Episodes
Wednesday Oct 31, 2018
The Bible Story: Why It Was Written (Luke 1:1-4)
Wednesday Oct 31, 2018
Wednesday Oct 31, 2018
Series: The Bible Story
Sermon: Why It Was Written
Scripture: Luke 1:1-4
Date: October 28, 2018
Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed. (Luke 1:1-4)
"The Bible is a unique book. It is one of the oldest books in the world, and yet it is still the world's bestseller. Tyrants have burned the Bible, and believers revere it. It is the most quoted, the most published, the most translated, and the most influential book in the history of humankind." -Norman Geisler
The Bible was written over a period of roughly 1500 years by around 40 different authors from three continents, who wrote in three different languages. These facts alone make the Bible one of a kind, but there are many more amazing details that defy natural explanation.
Shepherds, kings, scholars, fishermen, prophets, a military general, a cupbearer, and a priest all penned portions of Scripture. They had different immediate purposes for writing, whether recording history, giving spiritual and moral instruction, or pronouncing judgment.
They composed their works from palaces, prisons, the wilderness, and places of exile while writing history, laws, poetry, prophecy, and proverbs. In the process they laid bare their personal emotions, expressing anger, frustration, joy, and love.
Yet despite this marvelous array of topics and goals, the Bible displays a flawless internal consistency. It never contradicts itself or its common theme.
Stephen Langton, a professor at the University of Paris and later Archbishop of Canterbury, is credited with dividing the Bible into chapters in 1227. Verses were added in 1551 and 1555 by Robert Stephanus, a Paris printer.
Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us... (Luke 1:1)
...just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed. (Luke 1:2-4)
I am writing the greatest story in the world and nothing but the best is good enough for it.
"Luke, the companion of Paul, put down in a book the gospel preached by him." He also says, "Luke was not only a companion, but also a fellow-laborer of the apostles, especially of Paul." -St. Ireaneus (140-202)
The word "Theophilus" means a friend of God.
The title "most excellent" has by some been supposed to be given to express his character, but it is rather to be considered as denoting rank or office. It occurs only in three other places in the New Testament, and is there given to men in office - to Felix and Festus (Acts 23:26, 24:3, 26:25).
And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. (John 20:30-31)
For the New Testament, the biggest two criteria were (1) did it come from apostolic circles and (2) was it regularly read with profit in the churches.
After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea. (Colossians 4:16, NIV)
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. (Revelation 1:3, NIV)
...and consider that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation - as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. (2 Peter 3:15-16)
"In fact, within about two hundred years after the first century, not only every book but nearly every verse of the New Testament was cited in one or more of the Fathers (the church leaders in the first 2-8 centuries after the apostles died) - over thirty-six thousand citations by the Fathers." -Norman Geisler
Around AD 240, Origen mentioned the 27 New Testament books by name, which he called "trumpets hammered thin," a charming image of a loud anthem played on the thin pages of the Bible.
Athanasius (296-373) wrote a customary Easter Letter as bishop of Alexandria, in which he took up the subject of the New Testament canon. By this stage, however, the process had matured fully and Athanasius could list each of the 27 books of the New Testament as being canonized.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1)
Once discussions resulted in the recognition of the 27 canonical books of the New Testament canon, there have been no moves within Christendom to add to it or take away from it.
The New Testament is far and away the best attested book of ancient history.
Jesus is the reason for the Bible. While Jesus did not write the Bible or any of its books, He is the reason it exists; He is the reason for it. If Jesus had been crucified and not risen from the dead, there would be no New Testament.
Most Christians over the centuries never had personal Bibles. Most were illiterate and only heard the Word during worship.
The average Chinese Bible lasts 3-5 years.
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