Introduction:

Why have a study on how we got the Bible?

1. Christianity is based on the Bible.
2. We must be able to have confidence in the Bible.
3. We ought to be able to give an answer to those who ask us why we believe in the Bible.

What we will and will not be able to do in this class.

• We will:
  1. Look at fundamental background information on the subject.
  2. Discuss information presented, along with other information gained in previous personal study.
  3. Suggest books for further study.
  
  
• We will not:
  1. Be able to cover every aspect of this subject.
  2. Or answer every question you may have.

Therefore, for the class to be as beneficial as possible, it is going to require certain things from all of us as a class.

1. Prayer: God wants us to understand this subject, but He also wants us to pray for His blessings in this endeavor.
2. Patience: For at least one area of our study (translations) it will require patience with one another.
3. Passion: To know how we got the Bible (assignments will be given as we go along, if we have the proper passion to understand this subject, that should not be a problem).

Questions For Lesson #1

1. Which, of the following, is a major question you have concerning how we got the Bible?
   • How and when did the books of the Bible have their origin?
   • How have these books been preserved?
   • When, and by whom, were they translated and made accessible to us?
   • What has been the effect of recent discoveries on these books?
   • Other?
   
   
2. What is the first known form of writing, and how long ago was it used?
   
3. Did an alphabetical type of writing exist in the times of Moses, and why does it matter?
   
4. What were some of the writing materials that were used in ancient times?
   Describe them, and how they were used.
   
5. What was a commonly used writing material in O.T. times, on which the Jews wrote the law?
   
6. What was the N.T. probably written on, and why?
   
7. Papyrus was eventually replaced with vellum as the commonly used writing material. What is vellum, and what advantage would it have over papyrus?
   
8. What is the difference between a scroll and a codex?
   
9. The Bible, today, is divided into two major parts known as the ___ and the ___ testaments. The Bible was written over a period of _______ years, by ___ different writers.
   
10. Who was the first writer of some of the N.T. books?
    
11. Were the N.T. books combined as a single volume at first?

1. Define the following terms:
   • Uncials ________________________________________________
     
   • Cursives________________________________________________ (minuscules)
     
   • Extant ________________________________________________
   
   
   
2. Do research on the following manuscripts, giving: their age, importance, and how complete they are.
   • Vaticanus ________________________________________________
     
   • Sinaiticus ________________________________________________
     
   • Alexandrinus________________________________________________
     
   • Ephraemi ________________________________________________
   
   
3. Study the Massoretes: their work, precautions they used in scribing, etc.
   
   
4. Read as much as you can concerning the Dead Sea Scrolls.
   
   Suggested Books
   • A General Introduction To The Bible - Giesler and Nix
   • The New Testament Documents - Are They Reliable? - F.F. Bruce
   • The Canon Of The Scriptures - F.F. Bruce
   • Evidence That Demands A Verdict - Josh McDowell
   • The Origin Of The Bible - Philip Wesley
   • How We Got The Bible - Neil R. Lightfoot
   • How We Got the Bible (set of 4-study books) - Dan R. Owen
   
   
   Books Suggested For Research
   • International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
   • Zondervan Pictoral Encyclopedia
   • N.T. Survey Merrill C. Tenny
   • [Any standard Bible Dictionary]