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Bible 101: Getting Started Using a Bible

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  • Nehemiah 8:1-8 – When these people needed a spiritual revival, they went back to the word of God.
    • What is the Bible?

    • A collection of 66 books

      • The word “Bible” comes from the Latin “Biblia” which simply means “books.”

      • Written over 1500 years

      • 40 different authors

      • Inspired by God

        • II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20-21

        • Apologetics Press: Behold the Word of God (PDF)

        • Different styles and genres

        • Two major parts:

          • Old Testament, 39 books (Genesis – Malachi)
            • History of creation and God’s dealings with man, specifically following the nation of Israel.
            • New Testament, 27 books (Matthew – Revelation)
              • Story of Jesus and the inspired people who carried His message to the world after His crucifixion.
                • How do I find my way around?
                • Parts of a Bible reference: book, chapter, and verse
                • There are five books with only one chapter: Obadiah, Philemon, II John, III John, and Jude
                  • Which translation is best?

                  • Old Testament: Hebrew (some Aramaic)

                  • New Testament: Greek

                  • Example of translation issues:

                    • II John 1:12 – Greek: stoma pros stoma (mouth to mouth)

                    • Translation philosophy: word-for-word vs thought-for-thought

                      • Example: Romans 13:4

                      • Recommended word-for-word translations:

                        • NASB-1995 (New American Standard Bible, 1995 edition)

                        • ESV (English Standard Version)

                        • NKJV (New King James Version)

                        • KJV (King James Version)

                          Which type of Bible should I use?

                          • Arrangement of the text

                            • Verse-by-verse

                            • Paragraph

                            • Journaling or wide-margin Bibles

                            • Daily reading Bibles

                            • Parallel Bible

                            • Extra material added

                              • Maps

                              • Concordance

                              • Reference Bible

                              • Study Bible

                              • Devotional Bible

                              • Children’s Bible

                              • Features

                                • Red-letter

                                • Large print

                                • Cover

                                • Paper

                                • Foreword/preface

                                • Italics

                                • SMALL CAPS

                                • A reference Bible is the primary workhorse. If you only get one Bible, get a reference Bible.

                                • Other types of Bibles are helpful for particular purposes or types of study.

                                  Now what?

                                  • Get a Bible!

                                    • Get a good translation as a reference Bible.

                                    • Christianbook.com

                                    • Read it!

                                      • Fivedaybiblereading.com

                                      • Study and apply it!

                                        • Local church

                                        • Benchley.org – What does the Bible say?

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                                          ScriptureStreamBy Mark Watson
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