All Things Bible

[OneLight]

On this thread, please tell me about the Bible: perhaps a brief history;

Phew, there are a lot of questions, but I will answer them the best I can. A brief history will be added to the end ...

1. Why only certain books were accepted into the canon?

There had been many additions and removals of certain text through out the church age, depending on what council you look at and what time period. This was done but examining the text to see if it lined up with the scripture they had at the time, called the Tanakh. Some books in the LXX (Septuagint) are good for historical use and was not considered inspired by God. Some contradicted the majority of scripture, some of these are called the lost books of the bible. How these councils decided what was inspired by God or not was through much fasting, prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

2. Who actually compiled its pages;

I am not sure what you mean by compiled. If you are asking who considered what we have as scripture today, this was through different councils as I mentioned above.

3. What is the best method of studying its treasures;

That depends on how you learn. For me, I do a subject study. Say I want to learn about baptism, I search all the scriptures that have anything to do with baptism, put them together (in context) and study what I have in front of me. When something does not line up because of certain wording, I look into what the word means through the Greek Word Study Dictionary about that certain verse. Learning also comes as I just read scripture and the Holy Spirit points something out to me and how it pertains to my life.

4. What Bible study tools and aids have you found most useful

Interlinear Bible that uses the critical text method; KJV - NKJV - ASB - NASB; Strong's Concordance; Complete Word Study Dictionaries for both Hebrew and Greek; other text that describes the culture at that time.

5. Why you love these ancient books

They are Gods words to us, taught through His Spirit and are life saving and life giving.

6. How best to protect our correct understanding of the Bible

By listening to the Holy Spirit when someone brings in something new. I do this through placing what they bring beside scripture to see if it lines up or not.

7. Is it even possible to truly understand ALL of its pages

Not until we are with Christ. 1 Cor 13 tells us that we look through a glass darkly, not having a full understanding.

8. How to determine what is parable and what is literal

They are in story form.

9. A brief description of how Biblical symbolism and foreshadowing should be sought and studied

I don't search for them. Some do to obtain what they call "mystical understanding", if I understand what you are asking ...

10, How the Bible changed your life

I once was dead, now I am alive. My testimony would be far to long to put here.

11. What Scripture did our Lord have at His fingers, and how did He employ it

Scripture does not tell us what scripture He used. It was either the Tanakh or the LXX, from what I have been shown.

12. Where on the Worthy forums is study of Scripture done most

All over ... there is a Study Group forum that only those in ministry can start, but all are welcome to reply and ask questions.

13. Who on Worthy are some of your most trusted teachers

God will show you by reading their posts. Listen to His Spirit.

perhaps a brief history ... and anything else you might wish to tell me or others about the Word of God.

Here is an easy read .. http://www.allaboutthejourney.org/history-of-the-bible.htm

Pray before studying, listen to the Holy Spirit, ask Him to lead you to someone who has been given the office of teacher, ask questions and follow directions.

Thank you all so very much ahead of time for your replies. Just answer in part, whatever questions interest you. I'm all ears. (or eyes) I may simply rest on this thread alone for awhile. Please feed me. I'm hungry for sound doctrine and Truth; help me reach the shore.

~Gentlewind

Nite!

[Shiloh62]

I would like to dedicate this thread, in a general way, to the collection of books and letters we call the Bible. Recently, (on another site which I have finally abandoned) I have been witness to the many ways people can approach the Bible with ill intent: Some will cherry-pick verses to support doctrine they wish to be true. Some seek to twist the verses to mean things they were never meant to mean. Some claim to have an understanding of the Bible all their own, and further claim their understanding is the only true interpretation. Some add to the Bible, some subtract. I have been cast into a sea of confusion. Perhaps though, God allowed me to almost drown in this confusion, that He might hold out a hand to me, as He did to Peter, that I might be brought safely to shore, learning never to take my eyes off Him again.

Scripture should be our safe harbor in the faith. As 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us:

^{All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God (or woman ) may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.}

While it is true that the Bible in printed, compiled form did not always exist, God has seen fit that, at some point, the Bible come into existence that we might search, study, and learn directly from its pages. I have some basic New Testament knowledge, and I've read the Bible cover to cover once; but, with the help of those on this site, I would like to go deeper and study Scripture in its entirety. I have come to understand why Worthy is Bible based, why Worthy keeps watch to be sure only sound doctrine enters its forums, and above all why we must protect our understanding carefully, and work hard to not be led astray.

On this thread, please tell me about the Bible: perhaps a brief history; why only certain books were accepted into the canon; who actually compiled its pages; what is the best method of studying its treasures; what Bible study tools and aids have you found most useful; why you love these ancient books; how best to protect our correct understanding of the Bible; is it even possible to truly understand ALL of its pages; how to determine what is parable and what is literal; a brief description of how Biblical symbolism and foreshadowing should be sought and studied; how the Bible changed your life; what Scripture did our Lord have at His fingers, and how did He employ it; where on the Worthy forums is study of Scripture done most; who on Worthy are some of your most trusted teachers; and anything else you might wish to tell me or others about the Word of God. (Wow! That was a lot of questions! )

Thank you all so very much ahead of time for your replies. Just answer in part, whatever questions interest you. I'm all ears. (or eyes) I may simply rest on this thread alone for awhile. Please feed me. I'm hungry for sound doctrine and Truth; help me reach the shore.

~Gentlewind

Only those books that were inspired by God were included.

[thehopefulcry2]

I find it simply amazing of how different I interrupt the Bible now than when I was a teenager. I have "read some scriptures that I've read many times that i just read for the "first" time. Its amazing how certain scriptures stay the same (same words) but can mean something totally different with education and aging...

[Blien]

onelight that was great

[Blien]

I find it simply amazing of how different I interrupt the Bible now than when I was a teenager. I have "read some scriptures that I've read many times that i just read for the "first" time. Its amazing how certain scriptures stay the same (same words) but can mean something totally different with education and aging...

The bible is like an onion there are many layers! Have you ever noticed, for example, how similar Jesus and Joseph are symbolicaly speaking?

[OneLight]

I find it simply amazing of how different I interrupt the Bible now than when I was a teenager. I have "read some scriptures that I've read many times that i just read for the "first" time. Its amazing how certain scriptures stay the same (same words) but can mean something totally different with education and aging...

This is what I meant by scripture giving life. It is the living word of God and can be applied in many different situations to many different people. Even though they are set in stone, so to speak, they are not dead as stone.

[Gentlewind]

Thanks, OneLight, for the patience to answer my questions! Very kind of you.