The Bible: The Word Of God Series

Compiled by: Herman Abrahams (Pastor), Cornerstone Faith Ministries, P.O. Box 740, Westridge 7802, Rep. of South Africa.

E-Mail: Mentorship2003@yahoo.co.uk

Note to the reader:

If you have been blessed with this sermon compilation, I would be honoured to receive an e-mail from you merely telling me where in the world you are based- I do not need any other information. This is merely so that I can have the pleasure of giving thanks to Almighty God that all over the globe the ministry which he has entrusted to me, is blessing the body of Christ and helping to extend the Kingdom of God.

Thank you.

Herman Abrahams,

Cape Town, South Africa.

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CORNERSTONE FAITH MINISTRIES - FOUNDATION SERIES

LECTURE - THE BIBLE: THE WORD OF GOD

1. MEANING OF THE WORD “BIBLE”

The word “Bible” is derived from the Greek word “Biblios”, meaning a collection of books. The Bible is therefore not one book but a library of books.

2. SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE BIBLE

a. The Bible consists of two main sections, viz. The Old Testament and the New Testament.

Other words for “testament” are covenant, agreement or will.

b. There are a total of 66 books in the Bible - 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New

Testament.

c. There are 1179 Chapters in the Bible - 919 in the Old Testament and 260 in the New

Testament.

d. The longest chapter is Psalm 119, the shortest chapter is Psalm 117, which is also the

middle of the Bible.

e. The longest verse in the Bible is Esther 8 vs 9:

“At once the royal secretaries were summoned - on the twenty-third day of the third month, the month of Sivan. They wrote out all Mordecai’s orders to the Jews, and to the satraps, governers and nobles of the 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush. These orders were written in the script of each province and the language of each people and also to the Jews in their own script and language.”

f. The shortest verse is John 11 vs 35:

“Jesus wept.”

g. The Old Testament is approximately three-and-a-half times the size of the New Testament.

3. THE BIBLE AS THE WORD OF GOD

a. The Bible is the written Word of God. God is the author of the Bible, and Holy men of God were used to actually express His thoughts in writing. (2 Peter 1:21).

b. The “Word of God” means that God has spoken or expressed himself. Just as we exchange ideas by speaking words, God talks to us by using words, (or THE Word), (Jn 1:1; Heb 1:1-2).

c. The Bible is the Word of God because the writers were inspired of God to write His thoughts. (2 Tim 3:16; 1 Thess 2:13).

d. “By inspiration of God” means that God breathed His thoughts into the minds and hearts of men, so that these men expressed exactly the very thoughts of God (2 Pet 1:21 [as already quoted in ‘a’ above]; 1 Cor 2:13)

e. (See also Jn 20:31; 17:17; Rev 22: 18-19; 1 Peter 1:23-25;)

4. THE LAW AND THE GOSPEL

a. The two great doctrines of the Bible are the Law and the Gospel. (Jn 1:17). The law was the judgements, statutes, ordinances and the ten commandments given by God to Moses to instruct the people of Israel, to motivate them to obey God, and to make them conscious of sin. (Psalms 19: 7-8; Romans 2:18; Romans 3:20; Galations 3:24).

b. “Gospel” means Good News. The Gospel is that great doctrine in which God tells us the Good News of our salvation in Jesus Christ. (John 3:16; 1 John 4:9; Romans 1:16).

c. The law emphasizes what we are to do and not do, the Gospel emphasizes what God has done and still does for our salvation. The law primarily shows us our sin and the wrath of God; the Gospel, shows us our Saviour and the grace of God.

5. THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE

Both the Old and the New Testament have five major sections each:

Old Testament - 39 Books

The Law (5 Books) Genesis to Deuteronomy

History (12 Books) Joshua to Esther

Poetry (5 Books) Job to Song of Solomon

Major Prophets (5 Books) Isaiah to Daniel

Minor Prophets (12 Books) Hosea to Malachi

New Testament - 27 Books

The Gospels (4 Books) Matthew to John

History (1 Book) Acts of the Apostles

Paul’s Letters (13 Books) Romans to Philemon

General letters (8 Books) Hebrews to Jude

Prophecy (1 Books) Revelation

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SELF-STUDY EXERCISE - THE BIBLE: THE WORD OF GOD

Please turn to the index of your Bible and complete the following:

(a) The books of the Bible are divided into two distinct parts - these parts are called

................. .........................………… and ................ ...........................………............... .