I. THE PROCESS OF WRITING AND COMPILATION
1. Oral Tradition – Written Texts – Collection into the Canon
“All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.”
2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV)
“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.”
2 Peter 1:21 (NIV)
“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”
Isaiah 40:8 (ESV)
2. Transition from Oral to Written Texts
3. Role of Scribes in Early Manuscripts
4. Overview of Old Testament & New Testament Formation
II. VIEWS OF BIBLICAL INSPIRATION
1. What is Biblical Inspiration
2. Main Views of Inspiration:
- Verbal Plenary Inspiration
- Dictation Theory
- Dynamic Inspiration
- Liberal View
III. HOW THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE WERE CHOSEN (CANONIZATION)
1. Definition of Canonization
2. Criteria for Canonization
A. Apostolic Origin
B. Universal Acceptance
C. Doctrinal Consistency
3. Why Some Books Were Rejected
IV. WHAT ABOUT THE CATHOLIC BOOKS?
1. Jewish Canon Exclusion
2. Jesus and the Apostles Never Quoted Them as Scripture
3. Reformation and the Return to the Hebrew Canon
4. The Book Contains Doctrinal Issues
5. Late Official Inclusion in the Catholic Canon
V. UNDERSTANDING PRESCRIPTIVE VS. DESCRIPTIVE PASSAGES
VI. DIFFERENT BIBLE TRANSLATIONS & HOW TO CHOOSE ONE
“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”
Romans 12:1 (NASB-1995)
“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.”
Romans 21:1 (MSG)
VII. RULE FOR BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION (Hermeneutics)
1. Context is Key
2. Compare Scripture with Scripture
3. Understand the Genre
4. Consider the Original Audience
5. Distinguish Between Literal and Figurative Language
6. Use Reliable Study Tools
