Beginner Bible Study Day 1

Introduction to the Bible and its Reliability

• The Bible is a collection of 66 books divided into the Old Testament and the New Testament, representing diverse literary genres.
• The Old Testament serves as the historical and spiritual heritage of the Jewish people, providing moral and ethical guidance, and emphasizing the covenant between God and the Jewish people.
• The Old Testament includes the Pentateuch (or Torah), historical books, wisdom and poetry books, major and minor prophets.
• The process of transmitting the Old Testament involved meticulous copying by scribes, with the Septuagint being the Greek translation.
• The reliability of the Old Testament is supported by historical corroboration, manuscript evidence, fulfillment of prophecies, cultural continuity, and consistency over time.
• Archaeological and historical findings corroborate events, locations, and people mentioned in the Old Testament.
• The Old Testament has a wealth of ancient manuscripts, including the Dead Sea Scrolls, which confirm its preservation and consistency.
• The Jewish community's cultural and religious connection to the Old Testament supports its reliability.
• The Masoretic Text is a meticulously preserved Hebrew text of the Old Testament, standardized by Jewish scribes between the 7th and 10th centuries CE.
• The period of 400 years of silence saw Persian rule, Hellenistic influence, the Maccabean revolt, and the rise of the Roman Empire, which set the stage for the emergence of Christianity.
• The New Testament begins with the Gospels, which narrate the life, teachings, miracles, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• The New Testament emphasizes salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and concludes with the Book of Revelation, which contains apocalyptic visions and prophecies.