The Bible - Lesson 1: Contents and Origin of the Bible

The Bible

Lesson 1: Contents and Origin of the Bible

Matthew 7:24-27 [24] “Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock. [25] The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it didn’t fall, for it was founded on the rock. [26] Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn’t do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand. [27] The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”

The Main Points for This Lesson:

The purpose of this series of lessons is to provide some basic instructions and principles regarding the Bible, so that the scriptures may be found to be that which makes wise unto salvation (2 Timothy 3:15) and not that which will judge in the last day (John 12:48).

Contents of the Bible. The Bible has two main parts: The Old Testament (OT) books are from the time before Jesus. The New Testament (NT) contains books about the life of Jesus and about and from the years after Jesus. Though some receive more, all Christians receive 39 books as making up the OT. All Christians agree that the NT contains 27 books.

The central figure in the Bible is Jesus Christ. The scriptures testify about him (John 5:39), that he is the way, the truth and the life. The OT tells of his coming. The NT tells that he has come, and that he will one day return.

Origin of the Bible. The Bible is God's word. It is what God has spoken and revealed to mankind. God spoke through prophets, through his son Jesus Christ, and through the apostles. While on some occasions, God spoke directly to men, more often, holy men were moved, or led, by the Holy Spirit as they spoke and/or wrote to men on behalf of God (2 Peter 1:21).

The word or message that God spoke through men has been written down. Though it came through men, it came from God, and so we rightly call the Bible God's word. In some cases, the message was first spoken and then written down at a later time, such as the prophets', apostles' or Jesus' preaching. In other cases, the message was first written, such as the epistles of the NT written by the apostles.

On rare occasions, God himself spoke to men and even wrote down the word he spoke. At Mount Sinai, God spoke the Ten Commandments in an audible voice to the people, and then wrote them himself on the stone tablets. At Jesus' baptism (Matthew 3:17), and again at his transfiguration on the mount (Matthew 17:5), God spoke in an audible voice from heaven so that men could hear. When the apostles wrote down the Gospel story, they included these words spoken directly by God.

The purpose. The Bible is God's word. It is God's word to us. He did not give it for our ears and eyes alone. Nor was it given only for our minds to think on and understand. Though eyes and ears and understanding are important and even necessary (Isaiah 6:9-10), God gave his word that we may hear and do it (Matthew 7:24-27).

Do we fear, honor and love God? Then we will listen to and obey his word. In that hearing and obeying, we will find his word to be spirit and life, we will find our feet on a solid foundation. On the other hand, if we do not obey God's word, whether we ignore it or search through it daily, we will have no solid foundation here and will find God's word to be our judge at the last day (John 12:48). What we do with God's word reflects what we think of God.

Suggestions:

To open the lesson, pray for the teacher and the students.

Let the children know that we will have a few lessons on the Bible. In this lesson, we will give a very brief introduction to the Bible and tell where it came from.

Begin by telling about the two parts of the Bible (the OT and NT). Ask them if they know the two parts. What is the difference between the two parts?

Ask them who is the main person in the Bible? Explain simply to the children that the OT points forward to Jesus, that he will come, and the NT tells us that he has come and will come again.

Explain that the Bible is God's word. Ask the children if they know how we got the Bible. Where did it come from? Perhaps make a list on the board as they give correct answers. (Prophets, apostles, people wrote it down.)

Pick one of the stories below about God calling the prophets to speak for him to the people. Tell it to the children. This is one person through whom God spoke, and through whom we received the Bible.

Finally, read Matthew 7:24-27. What did Jesus say we should do with his word? (Hear and do.)

To close the lesson, pray with the children and have all the children read the Lord's prayer together.

Stories:

How three prophets were called to speak God's word to the people:

Isaiah 6:1-13 [1] In the year that king Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple. [2] Above him stood the seraphim. Each one had six wings. With two he covered his face. With two he covered his feet. With two he flew. [3] One called to another, and said, “Holy, holy, holy, is Yahweh of Armies! The whole earth is full of his glory!” [4] The foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. [5] Then I said, “Woe is me! For I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for my eyes have seen the King, Yahweh of Armies!” [6] Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar. [7] He touched my mouth with it, and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away, and your sin forgiven.” [8] I heard the Lord’s voice, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am. Send me!” [9] He said, “Go, and tell this people, ‘You hear indeed, but don’t understand; and you see indeed, but don’t perceive.’ [10] Make the heart of this people fat. Make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn again, and be healed.” [11] Then I said, “Lord, how long?” He answered, “Until cities are waste without inhabitant, and houses without man, and the land becomes utterly waste, [12] And Yahweh has removed men far away, and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land. [13] If there is a tenth left in it, that also will in turn be consumed: as a terebinth, and as an oak, whose stock remains when they are felled; so the holy seed is its stock.”

Jeremiah 1:4-10 [4] Now Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, [5] “Before I formed you in the belly, I knew you. Before you came out of the womb, I sanctified you. I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” [6] Then I said, “Ah, Lord Yahweh! Behold, I don’t know how to speak; for I am a child.” [7] But Yahweh said to me, “Don’t say, ‘I am a child;’ for to whoever I shall send you, you shall go, and whatever I shall command you, you shall speak. [8] Don’t be afraid because of them; for I am with you to deliver you,” says Yahweh. [9] Then Yahweh stretched out his hand, and touched my mouth; and Yahweh said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. [10] Behold, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”

Ezekiel 2:8-10 [8] But you, son of man, hear what I tell you; don’t be rebellious like that rebellious house: open your mouth, and eat that which I give you. [9] When I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me; and, behold, a scroll of a book was therein; [10] He spread it before me: and it was written within and without; and there were written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.

Ezekiel 3:1-4 [1] He said to me, Son of man, eat that which you find. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel. [2] So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat the scroll. [3] He said to me, Son of man, cause your belly to eat, and fill your bowels with this scroll that I give you. Then I ate it; and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. [4] He said to me, Son of man, go to the house of Israel, and speak my words to them.

More Stories and Examples:

Other Verses:

BUILT ON APOSTLES AND PROPHETS

Ephesians 2:19-22 [19] So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, [20] being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone; [21] in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; [22] in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.

2 Peter 3:1-2 [1] This is now, beloved, the second letter that I have written to you; and in both of them I stir up your sincere mind by reminding you; [2] that you should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandments of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior:

1 John 4:6 We are of God. He who knows God listens to us. He who is not of God doesn’t listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Jude 1:17 But you, beloved, remember the words which have been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.

WRITTEN BY PROPHETS AND APOSTLES, BY HOLY MEN OF GOD

Moses

Deuteronomy 31:24-29 [24] When Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished, [25] Moses commanded the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, saying, [26] “Take this book of the law, and put it by the side of the ark of the covenant of Yahweh your God, that it may be there for a witness against you. [27] For I know your rebellion, and your stiff neck. Behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, you have been rebellious against Yahweh. How much more after my death? [28] Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to witness against them. [29] For I know that after my death you will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will happen to you in the latter days; because you will do that which is evil in the sight of Yahweh, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.”

[see also Exodus 24:4; Numbers 33:2; Deuteronomy 31:9; Joshua 8:32; Mark 12:19; Luke 20:28; John 1:45; 5:46]

Moses, the man of God

Deuteronomy 33:1; Joshua 14:6; 1 Chronicles 23:14; 2 Chronicles 30:16; Ezra 3:2;

1 Chronicles 29:29 Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the history of Samuel the seer, and in the history of Nathan the prophet, and in the history of Gad the seer,

[see also 2 Chronicles 9:29; 12:15; 13:22; 20:34; (24:27); 33:19]

2 Chronicles 26:22 Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, wrote.

2 Chronicles 32:32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his good deeds, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz, in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 36:4,18,27,32; 45:1; 51:60

Daniel

Daniel 7:1

The Prophets (Major and Minor)

Most of the books begin by stating in some way that the word of the Lord came to or through the prophet.

Luke

Luke 1:1-4; Acts 1:1

John

John 21:24

Paul, James, Peter, John, Jude

All wrote letters, and most included their name at the beginning or end or both.

Peter

2 Peter 3:1

FROM GOD

2 Timothy 3:14-17 [14] But you remain in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them. [15] From infancy, you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. [16] Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, [17] that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Hebrews 1:1-2 [1] God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, [2] has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds.

2 Peter 1:16-21 [16] For we did not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. [17] For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” [18] We heard this voice come out of heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain. [19] We have the more sure word of prophecy; and you do well that you heed it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns, and the morning star arises in your hearts: [20] knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation. [21] For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit.

GOD SPOKE AND/OR WROTE

Exodus 20:1-3 [1] God spoke all these words, saying, [2] “I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. [3] “You shall have no other gods before me.

God spoke the Ten Commandments in the hearing of all the children of Israel at Mount Sinai. Not only did he speak them, but he also wrote them down on two tablets of stone.

Exodus 31:18 He gave to Moses, when he finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony, stone tablets, written with God’s finger.

[Exodus 24:12]

Also, God spoke to Moses, who wrote down what God said.

HEAR AND DO

Matthew 7:24-27 [24] “Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock. [25] The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it didn’t fall, for it was founded on the rock. [26] Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn’t do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand. [27] The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”

Romans 2:13 For it isn’t the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified

John 5:37-40 [37] The Father himself, who sent me, has testified about me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form. [38] You don’t have his word living in you; because you don’t believe him whom he sent. [39] “You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify about me. [40] Yet you will not come to me, that you may have life.