Lesson 1 - The Bible

Foundations of Faith and Life in Jesus

Questions: Is the Bible trustworthy/reliable? How can we know? Is the Bible true? Who wrote the Bible? Is there evidence that God inspired the Bible?

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16,17 (p. 885)

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
Matthew 24:35 (p. 738)

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 1:20,21 (p. 903)

One amazing thing about the Bible is that it was written by about 40 people over a period of some 1,500 years, yet it all fits together!

Prophecy

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?
Psalm 22:1 (1000 B.C., p. 409)

But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads: He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.
Psalm 22:6-8

Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.
Psalm 22:1,6-8,16-18 (1000 B.C., p. 409)
Fulfillment

About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" - which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
Matthew 27:46, (p. 742)

In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! . . . He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God.' "
Matthew 27:41,42,43, (p. 742)

"Let's not tear it," they said to one another. "Let's decide by lot who will get it." This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, "They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing." So this is what they did.
John 19:24 (p. 807)

He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in.

Isaiah 40:22 (700 B.C. - before the world was known to be round, p. 540)

Prophecy

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
Isaiah 53:3-7 (700 B.C., p.552)

Fulfillment

He had Jesus flogged and handed him over to be crucified.
Mark 15:15b (p. 759)
He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Romans 4:25 (p. 839)
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
1 Peter 2:24 (p. 901)
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (p. 860)
But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.
Mark 15:5 (p. 758)

He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was deceit in his mouth.
Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Isaiah 53:9-12 (700 B.C., p.552)

Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body.
Mark 15:43 (p. 759)
He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.
1 Peter 2:22 (p. 900)
When we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son.
Romans 5:10 (p. 839)
They crucified two robbers with him, one on his right and one on his left.
Mark 15:27 (p. 759)
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter and then to the Twelve.
1 Corinthians 15:3-5 (p. 856)

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:10,11 (pp. 553, 554)

Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Joshua 1:8 (p. 157)

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
Psalm 119:11, 97, 105 (pp. 458, 460, 461)

Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
Acts 17:11 (p. 825)

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 (p. 885)

Note: (Page numbers in parentheses are for "The Holy Bible," New International Version, International Bible Society)

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