Thursday, April 29, 2010
What is Scripture good for?
Best to let the Bible speak for itself... 2 Timothy 3:15-17 "From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures that are able to give you the wisdom you need for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed, and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Translation of the Bible
Some books are translated into other languages. Most are published in one language and those that do get translated into other languages are done so in only 2 or 3 others. Very few books ever get translated into numbers in the teens. The Bible however has been translated into more than 2200 languages. Even though this is only about a third of the 6900+ known languages it represents 90% of the world’s people and the languages they use to communicate.
At around 250 B.C. the Bible was one of the first books translated into other languages. The Hebrew scriptures were translated into Greek for Greek speaking Jews living in Alexandria.
Translation of the scriptures continues with groups like Wycliffe Bible Translators working on 850 languages with over 6000 people to produce new or revised versions of the Bible. At the rate that work is being completed the Bible should be available to all language groups between 2007 and 2022.
No other book in history comes anywhere near in its translation activity nor has been translated and paraphrased more than the Bible.
Time to get a copy?
NKJV Gift and Award Bible
At around 250 B.C. the Bible was one of the first books translated into other languages. The Hebrew scriptures were translated into Greek for Greek speaking Jews living in Alexandria.
Translation of the scriptures continues with groups like Wycliffe Bible Translators working on 850 languages with over 6000 people to produce new or revised versions of the Bible. At the rate that work is being completed the Bible should be available to all language groups between 2007 and 2022.
No other book in history comes anywhere near in its translation activity nor has been translated and paraphrased more than the Bible.
Time to get a copy?
NKJV Gift and Award Bible
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Circulation of the Bible
The Bible is unique in so many ways. Yesterday I wrote about how unique it is with regard to its continuity. Today I am going to consider how unique it is in its circulation.
Many books these days manage to have a circulation in the millions. It may surprise you though that the number of Bibles sold is in the billions.
To quote from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_books
From the: List of best-selling single-volume books
More than 1 billion copies (only one book in this category – the Bible)
Book – Bible Koine Greek τὰ Βιβλία -hebrew " התנ"ך "
Author(s) – various (at least 39)
Original language - Hebrew, Koine Greek, Aramaic, Latin
First published - 300 BC- 95 AD
Approximate sales - 2.5 billion to more than 6 billion
“No other book has known the anything approaching this constant circulation” (The Cambridge History of the Bible).
Back in 1976 Geisler and Nix (Together with William Nix, Norman Geisler wrote General Introduction to the Bible, which is still considered to be a textbook for evangelical scholars.) reported that the Bible had been translated into more than 1,100 languages and dialects. 90% of the world’s population at the time. Ten years earlier it was reported that the Bible societies were distributing 87 million copies per year with a cumulative distribution of two billion.
The Bible has now been published in, at least in part, into over 2,000 languages. Bible societies are translating the scriptures into over 462 additional languages that as yet do not have any of the Bible in their native tongue. In 2000 the combined distribution of scriptures by Bible societies exceeded 633 million.
There are other organisations that distribute the Bible such as the Gideons who distribute around 56 million copies or portions of scripture annually. The Word of God is also now spread over the internet, TV, radio and film.
In reality the combined numbers of the amount of scripture distributed over the centuries is beyond calculation. Though these figures do not prove that the Bible is true, or the Word of God, it does show The Bible is certainly unique. Because the Bible has been translated, copied, printed and distributed more that any other book in human history you would think that if a person were sincerely seeking truth, he or she would give serious consideration this book that has drawn so much attention!
Many books these days manage to have a circulation in the millions. It may surprise you though that the number of Bibles sold is in the billions.
To quote from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_books
From the: List of best-selling single-volume books
More than 1 billion copies (only one book in this category – the Bible)
Book – Bible Koine Greek τὰ Βιβλία -hebrew " התנ"ך "
Author(s) – various (at least 39)
Original language - Hebrew, Koine Greek, Aramaic, Latin
First published - 300 BC- 95 AD
Approximate sales - 2.5 billion to more than 6 billion
“No other book has known the anything approaching this constant circulation” (The Cambridge History of the Bible).
Back in 1976 Geisler and Nix (Together with William Nix, Norman Geisler wrote General Introduction to the Bible, which is still considered to be a textbook for evangelical scholars.) reported that the Bible had been translated into more than 1,100 languages and dialects. 90% of the world’s population at the time. Ten years earlier it was reported that the Bible societies were distributing 87 million copies per year with a cumulative distribution of two billion.
The Bible has now been published in, at least in part, into over 2,000 languages. Bible societies are translating the scriptures into over 462 additional languages that as yet do not have any of the Bible in their native tongue. In 2000 the combined distribution of scriptures by Bible societies exceeded 633 million.
There are other organisations that distribute the Bible such as the Gideons who distribute around 56 million copies or portions of scripture annually. The Word of God is also now spread over the internet, TV, radio and film.
In reality the combined numbers of the amount of scripture distributed over the centuries is beyond calculation. Though these figures do not prove that the Bible is true, or the Word of God, it does show The Bible is certainly unique. Because the Bible has been translated, copied, printed and distributed more that any other book in human history you would think that if a person were sincerely seeking truth, he or she would give serious consideration this book that has drawn so much attention!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Bible - Unique in it's continuity!
Incredible as it may seem the Bible was written over a period of around 1500 years by more than 40 different authors from many different back grounds and walks of life. The first books of the Bible, in the Old Testament, were written by Moses who was a Hebrew, though raised in Pharohs household as an Egyptian who later in life was a political leader and judge. Later David - a shepherd, warrior, king, poet and musician contributed greatly to the content of the Old Testament portion of the Bible.
Other contributors included: Joshua a military general, Daniel a prime minister, Solomon a philosopher king, Luke a physician and historian, Peter a fisherman, Matthew a tax collector, Paul a rabbi (Jewish religious leader)... These writers wrote in different places including but not restricted to: the wilderness, prison, palaces, on the road travelling... on different continents: Asia, Africa and Europe and consequently it was written in different languages: Hebrew which was the language used by the Israelites and for most of the Old Testament, Aramaic which is very close linguistically to Hebrew and was the "common language" of the Near East until around the 4th century B.C. Much like English is the common language for many now for communicating cross culturally. The New Testament was mostly written in Greek and was the "common language" at the time of Christ.
As you read the Bible you will notice that it addresses many controversial subjects with an amazing harmony. Topics that today produce fiercely opposing views. Topics such as marriage and divorce, remarriage, homosexuality, adultery, fornication (sex outside of marriage), lying, parenting, the nature of God....
The Bible though, in spite of it's diversity, unfolds one key story: God's redemption of the human race. The theme that unifies all of scripture is salvation from sin and judgement to one of complete transformation. A release from sin and it's consequences into a real relationship with a merciful, loving and holy God.
These unique aspects of the Bible do not prove it is true or inspired but it does challenge us to consider its claims. If we are truly sincere in seeking truth we will give the Bible serious consideration because it is so unique it terms of its continuity.
Other contributors included: Joshua a military general, Daniel a prime minister, Solomon a philosopher king, Luke a physician and historian, Peter a fisherman, Matthew a tax collector, Paul a rabbi (Jewish religious leader)... These writers wrote in different places including but not restricted to: the wilderness, prison, palaces, on the road travelling... on different continents: Asia, Africa and Europe and consequently it was written in different languages: Hebrew which was the language used by the Israelites and for most of the Old Testament, Aramaic which is very close linguistically to Hebrew and was the "common language" of the Near East until around the 4th century B.C. Much like English is the common language for many now for communicating cross culturally. The New Testament was mostly written in Greek and was the "common language" at the time of Christ.
As you read the Bible you will notice that it addresses many controversial subjects with an amazing harmony. Topics that today produce fiercely opposing views. Topics such as marriage and divorce, remarriage, homosexuality, adultery, fornication (sex outside of marriage), lying, parenting, the nature of God....
The Bible though, in spite of it's diversity, unfolds one key story: God's redemption of the human race. The theme that unifies all of scripture is salvation from sin and judgement to one of complete transformation. A release from sin and it's consequences into a real relationship with a merciful, loving and holy God.
These unique aspects of the Bible do not prove it is true or inspired but it does challenge us to consider its claims. If we are truly sincere in seeking truth we will give the Bible serious consideration because it is so unique it terms of its continuity.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Consider the Bible
I was considering the Bible this morning, almost every morning for a long time now, and realised that for many it is only considered to be a book. A collection of poetry, wise sayings (the Proverbs), song, romance, historical narrative, biography, autobiography, law, prophecy.... and much more. As a history book it has often been regarded as inaccurate and unreliable. For many people the Bible has simply been looked upon as an interesting one to have in their library but not something to be taken seriously and definitely not the Word of God.
What I am going to do over an indefinite period of time is write about the Bible, present a case, for it's uniqueness. To show that it can be relied on. To show that it is "unique". The Bible should be on the top shelf, be read by everyone, and be taken seriously by every man, woman and child on the face of this Earth.
What I am going to do over an indefinite period of time is write about the Bible, present a case, for it's uniqueness. To show that it can be relied on. To show that it is "unique". The Bible should be on the top shelf, be read by everyone, and be taken seriously by every man, woman and child on the face of this Earth.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Is it?
I was just listening to a tape this morning by Paris Reidhead - "Ten Shekels and a Shirt". In it he defines Pragmatism as: if it works it's true, if it succeeds it's good, the proof of any teaching is does it work.
Pragmatism is a philosophical movement that includes those who claim that an ideology or proposition is true if it works satisfactorily, that the meaning of a proposition is to be found in the practical consequences of accepting it, and that unpractical ideas are to be rejected. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pragmatism
Many people, including Christians of the current generation, subscribe to this philosophy in their beliefs. They would say: "It's true if it works!" But we need to be thinking the actual opposite: if it works it doesn't necessarily make it true. What is true is defined for us by scripture, the Bible. Our experience can not define what is true, on the contrary, our experience must be defined by what is true!
Pragmatism is a philosophical movement that includes those who claim that an ideology or proposition is true if it works satisfactorily, that the meaning of a proposition is to be found in the practical consequences of accepting it, and that unpractical ideas are to be rejected. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pragmatism
Many people, including Christians of the current generation, subscribe to this philosophy in their beliefs. They would say: "It's true if it works!" But we need to be thinking the actual opposite: if it works it doesn't necessarily make it true. What is true is defined for us by scripture, the Bible. Our experience can not define what is true, on the contrary, our experience must be defined by what is true!
The Bible
When I first became a Christian one of the first books I remember getting myself was one written by Josh McDowell called "Evidence That Demands A Verdict". To me it was one of those books that really opened up to me how true and reliable the Bible is. If you are wanting to know what it is about the Bible that has made it such and enduring publication through out the centuries then this is the book for you. In it Josh answers many key questions, ones that any thinking person is going to ask sooner or later. Questions like: How did we get the Bible? Is the New Testament historically reliable? Is the Old Testament historically reliable? Is the Bible from God? .... Is the Bible true?
What is truth?
The search for the truth starts with a desire. A desire to know the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. So it does and so He does. We start with desire. A driving force that will propel us forward in our search. That desire will be met by an encounter with the one who is truth. We will discover, as have mulititudes through the ages that truth is not a concept, an idea or a philosophy – but it is a person. Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life."
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