The Holiness of God - chapter 11: "Holy Space and Holy Time"

The Holiness of God by R. C. Sproul“Holy Space and Holy Time” – Chapter ElevenHere and NowOur culture is fixated on the here and the now, with little awareness of the holy or transcendent. Still, even in our fallenness, there is a longing for the transcendent.Sacred SpaceGod is transcendent, the high and exalted One.But He also bridges the gap between heaven and earth and reveals Himself, becoming immanent.God sanctifies space with His presence.OT ExamplesGod’s appearing to Moses in the burning bush.Call and promises to Abraham.Visions to Jacob at Bethel.Theophanies are also hierophanies, because they are manifestations of the holy.Absolute RealityContact with the holy is an encounter with Absolute Reality.The Christian faith is theocentric, meeting with a holy God, who forms the center of our existence.God defines our entire life and worldview.The SanctuaryThe sanctuary is a holy place, but it is made holy only by the presence of God.The “church” is the people, but the people must gather. Where the church gathers is sacred space as we worship God together in his presence.Transcendent & ImmanentGod is omnipresent, dwelling everywhere in his universe.But the Bible also speaks of sacred places where God is immanent with his people.The consecration of sacred space does not end with the OT.Sacred TimeGod’s holiness touches not only space but also time.Sacred time occurs within the never ending flow of ordinary time.Some moments are set apart by God’s holy presence and activity.Redemptive HistoryThe Christian faith is rooted in sacred moments and events that take place within normal history.Events like Creation, Fall, Flood, Exodus, Captivity, Incarnation, Crucifixion, Resurrection, Ascension, & Pentecost.Redemptive moments in history.SabbathThe Sabbath was set apart by God as sacred time.Commemoration of creationCelebration of redemptionCelebration of future promise of the consummation of redemption when we enter our Sabbath rest in heaven.Corporate WorshipWe gather as the church at appointed times for worship.These times become sacred times, because we gather in God’s holy presence.The worship service is a marking of special liturgical time.PassoverThe celebration of Passover was sacred time for the Israelites.Jesus changed the liturgy of Passover at the Lord’s Supper by infusing it with New Covenant meaning.The Lord’s Supper is sacred time for the church.The Lord’s SupperPast: instructing believers to remember and to show forth Christ’s death in the observance.Present: Christ meets with his people to nurture and strengthen them in sanctification.Future: certain hope of reunion with Christ in heaven.Sacred Space & TimeWhere Christians find the presence of the holy.When we fail to seek sacred space and sacred time, “we exchange the holy for the profane and rob both God of His glory and ourselves of His grace.

The Holiness of God - chapter 10: "Looking Beyond Shadows"

The Holiness of God by R. C. Sproul“Looking beyond Shadows” - Chapter TenSmall but SignificantIn comparison to the vastness of the expansive universe, human beings are a small part of God’s creation.Yet, human beings have been “crowned with glory and honor,” being made in His image.Unseen and yet SeenGod is a spirit and is invisible. His transcendent holiness and glory makes it impossible for human beings to see Him.Yet, God can be indirectly seen through the things that he has made in creation.God’s HandiworkCreation reveals the handiwork of God.Nature makes the invisible power and deity of God Himself known.Every person who has ever lived knows there is a God and is aware of His transcendent majesty and holiness. Hiding the TruthThough all people know there is a holy God, we do not naturally wish to acknowledge it; we seek to hide or suppress the truth. We distort the knowledge of the true God with idolatry, replacing the reality with a counterfeit. Moral DishonestyThe problem is not that we fail to know that God is and who God is; it is that we refuse to believe what we know to be true.Humanity’s problem is not an intellectual one; it is a moral one. The problem is dishonesty.Holiness and GloryNot only is God’s existence revealed through Creation, but so is His holiness and His glory.God’s holiness is on display for everyone to see.But in our sin we reject God’s holiness and refuse to honor God as God.Distorted RealityOnce we refuse to honor God as God, our whole view of life and the world becomes distorted.Unbelievers live in the shadows, walking through the theatre of God’s glory wearing blindfolds.Seeing GloryWith regeneration, the scales fall from our eyes so that we can truly perceive what we see.With the spectacles of faith we look beyond the surface of things to see the glory of God that is revealed everywhere around us.Good, True, & BeautifulGod is the highest good and the standard of all ethics and goodness.God is the ultimate truth and the author and standard of all truth.God is beautiful and is the most perfect being, without any flaw.

The Holiness of God - chapter 9: "God in the Hands of Angry Sinners"

The Holiness of God – By R. C. Sproul"God in the Hands of Angry Sinners" – Chapter NineOut of StyleThe concept of a holy God who judges in divine wrath is unthinkable to most in modern society.Our age is more in tune with the quest for happiness, self-improvement, and the power of positive thinking.Holy WrathHoliness demands righteousnessRighteousness demands justice.We violate his holiness; we insult his justice; we make light of his grace.How could a holy God be anything but angry with us?Edwards on God’s WrathGod’s wrath is divine.Perfect and infinite.God’s wrath is fierce.No moderation or mercy in hell.God’s wrath is everlasting.No end to the anger of God directed at those in hell.Ignorance Is BlissMost are content to ignore or rationalize away the Bible’s teaching on the wrath of God and divine punishment.We are too good to go there.God is too loving to send anyone there.God or god?What is our reaction to a holy God who exercises divine wrath?Most in our society are repelled by it; they would rather believe in a God of love who never shows wrath.But who gets to decide what God is like or what attributes he has?Hating GodIf we hate the wrath of God, it is because we hate God himself.The unconverted naturally hate God. We are God’s enemies.By nature, we oppose God’s government and refuse His rule over us. The love of God is not in us.For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! (Romans 5:10, NIV)The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. (Romans 8:7, NIV)Killing GodBecause of our desire to rule ourselves, God is our natural mortal enemy. When given the opportunity, people murdered God in the flesh, Jesus Christ, by crucifying him as a criminal.Vestiges of the Old MindBut what about us as believers? Don’t we love God because of his grace shown to us?Yes, but there remain vestiges of our fallen nature. We continue to struggle with delighting in God and loving him with all our heart.Who raises the dead?Many believe that sinners dead in trespasses and sins have the power to raise themselves by choosing to be born again.But only God has the power to raise dead sinners. New birth is a gift of the Spirit granted by grace.Amazing Grace“We may dislike giving our attention to God’s wrath and justice, but until we incline ourselves to these aspects of God’s nature, we will never appreciate what has been wrought for us by grace.”

The Holiness of God - chapter 8: "Be Holy Because I Am Holy"

The Holiness of God by R. C. Sproul“Be Holy, Because I Am Holy” – Chapter EightSaintsA “saint” is not just a super-Christian or someone who has done remarkable acts of Christian service.In the Bible, every Christian is called a “saint,” meaning “a holy one.”Holy, as God Is HolyWe are called to be “holy.”We are not transcendent, above all creation, as God is.But we are “consecrated” and “set apart” from the rest of the world.We are called to “purity.”Holy Sinners?How can we be called “holy” when we still sin?We have been “consecrated” by God. We are his special possession out of the world.We are called to a life of non-conformity with the world.TransformedWe live non-conformed with the world by being transformed in our thinking and behavior.Not just external conduct, but true inward transformation.We are living sacrifices – “thank offerings” to God for his grace.Called to PurityWe are not only “consecrated,” set apart from the world; we are also called to a life of purity.In standing, we are justified by the grace of God on the merits of Christ.But our standing must also become experience through sanctification.Fruit of the SpiritTrue justifying faith is a “living faith,” a faith that works.The Holy Spirit produces his fruit in our lives:Love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.Pursuit of RighteousnessWe are called to seek after God’s kingdom and his righteousness.Though it is the Spirit’s fruit, the pursuit of righteousness involves our full, diligent effort in learning, prayer, discipline, and active obedience.

The Holiness of God - chapter 7: "War and Peace with a Holy God"

The Holiness of God by R. C. Sproul“War & Peace with a Holy God” – Chapter SevenWrestling with GodGod is the transcendent, exalted one; and yet the Bible contains stories of people wrestling with God.Wrestling with God does not end in victory, because God always wins – but it does result in peace.Jacob’s StruggleJacob wrestled with the Angel of the Lord, a manifestation of God.God was the ultimate victor. Jacob surrendered his name to God, which He changed to Israel.Jacob survived with a limp, but he was transformed by God.…for the transforming power of God to change our lives we must wrestle with Him. We must know what it means to fight with God all night if we are also to know what it means to experience the sweetness of the soul’s surrender.Job’s ChallengeSuffering in agony and accused by his friends, Job demanded answers for his suffering, and he challenged God.Job’s challenge questioned the divine justice of God.“Will you condemn me to justify yourself?”Instead of responding to Job’s challenge with answers, God responded with his own interrogation.God’s questions brought Job to the end of himself in humility.“I repent in dust and ashes.”God answered Job’s questions not with words but with himself.As soon as Job saw who God is, Job was satisfied.Once God Himself was no longer shrouded in mystery, Job was able to live comfortably with a few unanswered questions.Habakkuk’s ComplaintHabakkuk questioned the justice of God because wickedness in Israel was not punished, and then again because God was planning to punish his own people with an even more wicked enemy—Babylon.When God spoke and revealed himself to Habakkuk, he was brought to fear and humility.But he walked away with peace, trust, and joy in his God no matter what the circumstances.He understood the sovereign majesty of his God.Saul’s ArrestSaul of Tarsus thought he was doing God’s work, but he was actually wrestling against God.Christ revealed himself to Saul, and the wrestling match was over. Christ had won and Saul was “arrested” for Christ’s service. But in defeat, he found peace.Our Struggle with GodWe struggle with a Holy God because he is righteous and we are unrighteous.This tension creates fear, hostility, and anger within us toward God.The unjust person does not desire the presence of the judge.Our Peace with GodWe find peace with God by being justified by grace through faith.Christ is our mediator and peacemaker. His life, death, and resurrection reconciled us to God through faith.Only the justified person can be comfortable in the presence of a holy God.With the cleansing from sin and the declaration of divine forgiveness we enter into an eternal peace treaty with God.When we sin, our peace with God is maintained by our mediator.Our sins are now dealt with by a Father not a military commander.Inner PeaceWe have peace with God, the cessation of hostility, because of Christ’s work on our behalf.We also have inner peace that satisfies the longings of our souls.We no longer have to fear condemnation; we have peace.Our Access to GodJustification grants us peace with God; it also grants us access to the very presence of God.Christ provided the means of access for us to God’s presence.We can feel welcome in the presence of God.Questions:Have you ever struggled with God or questioned God? Have you come away with peace, even if you didn’t have all the answers?What does it mean to you to have peace with God? Or, access to God?

The Holiness of God - chapter 6: "Holy Justice"

The Holiness of God by R. C. Sproul“Holy Justice” ­– Chapter SixStrange FireNadab and Abihu, Aaron’s sons, offered unauthorized incense on the altar, in rebellion to God’s instructions.In defense of his own holiness and justice, God struck down Nadab and Abihu for their sin.Uzzah and the ArkWhile the Ark of the Covenant was being transported and it was about to fall, Uzzah stretched out his hand to steady it.God killed Uzzah for touching the Holy Ark in with unholy hands.He was guilty and was punished.Holy Justice and MercyIt is impossible for God to be unjust, because his justice is holy.Punishing sin with death is an example of God’s holy justice.We can never comprehend God’s mercy until we understand his justice.Righteous JusticeGod’s justice is always in conformity with his righteous character and actions.God condemns the guilty and acquits the innocent. God’s justice is perfect justice.He may show mercy, but he is never unjust.Sin & the Death PenaltyThe OT laws for the death penalty are actually gracious compared to what we deserve.We all deserve death, because every sin is cosmic treason against a holy God.Every sin insults God’s holiness.Divine PatienceWhen we question the justice of God, we are asking the wrong question. The real question is why God patiently allows sinners to continue to live.God’s patience is designed to lead us to repentance.What about Canaan?What about the conquest of Canaan? Was God just in telling the Israelites to completely wipe them out?God’s justice is perfect. He was not ordering the murder of innocents, but the condemnation of the guilty.Deuteronomy 9:4After the LORD your God has driven them out before you, do not say to yourself, "The LORD has brought me here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness." No, it is on account of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is going to drive them out before you. Deuteronomy 9:5It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going in to take possession of their land; but on account of the wickedness of these nations, the LORD your God will drive them out before you, to accomplish what he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.Deuteronomy 9:6Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people. The OT vs. the NT?Is the God of the NT the same God of the OT?God’s justice hasn’t changed.The most violent display of God’s justice is in the NT, not the OT – the cross of Christ.God is able to show mercy to sinners because of the justice satisfied at the cross.

The Holiness of God - Chapter 5: "The Insanity of Luther"

The Holiness of God by R. C. Sproul“The Insanity of Luther” – Chapter FiveTroubled by the HolyDid Martin Luther have an oversensitive conscience or an overactive guilt complex?Or, was he perhaps more keenly aware of the holy justice of God?Do we have an accurate awareness of the holy justice of God?What do you think of Luther’s “Great Transgression,” that to fail to love God with all of our hearts is the ultimate Transgression, because it is the failure to do the Greatest Commandment?Without Christ and the grace of God, are we as sinful as Luther described?Does God grade on a curve?What about the good things that people do, even without grace?Was Luther’s overwhelming fear of the wrath of God good?From Fear to CourageLuther’s constant fear of the justice of God drove him to the Scriptures to find God’s grace.Luther’s discovery of the doctrine of justification by faith alone launched the Reformation and moved him from terrifying fear to confidence in God’s grace.Holiness and MercyLuther’s life and doctrine teaches us that the more we comprehend the holy justice of God, the greater the grace of God becomes to us.In Christ, God satisfied his holy justice and showed mercy to the guilty.

The Holiness of God - chapter 4: "The Trauma of Holiness"

The Holiness of God by R. C. Sproul“The Trauma of Holiness” – Chapter FourJesus, the Holy OneAs God incarnate, Jesus Christ is fully holy as God is holy. In becoming man, Jesus made the transcendent holiness of God become immanent.Sinful people were then in the presence of the holy.Fear and HatredBeing in the presence of the truly holy can bring two responses due to our sin:Awareness of our sin in the presence of the holy causes fear.Our hypocritical holiness in the presence of the truly holy causes hatred.“Go away…”Disciples’ response to Jesus’ calming the storm (Mk. 4:41): “What kind of man is this?”Peter’s response to the miraculous catch of fish: “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man.” (Lk. 5:8)People’s response to Jesus’ casting demons out of a man and sending them into a herd of pigs: “all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear.” (Lk. 8:37)Hypocrites’ HatredHatred is the natural response when hypocritical righteousness is exposed by the truly holy.The Pharisees and Sadducees hated Jesus, because he exposed their hypocrisy.Darkness Hates LightLight has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. (John 3:19-20, NIV).Christ has called us to be light in the midst of this dark world (Matt 5:14–16).As we seek to live holy lives in obedience to Christ, the world will likely hate us as it hated the holy Christ.If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. (John 15:18-19, NIV)QuestionsIs your view of God’s holiness like Peter’s? Do you want to run from it?What is our natural response when our sin is exposed?What is our response when our sin or hypocrisy is rebuked?What is our response to the holiness of Christ as revealed in Scripture? Fear or Hatred?What should our response be to the hatred of the world as we seek to live holy lives as representatives of Christ?

The Holiness of God - chapter 3: "The Fearful Mystery"

The Holiness of God by R. C. Sproul"The Fearful Mystery" Chapter ThreeWhat is Holy?Difficult concept to defineMore than just ethical or moral puritySet apart from that which is commonConsecrated as special or dedicated for special useTranscendent, exaltedHoly=‘wholly other’Holy God – the One who has no superior or equalHoly ThingsGod is absolutely and independently holy.Other people or things derive their holiness from God’s consecrating them or it for his service.Things made holy by God are not for common use.The Defining AttributeHoliness equivalent to the deity or essence of GodHoliness not just another attribute on the list of God’s qualitiesHoliness governs God’s other attributes, e.g. “holy love”IdolatryWorshiping that which is created instead of worshiping the Creator is the essence of idolatry.When we consecrate what God has never consecrated, it is desecration and an act of idolatry.The Fearful MysteryHoliness as mysterious and indescribableHoliness as terrifyingHoliness as attractingHoliness as realization of our own creatureliness QuestionsWhat does it mean to fear God?How can we fear God and yet be drawn to worship and love Him?How should God’s holiness change the way that we worship?How should it change the way we live?

The Holiness of God - chapter 2: "Holy, Holy, Holy"

The Holiness of God by R. C. SproulHoly, Holy, Holy: Chapter Two          1In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.  2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.  3 And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."  4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.  5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."            6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar.  7 With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."  8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" (Isaiah 6:1-8, NIV)The Lone ProphetThe OT prophet was a God-called emissary, sent to represent God to the people and call them to personal and corporate holiness.For most of Israel’s history, the prophet was despised, rejected, persecuted, and often killed.Isaiah the ManIsaiah, unlike most prophets, was of the nobility. He had access to the royal courts.Isaiah’s ministry spanned the reigns of four kings: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.Isaiah’s CallIsaiah was called to be a prophet in the year of King Uzziah’s death.Uzziah had been a good king, but his success and wealth led him to pride and presumption in his later years.Isaiah went to the temple to grieve the death of the king, but instead encountered the King of Kings.A Vision of the LordIsaiah was granted a vision, in which he saw the glory of the Lord in the temple.The Lord is envisioned as a great, exalted King-Priest, with the edges of his priestly robe filling the whole temple.SeraphimThe Seraphim, a type of angelic being, were attending the high exalted Lord.Their mission is to worship and serve the King and Creator of the universe.They cover their faces and feet in honor of their holy Creator.Holy, Holy, HolyThe Seraphim cry in unison: “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”The three-fold repetition is for superlative emphasis.The only time that an attribute of God is given this emphasis.Trembling before a Holy GodThe inanimate materials of the temple respond in awe and fear before the presence of their Maker.God’s presence in theophany often results in similar accompanying signs and wonders in Scripture.“Woe to Me!”A “woe” is a pronouncement of doom, a curse on the enemies of God.Here, Isaiah the prophet pronounces a curse of judgment on himself.God’s holiness revealed to him the full measure of his sinfulness.Cleansed with FireGod is holy and gracious.In grace, he cleanses his soon-to-be prophet with a “burnt offering,” an atonement for his sin.God cleanses his lips, which represents Isaiah’s whole self, and thus purifies him.“Here am I. Send me!”God brings Isaiah to ruins by the awesome presence of his holiness.His grace atones for Isaiah’s sins and cleanses him.God makes him fit for service and mission and calls him as his prophet to his people.Questions:What do Uzziah’s final years in leprosy teach us about the holiness of God?What do the actions of the Seraphim reveal about God’s holiness?How is God’s holiness revealed to us?How does God’s holiness cause us to better see our own sinfulness?

The Holiness of God - chapter 1: "The Holy Grail"

The Holiness of God by R. C. SproulThe Holy Grail: Chapter OneEncountering the Holy⦁    Perceiving the presence of the Holy God in us and around us should move us to awe, reverence, and fear; but also peace and love.⦁    Encountering the Holy God changes us forever; it is impossible to encounter the holy and not be transformed.⦁    Examples from Scripture: Call of Samuel in 1 Samuel 3; call of Isaiah in Isaiah 6.Questions:⦁    When you think of God as holy, what comes to your mind?⦁    How important is the attribute of holiness to God’s nature?⦁    Have you ever experienced a time when you were overcome by the holiness of God?“In the Beginning”⦁    God is eternally existent and possesses fully independent life.⦁    Everything else that exists in this universe is here because of the divine fiat of God.⦁    All things are ultimately dependent on God for their being.Questions:⦁    Why is the Bible’s teaching on the creation of the world important for understanding God’s holiness?⦁    Are you attracted to the holiness of God?⦁    Is God’s holiness a fearful thing?“Hallowed Be Your Name”⦁    God IS Holy. Nothing can ever change or take away from this fundamental aspect of his being.⦁    We are called to pray for God’s name to be honored as holy.⦁    We are called to live holy lives that reflect the character of God.Questions:⦁    How can we shape our prayers and requests to honor God’s name as holy?⦁    What does it mean for you to be holy in the coming week?

Read the Bible for Life by George Guthrie - Chapter 16 - Cameron Jungels 5-2-2013

Read the Bible for Life by George Guthrie
“Reading the Bible with the Church” Chapter 16
(Eastside Baptist/Sun PM/June 2, 2013)

Biblical Illiteracy

Only 9% of “born-again” Christians have a worldview shaped by Bible.
Only 16% of church goers read Bible daily.
Only 37% say Bible has made any significant impact in life.

God-centered Reading

Bible is not a self-help manual or encyclopedia that answers all my questions about my issues in this world.
Bible is about God. It is the story of what God is doing from creation to new creation.

Information Overload

Biblical illiteracy is directly related to our being distracted by worldly amusements.
By grace, we need to see that worldly amusements never truly satisfy; true joy comes from God through his Word.

Not tidbits, the Big Story

Our culture is losing the ability to track with longer stories.
Biblical literacy improves when we better understand the big picture story of the Bible and our place in it.

Biblical Worldview

Our way of thinking and our view of life needs to be deeply shaped by the Scriptures.
We need to see that the Scriptures relate to every area of our lives, not just church on Sunday.

Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Theology and the Church

Church needs to hunger for theology because it leads to a knowledge of the greatness and goodness of God.
ü Systematic Theology
ü Biblical Theology

The Bible in Worship

Scripture infused songs/prayer
Public reading of Scripture
Expository Preaching
ü Focus on the text’s meaning
ü Hearing the Bible in context
ü Following the Bible’s storyline
ü The Whole Counsel of God

Concluding Thoughts

We want to know and love the Word so that we can know and love God.
We want our knowledge of the Word to lead to change of thoughts/affections and change of actions.

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

From God to Us - A Guide to How We Got Our Bible Lesson 4- Cameron Jungles - 5-22-2013

From God to Us: A Guide to How We Got Our Bible (Lesson 4)
(Eastside/Wed PM/May 22, 2013)

Where are we going?
Ø Composition
Ø Canonization
Ø Transmission
Ø Translation

Transmission
Ø Preservation
Ø Languages and writing materials/practices
Ø Transmission of OT
Ø Transmission of NT

Preservation
Ø Assuming inspired, inerrant, authoritative original
Ø What about the copies and copies of copies of that original?
Ø Are they perfectly preserved?

Preservation – 4 Options
Ø Perfect preservation in all manuscripts and print editions
Ø Perfect preservation in some (group) of copies/editions
Ø Perfect preservation in one manuscript
Ø Providential preservation in totality of manuscripts

Languages and Writing
Ø Languages
o Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek
o Not heavenly languages
o Not the language of Garden of Eden
o Normal, commonly spoken languages of the day
Ø Development of Writing
o Pictograms
o Word-syllabic writing
o Syllabic writing
o Alphabetic writing
ü Early Phoenician alphabet
ü 1600 BC – available to Moses
Ø Writing materials
o Stone
o Clay
o Wood
o Papyrus
o Leather
o Parchment
Ø Book forms
o Scroll
o Codex

Transmission of OT
Ø Manuscripts and Versions
Ø Transmission History
Ø Implications

Manuscripts and Versions
Ø Hebrew Texts
o Silver amulets, 7th cent. BC
o Dead Sea Scrolls, 250 BC-AD 50
o Masada, before AD 73
o Naḥal Ḥever, AD 130
o Genizah Fragments
o Early Ben Asher Manuscripts
o Medieval Manuscripts
Ø Ancient Versions
o Septuagint (LXX), 250-100 BC
o Aramaic Targums
o Latin Translations
ü Old Latin – from LXX
ü Vulgate, AD 405
o Syriac Peshitta, AD 150-200

Transmission History
Ø Beginning to 300 BC
o Written in paleo-Hebrew (Phoenician) script
o Scrolls until 1st – 2nd cent. AD
o Copying of consonants only
o Unsure if written with spaces between words or not
Ø 300 BC to AD 135
o Change from paleo-Hebrew script to Aramaic/square script
o Various textual streams/families evident at Qumran
o Evidence that Consonantal text was standardized by AD 135 (mss. of Wadi Murabba⁽at)
Ø AD 135 to 1000
o Meticulous preservation of standardized consonantal text
o Masoretes (guardians of the tradition)
o Development of vowel pointing systems to preserve pronunciation
Ø AD 1000 to 1450
o Careful transmission of ben Asher family of manuscripts
o The vast majority of our hand-written Hebrew manuscripts come from this medieval period.
o Over 3,000 of these manuscripts
Ø AD 1450 to present
o Transition from hand-copied manuscripts to printed copies
o Carrying on tradition of ben Asher family of manuscripts
o Leningrad codex (around AD 1000) is base of most printed editions

Implications
Ø All printed Hebrew editions are based on ben Asher text family (Leningrad codex)
Ø No essential differences in Hebrew textual base used by all translations
Ø All translators make decisions based on all the textual evidence

Transmission of NT
Ø Contrasts between OT and NT transmission
Ø Manuscripts and Versions
Ø Transmission History
Ø Textual Variations
Ø Implications

Contrasts between OT/NT
Ø Timespan of composition
Ø Geographical distribution
Ø Skill of Scribes
Ø Quality of materials
Ø Degree of variation

Manuscripts and Versions
Ø Greek
o Papyri
o Uncials
o Miniscules
o Lectionaries
o Church Fathers
Ø Ancient Versions
o Eastern
ü Syriac (4th cent.)
ü Coptic (3rd to 4th cent.)
ü Armenian, Georgian, Ethiopic
o Western
ü Latin (Old Latin/Vulgate)
ü Gothic

History of Transmission
Ø Before AD 325
o Several papyrus pages and fragments from first 200 years
o Evidence of geographical families of texts
o Greatest variations are in these earliest manuscripts
Ø 325 to 1516
o Recognition of Christianity in Roman empire
o Standardization of text in Eastern (Byzantine) churches
o Western churches transmitted NT in Latin
Ø 1516 to Present
o Early printed editions based on few, late Byzantine copies
o Discovery of older, more diverse manuscripts resulted new printed editions in 1800’s.
o Textual variation demands textual decisions

Textual Variations
Ø No 2 Greek manuscripts are exactly identical
Ø Unintentional variation
Ø Intentional variation
Ø Each variation must be measured against external and internal evidence

Colossians 1:14, KJV
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Colossians 1:14, NIV
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:20, NIV
and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

“Through His Blood”
Ø Not found in most Greek manuscripts or Latin Vulgate manuscripts of Col. 1:14
Ø Only a few, late Byzantine manuscripts have the phrase
Ø Solution?
Ø Harmonization with Eph. 1:7

Ephesians 1:7, NIV
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace

Conclusions
Ø Is biblical text in doubt?
Ø Abundance of evidence
Ø Most variations are insignificant
Ø 99% agreement among mss.
Ø No doctrine is lost or changed by any of the variations

From God to Us - A Guide to How We Got Our Bible - Cameron Jungles - 5-8-2013

From God to Us: A Guide to How We Got Our Bible (Eastside/Wed PM/May 15, 2013)
Where are we going?
Ø Composition
Ø Canonization
Ø Transmission
Ø Translation

Canonization
Ø What does Canonization mean?
Ø Old Testament canon
Ø New Testament canon

Canon Defined
Ø Greek kanōn = rod, staff, or measuring rod
Ø Hebrew qāneh = a measuring rod six cubits long
Ø So, “canon” came to refer to any standard, rule, or norm.

Scripture & Canon
Ø “Canon” adopted by earlier church to refer to the Gospel or official church doctrine.
Ø Around A.D. 350 used to describe the written Scriptures.
Ø Canon=standard list of inspired writings=Word of God

Theological Definition
Canonicity is the historical process by which the Spirit of God led the church to recognize those writings that were genuinely inspired.

Important Clarifications
Ø Canonicity is a historical process.
Ø Canonicity recognizes authority; it does not grant it.
Ø Inspiration determines canonicity, not vice versa.

Why is “Canon” important?
Ø Not everyone agrees on the list of inspired, authoritative books.
Ø Modern challenges to our faith based on recently discovered spurious writings in the early church.

Old Testament Canon
Ø The OT testifies to its own authority.
o Law
ü Testifies to its own authority
o Prophets & Writings
ü Testifies to Law’s authority
ü Testifies to authority of other Prophets and Writings

Ø External testimony to OT canon
o Evidence in favor of a 39 book OT canon
o Evidence against inclusion of “apocryphal” or “inter-testamental” writings

Ø Concluding implications:
o Strong historical evidence that Hebrew Scriptures were done by Ezra’s time around 400 B.C.
o Strong historical evidence that the OT canon included only 39 books (=24 in Hebrew order).

New Testament Canon
Ø Differences in process between development of OT canon and NT canon
o Length of time of production
o Location of origin and geographical distribution
Ø The NT testifies to its own authority.
o Pre-authentication by Jesus

John 13:7
Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."

John 16:12
"I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.
John 16:13
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

John 14:26
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

John 15:20
…If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.

o “Canonical self-consciousness”

1 Corinthians 14:37
If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command.

1 Corinthians 2:13
This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.

Revelation 22:18
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll.
Revelation 22:19
And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

Deuteronomy 4:2
Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you.

o NT authors recognizing authority of other NT writings

2 Peter 3:15
Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.
2 Peter 3:16
He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

1 Timothy 5:18
For Scripture says, "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages."

Ø External testimony to NT canon
o Principles
ü Apostolic authorship
ü Universal acceptance
ü Orthodox teaching
ü Traditional Usage
o History
ü Paul’s epistles and Gospels recognized almost instantly
ü 22 books received early and near universal acceptance
ü Only 27 NT books recognized

From God to Us: A Guide to How We Got Our Bible - Cameron Jungles - 5-8-2013

(Eastside Baptist/Wed PM/May 8, 2013)

From God to Us: A Guide to How We Got Our Bible

Where are we going?
Ø Composition
Ø Canonization
Ø Transmission
Ø Translation

Psalm 19:7
The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
Psalm 19:8
The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
Psalm 19:9
The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous.

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

Key Question:
Ø How do we know the Bible is God’s Word?
Ø The Bible shows itself to be God’s Word by the heavenliness of its doctrine, the unity of its parts, and its power to convert sinners and to edify saints.
Ø But only the Spirit of God can make us willing to agree and submit to the Bible as the Word of God.

1 Corinthians 2:13
This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.
1 Corinthians 2:14
The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.

Key Question:
Ø How did God reveal or communicate his message to the human authors?
Ø Through the superintendence of the Holy Spirit.

John 16:13
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

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

Composition
Ø Revelation
Ø Inspiration/Inscripturation
Ø Inerrancy
Ø Authority

Revelation
God’s Truth
Human Beings
General Revelation
Ø General Audience
o Creation
o Providence/Acts of God
o Conscience
Ø General Content
o Sufficient for general knowledge
o Insufficient for salvation

Romans 1:18
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,
Romans 1:19
since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
Romans 1:20
For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

Romans 10:13
for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Romans 10:14
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
Romans 10:15
And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
Romans 10:16
But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?"
Romans 10:17
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

Special Revelation
Ø Specific Audience & Content
o Various means:
ü Lots, Urim & Thummim, miracles, direct speech, visions, dreams, angels, Theophanies, prophets
o Incarnation of Christ
o Scripture

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

Composition
Ø Revelation
Ø Inspiration/Inscripturation
Ø Inerrancy
Ø Authority

Inspiration
Ø Definition
o 2 Timothy 3:16 – “given by inspiration of God”
o Comes from Latin inspirō, meaning “breathe in/into”
o Greek word = God’s breath or God’s Spirit (“God-breathed”)

Matthew 4:4
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' "

Inspiration
Ø Warfield: “a supernatural influence exerted on the sacred writers by the Spirit of God, by virtue of which their writings are given divine trustworthiness.”

Inspiration
Ø God’s superintendence of the writers of Scripture by the Holy Spirit so that what they wrote is the very Word of God.
o 2 Peter 1:20-21
o 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Inspiration
Ø God is the ultimate cause of the Scriptures.
Ø God used human agents in the recording of the Scriptures.
o Not mechanical dictation
o Divine-human confluence
o Author of the words and writers

Jeremiah 1:5
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

Galatians 1:15-16
But when God, who set me apart from my mother's womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles…

Inspiration
Ø Verbal and Plenary
Ø Applies directly to the original manuscripts
Ø Applies indirectly to copies and translations as they faithfully represent original writings.

Composition
Ø Revelation
Ø Inspiration/Inscripturation
Ø Inerrancy
Ø Authority

Inerrancy
Ø Scriptures are completely true in all that they affirm.
Ø Exempt from liability to mistake, incapable of error.
Ø Rooted in the character of God, who does not lie.

John 17:17
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

Composition
Ø Revelation
Ø Inspiration/Inscripturation
Ø Inerrancy
Ø Authority

Authority
Ø God’s Word is fully authoritative.
Ø If Bible is God’s Word, then it bears his full authority.
Ø “Thus saith the LORD…”
Ø Jesus appealed to Scriptures
Ø Authority of Prophets/Apostles
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cameron Jungels
Eastside Baptist Church
May 8, 2013 Wed PM
Unless otherwise noted, the verses are in NIV.

From God to Us: A Guide to How We Got Our Bible - Cameron Jungles- 5-1-2013

From God to Us: A Guide to How We Got Our Bible
(Lesson 1: Introduction)
From God to Us
Ø What are we studying?
Ø Where are we going?
Ø Why do we need this study?
Ø How should we study it?

What are we studying?
Ø Purpose: to understand how God gave us the Scriptures
Ø Where did it come from?
Ø How did we get it?
Ø Our Bible is the result of a long history of complex events and processes.

What is the Bible?
Ø “Bible” comes from the Greek word biblia = “books”
Ø The Bible is a collection of sacred books that serve as the authoritative writings for the Christian church.
Ø 66 different books or writings
Ø 2 Testaments or “Covenants”
Ø Old Testament = 39 books
Ø New Testament = 27 books

The Old Testament
Ø Law: Genesis - Deuteronomy
Ø History: Joshua - Esther
Ø Poetry: Job – Song of Songs
Ø Prophets
o Major: Isaiah - Daniel
o Minor: Hosea - Malachi

The Hebrew Bible
Ø Called the Tanak
o Torah (Law)
o Nebiim (Prophets)
o Kethubim (Writings)

Luke 24:44
He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."

Ø Torah: Genesis - Deuteronomy
Ø Nebiim: Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, The Twelve
Ø Kethubim: rest of the books; beginning with Psalms, ending with Chronicles

Luke 11:51
from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all.

Ø This three-fold division of the Hebrew Scriptures (Law, Prophets, Writings) was set by the time of Jesus.
Ø The number and arrangement of the books of the Hebrew Bible was set by Jesus’ time.

The New Testament
Ø Gospels: Matthew - John
Ø History: Acts
Ø Epistles: Romans - Jude
Ø Prophecy: Revelation

The Bible
Ø These 66 books were not all written at the same time.
Ø The Bible, as a collection of all 66 books, did not exist until around 2nd century A.D.
Ø Prior to this time, these books were transmitted individually or as part of smaller collections.
Ø “Book of books” that we call the Bible came into being over a period of 1500 years, using 40 different authors.
Ø Diverse book with long history:
o Diverse Writers
ü Kings (David & Solomon)
ü Statesmen (Daniel)
ü Herdsmen (Amos)
ü Fishermen (Peter & John)
ü Priests (Jeremiah & Ezekiel)
ü Prophets (Isaiah & Micah)
ü Tax collector (Matthew)
ü Rabbi (Paul)
ü Physician (Luke)

Diverse Locations
ü Palestine (most of OT)
ü Italy (Paul’s prison epistles)
ü Greece (Romans)
ü Asia Minor (1 Corinthians)
ü Egypt (Jeremiah)
ü Mesopotamia (Daniel)

Diverse Literary Styles
ü History
ü Laws
ü Poetry
ü Prophecy & Apocalyptic
ü Gospels
ü Letters
ü Wisdom

Diverse Languages
ü Hebrew (most of OT)
ü Aramaic (portions of Ezra and Daniel, 1 verse in Genesis)
ü Greek (all of NT)

Implications:
Ø Bible did not fall into our hands as a completed book.
Ø Composed of individual books, written over a long span of time.
Ø Individual writings were copied and collected into groups and then eventually into one book.
Ø Scriptures transmitted through the centuries by copying and translating into languages of the world.
Ø This study involves an understanding of the complex history of these processes over time.

Where are we going?
Ø Composition
Ø Canonization
Ø Transmission
Ø Translation

What is composition?
Ø Writing of original manuscript (autograph) by biblical author
Ø Not the product of human imagination or ingenuity
Ø A written record of God’s revelation to his people
Ø Authoritative Word of God

What is composition?
Ø What makes these books different?
o Holy Spirit’s superintendence
ü Revelation
ü Inspiration
ü Inerrancy
ü Authority

What is canonization?
Ø Canon refers to the writings regarded as Holy Scripture
Ø Canonization refers to the historical process by which certain books came to be regarded as Holy Scripture and other books did not.
Ø Which books are included in the canon?
Ø How did these books come to be included in the canon?
Ø Why are only these books included and not other “sacred writings”?

What is transmission?
Ø How the Scriptures were transmitted around the world and to later generations.
Ø Accomplished through copying of biblical texts.
Ø Hand-copied until c. A.D. 1450
Ø Printed after c. A.D. 1450

What is translation?
Ø Translation of Scripture from Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek into other languages.
Ø Focus on English translations
Ø History of English Bible
Ø Philosophy of Translation Methodology
Why this study?
Ø Lack of knowledge
Ø False ideas
Ø Unnecessary division
Ø Defending our faith
How should we study?
Ø Avoid unhealthy extremes:
o Undiscerning acceptance
o Critical unteachableness
Ø Healthy balance:
o Discerning teachableness
It is my prayer that this study will give us a greater appreciation for the Word of God and a greater desire to know its contents.

I also pray that it will cause us to stand in awe at the grace of God, which has allowed us to have his message in our hands.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cameron Jungels
Eastside Baptist Church
May 1, 2013 Sun PM
Unless otherwise noted, the verses are in NIV.

Mark 11 v27-- 12 v12 Seth Channell 2-5-2012

"Can't Jesus Get A Little Respect" Mark 11 v27 - 12 v12 Seth Channell 2-5-2012

Ecclesiastes 1 v1-18 Venlon Bradford 1-29-2012

Life Without God is Meaningless - Ecclesiastes  1 v1-18 Venlon Bradford 1-29-2012.mp3

Genesis 6:5-8 Venlon Bradford 1-29-2012

When The Fullness of Sin Encountered God's Grace" Genesis 6 v5-8 Venlon Bradford 1-29-2012.mp3

Hebrews Overview Seth Channell 1-25-2012

Hebrews Overview Seth Channell 1-25-2012