THE ORIGIN, AUTHORSHIP, CANON AND RELEVANCE OF THE BIBLE: A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
INTRODUCTION
Welcome, dear friends, to the teaching on the origin and relevance of the bible. I wrote this teaching in response to a question from a brother who wanted to know who wrote the bible.
The issues of the origin, authorship, canon and relevance of the Bible are not commonly addressed in the church; and not many believers will go through Bible School or Seminary to learn this.
So, this teaching is an attempt to bridge that knowledge gap in a simple, balanced and palatable form.
The word "Bible" is traced back to the Latin word "biblia," which was originally used to describe the collection of books considered holy, authoritative and inspired by God by early Christians.
This Latin term, in turn, was derived from the Greek word "biblia," meaning "books" or "scrolls." It is a plural form of "biblion," which means "book."
The Bible is composed of multiple books written over a period of several centuries by various authors.
The Bible holds profound significance for millions of people around the globe, serving as a source of guidance, inspiration, and wisdom.
It is the foundational scripture of Christianity and serves as a guide for faith, morals, and spirituality.
In this teaching, we will explore the origin of the Bible and the reasons why it remains relevant even in our modern world.
THE ORIGIN OF THE BIBLE
Historical Context
The Bible is a collection of divine books that were written by more than forty writers over a span of about 1,500 years.
Its origins are traced back to ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Israel.
Divine Inspiration
The whole Bible is not merely a human creation but a collection of holy texts inspired by God. The Bible is divinely inspired, making it a unique and authoritative text.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NET) says, "Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work."
The writings were inspired by God, who guided the human authors to convey His message. The authors of the Bible were influenced and guided by the Holy Spirit in their writings.
2 Peter 1:20-21 (NET) says, "Above all, you do well if you recognize this: No prophecy of scripture ever comes about by the prophet’s own imagination, for no prophecy was ever borne of human impulse; rather, men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God."
Composition and Structure
The Christian Bible consists of two main sections: the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) and the New Testament (Greek Bible).
The Old Testament contains writings that predate the birth of Jesus Christ, while the New Testament focuses on his life, teachings, and the early Christian community.
OLD TESTAMENT
The Old Testament contains spiritual texts and historical accounts that were significant to the Jewish people before the birth of Jesus Christ. It includes;
The Pentateuch
The first five books of the Bible, known as the Pentateuch or the Torah. They were written by Moses under the inspiration of God.
Exodus 24:4 says, "Then Moses carefully wrote down all the Lord's instructions."
Prophets and Wisdom Literature
The Old Testament also includes books written by prophets and wise individuals.
For example, Isaiah 1:1 begins, "These are the visions that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem."
NEW TESTAMENT
Gospels
The four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, provide accounts of the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Luke 1:3-4 says, "Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught."
Epistles
The New Testament also contains the Acts of the Apostles, the letters (epistles) written by apostles such as Paul, Peter, and John, and the Book of Revelation.
2 Peter 3:15-16 says, "Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom that God gave him... His letters contain some things that are hard to understand."
WHO WROTE THE BIBLE?
Here is a list of the books in the Bible along with some of the commonly accepted authors:
Old Testament
2. Exodus - Moses
3. Leviticus - Moses
4. Numbers - Moses
5. Deuteronomy - Moses
6. Joshua - Joshua
7. Judges - Samuel, Nathan, and others
8. Ruth - Unknown
9. 1 Samuel - Samuel, Nathan, and others
10. 2 Samuel - Samuel, Nathan, and others
11. 1 Kings - Jeremiah or a group of prophets
12. 2 Kings - Jeremiah or a group of prophets
13. 1 Chronicles - Ezra
14. 2 Chronicles - Ezra
15. Ezra - Ezra
16. Nehemiah - Nehemiah
17. Esther - Unknown
18. Job - Unknown, possibly Job himself
19. Psalms - Various authors, including David, Asaph, and the sons of Korah
20. Proverbs - Mostly written by Solomon, with contributions from others
21. Ecclesiastes - Solomon
22. Song of Solomon - Solomon
Prophets
24. Jeremiah - Jeremiah
25. Lamentations - Jeremiah
26. Ezekiel - Ezekiel
27. Daniel - Daniel
28. Hosea - Hosea
29. Joel - Joel
30. Amos - Amos
31. Obadiah - Obadiah
32. Jonah - Jonah
33. Micah - Micah
34. Nahum - Nahum
35. Habakkuk - Habakkuk
36. Zephaniah - Zephaniah
37. Haggai - Haggai
38. Zechariah - Zechariah
39. Malachi - Malachi
New Testament
41. Mark - John Mark (associate of Peter)
42. Luke - Luke (a physician and companion of Paul)
43. John - Apostle John
44. Acts - Luke (continuation of the Gospel of Luke)
45. Romans - Apostle Paul
46. 1 Corinthians - Apostle Paul
47. 2 Corinthians - Apostle Paul
48. Galatians - Apostle Paul
49. Ephesians - Apostle Paul
50. Philippians - Apostle Paul
51. Colossians - Apostle Paul
52. 1 Thessalonians - Apostle Paul
53. 2 Thessalonians - Apostle Paul
54. 1 Timothy - Apostle Paul
55. 2 Timothy - Apostle Paul
56. Titus - Apostle Paul
57. Philemon - Apostle Paul
58. Hebrews - Unknown, traditionally attributed to Paul
59. James - James (brother of Jesus)
60. 1 Peter - Apostle Peter
61. 2 Peter - Apostle Peter
62. 1 John - Apostle John
63. 2 John - Apostle John
64. 3 John - Apostle John
65. Jude - Jude (brother of James)
66. Revelation - Apostle John
Please note that while these are the commonly accepted attributions, there are some books where the authorship remains debated or unknown.
(To be continued in Part Two [THE BIBLE AND THE CANON] in the Link provided below...)
https://letthebiblespeak-njoe.blogspot.com/2024/05/why-we-should-believe-in-bible-as-it-is_6.html
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