How Did We Get The Bible?

Inspiration – What is the source of the Bible?

The Bible is unique in its claims to be from God Himself.

Approximately 3,800 times the Bible says “God said” or “Thus says the Lord.”

Paul recognized that what he was writing is the Lord’s commands (1 Corinthians 14:37 “If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, he should recognize that what I write to you is the Lord’s command.” ) and the recipients of his letters recognized them as from God (1 Thessalonians 2:13 “This is why we constantly thank God, because when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message, but as it truly is, the word of God, which also works effectively in you who believe.” ).

Peter knew that he was writing God’s Word and recognized Paul’s writings as coming from God (2 Peter 1:16–21 “For we did not follow cleverly contrived myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; instead, we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased!” We ourselves heard this voice when it came from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain. We also have the prophetic word strongly confirmed, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 3:15–16 “Also, regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him. He speaks about these things in all his letters. There are some things hard to understand in them. The untaught and unstable will twist them to their own destruction, as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures.”).

John knew his writings were from God and that to reject them was to reject God (1 John 4:6 “We are from God. Anyone who knows God listens to us; anyone who is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.” ).

Definition of Inspiration

“God superintended the human authors of the Bible so that they composed and recorded without error His message to mankind in the words of their original writings.” – Charles C. Ryrie

Biblical Data About Inspiration

2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,”

The entire Bible is God-breathed

The entire Bible is profitable

2 Peter 1:21 “because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” - God used men to compose the Bible as He guided them

The verb is used in Acts 27:15 “Since the ship was caught and unable to head into the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along” - speaking of the wind carrying the ship along in the storm

The human authors did not will their writing into being Scripture; God is the one who willed them to write Scripture

1 Corinthians 2:13 “We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people.” - God’s revelation (Scripture) comes in the form of words, not merely ideas which can then be expressed in words inaccurately.

Cohesiveness of the Bible

Written by 40 different authors – Moses (political leader), Joshua (military leader), David (shepherd), Solomon (king), Amos (farmer), Daniel (prime minister), Matthew (tax collector), Luke (medical doctor), Paul (rabbi), Peter (fisherman)

Written on 3 continents (Europe, Asia, Africa)

Written over a span of 1,500 years.

In contrast, the Koran was compiled by an individual (Zaid Ibn Thabit) under the guidance of Mohammad’s father-in-law. In AD 650, a group of Arab scholars produced a unified version of the Koran and burned any variants in order to preserve the unity of the Koran.

Inerrancy – Is the Bible true?

What the Bible says is true; it is without error or fault in all its teaching.

Ryrie’s syllogism: God is true (Romans 3:4 “Absolutely not! Let God be true, even though everyone is a liar, as it is written: That you may be justified in your words and triumph when you judge.” Titus 1:2 “in the hope of eternal life that God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.” ); the Scriptures were breathed out by God (2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,” ); therefore, the Scriptures are true (since they came from the breath of God who is true).

Explanation of Inerrancy

Inerrancy allows for a variety in style. John writes in simple language as you would expect of a fisherman. Luke writes with the sophisticated vocabulary of a doctor. Paul writes using the logic of a philosopher.

Inerrancy allows for variety in details in explaining the same event. The Gospel writers report the same events but from differing perspectives.

Inerrancy does not demand verbatim quotations. Is it inaccurate to say that John 3:16 says “God loves the world so much that He sent Jesus to die for sinners” when the actual verse is “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life”? In the NT, sometimes OT quotes are done in a similar manner.

Inerrancy allows for problem passages. There are some passages that may seem on the surface to be contradictions but with deeper study or archaeological findings, answers are found that resolve the seeming contradiction.

Problems when rejecting inerrancy

Those who say the Bible contains errors conclude that errors can teach the truth. If the Bible cannot be trusted in matters of chronology, history, and geography, it cannot be trusted in the message of salvation.

Errancy impugns the character of God. Since Scripture is breathed out by God and the Holy Spirit superintended the writers, if the Bible contains errors, then that means that God lied.

People who don’t believe the Bible is inerrant disagree in listing “errors.”

Canonization – How did we decide on the 66 books of the Bible?

The word canon comes from a Greek word referring to a measuring instrument. Thus, when we speak of the canon of Scripture, we’re talking about which books measured up in order to be affirmed as coming from God.

OT canon was agreed upon by the Jews before Jesus’ lifetime. Considering the Septuagint (Greek translation of OT) was completed by 250 BC, it is safe to say the OT canon was agreed upon 250-400 years before the life of Christ.

NT canon

Early listings included the majority of the NT books by the end of the 2nd century. The full NT canon was recognized in the 300s.

NT criteria for acceptance:

Authored by an apostle or close associate

Harmonizes with the rest of Scripture and does not contradict

Generally accepted by the church

Examples from books rejected from the NT Canon

Infancy Gospel of Thomas

4:1 From there he was going with his father Joseph, and someone running struck his shoulder. And Jesus said to him, “Cursed be you because of your leader!” And immediately he died.

14:1-3 And Joseph saw his (Jesus’) wisdom and understanding. He didn’t want him to be unacquainted with letters, but gave him over to another teacher. And the teacher wrote the alphabet for him (Jesus) and said, “Say alpha.” And the child said, “First you tell me what the beta is, and I’ll tell you what the alpha is.” And the teacher became irritated and struck him. And Jesus cursed him, and the teacher fell and died. And the child went into his house to his parents, and Joseph called his (Jesus’) mother and ordered her not to set him (Jesus) free from the house so that those who provoke him may not die.

Gospel of Thomas

V. 21 Mary said to Jesus, "Whom are your disciples like?" He said, "They are like children who have settled in a field which is not theirs. When the owners of the field come, they will say, 'Let us have back our field.' They (will) undress in their presence in order to let them have back their field and to give it back to them.

V. 30 Jesus said, "Where there are three gods, they are gods. Where there are two or one, I am with him."

V. 114 Simon Peter said to him, "Let Mary leave us, for women are not worthy of life." Jesus said, "I myself shall lead her in order to make her male, so that she too may become a living spirit resembling you males. For every woman who will make herself male will enter the kingdom of heaven."

Gospel of Judas

Vs. 55-56 Jesus said, "Truly I say [to you], this baptism [which they've received in] my name […] will destroy the whole generation of the earthly Adam. Tomorrow they'll torture the one who bears me. Truly I [say] to you, no hand of a mortal human [will fall] upon me. Truly [I say] to you, Judas, those who offer sacrifices to Saklas […] everything that's evil. But you'll do more than all of them, because you'll sacrifice the human who bears me.

This passage is teaching that Judas is blessed because his betrayal will release Jesus from his physical body (which according to Gnosticism is inherently evil because it is made of physical matter).

Preservation – How do we know that the modern copies of the manuscripts are correct?

Inerrancy is reflected in translations. Textual criticism has collated approximately 5,800 Greek manuscripts, providing what is essentially the original reading of the Scriptures and we can authoritatively use modern translations as the Word of God.

The manuscript evidence for the Bible, particularly the New Testament, is strong compared to other ancient documents, and scholars—both Christian and non-Christian—agree that we have a remarkably well-preserved text. While no original autographs (the first versions written by the biblical authors) exist, the abundance, quality, and consistency of ancient manuscripts provide a solid foundation for confidence in the Bible’s faithfulness to the original texts.

Quantity of Manuscripts - The New Testament is one of the most well-attested works of antiquity.

Greek New Testament manuscripts: Over 5,800 complete or partial manuscripts exist.

Translations: The New Testament was translated early into Latin, Syriac, Coptic, and other languages, with thousands of these manuscripts also surviving.

Church Fathers' Writings: Early Christian writers quoted extensively from the New Testament. In fact, the entire New Testament could be reconstructed from their citations alone, even if no manuscripts survived.

This vast number of biblical manuscripts allows scholars to cross-check texts for errors or variations.

Age of Manuscripts - Some New Testament manuscripts date very close to the original writings

Papyrus P52: A fragment of John’s Gospel dated to AD 125-150, only a few decades after John was originally written.

Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus: Fourth-century codices (full manuscripts) that contain most or all of the New Testament.

Early Translations: Latin and Syriac translations date to the second and third centuries, providing further evidence of the text’s stability.

By comparison:

Homer’s Iliad:

Time Gap: Partials ~500 years, Complete ~1,700 years

Number of Manuscripts: ~1,800 manuscripts

Plato’s Republic:

Time Gap: ~1,200 years between the original and the earliest manuscript.

Number of Manuscripts: Plato: ~ 250 manuscripts.

Julius Caesar’s Commentaries on the Gallic War

Time Gap: ~1,000 years between the original and earliest copies.

Number of Manuscripts: 10 manuscripts.

New Testament: 5,800+ Greek manuscripts, with over 25,000 total manuscripts including early translations.

Quality of Manuscripts and Variants

Textual Variants: Manuscripts do contain differences (variants), but the vast majority of these are spelling errors, word order changes, or other minor issues that do not affect the meaning of the text.

Meaningful Variants: Less than 1% of the variants affect the meaning of the text, and none of these impact any core doctrine of the Christian faith.

Examples of well-known variants include:

The long ending of mark (Mark 16:9–20 “[Early on the first day of the week, after he had risen, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and reported to those who had been with him, as they were mourning and weeping. Yet, when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe it. After this, he appeared in a different form to two of them walking on their way into the country. And they went and reported it to the rest, who did not believe them either. Later he appeared to the Eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table. He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who saw him after he had risen. Then he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes; if they should drink anything deadly, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well.” So the Lord Jesus, after speaking to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by the accompanying signs.]”)

The woman caught in adultery (John 7:53–8:11 “[Then each one went to his house. But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he went to the temple again, and all the people were coming to him. He sat down and began to teach them. Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, making her stand in the center. “Teacher,” they said to him, “this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery. In the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” They asked this to trap him, in order that they might have evidence to accuse him. Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with his finger. When they persisted in questioning him, he stood up and said to them, “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.” Then he stooped down again and continued writing on the ground. When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only he was left, with the woman in the center. When Jesus stood up, he said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”]”)

Modern Bibles often note these variants, showing the transparency of scholars about textual differences.

The manuscript evidence strongly supports the faithfulness of the Bible to its original texts. No ancient work of literature comes close to the quantity, quality, or proximity in time of the New Testament manuscripts. While some textual variants exist, none affect essential Christian doctrines, and scholars have reconstructed the text with a high degree of confidence. Both Christians and secular textual critics agree that what we have today accurately reflects the original writings, making the Bible uniquely reliable among ancient texts.

History of English Translations – How did I get the Bible in my hand or on my digital device?

John Wycliffe c.1330-1384

Opposed the corruption that had become prevalent in the Roman Catholic Church and sought to counter it with translating the Latin Vulgate into Middle English so that commoners could read the Scripture for themselves.

After his death, he was excommunicated and his remains were exhumed and burned.

William Tyndale 1494-1536

First person to translate the Bible into English from the original languages.

Went into exile on the European continent since Bible translation was illegal in England.

Copies of his translation work were smuggled into England.

Captured, tried, and convicted on charges of heresy, Tyndale was strangled and burned at the stake on October 6, 1536. His dying prayer was “Lord, open the King of England’s eyes.”

Coverdale Bible

Miles Coverdale used Tyndale’s work and translated what Tyndale had not yet translated to publish the Coverdale Bible in 1535.

The 1537 edition was licensed by Henry VIII and The Great Bible (ed. by Coverdale 1539) was the first English Bible approved for public use.

Geneva Bible, 1560

Translation begun in Geneva under Queen Mary I was completed and published during the early reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

It was the first English Bible to be translated entirely from the original languages of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.

A study Bible with notes for ordinary individuals, the Geneva Bible was the first English Bible with verse divisions. It was the version used by Shakespeare and the earliest settlers in America.

Bishop’s Bible, 1568

Due to the rising number of English translations, the archbishop of Canterbury, Matthew Parker, convened a committee of bishops to create an “authorized revision.” A curious note concerning Christopher Columbus can be found in the notes for Psalm 45:9: “Ophir is thought to be the land in the west coast, of late found by Christopher Columbo: from whence at this day is brought most fine golde.”

King James Bible, 1611 (newer eds.: 1629, 1638, 1762, 1769)

The Bible translation commissioned by King James I owed much to earlier translators. It was the culmination of a century of English Bible production begun with William Tyndale. Mass printing allowed the Bible to be inexpensive enough to find its way into the poorest homes throughout England and later the American frontier. The King James Bible shaped the character of the English language and left an even deeper mark on the character and spiritual history of both England and America.

Christian Standard Bible

Over 20 years ago, a team of more than 100 top conservative scholars from 17 denominations came together with one common vision: to create an original English translation meticulously faithful to the ancient Scriptures and exceptionally clear to understand. With the benefit of up-to-date manuscript discoveries and significant advances in research, these translators, reviewers, and stylists exhaustively scrutinized ancient source texts—including the critical Greek text favored by scholars—to determine every nuance of original meaning and intent. The result was a Bible that not only shines by academic standards, but is also remarkably enjoyable to read: The Holman Christian Standard Bible.

To ensure the very best balance of fidelity and clarity, top biblical scholars have reviewed the full text of the Holman Christian Standard Bible, based on feedback from pastors, seminaries, and other conservative denominations. Providing Bible readers with a translation that’s even stronger, this revision, called the Christian Standard Bible, is available in a wide variety of editions.

Hermeneutics – How do we read the Bible?

Hermeneutical Systems

Allegorical (symbolic meaning)

Description: The allegorical approach interprets biblical texts symbolically rather than literally, seeing events, characters, or places as metaphors pointing to deeper spiritual meanings. This approach was common among early church fathers who sought to uncover hidden meanings in the text that would apply universally across time.

Example: The story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) is often interpreted allegorically, with the Samaritan symbolizing Jesus and the wounded man representing humanity in need of salvation. The journey from Jerusalem to Jericho is seen as a descent into a sinful world, with the Samaritan’s actions symbolizing Christ’s healing work.

Reader Response (What does this mean to me?)

Description: In the reader-response approach, the meaning of the text is shaped by the reader’s perspective and experience. This method focuses on how different readers interpret the same text based on their backgrounds, emotions, and contexts. The text becomes dynamic, allowing personal applications that may vary widely.

Example: In Psalm 23 ("The Lord is my Shepherd"), a reader who has experienced hardship might focus on themes of comfort and guidance, while another reader with a background in pastoral care might interpret the psalm as emphasizing God’s nurturing role. Here, the meaning becomes influenced by individual perceptions and personal contexts.

Liberation/Feminist (freedom from oppression/the patriarchy)

Description: The liberation theology approach interprets Scripture with a focus on themes of social justice, freedom from oppression, and advocacy for the marginalized. It emphasizes God’s preferential option for the poor and considers the Bible a call to action for societal transformation.

Example: In the Exodus story, liberation theologians see God’s deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian oppression as a model for contemporary movements advocating for justice and equality. They interpret it as a divine mandate to oppose oppression and support marginalized groups in society.

Description: The feminist approach to hermeneutics focuses on reading the Bible through a lens of gender equality, challenging traditional interpretations that may seem patriarchal. Feminist readers often seek to recover women’s voices and stories in the Bible, reinterpreting passages to promote gender justice and inclusivity.

Example: The story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42) is often reinterpreted in feminist theology to highlight Mary’s choice to sit at Jesus' feet as an assertion of women’s right to study, learn, and participate equally in discipleship—a radical departure from cultural norms of her time.

Literal or Grammatical-Historical (What did the text mean to the original audience?)

Description: The literal or grammatical-historical approach seeks to understand the Bible based on the original language, historical context, and the author’s intended meaning. It emphasizes the plain meaning of the text, interpreting passages in light of historical and cultural contexts without assuming hidden or symbolic meanings unless the genre suggests otherwise.

Example: In reading the creation narrative in Genesis 1-2, a literal approach would take the days of creation as specific periods, attempting to understand what the text meant to its original audience. This approach prioritizes understanding the grammar, syntax, and historical background to arrive at the author’s intended meaning.

7 Arrows Bible Reading

This tool encourages everyone who reads the Bible to use the literal/grammatical-historical hermeneutic to read the Bible. It was developed by Matt Rogers at The Church at Cherrydale to fuel discipleship.

Each arrow answers a key question about the text, moving from what it says to how it shapes our lives and prayer.

What are the questions of the 7 Arrows?

What does this passage say?

What did this passage mean to its original audience?

What does this passage tell us about God?

What does this passage tell us about man?

What does this passage demand of me?

How does this passage change the way I relate to people?

How does this passage prompt me to pray to God?

Case Study of the 7 Arrows

John 3:14–21 ““Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.””

What does this passage say?

What did this passage mean to its original audience?

What does this passage tell us about God?

What does this passage tell us about man?

What does this passage demand of me?

How does this passage change the way I relate to people?

How does this passage prompt me to pray to God?