“The Record of the Evidence” — another look at the the
Bible, in the larger setting of the great controversy over God's character and government.
Without the Bible we would know nothing about this conflict in God's family. Nor would
we have the record of how He has demonstrated His trustworthiness by His infinitely
skillful and gracious way of handling the revolt. But can the Bible itself be trusted? Do
we have the right collection of sixty-six books? Have the words been accurately preserved?
Can we trust the many translations? And, most of all can we have confidence that we
understand the meaning?
Bible passages included:
2 Timothy 3:16. "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable
for teaching. . . " (RSV)
"Every inspired scripture has its use for teaching the truth..." (NEB)
2 Timothy 3:14-17. "But for your part, stand by the truths you
have learned and are assured of. Remember from whom you learned them; remember that from
early childhood you have been familiar with the sacred writings which have power to make
you wise and lead you to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every inspired scripture
has its use for teaching the truth and refuting error, or for reformation of manners and
discipline in right living, so that the man who belongs to God may be efficient and
equipped for good work of every kind." (NEB)
Luke 24:44. "Everything written about me in the law of Moses and
the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled." (RSV)
Matthew 5:17, 18. "Think not that I have come to abolish the law
and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. For truly, I say to
you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until
all is accomplished." (RSV)
John 10: 34. "Jesus answered them, 'Is it not written in your
law, "I said you are gods."?'" (RSV)
(Quoted from Psalms 82:6)
John 10:34, 35. "Jesus answered,... We know that what the
scripture says is true forever." (GNB)
Isaiah 8:19, 20. "When men tell you to consult mediums and
spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult
the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak
according to this word, they have no light of dawn." (NIV)
Zechariah 7:12. "They made their hearts as hard as flint and
would not listen to the law or to the words that the Lord Almighty had sent by his Spirit
through the earlier prophets." (NIV)
The Law: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.
Prophets: Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel,
Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah
Malachi.
The Writings: Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Solomon, Ruth,
Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Chronicles.
The Old Testament Apocrypha: I and II Esdras, Tobit, Judith, Additions
to Esther, Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus, Baruch, Susanna, Song of the Three Children,
Bel and the Dragon, Prayer of Manasseh, I and II Maccabees.
Some books of the Old Testament Pseudepigrapha: Testament of Adam,
Book of Jubilees, Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, Testament of Job, Book of Enoch,
Sibylline Oracles, Assumption of Moses, Ascension of Isaiah, Psalms of Solomon, Magical
Books of Moses, Story of Ahikar.
Some books of the New Testament Apocrypha: Gospel of Thomas, Book of
James, Assumption of the Virgin, Acts of John, Acts of Paul, Acts of Peter, Letters of
Christ and Abgarus, Letter of Lentulus, Apocalypse of Peter, Apocalypse of Paul.
How would you read the phrase, GODISNOWHERE?
One competent scholar's opinion as to the preservation of the Bible:
"The Christian can take the whole Bible in his hand and say without fear or
hesitation that he holds in it the true Word of God, handed down without essential loss
from generation to generation throughout the centuries." (Frederic Kenyon, one-time
curator of the British Museum)
Yes, for all practical purposes we have in our possession the books of the Bible as
they were originally written.
©1984 Graham Maxwell
Conversations About God Index
Back to Top | Pine Knoll
Home Page
