What is the Bible? Part 2

In today's post (and possibly future posts) we're going to continue looking at the question "What is the Bible?". Last time we looked at what the Bible is and who wrote it. We will expound on the question of who wrote the Bible, and also look into several other subjects such as how to study the Bible and how to interpret the Bible. We will also see who the key figures of the Bible are and how they fit into our lives.

Who wrote the Bible? Part 2

 The Bible was Written by approximately 40 different hands over a period of about 1500 years. If we read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, we will find a unity throughout like no other. We can read several other well known authors who write a series of books and will find that even within this series, written by this same author, that there are contradictions from one book to another. This, however, is not true with the Bible. To have this type of unique unity throughout a book that was written by so many people over such a long period of time should tell us that there is only ONE AUTHOR and that the Bible is most definitely a divinely inspired book.

 But, you may say, there are contradictions in the Bible! Most assuredly, I can say, there is not one single contradiction in the Bible! If there seems to be a contradiction, then I can 100% guarantee that it is either an error in translation or an error in interpretation. This is why I strongly suggest that, when studying the Bible, you have a good concordance that can show you what the original Hebrew or Greek word is and what the meaning of that word is. We also need to keep in mind that simple things like punctuation was not in the original scrolls and that when translations were made punctuation was added. A simple misplaced comma can change the meaning of a verse totally. As an example, if I were to write this sentence, which I want to have the meaning of  I am telling you today, we will go to the market. The meaning comes across that I am telling you today that we will go to the market on a day that is not today, but if I write this same sentence this way, I am telling you, today we will go to the market, the whole meaning of the sentence changes. As you can see, just by moving the comma from one side of the word today to the other side,  it totally changed the context of the sentence. So, this is something we need to be aware of when studying the Bible. This is why it is also a good idea to have access to more than one translation of the scriptures. We will study more on this in another segment.

I think that this is where I will end todays post. I pray that you have gained some insight from it. Please feel free to leave a comment.

Shalom

Where do I start? What is the Bible? part 1

In making the decision of where to start in posting to this blog, I have had to decide which topic to begin with. If truth be told, I have several posts that I have sitting as drafts right now on different subjects.  As I stated in my last post, I have been having a hard time keeping on track in my studies because when I am searching out one subject,  I see something else that I want to know more about. This in turn leads me to jump from one subject to another and then back to another. As I am sitting here writing this post, I was sure of what topic I was going to start with,  but alas, I have had another one come to mind. I truly believe that it is the best topic to begin with.

Our first topic is going to be the Bible. What is it? Who wrote it?  Is it something that we need to know about? How do we apply what is in it to our lives?

What is the Bible?
Here is the definition of the bible:

bi·ble

\ˈbī-bəl\noun

the Bible : the book of sacred writings used in the Christian religion

: the book of sacred writings used in the Jewish religion

Bible : a copy or edition of the Bible

Full Definition

1

capitalized

b :the sacred scriptures of some other religion (as Judaism)

Who wrote the Bible? 

This question has and is one that has been asked many times over a very long period of time.  Some people say that Yahweh  (God) wrote it. Other people say man wrote it. But who is right?  Well in essence,  both are right. Yahweh did not sit down with pen and paper and physically write the Bible that part was done by man. BUT  it is the  writings of men that are from the very breath of Yahweh (see 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter  1:21) .  The Greek word for this is theopneustos. Here is the definition:

h1. G2315

Original: *θεόπνευστος*

Transliteration: *theopneustos*

Phonetic: *theh-op'-nyoo-stos*

*Thayer Definition*:

# inspired by God
## the contents of the scriptures

Origin: from [[d 2316]] and a presumed derivative of [[d 4154]]

TDNT entry: 13:33,9

Part(s) of speech: Adjective

*Strong's Definition*: From [[G2316]] and a presumed derivative of [[G4154]]; _divinely breathed_ in: - given by inspiration of God.

Here are several translations of 2 Timothy 3 : 16

*[[2 Timothy 3:16]]

*BBE* Every holy Writing which comes from God is of profit for teaching, for training, for guiding, for education in righteousness:

*EasyEnglish* Everything that the Bible says comes from God’s Spirit. And we can use the Bible to teach what is true. We can use it to tell people when they are doing wrong things. It shows them what is right. Also, with the Bible, we can teach people how to live good lives.

*ISV* All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

*KJV* All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

*KJV* All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

*NET* Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

*WEB* Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness,

*[[2 Peter 1:21]]

*BBE* For these words did not ever come through the impulse of men: but the prophets had them from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit.

*EasyEnglish* None of the prophets’ messages came from what a human person wanted to say. Instead, God’s Spirit caused people to speak words that came from God.

*ISV* because no prophecy ever originated through a human decision. Instead, men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

*KJV* For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

*KJV* For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

*NET* for no prophecy was ever borne of human impulse; rather, men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

*WEB* For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit.

In the next segment, we will look at such questions as Why was the Bible written?  Who was it written for?

Shalom 

In search of truth!

In my quest to find the truth that the Bible holds, over the last several weeks, I have looked into several different topics. I have, at times, become overwhelmed because I was learning so much that I didn't know, that I was starting to become confused. I was struggling to have an open heart and open mind and trying to discern what the Bible says from what I have learned from man. I am still struggling with trying to shed a lot of what I was taught in the church with the truths that are in the bible.  I am finding that I am thirsting for more truths and in doing so, I find that I am jumping back and forth between subjects. So, it is here that I am going to try and keep myself on track by studying one subject at a time and recording here what I find. I  pray that Yahweh will give me the knowledge that He desires me to have and that I may share these truths with you.

I suppose I should start out by saying that this blog is dedicated to my search for truth in the Word of Yahweh. It is a place where I can keep track of my research and maybe someone else will benefit from it too.

I have been "Saved" for more than 40 years, accepting "JESUS" into my heart as a preteen. I fell away from church as a teenager after my family moved to a new town. Fast forward 30 years, I  started going back to Church again after I met my husband. We attended several different Churches over a few year period, but never found one that we felt "fit". We even started a home Church but that ended after we moved to a new town. We were searching for more than what any of these  Churches were providing and became very disheartened.

After the move, I spent time reading and studying the Bible but was finding it somewhat difficult to stick with it. Well, about a month or so ago, I heard someone say something that really struck a chord in my spirit and now I am on a new quest to find  the truth in Yahweh's word. I hope that you will join me on this journey and I pray that Yahweh will show us the truth that He wants us to know.  

Shalom