Introduction

  • Nehemiah 8:1-8

What is the Bible?

  • A collection of 66 books. It wasn’t called the Bible until some time in the Middle Ages (Bible comes from a Latin word that simply means “books”).
  • Written over 1500 years by 40 different authors.
  • The Bible is inspired by God
    • II Timothy 3:16
    • II Peter 1:20-21
  • Different styles and genres
  • Two major parts:
    • Old Testament, 39 books (Genesis – Malachi)
    • New Testament 27 books (Matthew – Revelation)

How do I find my way around?

  • Acts 17:11
  • Parts of a Bible reference
    • Book, chapter, verse
    • Chapters and verses were not added until the 1200s and 1500s. They were added by man, not by God.
    • Five books have only one chapter: Obadiah, Philemon, II John, III John, and Jude

Which translation is best?

  • Old Testament: written in Hebrew with some Aramaic
  • New Testament: written in Greek
  • II John 1:12
  • Different translations use different philosophies.
    • Word-for-word vs. thought-for-thought
  • Romans 13:4
  • Recommended translations:
    • New American Standard, 1995 (NASB95)
    • English Standard Version (ESV)
    • New King James Version (NKJV)
    • King James Version (KJV)

What type of Bible should I use?

  • Arrangement of the text
    • Verse-by-verse
    • Paragraph
    • Journaling / wide-margin
    • Daily reading Bible
    • Parallel Bible
  • Extra material added
    • Maps
    • Concordance
    • Reference Bible
    • Devotional Bible
    • Children’s Bible
  • Features
    • Red letter
    • Large print
    • Cover
    • Paper
    • Foreword / preface
    • Italics
    • Small caps
  • Try a digital Bible

Homework

  • Try out two free Bible apps.
  • Study Philippians 4:13. What does it mean?