verses that support the belief that God inspired the Bible and that the Bible has a real use intended by God.

2 Timothy 3:16 –17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Peter: 1:20 –21. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

It is divided into the Old Testament and the New Testament. The word testament means will. So the Bible is God’s will for His people. The Old Testament was His will for the people of those times. The New Testament is His will for His people from the time that Jesus came to this world to the end of time.

The Bible contains 66 books; 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. The entire collection of the books is called “the book.”

The overall purpose of the Bible is to convey the redemptive plan of God for the human race.

It was written by more than 40 authors, yet there is unity throughout. It was written over a period of about 1500 years, from 1400 B.C. to 96 A.D. The Old Testament was written in the Hebrew language and the New Testament in the Greek language.

Another term used for the word testament is covenant or contract. So, sometimes, we use the expression “the new covenant.” This term expresses God’s willingness to solve the problem of sin that separates people from God.

Always remember that the Bible was divided into chapters and verses by the translators to make it more easily read and understood. However, we often find something unfinished within a chapter and must go on to the next one to complete the thought. An example is Romans chapter 5, which continues the theme in chapter 6.

Some tools that help in Bible study: King James Version of the Bible or a version based on the King James Version such as the New King James Version or the New American Standard Bible, a dictionary, a concordance and a Bible dictionary. All Scriptures used in this study are from the New King James Version.