You can KNOW the Gospel.
You can KNOW the Truth yourself.
You can HAVE Eternal life.
The Message of the Bible is IN the Bible and you can get it by yourself because…
1) The Holy Spirit dwells in you.
2) There are No Spiritually Elite people.
3) There is NO Insider information.
4) You can DISCERN between Truth and Error.
(Shortened message from James McDonald heard on the radio, Walk in the Word.)
Basic Information About the Bible:
a) The Bible has 66 books, written, by 40 authors, covering a period of approximately 1500 years.
b) The Bible was written in three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek.
c) The word ‘Bible’ came from the Greek word Bibleous, which is the plural form of ‘biblos’ (book). It is really a collection of books.
d) The Bible is divided into two parts called ‘Testaments’ or ‘Covenants’.
– The Old – God’s covenant with Israel at Mount Sinai.
– The New – God’s covenant with the world at Mount Calvary.
e) Chapters and Verses? – Originally None
Chapter Divisions: Around 1200 AD by Stephen Langdon.
Verse Divisions: Around 1560 AD by the Geneva Bible (English).
Who Wrote The Bible:
a) Conservative Christian Scholars affirm that God (Jesus) wrote the Bible. (2 Peter 1:20,21 “Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit“. 2 Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God”. (breathed out)
b) Date of Writing: Old Testament – Earliest– the Penteteuch, Moses, 1400 BC…. Last – Malachi, 400 BC
New Testament – Earliest – James, about 45 AD (15 years after Christ died)… Last – John to Revelation, about 95 AD.
The Bible was collected as we have it by about 250 AD.
IF THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD:
God has chosen to reveal Himself and His program for mankind.
It surely is the most important book in all the libraries of the world.
You can be certain how to live pleasing to God.
It is worth all the effort that you might expend in seeking to learn its truths.
HOW AND WHERE TO DISCERN THE TRUTH
If you do not have a Bible, have problems with reading, or cannot afford a Bible, you can obtain one from a Bible-believing Church; a Christian book store; By Phone or the Internet- The Gideons; The Canadian/American Bible Society; Join a Library; Bible CD’s or Tapes; Study the Bible daily on line at biblegateway.com; rbc.org; crosswalk.com; and so many others.
I urge you to seek the Truth for yourself.