Discovering the Bible LEADER’S GUIDE

Prepared by Diana Lynn Severance,

Ph.D.

and Christian History Institute

P. O. Box 540 Worcester, PA 19490

© 1996, Christian History Institute

TO THE LEADER

Welcome to the video series, Discovering the Bible.

This Leader’s Guide is intended to provide you further resources to lead a challenging group experience with the use of the video programs.

INTENDED USAGE

This is a series that can be used over again many times with different groups.It is intended to be a basic introduction that can be used effectively with those who have little or no background in the Bible,and a stimulating refresher for those who have loved the Bible for years but perhaps never had opportunity to look into where the Bible came from and how it came down to us.

The programs provide an excellent vehicle for outreach and sharing with others the treasures of Scripture.

FLEXIBILITY OF THE PROGRAM

We suggest that you use this video curriculum for a four or eightweek program.

If you use it for four weeks,you will want to show one program each session and include whatever introduction and follow-up discussion that time allows.

For an eight-week structure we suggest you show one video program on alternate weeks,and in between have a study-discussion session based on the outlines and questions provided in the separate booklet enclosed here, Student Handouts and Worksheets.

THE MATERIALS INCLUDED IN YOUR KIT

◊ This Leader’s Guide should provide you all you need and more to prepare lively and interesting sessions.You will want to highlight the particular items that you find useful and want to share with your class.

◊ Full-Color 32-Page Companion Publication to Discovering the Bible—This printed supplement covers many of the points

made in the video programs.You may simply want to retain it for your personal use in preparing your sessions,or you may find it valuable to order quantities of this piece for group use.They can be utilized in the following ways:

• Give them out a couple of weeks before you begin the series to arouse interest and build anticipation.They can also be used as a promotional piece by giving them out to prospective attendees along with an invitation to attend your showings of the videos.

• Give them out to your class participants at the first session and use various items during your discussion time.

• Give them out at the end of the series as a reinforcement to help underscore many of the points in the series.

◊ Student Handouts and Worksheets—Use these as best fits your situation.You have permission to copy or you may order additional copies from us.

• You may want to give out the complete set at the beginning of the series and encourage your participants to work through them at their own pace.

• You may want to give out only the specific sheets related to the current program either the week before or the day of the showing.

◊ Papyrus Sample—Pass your sample around the class preferably in connection with Program 3—The New Testament. Point out how writing materials in the ancient days were scarce and expensive compared to the ready availability,abundance,and economy of paper for us today.Papyrus was a predecessor to paper.This was the kind of material most of the original New Testament documents would have been written on.Your sample is a genuine papyrus from a papyrus plant grown in the Nile River in Egypt and was made the same way they did in Biblical times.

◊ Glimpses Samples—You may wish to use these only for your own preparation.Or,you may want to make copies to hand out as a “take home”piece after individual sessions.You have our permission to make your own copies,or you may order quantities from us if that is more convenient.

SOME PRACTICAL TIPS

Here are some suggestions that we find will enhance your use of Discovering the Bible.

(1)Do some advance promotion at least two to three weeks prior to the first program.There are many people eager to find out about the Bible but don’t know where to begin.

(2) Watch each program yourself first before showing to your group.There will be features you will want to highlight and questions you will want to raise.

(3)Before showing the program,indicate what you consider the key points to watch for and areas you will want to pick up later for discussion.

(4)Put everyone at ease.Emphasize that these programs are intended for those who have little or no knowledge of the Bible as well as those who have.Encourage the viewers to make notes with their questions and comments for discussion afterwards.

(5)Have a clear idea in your mind as to what will work best for your situation in terms of discussion after the showing.

For example,do you prefer to have questions and comments come from the group,thereby sending discussion down many possibly unanticipated pathways? Or,do you want to have the questions and topics pre-selected so that your time for discussion is clearly focused?

Obviously,it would be preferable to have time for both.

(6)Be prepared for the fact that people have many strange ideas about the Bible.These can range from those who think the Bible almost appeared magically or was dictated by God to those who think it has nothing to do with God but is a collection of ancient fables and myths.Don’t let such conjectures take over the discussion.The video series presents factual and historical information that offers more than enough content to deal with.

NOTESONTHIS LEADER’S GUIDE

For each program in this “Discovering the Bible”video series, you will find a section containing the following items:

◊

IN THIS PROGRAM:a brief summary of the program’s contents.

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FOR STARTERS: ideas for beginning or introducing each program.

◊

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AFTER VIEWING VIDEO: questions with suggested responses in italics

◊ WRAPPING IT UP: ideas for closing the class.

◊

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND FOR TEACHER: supplemental material the teacher might find useful in elaborating the discussion or enhancing the introduction/conclusion of each session.

◊

OPTIONAL BIBLE STUDY:a Bible study corresponding to each video’s theme is included in the student handouts.The appropriate one to use for each program is noted in this guide.These may be developed into separate lessons or it may be distributed for individual study outside of class.

◊

HANDOUTS:may be duplicated for the class.

PROGRAM 1: GETTING ACQUAINTEDWITHTHE BIBLE

IN THIS PROGRAM WE WILL

• Briefly look at the continuing influence of the Bible

• Note what the Bible actually is and why it is unique

• Learn how the Bible came to be written

• Discuss how the Bible is organized

FOR STARTERS:

Have the class work through HANDOUT 1to show that the Bible continues to influence even our everyday language.In this series on Discovering the Bible we’ll be exploring the origin, organization,and significance of the Bible,the book which continues to influence our language and culture over 2000 years after it was written.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AFTER VIEWING VIDEO:

1.What does the word Bible actually mean? How does the name of the book in some way reflect its origins? [Means “book.” T he ancient Phoenician city of Byblos was a place for the shipment of parchment from which ancient books were made. T he Bible itself has its origins in the ancient Middle East.]

2.In what geographical area did the events of the Bible take place? Why is this region important geographically and historically? [In ancient Middle East.Geographically,the Middle East is the junction of three major continents—Africa,Asia,and Europe. Historically,events of the Bible took place where civilization began—the area bounded by Egypt and Mesopotamia.]

3.The Bible is often called a holy book.What makes its origins different from many other “holy”books? [The Bible was written over a period of hundreds of years and rooted in history.]

What does the nature of the origin of the Bible imply about the God of the Bible? [God is concerned in working in the affairs of the world,people’s lives,and their history.He is not removed from our earthly affairs.]

How is the nature of the Bible different from a book of philosophy or systematic theology? [Is rooted in history,in the actual lives of people,not simply in abstract ideas.]

4.Examine the timeline on HANDOUT3.What events of history were occurring while the Bible was being written? [Examples—Stonehenge built in England;Hammurabi Law Code;Homer’s epics;Olympic games begin;Kingdoms and cultures of Assyria,Babylon,Persia,Rome,etc.]

5.Why can you say the Bible is more of a library than a single book? [Is actually a collection of 66 books written over perhaps about a 1,500 year period.]

6.The Bible is divided into two parts called the Old and New Testaments.What is a testament? [A will or covenant.] Who are the parties to the Biblical testaments? [God and His people.]

7.Discuss how the Bible can be both simple enough for children and the common person and so complex that even the greatest scholar cannot fully comprehend it.Is this a contradiction,or can you explain the paradox?

8.What are some differences between our Bibles and the originals? [Languages are different—originals were written in Hebrew,Aramaic,and Greek;chapters and verses have been added to our Bible for easy reference.]

9.How can the Bible be relevant today when it was written millennia ago in totally different geographical and cultural settings? [Deals with eternal answers to issues and questions which transcend cultural and geographical differences.For example,what are we to think of ourselves? How are we to treat each other? How are we to handle guilt and fear? How does God reach down to people? How are we to find God? What’s the meaning of life and the reason for the universe?]

10.What differences do you think having the Bible as a written book would make as opposed to simply having a collection of oral traditions handed down through the ages? [Written book would be more easily authenticated and would

be available to more people.Written records cannot be as easily changed as can oral reports.]

WRAPPING IT UP:

Read and discuss “What Others Have Said About the Bible”in HANDOUT 2.Rather than discuss all the quotes at one session, two or three quotes might be discussed to conclude each of the four sessions in the series.

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND FOR THE TEACHER:

In your discussion you might want to be familiar with the following:

Revelation—God reveals Himself to humankind in a general way through His creation and more specifically through the Scriptures.By God’s revelation in the Scriptures people can know God’s person,character,and will for His people.

Inspiration—Though Scripture was written by human authors (over 30 of them),Jews and Christians believe God so inspired the authors in their writing,that what was written is the authoritative Word of God.

Apocrypha—Books found in the Catholic Old Testament but not in the Hebrew Bible or most Protestant Bibles.These include the books of I & II Maccabees,Ecclesiasticus,Wisdom of Solomon, I & II Esdras,and Judith.In addition to the Catholic Apocrypha, the Eastern Orthodox Church includes the books of III & IV Maccabees.The Jewish people,many in the early church,as well as Reformation leaders,recognized these books as not on the same level as the inspired Scripture.They are not quoted from by Jesus or the apostles.

Gospel of Thomas—Frequently in the news of late,the Gospel of Thomas is a first century collection of Jesus’sayings found at Nag Hammadi,Egypt.Some scholars have argued in favor of the accuracy and historicity of this work.However,this gospel was known in the early church and not accepted as scriptural.It contains many Gnostic ideas,ideas which have become increasingly popular in our modern culture and with the New Age movement.

The Bible has influenced many famous individuals.Very often a single portion of Scripture became a focus of the person’s purpose and goals in life.Following are some famous people and the Scriptures that helped them make history.You might choose to use one or two of these examples each lesson,incorporating them into your introduction or wrap-up,if not in the lesson itself. Or,depending on your time available,you may prefer to use this section with program four.

Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658)—Puritan who became Lord Protector of England during the Puritan Revolution.Cromwell often felt inadequate in the positions he found himself,but throughout his career he relied on one verse of scriptural encouragement,“I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me”(Philippians 4:13).This was the verse which brought him through when his son was killed in battle,and this was the passage he wanted read to him on his deathbed.

George Fox (1622-1691)—Founder of the Quakers or the Society of Friends.When George Fox was looking for spiritual answers to many questions,he could not find them from the worldly and unspiritual clergy of his day.He came to realize that Christ was the “light of the world”(John 8:12;9:5).

Blaise Pascal (1623-1662)—French scientist and religious philosopher who laid the foundation for the modern theory of probabilities and advanced differential calculus.His Pensees are noted for their spiritual reflections and the beauty of their French language.November 23,1654 Pascal lay in bed,unable to sleep,so he read Scripture.He found in Jeremiah 2:13,“My people have committed two evils,they have forsaken Me,the fountain of living waters,and hewed out to themselves cisterns,broken cisterns, that can hold no water.”In a dazzling mystical experience,Pascal totally gave his life to Jesus Christ.From that point on he put Christ first in his life,even above his mathematical and scientific studies.

Lady Selina, Countess of Huntingdon (1707-1791)— Philanthropist;a noble lady of wealth and influence who supported the evangelical revival under John Wesley and George Whitefield.She used her money to build colleges and chapels and establish missions oversees.Living with the utmost frugality,the

Countess of Huntingdon invested her money in spiritual projects and died materially impoverished.Her support of the Gospel and her entire life was based upon the truth that “Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid,which is Jesus Christ” (I Corinthians 3:11).

Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910)—Russian author and religious philosopher;author of War and Peace,Anna Karenina, and The Death of Ivan Ilyich.Tolstoy sought to answer the question of why he had been sent into the world.In Matthew 6:33,“Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness,and all these things shall be added unto you,”he found that true happiness cannot be found living for ourselves but only for God.Our lives are not our own,but His.

Dr. Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)—English author and literary critic whose Dictionary of the English Language won him fame.Often in financial straits himself,Johnson always shared what he had with others and even had several mendicants living in his house and sharing his table.In spite of his many talents and abilities,Dr.Johnson often felt depressed over the text,“Of him to whom much is given,much will be required”(Luke 12:48).For much of his life,Johnson feared he would never be able to do enough good in his life,but in his last years he came to realize that faith in Jesus Christ was sufficient for his soul.

Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1821-1881)—Russian novelist who wrote Crime and Punishment,The Idiot, and Brothers Karamazov. Dostoyevsky was arrested and sentenced to death for membership in a political circle.Just before his scheduled time of execution,his sentence was commuted to hard labor in Siberia.He was given a New Testament on the way to Siberia,and this became his solace and strength.He especially was moved by the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:12-32).His novels frequently have the theme of redemption for even the vilest sinners.

Charles Simeon (1759-1836)—Evangelical pastor of Holy Tr inity Church,Cambridge for over fifty years,Simeon taught hundreds of young men who later became missionaries and Christian leaders.He also helped establish important evangelical societies such as the British and Foreign Bible Society and the Church Missionary Society.Throughout his life,from his

conversion to his dying words,Simeon sought to “comprehend the breadth and length and depth and height,and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge”(Ephesians 3:19).

William Wilberforce (1759-1833)—English politician who worked for the abolition of the slave trade (1807) and for the end of slavery itself,which was achieved in England shortly before his death in 1833.Wilberforce was consumed with a desire to free the slaves because he so deeply appreciated the freedom from sin’s bondage Christ had brought him.“God be merciful to me a sinner”(Luke 18:13) was the humble plea of Wilberforce’s heart.

Lord Shaftsbury (1801-1885)—Victorian statesman who worked tirelessly to improve the conditions of the poor.As a member of the House of Commons and later House of Lords,as well as president of numerous reform societies,Shaftsbury was beloved and revered by the poor he sought to help.At his funeral,large groups of the poor gathered in the streets bearing banners with phrases from Shaftsbury’s favorite Scripture:“I was hungry and you gave Me meat;I was thirsty and you gave Me drink;I was a stranger and you took Me in;I was naked and you clothed Me;I was sick and you visited Me;I was in prison and you came unto me...Verily I say unto you,inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these,my brethren,you have done it unto Me”(Matthew 25:35-40).

William M. Thackeray (1811-1863)—English novelist,author of Vanity Fair,Henry Edmond,The Newcomes, and The Virginians. Through troubles,times of intense poverty,and a beloved wife who went hopelessly insane,Thackeray relied on Psalm 37:23-25,“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. Though he fall,he shall not be utterly cast down:for the Lord upholdeth him with His hand.I have been young and now am old, yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken,nor his seed begging bread.”These verses Thackeray also made the source of comfort and solace of his ideal Colonel Newcome in The Newcomes.

Other authors similarly valued Psalm 37:23-25 as a noble encouragement to characters in their novels undergoing deep trials.Oliver Goldsmith’s Vicar of Wakefield and Jeanie Deans in Sir Walter Scott’s T he Heart of Midlothian found solace in these words.The missionary-explorer David Livingston also relied on these encouraging words during his feverish last days.

William Gladstone (1809-1898)—British prime minister. Gladstone was converted to Christ at the age of ten,and ever after his Christianity was an integral part of his life.Psalm 17:8, “Keep me as the apple of Thine eye:hide me under the shadow of Thy wings,”was the verse and prayer that remained with Gladstone throughout his life.

OPTIONAL BIBLE STUDY: HANDOUT 4:“What Does the Bible Say About Itself?”Select questions you wish to take up.Perhaps you would want to assign questions to individuals in advance for them to prepare a response.Or,you may have your group break up into sections and each take one question and then regather and report to the whole group.

PROGRAM 2: THE HEBREW SCRIPTURESORTHE OLD TESTAMENT

IN THIS PROGRAM WE WILL

• Briefly look at the Hebrew Scriptures or Old Testament

• Summarize the main themes of the Old Testament

• Describe how the Old Testament is organized

• Assess the accuracy of our copies of the Hebrew Scriptures

FOR STARTERS:

The modern land of Israel is often called the “Land of the Book,” and the ancient Hebrew language has been revived within the modern Jewish state.The Hebrew Scriptures,the Christian Old Testament,continue to have a place in our modern world.In this program,we’ll be looking more closely at those Hebrew Scriptures.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AFTER VIEWING VIDEO:

1.What role do the Hebrew Scriptures play in Jewish religious life? [They are valued almost as God’s love letter to His people; they are more than a set of laws or collection of stories.They provide a living memory and identity for the Jewish people.The Scriptures are greatly respected.and their reading is the most important part of the Jewish service.]

2.How would our reading of the Bible differ if we read it as a love letter rather than as an ordinary book? [We’d read it eagerly, noting every detail and shades of meaning,and we would read it repeatedly.Such reading would also increase our longing to be with the Author.]

3.Who wrote the Hebrew Scriptures and when were they written? [There were close to 30 writers of the Hebrew Scriptures who wrote during the millennium from about 1400 to 400 B.C.The writers ranged from political leaders to prisoners,kings to shepherds.]

4.Discuss the contents of Hebrew Scriptures,completing and using HANDOUT5.You may want to do this as a group exercise or individually.

5.What are the Hebrew Scriptures about? [Providence—God created the world and continues to be involved in His creation and in the history of mankind; People—the descendants of Abraham,Isaac,and Jacob are God’s chosen people with a unique role in history; Place—land of Israel was promised to the Jewish people by God; Promise—God made a covenant with His people that He would be with them,guide them,and bless them if they would follow His ways; Prophecy— predictions about the future,including assurance that a Messiah would come,and prophetic warnings against injustice, idolatry,social evils,and departing from the ways of God.]

6.Why do the Jews have 24 books in their Bible and the Protestants have 39 books in the Old Testament? [The books are actually the same,but the Protestants divide Samuel,Kings, Chronicles,and Ezra-Nehemiah into two sections each and count each of the “minor”prophets as separate books.]

7.Many different materials were used to write on in ancient times.Read the following Scriptures and make a list of writing materials used:

Ezekiel 4:1

Exodus 24:12,18;Joshua 8:32

II John 12

II Timothy 4:13 [Clay,stone,paper (made from the papyrus plant),and vellum or parchment (made from animal skins).]

8.Review HANDOUT6 and discuss how archaeology illumines the historical faith of the Bible.What specific insights can archaeology give us about the Bible? [pervasive influence of pagan idolatry;importance of cities as strong commercial and cultural centers;strong bureaucratic organization of various imperial governments;accuracy of Bible in portraying cultural, social,and political conditions of the period;wealth and artistic skill available to ruling classes in Biblical period.]

9.The Old Testament is full of stories,such as the story of Joseph told in the video.What are some other famous Old Testament stories? How do these stories compare with the myths of other religions of the day? [The Old Testament stories are accounts of historical events and show God’s covenant relationship with His people.Myths are fables invented to instruct people about the gods.They are not rooted in time and place as are the historical narratives of the Old Testament.]

10.If the Old Testament books were written over many centuries and by many authors,what are the steps by which the books came to be collected together? [Oral transmission (Exodus 24:3-7);preservation of written law in the ark (Deuteronomy 31:26);reconsecration of people to the law at various stages in their history (II Kings 23:1-3;Nehemiah 8:1ff.);collection of books into categories of the law,the prophets,and the writings (Luke 24:44);the Jewish Council of Jamnia in 90 A.D.is thought to have reaffirmed the books in the final collection of Scripture.]

11.How can we be assured that what has come down to us in our Bible accurately contains what the original scrolls contained? [Jewish scribes who copied the scrolls worked under very strict regulations:no word was written from memory;each word was spoken aloud as written;before writing the sacred name of Yahweh,pen had to be wiped;scroll was discarded if errors were found;every word and letter was counted.Scribes recognized the seriousness and sacredness of their task.]

12.The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls is one of the most significant archaeological finds of modern times.How have the Dead Sea Scrolls affected our understanding of the Scriptures? [Show amazing accuracy of the Old Testament manuscripts we had.Only minor differences between these earlier manuscripts and the later Old Testament manuscripts from 1,000 A.D.]

13.Deuteronomy 6:4 is called the Shema by the Jews and is the great confession of Israel’s monotheistic faith,recited morning and

evening by faithful Jews.The following verses in Deuteronomy 6:5-9 describe what the Jews’relationship to God and His word was to be.From these verses the Jews developed the custom of fastening portions of Scriptures to the doorpost of their homes and wearing little boxes containing the Law attached to their forehead and arm. More than ceremonies,however,these verses describe a Jewish perspective of the Law.What attitude do these verses reflect towards the Law and God’s Word? [The Jews believed their entire lives were to be guided and directed by the Law of God.]

WRAPPING IT UP:

The Hebrew language and Scriptures are inseparable from the Jewish people,but their influence extends far beyond the Jewish people themselves.The English language includes the Hebrew words “amen,”“hallelujah,”and “jubilee,”and Hebrew names continue to be used for persons and places,such as David, Jonathan,John,Miriam,Mary.The Hebrew Scriptures continue to edify and encourage.Many testify to the wisdom still found in Proverbs or the solace received from the Psalms.Next session we’ll look at the Christian New Testament and notice its deep roots in the Hebrew Old Testament.

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND FOR THE TEACHER:

A unique characteristic of the Hebrew Scriptures is their record of the covenants or agreements which God makes with humankind.No other religion has God involving Himself with such binding contracts with His people.Such covenants define the promises and obligations on both sides.Examples are:

Genesis 9:8-11—with Noah and his descendants

Genesis 12:1-3—with Abraham and his descendants

Exodus & Deuteronomy—with Moses and Israel at Sinai

Jeremiah 31:33-34;32:38-40—a promised new covenant which will change the heart of the people to one of obedience.

Christians believe that Christ is the fulfillment of the new covenant promised in Jeremiah...hence the terms old and new covenants,or testaments.Hebrews 7-10.

The Dead Sea Scrolls are often recognized as the most important archaeological find of the century.Before the scrolls were found,the Masoretic text from the ninth century A.D.was the earliest complete manuscript of the Old Testament available— but that was 1300 years after Malachi wrote.The Dead Sea Scrolls bring our knowledge much closer to the time of writing.Among the scrolls found was one complete copy of a scroll of Isaiah,1000 years older than any Isaiah manuscript previously known.Yet,the text is almost exactly what we had possessed.95% of the text was word for word identical.The 5% difference were obvious slips of the pen or variations in spelling.It is amazing that in the millennia of hand copying the text so few variations would arise.

For the New Testament,comparing the many ancient Biblical manuscripts reveals variations in the Bible text.For example,in the Lord’s prayer in the New Testament,the oldest manuscripts omit the last part of Matt.6:13.The oldest manuscripts also omit John 7:53-58 (the woman taken in adultery) and the last twelve ver ses of Mark’s gospel.How can we explain such variations? Obviously some of the variations were caused by hastily handwritten copies.Some kinds of mistakes were errors of hand and eye—a scribe skips a line or words because they have similar endings or he copies an explanatory note as part of the text.Some mistakes are errors of the mind—the scribe’s mind wanders,and he writes down a familiar phrase not in the text.This is especially seen in the Gospels where he might write down a well-known phrase from another Gospel.Other variations are more deliberate—which probably is the case in John 7:53-8:11 and Mark 16:9-20.

However,it is important to emphasize that there are relatively few variants in the Bible manuscripts.For example,it has been estimated that manuscript errors are in the ratio of 1/1000.In other words,for every thousand words copied correctly,there is one word containing a copying error.Sir Frederick Kenyon, for merly director of the British Museum,comments on these:

It is true (and it cannot be too emphatically stated) that none of the fundamental truths of Christianity rests on passages of which the genuineness is doubtful;but it still remains a matter of concern to us to know that our Bible,as

we have it today,represents as closely as may be the actual words used by the writers of the sacred books...

If there are variations in Bible manuscripts,how can we know which is the true reading? This involves the science of textual criticism.Textual critics compare different manuscripts to determine which versions are the oldest (dating is based on style of script,style of material,pottery and archaeological remains,and radio carbon methods).They also carefully study ancient translations of the Bible,especially the Latin and Syriac versions, because these translations might have been made from older manuscripts than we possess.They also examine the quotations from Scriptures in the writings of the early church fathers.

Here,however,they must consider the possibility that the writer is quoting from memory and might not be accurately giving the text as he has it.Sir Frederic Kenyon expresses well the confidence we can place in our Bible text today because of such textual criticism:

T here are no common books,such as machinery turns out in hundreds every day in these later times.Each one of them was written by the personal labour and sanctified by the prayers of some Egyptian or Syrian Christian of the early days, some Greek or Latin monk of the Middle Ages,working in the writing-room of some great monastery of Eastern or Western Europe,some scribe in a professional scriptorium.Each has its own individuality,which must be sought out by modern scholars with patient toil and persevering study.And from comparison of all,from the weighing,and not counting merely of their testimony,slowly is being built up a purer and more accurate representation of the text of our sacred books than our fathers and our forefathers possessed,and we are brought nearer to the very words which Evangelist and Apostle wrote, more than eighteen hundred years ago.

OPTIONAL BIBLE STUDY:

See HANDOUT7,“A Faith Rooted in History.”You may want to begin by asking the group to mention quickly the first Old Testament stories they can remember.Why do they remember them? What meaning do they derive from them?

PROGRAM 3: THE NEW TESTAMENT

IN THIS PROGRAM WE WILL

• Briefly look at the Christian New Testament

• Show the New Testament’s relationship with the Old

• Describe how the New Testament is organized

• Depict the writing methods of the period

• Explain what is meant by canon and how the New Testament canon came about

FOR STARTERS:

Even the non-Christian recognizes that Jesus Christ is one of the most significant and influential people in all of human history. Our very system of numbering years with B.C.and A.D.(or B.C.E. and C.E.) makes Jesus the focal point of history.In today’s program,we’re going to look at the New Testament,the primary source for information about Jesus and the beginnings of Christianity.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AFTER VIEWING VIDEO:

1.In what ways are the Old and New Testaments connected? [The New Testament is rooted in and linked to the Old Testament.Jesus and the earliest Christians were Jews steeped in the Hebrew Bible.They saw Jesus as the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies of a Messiah.Almost every New Testament book refers to or quotes from the Old Testament.]

2.What are some differences between the Old and the New Testaments?

OLD TESTAMENTNEW TESTAMENT

Written in Hebrew or AramaicWritten in Greek

Written over a 1,000 year periodWritten within 50 to 100 years

About 593,000 wordsMuch shorter than O.T.— about 180,000 words Focuses on the people of IsraelFocuses on Jesus Christ A covenant of promiseA covenant of fulfillment Primary attention on JewishIncludes the Gentile world nationmore

3.What (or who) is the focus of the New Testament? [The person of Jesus Christ and the Church He established.]

4.What are the main sections of the New Testament? [Gospels—narrations about Jesus; Acts—history of the early church; Letters—to address early church needs,questions,and problems; Revelation—how God will consummate history and establish a new heaven and earth.]

5.Why were the Gospels written,and why were there four? How can they possibly include the actual words of Jesus when they were written down years after His words were spoken? [The Gospels were written to preserve reliable accounts of Jesus’life and words,especially for those who had never seen or known Jesus.In Luke 1:1 and John 20:30-31,two of the Gospel writers specifically explained why they were writing.The four Gospels reflect four different perspectives (see HANDOUT8),much like four cameras giving four perspectives of the same sporting event.In a pre-technological society,people’s memorization skills were more highly developed than ever,and the accuracy of such records would be much greater than if they were written today.Besides,Jesus’words were powerful and memorable (John 7:46).]

6.Many of the books of the New Testament were originally letters written to address specific problems in the earliest churches.From the descriptions in HANDOUT8,discuss how relevant such ancient documents might be in our modern society.

7.How can we be certain the New Testament documents we have are historically reliable copies of the original manuscripts? [The number of New Testament manuscripts and their antiquity is much greater than the manuscripts for any other ancient document.New Testament manuscripts have been found which were copied merely decades after the original text was written.There is very little variation in these manuscripts, and such variations are minor and do not touch on the major doctrines of the faith.]

8.How did the books which now comprise the New Testament come to be accepted as the canon,or rule and standard,for the Christian community? [Shortly after the various books were written,the churches recognized their Scriptural authority—Peter calls Paul’s writings part of Scripture in II Peter 3:14-16.When deviant teachers,such as the Gnostic Marcion about 140 A.D.,denied the authority of many of these writings,church leaders were forced to consider and confirm what Christian writings were true and authoritative.The Christians of the early centuries frequently quoted from New Testament books,along with the Old Testament,to refute error. In the fourth century,Bishop Athanasius of Alexandria,Egypt, wrote a letter to his people listing the books which a consensus of the churches had established as accepted and authoritative. Further and final reaffirmation came at the Council of Carthage in 397 A.D.]

9.What were the standards for including a book as part of the canon? [Some criteria which helped establish the authority of a book for the New Testament were:

1) Was the book written by an apostle or someone closely associated with an apostle?

2) Is the book orthodox,following the teachings of the apostles handed down in the churches?

3) Was it used in the earliest churches?

4) Was it endorsed by the early church fathers and a succession of believers?

F.F. Bruce:“The New Testament books did not become authoritative for the church because they were formally included in a canonical literature;on the contrary,the church included them in her canon because she already regarded them as divinely inspired.”]

10.We’ve seen that both the Old and New Testaments are deeply rooted in history—ancient history.How can books so rooted in the past have continued relevance for our modern world? [Because God moved among His people to accomplish His purposes and continues to work in the modern world as

well (Hebrews 13:8).We find we face the same problems and challenges believers have faced in the Biblical era and every era.]

WRAPPING IT UP:

Part of the Bible’s amazing story is its preservation over the centuries.There are more manuscripts surviving of the New Testament,for example,than manuscripts surviving from the works of ten major classical authors combined (including Caesar, Livy,Plato,Tacitus,Suetonius,and Aristophanes!).Before his death in 1778 Voltaire said that within 100 years Christianity would be swept from existence and pass into history,yet the circulation of the Bible continues to increase,the teachings and influence of the New Testament endure and expand.

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND FOR THE TEACHER:

Ancient books were on scrolls,rolled up sheets of connected papyrus or sheets of parchment or vellum that were made from animal skins.The Christians were the first to extensively use codices or books rather than scrolls.A codex was basically a book with sheets of paper or parchment folded and sewn together.By the third century A.D.,84% of all Christian manuscripts were in book form;only 6% of non-Christian manuscripts were codices. By the 4th century,97% of the Christian and 65% of the nonChristian manuscripts were codices.The Christians apparently found this form more convenient for easy reference and Bible study.

Archaeology continues to provide evidence touching on the New Testament.The following are some relevant New Testament finds: Pontius Pilate—in 1961 a stone was found during the excavations at the theater in Caesarea recording the erection of a building dedicated to Emperor Tiberius by Pontius Pilate.

Capernaum—the first century synagogue where Jesus taught has been uncovered as well as the ruins of an ancient church many believe was built over the site of Peter’s family home.

Sepphoris—though not mentioned in the Bible,this trade center has become a major archaeological site.Located near Nazareth,the town shows the amount of Greek culture which was present in Galilee.

Caiaphas—in 1990,the tomb of the Jewish high priest in the days of Jesus was found in Jerusalem.

Dead Sea Scrolls—aside from the importance of the Old Testament scrolls found,the non-Biblical scrolls have become important in providing background to the New Testament period.

One of the great archaeologists of the New Testament period was Sir William Ramsay.Trained in the German historical school, he was convinced that many of the New Testament books were written much later than traditionally believed.The book of Acts, for example,he thought was written in the middle of the second century A.D.—that is,until he researched the archaeology and geography of the places Acts describes.The more he studied Acts in its historical setting,the more he was impressed with the accuracy and precision of the book,and the more convinced he became that the book had to have been written in the first century to so accurately reflect the conditions of that period.

One of the most fascinating stories in the history of Bible manuscripts and the New Testament is the discovery made by Constantine Tischendorf.In 1844,the German scholar was touring the East in search of old manuscripts,that is,documents written by hand.In the library of the monastery of St.Catherine at Mt. Sinai he noticed a basket filled with pages of an old manuscript. Tischendorf was shocked! This was the oldest Greek writing this seasoned scholar had ever seen,and the pages were from the Greek Old Testament.Tischendorf asked the librarian about them. To his horror he learned the pages had been placed in the trash basket for kindling fires,and two basket loads of such papers had already been burned! Though the monks admitted there were more pages of the manuscript,Tischendorf’s enthusiasm made them wary,and they would not show him any more.They did allow Tischendorf to take 43 pages with him,however,and Tischendorf urged the monks to use something else for their fires!

In 1853 Tischendorf returned to the monastery,but the monks would not show him the remainder of the manuscript.Six years later,Tischendorf again returned to the Sinai monastery,this time

under the patronage of the Russian Tsar Alexander II.On this visit, a monk took Tischendorf to his room and pulled down a clothwrapped manuscript which had been stored with some cups and dishes on a shelf above the door.Tischendorf immediately recognized the pages as the remainder of the book whose pages he had rescued from the trash pile.He suggested the monastery present the manuscript to the tsar of Russia as protector of the Orthodox church,which they agreed to do.When the communists took over the Russian government,they had little use for such a Christian manuscript,so in 1933,the Soviet Union sold the manuscript to the British Museum for £100,000.

The manuscript became known as the Codex Sinaiticus (book from the Sinai),and it is one of the most important early manuscripts of the Bible.Dating from about the middle of the fourth century,Sinaiticus is one of the earliest complete manuscripts of the New Testament we have.Some have even speculated this might be one of the fifty Bibles the Emperor Constantine commissioned Eusebius to prepare after he had made Christianity a legal religion in the Roman Empire.

The manuscripts we have older than Sinaiticus contain only portions of the New Testament.Many of the earliest church manuscripts were destroyed during the times of persecution against the early Christians.In these early manuscripts,writing was continuous—there were no spaces between words and usually none between sentences.Punctuation marks were rarely used before the eighth century.There also were no chapter or ver se divisions.With every manuscript having to be copied by hand,it was easy for mistakes and variations to be made.As time went on,and manuscripts were recopied,these mistakes could be compounded.Understandably,then,the earlier manuscripts closer to the time of the original writing probably have fewer mistakes, and Tischendorf’s discovery of the fourth century Codex Sinaiticus was of enormous help for scholars to check the accuracy of our New Testament writings.

OPTIONAL BIBLE STUDY:

See HANDOUT9,“New Testament Quotes About Jesus From The Old Testament.”You probably will not have time to cover all of them,so go through either the Old Testament column or New Testament column and look up the references and select the ones you consider will be of most interest to you or your group. Discuss the particular subject that each pair treats.Consider how much the connection must have meant to the early church.

PROGRAM 4:

SURVIVAL, SPREAD, INFLUENCE

IN THIS PROGRAM WE WILL

• Note the Bible’s influence in the development of western civilization and culture

• Show how the Bible survived through repeated persecution

• Describe how Bible translation accompanied the spread of Christianity

• Give examples of how the Bible has transformed individual lives FOR

STARTERS:

In our earlier sessions together,we’ve seen that one of the things that makes the Bible unique among the world’s religious books is that it is thoroughly set within history and contains the story of God’s working in history.Yet,the Bible is not some antique book with no current relevance.It continues to reach beyond its original geographical and historical setting to bring its message to varying cultures and peoples around the globe.In this our last program,we will be seeing how the Bible survived the centuries and continues to affect the lives of individuals.

DISCUSSION QUESTION AFTER VIEWING VIDEO:

1.What obstacles to survival has the Bible faced over the centuries? [Political persecution,illiteracy,language and cultural barriers.]

2.Who preserved the Scriptures throughout the Middle Ages,and how did this affect the common people? [The monks and monasteries.The Biblical manuscripts preserved in the monasteries had little effect on the common people since few could read them.]

3.If the majority of the people could not read in the Middle Ages,how did they learn the Bible? [Oral teachings,sculpture, pilgrimages to the Holy Land,church music,church architecture,stained glass windows with Biblical themes,plays and dramas in the church,mystery plays.]

4.During the Middle Ages corruption infected the Church,and superstition often distorted the Gospel.Scriptures were mixed with tradition.What was the movement that most centered on

recovering the Bible for the daily lives of the people? [Protestant Reformation.]

5.What two important things did the fourteenth century English priest John Wycliffe do to place the Bible in the hands of the common people? [He and his followers translated the entire Bible into English the first time;He trained preachers to bring the Bible to the common people.]

6.The German monk Martin Luther found no relief for his guilt in religious ceremonies.How did Luther finally find peace for his soul? [In reading the Bible he learned that forgiveness was a gift of God received by faith in Jesus Christ.He believed his conscience should be bound by the Word of God,not the traditions or dictates of human rulers,not even the pope himself.]

7.What was the prayer and hope of Englishman William Tyndale,and how was it fulfilled? [William Tyndale wanted even the common plowboy to be able to read the Bible in his native language,so he dedicated his life to translating the Bible into English.Persecuted for this illegal activity,Tyndale was executed in 1536.With his dying breath he prayed God would open the King of England’s eyes.The next year King Henry VIII authorized the use of the Bible in English among the people. T hat English Bible was mostly Tyndale’s work.]

8.What invention revolutionized the spread of the Bible? [The printing press.]

What are some specific ways the printing press affected the Bible’s influence? [Increased the availability of personal copies of Scripture and correspondingly increased literacy;minimized copy variations in Scripture.]

9.The Bible is a book not just with intellectual answers but which transforms people’s lives,producing a “new creation”(II Corinthians 5:17).Study HANDOUT7 and determine what key truths from the Bible particularly affected and changed the lives of the people listed.

10.To what would you attribute the Bible’s “staying power” over so many centuries and cultures,against repeated opposition? Why do you think the Bible has had such power to transform the lives of individuals and cultures?

11.The Bible is foundational to western civilization and has influenced art,music,law,economics,science,educational theories,social reform,and institutions.Make a list of ways the Bible has influenced western culture. [The list is endless,but some possibilities are: Art—Biblical works by Michelangelo and Rembrandt; Music—Handel’s Messiah;Bach’s music,written for the Glory of God; Law—10 commandments is root of modern law,equality of all before the law based on equality of Christians in Christ; Economics—just wages,no usury, workman worthy of his wages; Science—the universe is created by God and is structured and orderly and we can learn the laws by which it is governed; Education—everyone should be literate to read the Bible,earliest colleges in America were established to train ministers and promote Christian knowledge.]

WRAPPING IT UP:

In our first session we looked at several quotes by famous people on the Bible’s influence and importance.[Alternatively, you might want to mention some of the famous individuals whose lives were particularly affected by specific Scriptures, found in “Background to Teacher”in Program 1.] If you were asked to write such a statement about your own experience with the Bible,what would you say?

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND FOR THE TEACHER:

The Bible has been translated into more languages than any other book—a testimony to its universal message.In fact,it is thought that the first book to be translated into another language was the Hebrew Old Testament,translated into Greek in Alexandria,Egypt in the second century B.C.As Christianity spread,there was the need to present the Gospel in the many different languages of the people.In the fourth century Jerome

translated the Scriptures into Latin,the common language of the Romans.His translation,called the Vulgate,was used throughout the Middle Ages.

In the third century,Armenia became the first officially Christian nation.Bishop Mesrop created an Armenian alphabet so the Bible could be translated into the language of his people.

As Christianity spread to the borders of the Roman empire, translations were made into the languages of the barbarian tribes. Often the translator would first have to develop an alphabet for people who did not have a written language,much as translators do today among remote tribes.Throughout history Christianity has repeatedly encouraged the development of literacy among people who previously had no written language.

The earliest items written in any Germanic language are the fragments we have of the Bible translated by Ulfilas in the fourth century.Ulfilas organized the Gothic church and was its spiritual head for forty years.At this time the Goths had no written language,so Ulfilas devised an alphabet so he could begin to translate the Bible for them.

Perhaps the most famous alphabet developed by Christian missionaries was the Cyrillic alphabet,developed by two brothers,Cyril and Methodius,who were missionaries to the Slavic people in the ninth century.The Slavs did not have an alphabet,so Cyril invented an alphabet especially for them.He mostly used Greek letters,but he also used some Armenian and Hebrew letters,as well as some letters he made up for particular Slavic sounds.The Cyrillic alphabet is still used in Russia,Bulgaria, Serbia,and among other Slavic peoples.

Mary Jones’passionate desire for a Bible and the establishment of the British and Foreign Bible Society was an outgrowth of the worldwide Evangelical Revival of the eighteenth century.It arose contemporaneously and as a servant of the many missionary societies.The London Missionary Society was established in 1795, the Church Missionary Society in 1799,and the Methodist Missionary Society in 1813.The Second Great Awakening in America similarly led to the establishment of numerous societies to aid in spreading the Gospel,including the American Bible

Society (1816),American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (1810),American Tract Society (1826),and the American Home Missionary Society (1826).

Interestingly enough,in 1804,the same year the British and Foreign Bible Society was established,Lord Stanhope perfected a stereotyping process which increased the economy,accuracy and quick availability of the printed material.Cambridge Press first gained access to this printing process and became a major printer of Bibles.

Mary Jones would be astounded if she could see how Bible Societies have proliferated and reached out to the world.The United Bible Societies report that in 1990 their distribution of Scripture (including everything from complete Bibles to portions for new readers,or selections) came to almost 640 million units. At least part of the Bible has been translated now in over 2000 languages.What is so impressive about this figure is that prior to 1800 there were only 66 language translations.In other words, 95% of the translations have been done in less than the last ten percent of the church’s time on earth.

OPTIONAL BIBLE STUDY:

See HANDOUT11,“The Bible Answers Eternal Questions” This handout picks up on a theme developed in the first program, namely the timeless themes and basic questions that the Bible deals with.Here is opportunity for reflection and practical application of the Bible for individual lives.Again,you will want to select the most pertinent question for your situation.

A LITTLE ABOUT US

These programs were prepared and are presented by Christian History Institute,based in Worcester,Pennsylvania.

We are a non-profit,independent Christian organization.We do not seek to advance any particular denominational agenda but attempt to serve the entire Body of Christ.

The series was written and produced by Dr.Ken Curtis who serves as President of Christian History Institute.Dr.Curtis is an ordained minister,founding editor-publisher of Christian History Magazine, and President of Gateway Films/Vision Video.

The video presenter for the series is Russell Boulter,a respected stage and screen actor based in London,England.He became a committed Christian while in drama school,and the Bible is an important part of his daily life.

This Leader’s Guide was prepared by Dr.Diana Lynn Severance. Diana writes often for Christian History Institute and is feature writer for Glimpses. She is a historian who lives in Houston, Texas.She teaches in the public schools and,with her husband Gordon,leads church history seminars around the United States.

Discovering the Bible

A Project of Christian History Institute Produced by Gateway Films In Association with: EO TV, Holland ERF TV, Germany International Films, England

Student Handouts and Worksheets

to accompany the video series

Discovering the Bible

NOTE:Permission is hereby granted to duplicate or copy these pages for use in connection with study or discussion groups using the Discovering the Bible video curriculum.

If you prefer to order additional quantities of this booklet,contact us at: Christian History Institute P.O.Box 540 Worcester,PA 19490-0540

Phone:(610) 584-3500 Fax:(610) 584-6643

HANDOUT 1: CHECK YOUR CULTURAL LITERACY

The Bible has become such a part of our culture that phrases or references from the Bible or its sto-

r ies can frequently be found in ordinary speech or writing.In the following sentences,match the underlined phrase with its appropriate Biblical substitute.

___ 1.Anyone entering the United Nations assembly is immediately struck by sounds from languages around the globe.

___ 2.Tom’s protest of the corporation’s actions was like waging war with a giant.

___ 3.That woman seems to manipulate men to her own purposes.

___ 4.The strength of the farmer matched that of the strongest man in the world.

___ 5.Though the king was young in years,his wisdom seemed equal to the wisest of kings.

___ 6.The father had suffered through famine,disease,and the deaths of those most dear,yet his patience matched the patience of the most long-suffering saint.

___ 7.In order to properly come to the solution of any problem, it’s usually best to analyze its origin.

___ 8.When the new company reports listed increased losses,Matt thought he saw the warning of a coming judgment,and he was certain he’d lose his job.

___ 9.Melissa refuses to accept anything until it is absolutely proven to her.

___10.The rules of Thaddeus’mom were absolute;there was no changing them.

___11.The soldiers’defection to the other side was an act of betrayal to his beleaguered countrymen.

A.is a doubting Thomas (John 20:24-29)

B.written in stone (Exodus 31:18)

C.Job (see book of that name)

D. handwriting on the wall (Daniel 5)

E.like the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11)

F. be a Delilah (Judges 16)

G. Genesis (first book in the Bible;Greek for “origin”)

H.Goliath (I Samuel 17)

I.Solomon (I Kings 3-4)

J. Samson (Judges 17)

K.a Judas kiss (Matthew 26:49)

BIBLICAL SOURCES OF FAMILIAR SAYINGS INCLUDING THOSE SITED IN VIDEO PROGRAM

“apple of my eye”- Zechariah 2:8 “a friend that sticketh closer than a brother”- Proverbs 18:24 “Don’t let the right hand know what the left hand is doing”- Matthew 6:3 “the guilty flee when no man pursueth”- Proverbs 28:1 “Thou art the man”- II Samuel 12:7

“Prodigal Son”- Luke 15:11-32

“turn the other cheek”- Matthew 5:39 “love your enemies”- Matthew 5:41

“Good Samaritan”- Luke 10:30-37

“Am I my brother’s keeper”- Genesis 4:9

“go the extra mile”- Matthew 5:41

“separate the sheep from the goats”- Matthew 25:32

“the blind leading the blind”- Matthew 15:14

“our daily bread”- Matthew 6:11

“For everything a time and season”- Ecclesiastes 3:1

#1:

Answers to matching questions: 1–E,2–H,3–F,4–J,5–I,6–C,7–G,8–D, 9–A,10–B,11–K

HANDOUT 2: WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID ABOUTTHE BIBLE

The Bible’s influence can be seen in part by the opinions great people of the past have held about the Book.Some of them are found in the quotes below.After reading these,discuss or list what specific importance these people attributed to the Bible.

It is impossible to mentally or socially enslave a bible-reading people.

Horace Greeley

I walk many times in the pleasant fields of the Holy Scriptures,...and lay them up at length in the seat of memory,by gathering them together,that so having tasted their sweetness I may the less perceive the bitterness of this miserable life.

Queen Elizabeth

Without the Bible the education of a child in the present state of society is impossible.

Leo Tolstoy

So great is my veneration for the Bible that the earlier my children begin to read it the more confident will be my hope that they will prove useful citizens of their country and respectable members of society.I have for many years made it a practice to read through the Bible once every year.

John Quincy Adams

I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man.All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through this book.

Abraham Lincoln

A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.

Theodore Roosevelt

T he Bible is a book in comparison which all others are of minor importance.In all my perplexities and distress the Bible never failed to give me light and strength.

Robert E. Lee

Within that awful volume (the Bible) lies the mystery of mysteries!...And better that they ne’er been born,who read to doubt or read to scorn.

Sir Walter Scott

T here is no solid basis for civilization but in the Word of God....If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible,our country will go on prospering;but if we and our posterity neglect its instructions and authority,no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity....If religious books are not widely circulated among the masses in this country,I do not know what is going to become of us as a nation.If truth be not diffused,error will be;if God and His Word are not known and received,the devil and his works will gain the ascendancy; if the evangelical volume does not reach every hamlet,the pages of a corrupt and licentious literature will;if the power of the Gospel is not felt throughout the length and breadth of the land,anarchy and misrule,degradation and misery,corruption and darkness,will reign without mitigation or end.

Daniel Webster

A man has deprived himself of the best there is in the world who has deprived himself of this,a knowledge of the Bible.When you have read the Bible,you will know that it is the Word of God, because you will have found it the key to your own happiness,and your own duty.

Woodrow Wilson

To the Bible men will return because they cannot do without it.The true God is and must be preeminently the God of the Bible,the eternal who makes for righteousness,from whom Jesus came forth,and whose spirit governs the course of humanity.

Matthew Arnold

T he Bible is the greatest benefit which the human race has ever experienced.

T he Bible grows more beautiful as we grow in our understanding of it.

Emmanuel Kant

Goethe

T he Lord does not shine upon us,except when we take his Word as our light....Unless God’s Word illumines the way,the whole life of men is wrapped in darkness and mist,so that they cannot but miserably stray.

John Calvin

A man’s word is a little sound,that flies into the air,and soon vanishes;but the Word of God is greater than heaven and earth,yea,greater than death and hell,for it forms part of the power of God,and endures everlastingly....The Bible is alive,it speaks to me;it has feet,it runs after me;it has hands,it lays hold on me.

Martin Luther

Many books in my library are now behind and beneath me.They were good in their way once, and so were the clothes I wore when I was ten years old;but I have outgrown them.Nobody ever outgrows the Scriptures;the book widens and deepens with our years.

Charles Spurgeon

If we would destroy the Christian religion,we must first of all destroy man’s belief in the Bible.

Voltaire

The inspiration of the Bible depends upon the ignorance of the gentleman who reads it.

Robert Ingersoll

One does well to put on gloves when reading the New Testament;the proximity of so much impurity almost compels to this...I have searched in it vainly for even a single congenial trait...everything in it is cowardice and self-deception.Whenever we read the obscene stories,(the voluptuous debaucheries,the cruel and torturous executions,) the unrelenting vindictiveness with which more than half the Bible is filled,it would be more consistent that we call it the work of a demon than the word of God.It is a history of wickedness that has served to corrupt and brutalize mankind.

Thomas Paine

HANDOUT 3: TIMELINE

Stonehenge built in Britain

▼

Detailed astronomical observation begins in Babylon1800 ▼

Hammurabi law code

c. 2000 1728

▼

King Tutankhamun 1361-1352

NOTE— We cannot be precise about many of the dates on the timeline. There is difference of opinion among scholars on many,especially from the time of the Exodus and earlier.For convenience we have simply used the dates given in The Bible Timeline by Thomas Robinson,published by Thomas Nelson Company,Nashville.

Homer writes Iliad and Odyssey 800

Olympic Games in Greece 776

Work begins on great temple of Artemis at Ephesus 772

Romulus founds Rome; Etruscan city c. 753

Assyrian Empire destroyed 609

Nebuchadnezzar defeats Egyptians, est. Babylonian Empire 605

Zoroaster (Zarathustra) teaches in Persia 600

Solon’s laws adopted in Greece 594

Persian Empire flourishes c. 498

Pericles rises to power in Athens 461

Death of Socrates 399

Plato opens his academy 385

Alexander the Great 356-323

▼

Alexander the Great conquers Palestine 332 ▼

Maccabean Revolt 167-142 ▼

Birth of Julius Caesar 102 ▼

Civil War in Rome, Sulla made dictator for life 88-81 ▼ Caesar, Pompey andCrassus form first Triumvirate 60 ▼ Library of Alexandria destroyed by fire 47 ▼ Roman Empire established with ascendency of Augustus c. 23 B.C. ▼

Reign of Roman Emperor Tiberius 14-37 A.D. ▼

Reign of Roman Emperor Caligula 37-40 ▼

Reign of Roman Emperor Claudius 41-54

2000 B.C. 1900 B.C. 1800 B.C. 1700 B.C. 1600 B.C. 1500 B.C. 1400 B.C. 1300 B.C. 1200 B.C. 1100 B.C. 1000 B.C. 900 B.C. 800 B.C. 700 B.C. 600 B.C. 500 B.C. 400 B.C. 300 B.C. 200 B.C. 100 B.C. B.C./A.D.

▼ 100 A.D.

Birth of Abraham 1995 ▼ Birth of Isaac 1895

Birth of Jacob 1835

Birth of Joseph 1744

Death of Joseph 1634

Birth of Moses 1355

Birth of Joshua 1321

Exodus and Wanderings 1275-1235

Moses ascends Mt. Nebo and views Promised Land 1235

Period of Judges 1205-1025 ▼ King Saul 1025-1004

King David 1004-965

King Solomon 965-926

Divided Kingdom 926-722

King Ahab 871-852

First attack on Israel by Assyria 853

Syria conquers all Israel east of Jordan River 830

Israel prospers under Jereboam II 755

Northern Kingdom conquered by Assyria 722-700

Jeremiah predicts the destruction of Jerusalem 608

Babylonia captures Southern Kingdom and Judah 586

Death of Jeremiah 575

Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon 539

Cyrus allows Jews to leave Babylon and rebuild Temple 538

Ezra read the law (Torah) publicly in Jerusalem. The people promise to obey it. 444

Antiochus IV bans Jewish Law and burns copies of the Torah. Turns Temple into shrine of Zeus. 167

Temple rededicated. Celebrated by Jews as Hannukah. 164

Birth of Herod 72

Hundreds of Jews sent as slaves to Rome 63

Herod conquers Palestine, Jerusalem falls to him 39-37

Octavian (later Augustus) names Herod King of the Jews 30 B.C.

Life of Jesus 6-30 A.D.

Conversion of Paul 35

HANDOUT 4:

WHAT DOESTHE BIBLE SAY ABOUT ITSELF?

One of the ways to get to know someone is to interview them and talk with them - ask them questions which cause them to reveal “what makes them tick.”The same is true of getting to know the Bible. Let’s interview the Bible and see what it has to say about itself:

1.Often the Bible is called the Word of God - why? (Exodus 32:16;II Peter 1:21;I Peter 1:10-12; II Timothy 3:16-17)

2.What adjectives can be used to describe the Bible? (Psalm 19:7-11;Hebrews 4:12)

3.How can the Bible affect people’s lives? (Psalm 119:11;II Timothy 3:16-17;I Peter 1:22-2:3)

4.If the Bible is God’s Word and is so important,why can’t everyone understand it? (I Corinthians 1:18-20, 25;2:13-15;3:19)

5.The Bible was written at least 2000 years ago or more - can it really be of any importance today? (Isaiah 40:8;Matthew 5:18;24:35;John 17:17)

HANDOUT 5: THE OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES

For how many of these Old Testament books can you give a short summary sentence describing the contents? (You may wish to later check your Bible and fill in key observation on each.)

LAW

Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers

Deuteronomy Joshua Judges Ruth 1 and 2 Samuel 1 and 2 Kings 1 and 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Solomon Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations

HISTORY WISDOM PROPHETS

Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi

MINOR (OR SHORTER) PROPHETS

HANDOUT 6: ARCHAEOLOGYANDTHE OLD TESTAMENT

Archaeology can neither prove nor disprove the Bible.Archaeology cannot prove,for example,that God spoke to Moses.But archaeology can help us understand the culture and background of the Bible, illuminating the historical roots of the Biblical faith.Some key archaeological finds which relate to the Old Testament are described below.

UR

Excavations of Ur of the Chaldees,Abraham’s birthplace (Genesis 11:26-28) reveal a prosperous,populace city in Babylon (modern Iran).At the center of the major trade routes,Ur was an important commercial center with written codes of laws and a rich culture.Objects found in the royal tombs are beautifully fashioned of gold and precious stones.At the center of the city was a massive,towering temple to the moon-god.

BAGHAZ KOY

At the turn of the century,mounds near this Turkish city were excavated,and the Hittite capital of Hattusha began to be unearthed.A large city with an organized civil service and huge library were uncovered.Apart from references to them in the Bible,the existence of the Hittites was unknown until the archaeological work begun by A.H.Sayce at the end of the nineteenth century.A thriving empire in the second century B.C.,Hittite civil organization and laws reveal the complex and advanced state of civilization at the time the Hebrew nation was beginning.

TUTANKHAMEN’S TOMB

The tomb of the young Pharaoh Tutankhamen,first entered by Howard Carter in November,1922, reveals something of the glory and riches of the Egyptian rulers.It was from such wealth that the Jews obtained gold and jewels which would be used to construct the tabernacle to the Lord in the wilderness (Exodus 12:35).

MEGIDDO

When Solomon established his kingdom,he fortified strategically located cities,among them Megiddo (I Kings 9:15).The site has been located and excavated thoroughly.Walls,gates,and extensive buildings within the city have been dated to Solomon’s time.The style of building as well as the city plan match those found at Solomon’s other fortified cities of Hazor and Gezer.

SAMARIA

Samaria,capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel,was captured by the Assyrians in 721 B.C. Archaeologists have found important artistic connections between Samaria and the Assyrian capital of Nineveh.Samaria’s elite enjoyed the luxury of ivory furniture (I Kings 22:10;Amos 3:15;6:4).Assyrian records indicate King Hezekiah of Judah gave some ivory furniture to the Assyrian king.Archaeologists in both Nineveh and Samaria have found large fragments of such intricately carved ivory.

HANDOUT 7: A FAITH ROOTEDIN HISTORY

The rabbis view the Torah as a love letter of God to His people Israel.The God of the Scriptures is intimately involved in the affairs of His people,and part of the people’s praise and worship of their God is reciting the history of God’s work.Let’s look at history in the Hebrew Scriptures:

1.Songs of praise are found throughout the Old Testament.Read the following and notice for what historical acts the people are praising God:Exodus 15;Judges 5;Psalms 18,33,78

2.What role did history have in the education of Jewish young people? Deuteronomy 6

3.How was Israel’s historical position in the land related to its faith in the Lord God? Deuteronomy 28 (What are some specific ways God is said to work in history in this passage?)

4.From the following Scriptures,what was God’s relationship to nations other than Israel? Proverbs 21:1;Isaiah 45:1;Daniel 4:34-35;Psalm 2

In what ways was this God of the Hebrew Scriptures more than just a Jewish God?

HANDOUT 8: BOOKSOFTHE NEW TESTAMENT

GOSPELS - Describe Jesus’teaching,ministry,death & resurrection.

Synoptic Gospels - share much material in common,each with a different emphasis

Matthew - Proclaims Jesus as Jewish King

Mark - Jesus as Servant and Son of God

Luke - God bringing salvation to sinners

John - Jesus as the eternal Word revealing the Father

HISTORY

Acts - History of development of the early church

LETTERS BY PAUL

Romans - Comprehensive statement of the Gospel

I Corinthians - Problems in the church:division,immorality,errors in doctrine and worship

II Corinthians - Gives comfort & encouragement in trouble;God is strong in our weakness

Galatians - Salvation is a free gift of God’s grace received by faith alone

Ephesians - Mystery and nature of the Church

Philippians - Joy and confidence in Christian life,regardless of circumstances

Colossians - Acceptance before God through Christ alone,not any human religion or philosophy

I Thessalonians - Christ is coming again in judgment on the unjust

II Thessalonians - Christians should work and lead godly lives until Christ comes

I Timothy - Advice on organization and doctrines of the church

II Timothy - Importance of sound doctrine in the church

Titus - Advice on organization and doctrine in the church

Philemon - Letter of advocacy for a runaway slave

GENERAL LETTERS

Hebrews - Jesus fulfilled the Mosaic law,priesthood,and sacrifices

James - Relationship of faith and works in Christian life

I Peter - Encourages Christians under persecution

II Peter - Truth of Christianity against false teachers

I John - God is light,truth,and love;Christians should develop these virtues

II John - Encouragement and warning to small group of Christians

III John - Letter of commendation of one Christian to another

Jude - Denounces false teachers

PROPHECY

Revelation - God rules history and will bring it to a triumphal climax in Christ Jesus

HANDOUT 9:

NEW TESTAMENT QUOTESABOUT JESUSFROMTHE OLD TESTAMENT

In the early centuries of the Church,Christians emphasized that Christianity was a continuation and fulfillment of the Jewish faith found in the Old Testament.Christianity was not a new religion,but had roots deep in the antiquity of the Jewish promises of a Messiah.Jesus himself repeatedly used Old Testament quotes to explain His ministry.After His resurrection,walking with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus,he explained to them about His death and resurrection,beginning with Moses and then going through the prophets (Luke 24:27).Below are several Scriptures He might have referred to.Read the Old Testament passage,and the New Testament reference,then explain to what historical fact both passages refer:

Old Testament New Testament Historical Fact

Genesis 22:18Matthew 1:1

Jeremiah 23:5Luke 3:23,31

Micah 5:2Matthew 2:1

Isaiah 7:14Matthew 1:23

Isaiah 40:3Matthew 3:1,2

Isaiah 35:5,6Matthew 9:35

Psalm 41:9Matthew 26:49,50

Zechariah 11:12Matthew 26:15

Isaiah 53:7Matthew 27:12-19

Isaiah 53:5Matthew 27:26

Isaiah 50:6Matthew 26:67

Psalm 22:7,8Matthew 27:31

Psalm 22:16Luke 23:33

Isaiah 53:12Luke 23:34

Psalm 38:11Luke 23:49

Psalm 22:17Luke 23:15

Psalm 22:18John 19:23,24

Psalm 22:1Matthew 27:46

Psalm 31:5Luke 23:46

Psalm 34:20John 19:33

Amos 8:9Matthew 27:45

Isaiah 53:9Matthew 27:57-60

Psalm 16:10Acts 2:31

Psalm 110:1Hebrews 1:3

HANDOUT 10: THE BIBLE CHANGES LIVES

Person Scripture Which Affected Them Key Idea

AUGUSTINE Romans 13:13-14 (354-430)

FRANCIS Matthew 10:7-19 (1181-1226)

MARTIN LUTHER Romans 1:17 (1483-1546)

JOHN WESLEY Romans 7:24-25 (1703-1791)(& Luther’s Preface to Romans)

MOTHER THERESAMatthew 25:34-45 (1910- )

HANDOUT 11: THE BIBLE ANSWERS ETERNAL QUESTIONS

In our first video we mentioned that the Bible deals with eternal answers to issues and questions which transcend cultural and geographical differences.In this Bible study,we’ll look at some of these questions we asked to discover the Bible’s answer.

1.What are we to think of ourselves? (Genesis 1:27-28;Psalm 8:3-9;139:14;Isaiah 59:2;Romans 3:23)

2.How are people to treat each other? (Romans 13:8;Matthew 7:12)

3.How are we to handle our guilt and fears? (Psalm 103:12;Isaiah 40:31;41:10)

4.How does God reach down to people? (John 3:16,36;10:3-4;Hebrews 7:25;Luke 19:10;Ephesians 1:17)

5.How can we find God? (Jeremiah 29:13;John 6:44-45;Deuteronomy 4:29;John 8:31;Matthew 7:7-8; Acts 4:12;I Timothy 2:5-6)

6.How are nations to relate to each other? (Proverbs 11:11;14:31;Psalm 2:10-12)

7.How is humankind to relate to nature? (Genesis 1:28-31;3:17-19;Romans 8:20-25)

8.What is the meaning of life and the reason for the universe? (I Corinthians 10:31;Luke 12:22-33; James 4:14;I John 5:12;Hebrews 1:10;Psalm 19:1;50:6;Romans 1:20)

Discovering the Bible

A Project of Christian History Institute Produced by Gateway Films In Association with: EO TV, Holland ERF TV, Germany International Films, England