2 Timothy 3:14-17, “God-Breathed”

Intro: If you believe that God inspired the Bible (in other words, the very words are from him), then you should also have great confidence in the fact that the 66 books that comprise the Bible are in fact the exact ones that God intended to be in the Bible.

I. HOW DID THE BIBLE COME TO BE?

A). Old Testament

·       Written approximately 1500-400 B.C.

·       Starts when God tells Moses to write a Book

1). The Pentateuch (The Law): Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

2). The Historical Books: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chron, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther

3). The Wisdom and Poetic Books: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon

4). The Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

Jews would simply classify it as The Law, The Prophets, and the Writings.

1). Written approximately 1500-400 B.C.

2). Starts when God tells Moses to write a Book

B).  New Testament

1. End of 2^nd Century a “core” collection of 21 of 27 books forms

2. A.D. 240 – Origen lists all current 27 (some in dispute)

3. A.D. 367 – Athanasius the Bishop of Alexandria lists 27, no reservations.

4. 3 Church councils (Hippo in A.D. 393, Carthage in 397 & 419) confirm list.

Question: Why are these 27 books in the NT and others not? --Apostolic Authority

II. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE DO?

1. It saves us—1 Peter 1:23-25

2. It transforms us—1 Thessalonians 2:13

3. It equips us—2 Timothy 3:16-17