Posts Tagged "Inspiration"
This Month in the Middle (October 2009)
Each month this entry provides a categorized listing of the posts from the prior month. So, here is the (slightly delayed) “This Month in the Middle”for October 2009! Make sure you check out our Index Page as well.
Top Ten Christian Books for Kids Series
- Top Ten Christian Children’s Books [10/08/2009]
- #10 – Arch Series Books (Top Ten Christian Books for Kids) [10/09/2009]
- #9 – Big Truths for Young Hearts (Top Ten Christian Books for Kids) [10/12/2009]
- #8 – My First Study Bible (Top Ten Christian Books for Kids) [10/13/2009]
- #7 – His Little Princess (Top Ten Christian Books for Kids) [10/15/2009]
- #6 – Big Thoughts For Little Thinkers (Top Ten Christian Books for Kids) [10/16/2009]
- #5 – The Memory Bible (Top Ten Christian Books for Kids) [10/19/2009]
- #4 – The Adventurers Bible for Early Readers (Top Ten Christian Books for Kids) [10/20/2009]
- #3 – Growing With Jesus (Top Ten Christian Books for Kids) [10/21/2009]
- #2 – The Jesus Storybook Bible (Top Ten Christian Books for Kids) [10/22/2009]
- #1 – ESV Children’s Bible (Top Ten Christian Books for Kids) [10/23/2009]
- Honorable Mention (Top Ten Christian Books for Kids) [10/29/2009]
Come Ye’ Children Synopsis
- What Mean Ye’ By This Service? (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 9) [10/02/2009]
- Samuel and His Teachers (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 10) [10/30/2009]
Why I Believe the Bible #11 (The Honesty of the Bible About Its Authors and Heroes)
The Bible is a brutally honest book. One of the things that it is most honest and forthright about is the character flaws of its authors and main characters. The Bible focuses on reality and how God works through the weaknesses of those he created to accomplish his plan. It does not concentrate on fantasy.
If the Bible were strictly a human endeavor, one would have expected its authors to exclude their own flaws from the story and the flaws of their patriarchs. Far from excluding such information the Bible is replete with the sins of its writers. It reveals both the good and the evil, the best and the worst, the hope and despair and the joy and pain of its authors.
The exhaustive look at the examples of this honest treatment of its characters would be way to long for this article, but let’s look a number of examples.
Old Testament Examples
Read MoreWhy I Believe the Bible #10 (Eyewitness Evidence)
At the time it was written, the Bible was widely circulated and viewed by eyewitnesses to the events it records. As regards the New Testament, fragments of 5 books have been found from within 35 years of Jesus’ death. These eyewitnesses would have been in a position to refute what the authors had written and the lack of any such refutation provides further evidence for the reliability of the Bible.
In his letter to the church in Corinth, Paul explains that Jesus appeared to 500 and disciples and makes a point that many of them are still alive.
Read MoreThen he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. [1 Corinthians 15:6-8 ESV]
Why I Believe the Bible #09B (The Process of Canonization – The New Testament)
Like the Old Testament, the canon of the New Testament was not determined by man. Rather the Canon of the New Testament was determined by God, generally accepted by the church, and finally confirmed by man.
The Test of Apostleship
In order for a book to become part of the New Testament, one of the criteria was that the book had to be authored either directly by an apostle (like Matthew, John and Paul’s Epistles) or by someone close to an apostle (like Luke or Mark or Jude). The authority of the apostles to deliver God’s Word was recognized by many and is acknowledged in the New Testament itself.
In the book of Acts, we are told of Cornelius sent to Peter in order to hear the word of God:
Read MoreAnd they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.” [Acts 10:22 ESV]
Why I Believe the Bible #09A (The Process of Canonization – The Old Testament)
Canon means “standardized.” In terms of the Bible, the Canon is the accepted list of books included in the Bible. Many have argued that a group of men got together at some point in history to determine which books should and should not be included in the Bible. To the contrary, God determined which books would be included in his Word and man simply confirmed what was already accepted as the canon of Scripture.
Due to differences between the Old and New Testaments and the authority by which they were canonized, I am splitting this section into two parts:
- 9A – Deals with the Canonization of the Old Testament
- 9B – Deals with the Canonization of the New Testament
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