Session 1: Lesson 1 - The Bible is Inspired by God
Is the Bible more than a book? Could it be inspired by God?
As you come to this session, take a moment to pause, to breathe and ask God to be with you.
Watch
Read
2 Timothy 3.14–17
14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Review
Andrew uses the illustration of St Paul’s Cathedral to show that the Bible is both inspired by God and written by human authors.
Click to reveal how these three translations of 2 Timothy 3.16 capture this idea.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. (ESV)
Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another – showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. (The Message)
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness ... (NIV)
The Bible was written by a diverse range of authors (including fishermen, a doctor, kings, prophets and uneducated people) and yet the Bible forms a coherent story.
Do you know who wrote the four books below?
Doctor Luke travelled with the Apostle Paul and investigated eyewitness sources in order to write his Gospel (Luke’s Gospel).
Solomon was the son of David and Bathsheba. The Temple was built during his reign as King of Israel.
John was a former fisherman and one of Jesus’ closest disciples.
David was a shepherd, poet, warrior and a famous King of Israel.
Our word inspired literally means breathed into. The Bible may be a collection of texts written by different authors across many centuries, but each of these voices contributes to a harmonious whole. While God did not literally dictate the Bible, his Spirit breathes through its pages (2 Timothy 3.16). This is what gives the inspired Word of God its unity and the authority to speak into our daily lives.
‘Inspiration is a shorthand way of talking about the belief that by his Spirit, God guided the very different writers and editors, so that the books they produced were the books God intended his people to have.’
Reflect
Look again at these verses:
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3.16-17, ESV).
Which of the words highlighted do you need God to help you with as you journey through The Bible Course?
Lord, I give you thanks for the Bible, inspired by your Spirit. I ask that you will deepen my knowledge and love for your precious word. Amen.
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Session 1: Lesson 2 - The Bible is a library
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Introducing the Bible, an amazing collection of ancient books
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