The Bible is the story of God’s redeeming work in human history. The main focus is God’s plan of salvation found in Jesus Christ, designed to redeem us and all of creation. The Bible is the Word of God which is used by the Holy Spirit to convict us of sin, lead us to salvation, and teach us how to follow Jesus in daily life.
We can explore biblical truth by understanding:
- The power and authority of the Word of God
- Biblical Interpretation
- The discipline of studying the Word of God
- The Centrality of Jesus Christ
The whole Bible is the Word of God.
It is helpful, however, to allow the words of Jesus to guide our understanding of the rest of the story; the life and teachings of Jesus can shape our interpretation of passages that are difficult or not easily understood. For instance, after the resurrection, two disciples were walking on the Road to Emmaus. Jesus joined them and gave them a lesson on how to interpret His own death and resurrection. He told them that the entire Old Testament had pointed to Him. Christ revealed that His teachings will help us interpret both the Old Testament and New Testament more accurately.
He said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself”. – Luke 24:25-27
Biblical Interpretation Centered on Jesus
Here are some steps to follow as we attempt to interpret the Scriptures correctly through Christ:
- Allow the full salvation story in the Bible and the teachings of Jesus to carry more weight in the development of doctrine and theology.
- In the interpretation of any Biblical passage, check to see if Jesus made reference to that passage or Biblical issue elsewhere, and allow Jesus’ teachings to improve your understanding.
- Allow the clear teachings of scripture, especially the teachings of Jesus, to help you interpret the passages which are more difficult to understand.
- Be careful to avoid making strong theological statements based on one Biblical text which is obscure or difficult to understand.
- Reading and studying the Bible in Christian community will help us to interpret Scripture. He promised to be with us—“Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20).
- Be obedient to the Scriptures that are clear and the truths you already know. There is no need for more if you are not willing to obey what you already understand.
One of the ways we can grow in our ability to interpret the Bible is to see how Jesus interpreted passages from the Old Testament. If you look at the teachings of Jesus in the four Gospels, you will find that many of His words are quotes from various Old Testament books. Many of these were taken from the books of the Torah, the Psalms, and Isaiah. Here are some good examples:
- When Jesus was tested in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11), He quoted passages from Deuteronomy 8:3, Psalm 91:11-12, Deuteronomy 6:16, and Deuteronomy 6:13.
- In Jesus’ first sermon (Luke 4:14-30), He quoted a section from Isaiah 61:1-2.
- In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), Jesus quoted passages from Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy
Preaching Jesus from the Word of God
It is clear from the Book of Acts, that the apostles had a very high regard for God’s Word. It was their conviction that if they preached the “Word of God” their message would be used by the Holy Spirit and it would have the power to convict and transform. This belief suggests that as the Word of God is preached, it extends the power and presence of the Kingdom of God. In this way, the Gospel gains power in new regions of the world. Note the following passages:
- (Acts 8:25) They “proclaimed the word of the Lord and testified about Jesus.”
- (Acts 13:33) On the Sabbath, “the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.”
- (Acts 13:48-49) “When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord” and “the word of the Lord spread through the whole region.”
- (Acts 15:35) In Antioch, they “taught and preached the word of the Lord.”
- (Acts 15:36) Later, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.”
- (Acts 16:32) “They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.”
- (Acts 19:20) “In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.”
When we preach, it is possible for us to draw attention to ourselves rather than to the word of God? The goal of preaching is to testify about Jesus and for God to be glorified.
Does your preaching focus on Jesus, and does it allow the power of the Word of God to be released?
Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!
The Bible is the story of God’s redeeming work in human history. The main focus is God’s plan of salvation found in Jesus Christ, designed to redeem us and all of creation. The Bible is the Word of God which is used by the Holy Spirit to convict us of sin, lead us to salvation, and teach us how to follow Jesus in daily life.
We can explore biblical truth by understanding:
- The power and authority of the Word of God
- Biblical Interpretation
- The discipline of studying the Word of God
- The Centrality of Jesus Christ
The Word of God is powerful, but our cooperation is essential for this power to be released within us.
Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples” (John 8:31). In other words, obedience to His teachings will lead Jesus’ disciples to become more like Him.
Obedience opens up our hearts and minds to further truths in the Word of God. Sin and disobedience prevent us from seeing what is most helpful in our time of need—our eyes and ears can be blocked by unconfessed sin. Obedience allows the Holy Spirit to accomplish within us the transformation which develops Christ-like character providing a good foundation for life.
When the Berean Jews heard the Word of God from Paul and Silas, they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. As a result, many of them believed (Acts 17:11). Hearing the word of God is one thing and studying it for life is another thing. It also requires discipline. The Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica.
The word of God is not an empty word, but it has the power to transform life (Deuteronomy 32:47, John 6:63).
We must discipline ourselves to read it daily and study it to internalize it. Then we need to obey and teach others (Deuteronomy 6:4-9).
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. – Matthew 7:24-27
When we study the Word of God it has the power to stir up our spiritual imagination. We will begin to have great thoughts inspired by God. Memorizing the Word of God can help to purify our thoughts and our motives. Let the Word of God guide you, shape you, and teach you.
Studying the Word of God and internalizing it will allow the Holy Spirit to purify our thoughts. This will lead to wise, life-giving words and actions. You will learn to speak the truth in love. Rather than constantly trying to prevent ourselves from saying the wrong thing, we will be transformed from the inside out and obedience will begin to happen more naturally. Jesus often spoke of the need to be cleansed within so that our words and our actions would accomplish what is best. “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Luke 6:45).
Whether we curse others or speak a blessing, our words have power. They are never “just words.” Speaking some of our thoughts helps to bring thoughts into reality, both good and bad. There are many admonitions in the book of Proverbs that tell us to be careful about our speech for the words of our mouths can bring healing or harm to ourselves and to others. James speaks of the mouth as a fire or like the rudder of a ship—many people can be burned or misguided by what we say (James 3:3-5).
In Ephesians, followers of Jesus are told that “speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ” (Ephesians 4:15).
What prevents you from maintaining the discipline of daily bible study?
Printing Bibles and Making them available to all Nations
Prior to the invention of the printing press, the books of the Bible were copied by hand by scribes who would make sure that each copy was identical to the original. There are occasional errors in these old manuscripts but they can be easily detected and corrected by looking at one of the many other copies we have available.
An initial translation of the Old Testament called the Septuagint, took place in approximately the second century before the life of Jesus. This was reportedly done by seventy Jewish scribes who translated the entire Old Testament from Hebrew into Koine Greek, making it available to Jewish communities who were strongly influenced by Rome (especially in Alexandria, Egypt).
The initial New Testament manuscripts were already written in Greek (and some in Aramaic) since this had become the common language throughout the Roman Empire by the time Jesus was born. The entire Bible was translated into Latin in the third century by St. Jerome. This became the official translation of the Church which became very resistant to other translation efforts.
With the invention of the printing press, Christians were quick to realize its value in making the Bible more readily available to every person. This technology was first developed in China in 1048 and was then more fully developed in Germany by Johannes Gutenberg in 1450; it was then used to print the Guttenberg Bible. As the Bible became more readily available, it had a powerful effect on people and contributed significantly to the protestant reformation.
Along with making many copies of the Bible, Christians began to translate the Bible into many different languages. Wycliffe, an organization that continues this translation work today, believes in making it possible for every person to read the Word of God in their “own heart language.” Currently, the Bible has been made available in more than 1,300 languages.
Receiving the Word of God in your own language is a powerful statement that communicates God’s love and acceptance of every race, language, and ethnic group. It is possible because of the foundational Biblical truth that every person is made in the image of God. As the Bible is translated into a new language, that act is essentially an incarnational declaration like the one in Philippians chapter two. This chapter says that the Word of God, Jesus, can enter every cultural context to communicate truth in a redemptive and loving way because every people group was made in the image of God.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature] God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. – Philippians 2:5-11
Useful Bible Study Practices
Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina is an ancient pattern of Bible reading which has enriched the lives of many. It can be used in personal devotions and in community worship. It is a way of humbly “listening” to the Word of God and allowing the Holy Spirit to accomplish the transformation that is needed in our lives. This practice includes listening, reflecting, praying, and obeying. This process is outlined as follows:
Lectio—Listen: ask the Lord to speak, and then read the Bible with a listening spirit. You may want to read a passage several times or have different people read to you using various translations.
Meditatio—Reflect: spend time reflecting on what you are hearing from the Lord. This could include discussion or silent meditation which may be shared with others.
Oratio—Pray: speak to the Lord in response to what you have heard. Pray the thoughts and ideas which come from the passage, expressing them to the Lord.
Contemplio—Obey: let what you have heard penetrate your life and relationships by being obedient to what the Lord has made clear to you through His Word.
Here are some additional suggestions for reading and understanding Scripture:
- Read a key passage repeatedly, putting a strong emphasis on each word, followed by a time of meditation to let the meaning sink into your heart and mind (eg. Psalm 23).
- The Lord is my shepherd.
- The Lord is my shepherd.
- The Lord is my shepherd.
- The Lord is my shepherd.
- Read a Biblical story and try to imagine it, or picture it, in your mind. Or have a group of people act out the story as you read it together (eg. Luke 15, the story of the lost son).
- Can you picture the scene and what it looks like? Describe it? Draw it?
- Imagine you are the Father, the prodigal son, or the older brother. What feelings, thoughts, or questions come to mind in the roles you play?
- Use statements or questions to examine a passage in order to understand and obey.
- Put your name into a passage (for God so loved …….) and apply it to your life.
- Check if the passage makes a promise, a command, or offers a truth to obey.
- Use the passage to measure or examine your own life for sin, attitude issues, areas of disobedience, or the need for growth.
- How does the passage of Scripture help you to become more like Jesus?
Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!
The Bible is the story of God’s redeeming work in human history. The main focus is God’s plan of salvation found in Jesus Christ, designed to redeem us and all of creation. The Bible is the Word of God which is used by the Holy Spirit to convict us of sin, lead us to salvation, and teach us how to follow Jesus in daily life.
We can explore biblical truth by understanding:
Biblical interpretation is simply understanding what a passage of the Bible says in order to live it well. It is important for us to learn how to study the Bible and apply it to life. The Apostle Paul says to Timothy, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
It is important to note that understanding the message of the Bible is not difficult.
Most of the Bible was essentially written in a “street language” which means that it is intended to be understood by anyone and everyone; great spiritual insight from God’s Word is not limited to those with extensive academic training—for the Word of God is meant to be read and understood by anyone. However, it is important that we learn to correctly handle the word of truth.
The following are some basic suggestions that will help you to interpret the Bible more accurately
- Read the passage several times and in several different versions or translations. Reading it aloud or asking someone else to read it may give you new insights. If you can, read it in another language (or in the original Greek or Hebrew, if you can).
- Read the chapter before and the chapter after the one you are studying. What is going on at this time? Who wrote this passage? To whom was it written? What was the social, political, cultural, and historical context?
- Find keywords and phrases that are repeated or are central to the meaning of the passage. Look up the meaning of any words that are unfamiliar.
- Look for key transitions in the passage such as “if, but, and, then, therefore, however, wherefore,” etc. How does it start? How does it end? What does it say?
- What is the style of the text? Is there any poetry? Does it contain an argument? Look at the passage’s structure and try to create an outline or a sketch of how it flows.
- Ask yourself, “What is the main idea, and how does it fit into the larger story of the Bible?”
What is the Greatest Challenge in biblical interpretation?
- Argument: Having a good translation. Truth: Most translations are very accurate to the original intent.
- Argument: Clarity of the Biblical text. Truth: The Bible is clear about all essentials of faith and obedience.
- Argument: Connecting ancient texts to a modern problem. Truth: The human condition is the same today as it was thousands of years ago.
- Argument: Cultural differences between the Bible and us. Truth: This can be a challenge; however, God’s word speaks to every person, every ethnic group, every culture, and every nation.
All of these issues are significant and they do deserve our attention. For example, it does require a careful reading of the biblical text in order to interpret a passage and apply it to our own cultural context in ways that are faithful to the intended meaning of the Bible.
However, the greatest challenge is that of human pride.
Due to our sin, we are reluctant to accept what God is telling us. We will do anything to avoid the obvious truth of a biblical text when we are unwilling to submit in obedience to God, our Creator, and Redeemer. As a result, we often argue or ignore what God’s Word is telling us. This can lead to divisions in the Church and hostility between denominations. Confession, humility, and obedience are the steps that bring us back to a place where we hear God’s message more clearly.
Is there a passage of Scripture that makes you uncomfortable because you are unwilling to do what God is asking you to do?
Is there a passage of Scripture that is used to divide Christians in your region into opposing groups? Jesus prayed for unity among all believers—disunity will harm our witness. Can you read/study that passage together with those who disagree and become unified?
Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!
The Bible is the story of God’s redeeming work in human history. The main focus is God’s plan of salvation found in Jesus Christ, designed to redeem us and all of creation. The Bible is the Word of God which is used by the Holy Spirit to convict us of sin, lead us to salvation, and teach us how to follow Jesus in daily life.
We can explore biblical truth by understanding:
- The power and authority of the Word of God
- Biblical interpretation
- The discipline of studying the Word of God
- The centrality of Jesus Christ
Words Have Power
Genesis states that God created heaven and earth by speaking it into existence. God said, “Let there be light, and there was light.” The Gospel of John explains that the power of God’s spoken word is found in Jesus. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him, nothing was made that has been made” (John 1:1-3).
Throughout His ministry, Jesus revealed that there was power in His spoken word. He would speak healing and people were healed. He called to Lazarus in the tomb and he was given new life. When the disciples encountered a severe storm and feared for their lives, they woke up Jesus who was asleep in the boat. “‘He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.’ The disciples were astounded. Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him” (Luke 8:22-25).
God’s Word is Powerful and Effective
When we read the Bible we are reading powerful words, a message from God. It can impact our lives and the lives of others. As you read the Bible, the Word of God to us, invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you.
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
– Hebrews 4:12-13
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
– Isaiah 55:8-11
How The Bible Came To Be
- Who Wrote the Bible?
- When was the Bible Wrote?
- How did we get the Bible?
In the Garden of Eden, God walked and talked with Adam and Eve. It was God’s desire from the beginning to have a close relationship with mankind, with those made in His image. The initial stories in the Bible came to us from people who heard from God or experienced His actions in this world. Led by the Spirit of the Lord, these people memorized and passed on these stories to the next generation until they were written down and preserved for us today.
The Bible was written by people who were inspired by God. In other words, the books are both human and divine. They are human because each book of the Bible was written by a human being within their historical context, influenced by a particular culture, and was written in a specific language (Hebrew, Greek, or Aramaic). It is divine because God was at work in these people to provide an understanding of life that aligned with God’s character and intentions; God inspired these messengers who were made in the image of God. Divine inspiration allowed each writer to be both humanly creative and obedient to the Spirit of the Lord.
The selection and preservation of the biblical text was done carefully with great thought and prayer. The Bible is comprised of 66 Books written by more than 40 authors over a period of more than 2,000 years. From the time of Moses until the time of Jesus Christ, the nation of Israel kept the Old Testament books in safety, carefully making exact copies of the originals. We know that the text Jesus read was essentially identical to the one we read today because of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls which essentially come from the same time period.
Jesus expressed confidence that the Old Testament was, and is, God’s word to us (Luke 24:25-27, Luke 24:44-45). His reference to “the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms” reflects the traditional threefold division of the Hebrew canon—in other words, the entire Old Testament as we have it today. The early Church was quick to affirm this by practice and through various church councils.
The formation of the New Testament began as the life and teachings of Jesus were written down by His disciples who had witnessed all that He had said and done. After His death and resurrection, they were instrumental in the formation of the four gospels, and they contributed a number of the letters which form the New Testament canon, many of which were written by the Apostle Paul. In addition, the stories found in the Gospel of Luke were recorded by a physician named Luke who researched the stories and connected them to the formation of the early Church in the Book of Acts. Even while these apostolic writers were alive, there was a sense that what they were doing was an extension of the Word of God found in the Hebrew Scriptures. For example, 2 Peter 3:16 refers to Paul’s letters and “the rest of the Scriptures.” In a surprisingly short period of time, the early Church came to understand that this collection of apostolic material, which was widely circulated in various copied manuscripts, was to be used alongside the Old Testament as the word of God (noted in the year 96 by Clement of Rome).
The early Church was required to make some clear decisions when a false teaching called Gnosticism appeared. Around the year 140, the Roman church received a visit from Marcion, a native of Asia Minor. Marcion rejected the Old Testament entirely and had selectively chosen and edited some of the apostolic material, purging them of anything that did not align with his views.
This challenge, along with the appearance of several other heretical groups, seems to have propelled the early Church to define more clearly the content and the boundaries of the books and letters which came to be known as the “New Testament.” By the end of the second century, there was a developing consensus that led to the acceptance of our current collection of 27 books; this process is described in the works of Origen of Alexandria written in the early 200s. Then, in a series of church councils beginning with the Council of Nicaea in 325, the Church was able to confirm the collection we know today as the New Testament.
Thus, within the first three centuries AD, the early Church adopted the Old Testament as the Word of God, later adding the collection of gospels and letters which form the New Testament that we have today. The selection process was careful and prayerful. We now have many early copies of these texts, and they confirm that the New Testament that we read today reflects the original intent of each writer as they communicate God’s word to us.
Old Testament
The Old Testament books are generally grouped into four main sections:
- Torah, or The Law (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy)
- Historical Books (Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezrah, Nehemiah, and Esther)
- Poetry and Wisdom Writings (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon)
- The Prophets (Major Prophets—Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel. Minor Prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habaakuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi)
The Torah, or The Law (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy)
These first five books of the Bible are called the Books of Moses. They form the foundation for the Bible. God spoke to Moses on the top of Mount Sinai. The Lord met with Moses every morning at the Tent of Meeting where He “would speak to Moses … as one speaks to a friend” (Exodus 33:7-11). The Torah was God’s greatest revelation of Himself prior to the life of Jesus. It includes the Creation story, the call of Abraham and the early formation of the Nation of Israel, the release of Israel from captivity in Egypt, the Ten Commandments given at Mount Sinai, and the arrival of the Israelite nation to the Promised Land. Because God’s message to Moses was so clear and comprehensive, the Torah became the measure of all other messages from God. From then on, every prophet’s teachings, every word that anyone claimed to come from God, was evaluated by comparing it to the Torah.
Historical Books (Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezrah, Nehemiah, and Esther)
These 12 books illustrate God’s patient work with the people of Israel, preparing the way for the Messiah, Jesus Christ. During this time, Israel entered the Promised Land and was initially guided by Judges until God established Israel as a kingdom. Jerusalem was the capital city and it was here where Solomon, the son of David, built the temple. After only seventy years as a unified kingdom, the nation divided into two kingdoms—Israel and Judah—in 930 BC. Both kingdoms were conquered and taken into exile—Israel to Samaria in 722 BC and Judah to Babylon in 586 BC. In 515 BC, God allowed His people to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple.
Poetry and Wisdom Writings (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon)
These five books are treasures for worship and meditation, providing deep understanding of how to experience intimacy with God. They also address some of the most troubling questions of faith and obedience. For this reason, they can be very helpful as devotional readings in all seasons of life.
The Prophets (Major Prophets—Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel. Minor Prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi)
The 17 books of the Prophets were written during the time of the Historical Books. Like Moses, each prophet was called to speak to the nation of Israel with a message they had received from God. “Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to His servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). Their words were evaluated both by comparing them to the Torah and by testing their prophetic messages to see if they came true. They frequently spoke words of judgment addressing the sins of the nation and their failure to remain faithful and obedient to the Lord. Sometimes their visions were about the future, giving hope to the people about a coming Messiah and the ultimate reign of God. Salvation and the Kingdom of God would be inaugurated, culminating in a victory over all sin and darkness in this world.
The New Testament
God’s clearest revelation comes to us in Jesus Christ. All other messages from God, including the Torah, are now more clearly understood through the life, teaching, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:15 says, “We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen” (The Message). The four Gospels allow us to get to know Jesus, but they also teach us how to understand the God portrayed in the Old Testament and help us to fall in love with the God whom Jesus knows. The Gospels, together with all of the books of the New Testament, are essential tools in understanding and interpreting the Old Testament.
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
– Hebrews 1:1-3
The New Testament books are generally grouped into four main sections:
- The Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John)
- The Book of Acts
- The Letters (Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, Peter, John, and Jude)
- The Book of Revelation
The Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John)
These are four different, first-hand accounts of the life and teachings of Jesus. Three were written by disciples who had been with Jesus—Matthew, Mark, and John. Luke was written by an early convert, a Doctor, who did research and interviews with all those who knew Jesus well. These books provide us with a clear picture of Jesus—His birth, life, death, and resurrection. In all four Gospels, Jesus began His public ministry by announcing the Good News of the Kingdom of God, then dying on the cross and rising again so as to gain victory over sin and death and accomplish our salvation.
The Book of Acts
The book of Acts was written by Luke as a record of how the early Church formed and how it grew. It portrays the early mission efforts—starting in Jerusalem, then spreading throughout much of the known world by the ministry of the Apostle Paul. Since it is clear that Luke went along on some of the missionary journeys, this book is a collection of firsthand observations as well as other interviews and research.
The Letters (Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, Peter, John, and Jude)
These 21 books provide a fascinating look at the early Church. Many are written by Paul, while some are written by other apostles. They are letters written to specific people or congregations and were originally intended for teaching, encouragement, correction, and fellowship. They provide deep insights into how to actively live the Christian faith in community.
The Book of Revelation
The book of Revelation is a prophetic book written by the Apostle John, based on a vision he received and recorded. It begins with a vision of the living Christ, enthroned in heaven, who gives John an evaluation of the various regional churches. The vision then moves through a series of battles that culminate in the final victory over sin and death which reveal what has already been accomplished by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The book ends with a vision of all followers of Jesus living in God’s presence in a new heaven and a new earth.
Are there any parts of the Bible you tend to neglect or ignore?
What is God currently teaching you about through His Word?
Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!
The Bible is the story of God’s redeeming work in human history. The main focus is God’s plan of salvation found in Jesus Christ, designed to redeem us and all of creation. The Bible is the Word of God which is used by the Holy Spirit to convict us of sin, lead us to salvation, and teach us how to follow Jesus in daily life.
We can explore biblical truth by understanding:
The Bible is your story and my story since the plot includes you, me, and all of humanity.
It is intended for us, but overwhelmingly, this is God’s story. It is about the one true God who loves us and has promised to bring this story to an amazing conclusion—which is when the best part of the story will begin. When we receive salvation, God’s Word shapes our lives. We begin to align with God’s plans for the future and it becomes our story—God with us, us with God.
As the main character in this story, God created everything. We were made in His image and were designed to represent God in the world He made. When we rebelled against God, His heart broke as He saw the suffering which came upon us due to human sin. At great cost, He launched His plan to redeem us and all creation through His Son, Jesus Christ—through his life, death, and resurrection, the kingdom was begun. The Bible is complete, but it is also an unfinished story for it points to the end of time when this Kingdom will be revealed and God’s plan of redemption will make all things new.
It is no wonder then that the Biblical story is important, both to God and to everyone on the planet. It was inspired by God and written by people who knew Him well. It is biblical truth because, not only does it accurately interpret past history and our current spiritual condition, it also reveals the mystery of what is to come. Our understanding of life and our interpretation of each passage will be refined as we come to know God’s story and His great plan to redeem all of creation.
This Bible, the Word of God, is not just an ancient book but a living word that the Holy Spirit uses to convict us of sin and to lead us to salvation.
For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, ‘All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.’ And this is the word that was preached to you.
– 1 Peter 1:23-25
The Bible has become the world’s best-seller— there are more copies of the Bible than any other book in the world. It has also been translated into more languages/dialects than any other book. It is now available on the internet or as an application on your phone. This is good news but only if we read it and let it shape our lives.
Do you clearly see yourself within the biblical story?
Do you know your role in God’s redemptive plan for all of creation?
How would you tell the story of the Bible to someone who has never heard it before?
How would you tell it to someone who has heard it too often and needs to hear it in a fresh way?
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in our hearts.
– Colossians 3:16
Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!