By Robert D. Irby

Introduction:

Most people in our country readily give agreement that the Bible is unquestionably the Word of God.  Generally we accept this conclusion as a result of childhood training withoutgiving too much thought to why we believe this to be true.

Some people just as readily state that they cannot accept this conclusion.  They affirm that the Bible is a good book, but only in the sense that many other books are good books.  The Bible, they say, was written by men, who if inspired at all, were inspired only with an inspiration comparable to that with which Shakespeare was inspired.

The purpose of this lesson is to examine a small portion of evidence, both INTERNAL and EXTERNAL, which should help us to more intelligently determine what we believe and why we believe it.

Discussion:

                                            INTERNAL EVIDENCE

  I.  By internal evidence we mean that which the Bible has said about itself.

     We would not expect one who does not believe the Bible to be God inspired to be convinced by this evidence for obvious reasons.  We simply submit it here in laying the foundation to which we shall refer when we examine the EXTERNAL evidence.

 II.  THE EVIDENCE

     1.  II Peter 1:20-21;  2.  II Timothy 3:16-17;  3.  I Peter 1:23;  4.  Ephesians 1:3-4

III.  AN OBSERVATION

     In view of what the foregoing scriptures teach, if God is not the unquestionable Author of the Bible, then the Bible is not a good book.

                                           EXTERNAL EVIDENCE

I BELIEVE THAT GOD IS THE AUTHOR OF THE BIBLE BECAUSE:

  I.  The Bible tells man to do so many things that he does not want to do.

     1.  To love his enemy, and to bless them that curse him.  (Matthew 5: 44)  What man ever had a natural inclination to love his enemy?  Do you?

     2.  To be kindly affectionate one to another with brotherly love.  (Romans 12:10)

         a.  The natural man could never have written that!  Why?  Because there is too much envy, hate and jealousy in his natural make-up.  These characteristics make him eager to hear and to pass on to others any information about his rival.  Man's tendency is too debase his rival while at the same time exalting himself.

 II.  Because the Bible tells man not to do so many things he wants to do.

     1.  He is told not to do his alms before men, to be seen of them, for if he does there is no reward in Heaven  (Matthew 6:1)

     2.  He is told not to lay up treasures for himself on earth and place his confidence in material things, but rather to properly place the emphasis where Christ put it in Heavenly things.  (Matthew 6:19)

III.  Because the Bible records things that man has done which man himself would never have recorded about himself.

     1.  David and Bathsheba  (II Samuel 11) 

     2.  Ammon and Tamar  (II Samuel 13)

     Thus, within three chapters of the Bible, there is a record that shall never be obliterated from history of man caught in the most sinful condition.  There is here recorded two accounts of adultery resulting in two murders.  the two men involved were father and son!

IV.  Because of the peculiar circumstances from which the Bible had its origin.

     1.  Altogether, about 40 different men were engaged in the writing of the Bible.

     2.  A period of about 1500 years in time was involved while the Bible was being written.  Many of these men never saw one another, yet there is found in this book a degree of harmony between writers that could not possibly exist had it not been inspired. (See Isaiah 2:2-22; Matthew 16:18; Luke 24:46-47)

Conclusion:

I believe that God is the author of the Bible because men could not have written it.  The Bible is God's book.  It reveals His will to man.  Man should study it to gain wisdom, digest it to enjoy the greatest satisfaction and peace of mind known to man, to obey it to insure his salvation and teach it to others for their salvation (Romans 1:16)

What is Baptism?

Glad Tidings 05-13-2004

Topic(s)--> Baptism, Salvation

“Baptize” is not an English word. It is a Greek word lifted out of the Greek text and inserted into our English Bibles. Other Greek words were translated into English; that is, their meanings in Greek were transferred into understandable equivalents in the English language. But the word “baptize” was not translated, but transliterated instead. They simply spelled out the Greek word in characters of the English alphabet. Therefore, we have baptize in place of baptizo.

If the meaning of the Greek word had been given, it would have been rendered as “immersion, dipping, or submersing.” Another Greek word, luou, means “to wash the body;” another, rantizo, means “to sprinkle;” and yet another, cheo, means “to pour.” None of these words is used with reference to the ordinance Christ commanded relating to salvation. Even though the Greek words for pour, sprinkle, and wash appear in the Greek New Testament, none is transliterated, all of these are translated.

What explanation can be given for this irregular procedure on the part of the translators of the Bible? A quick review of religious history gives the answer. For many centuries, only immersion was practiced. At first sprinkling was introduced only as a convenience for the terminally ill and even this was met with great opposition by most in the church. It was not until the fourteenth century that the Roman Church authorized sprinkling or pouring as substitutes for the act of immersion. The Greek Orthodox Church, which split from the Roman Church in 1054 A.D., continue to use immersion. Because this newer practice was attended with greater convenience, it came into general acceptance not only in the Roman Church, but also in the Church of England which broke away from Rome in the seventeenth century.

It was during this time that an English translation of the Bible was authorized by “The most High and Mighty Prince James, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith...” (see the preface in King James Version Bibles.) This version of 1611 A.D. came into common usage of English-speaking people around the world. By this time the majority of religious people were being sprinkled instead of immersed. To have translated the Greek word baptizo would have been extremely offensive to the dignitaries of both church and state, the Church of England being the official state church. Thus, the true and undisputed meaning of the word baptizo was obscured by transliteration.

The practice of pouring and sprinkling as a substitute for immersion has continued in the religious world; financial pressures lead translators and publishers of the Bible to follow the path of transliteration begun by the King James Version. Publishers of modern speech English translations confess their fear of offending should they translate instead of transliterating this significant command of Christ.

None of the English Versions, new or old, translate baptizo. In fact, one translation started by a southern denomination would not translate the word since it would take their name out of the Bible, even though they practiced immersion.

“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” —Romans 6:4

-- Original article at www.housetohouse.com --

Exasperated Children

Topic(s) --> Child Rearing

Paul wrote, “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). What are some ways we can exasperate (provoke) our children?

• “Over-parenting” (smothering).

• Showing favoritism: “Why can’t you be more like your brother (sister)?” Jacob made this mistake (cf. Gen. 37).

• Forcing our unfulfilled dreams on them.

• Overly-criticizing and/or withholding approval. We can focus so much on what they aren’t doing, that we don’t see what they are doing. One said, “A father needs to be on his child’s team—not on his back” (cf. Rm. 14:19).

• Making them feel unimportant. Some parents send this message to their children: “I need career fulfillment now.  Sometimes I have to choose between my kids and my work. The children just have to understand” (cf. Tit. 2:4, 5). Spending time with our children is the best way to show our love (Eph. 5:16). Spending time says more and means more than spending money. Money can buy a toy, but without a momma or daddy to play with, toys are no fun.
  
  -- Original article at www.housetohouse.com --