How We Got Our Bible (Pt.7)
By what authority did the early Christians add additional books to the canon of Holy Scripture? How did they recognise these additional books as Scripture? Why 27 books of the New Testament and not 26 or 28? If the Old Testament was attested to by no less authority than Jesus Christ Himself, then by what authority was the New Testament received? Did a council of bishops convene in the 4th century to decide which books would make up the New Testament? If not, then how did the New Testament come to be developed? We endeavour to answer these questions in this teaching, and as we shall see, the issue of the New Testament canon cannot be tackled without placing central, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself!!
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How We Got Our Bible (Pt.6)
This teaching focuses on the apocryphal books and asks the question, 'do they belong in the canon of Holy Scripture?'. Apocrypha is the name given to the 15 additional books that appear in some Bible translations which contain Jewish religious literature. If one was to pick up a KJV Bible today, one would turn the page from Malachi, past the page separating the Old and New Testaments, straight into the first chapter of Matthew’s Gospel. However, in the original KJV Bible of 1611, one would have turned from Malachi to 1 Esdras!! In fact, the Apocrypha was a part of the KJV for 274 years and was not removed until as late as 1885. If one picks up a Roman Catholic Bible today, one will find that it consists not of 66 books but of 73 books which includes some apocryphal books known as the deuterocanonical books. Do these books belong in our Bible and if not why not? What about the great mass of so-called lost books claiming to be from Bible characters, known as the Pseudepigrapha, such as the Book of Enoch, the Book of Noah, The Acts of John, The Gospel of Thomas etc.
We shall set out in this teaching to answer these questions along with many more.
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How We Got Our Bible (Pt.5)
In this part of our study on how we got our Bible, we now turn to look at the canon of the Bible. When we use the word canon, we don’t make reference to that large military weapon mounted on wheels for that is spelt cannon! Canon is defined as a general law, rule, principle, or criterion by which something is judged (Oxford Dictionaries). When the word is used in the context of the Bible, i.e. the Biblical canon then it refers to an accepted list of books that are considered to be authoritative Scripture coming from God. At the very heart of the issue of canon lies the question; How do I know that the books I have in my Bible are the books that are divinely inspired by God? It is this question that we will seek to place at the very heart of this teaching!! This teaching we will focus on the Old Testament canon.
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How We Got Our Bible (Pt.4)
We conclude this final part on the inspiration of the Bible by looking at Isaiah 53. This Messianic passage predicts with the most stunning precision and accuracy the person, mission and ministry of Messiah. So staggering and graphic is this passage that many Jews, though not all have sought to deflect it away from Messiah choosing instead to assert that it applies not to the suffering of Messiah but is allegorical of the suffering of Israel as a nation.
In this teaching we shall analyse this astounding passage and document the clear fulfilment of the many prophecies contained within this passage which could apply to none other than Jesus Christ of Nazareth. There is absolutely no doubt that this prophecy provides irrefutable proof that the Bible is indeed the Inspired Word of God!!
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How We Got Our Bible (Pt.3)
Without question, the foremost claim to the Bible being the Inspired Word of God is prophecy. No other religious book dares to do what the Bible does. A staggering 27% of the Bible (just over a ¼ ) is comprised of prophecy; that is, God goes down on record to state things that will happen prior to them happening so that when they come to pass you will know that what God said (past) was true and therefore what God says (future) is also true!!
In this teaching we begin to explore the breathtaking prophecies contained within the pages of the Bible, especially as they relate to Israel's Messiah.
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How We Got Our Bible (Pt. 2)
When we speak of the Bible being the inspired Word of God, how are we to understand this? Did God dictate word-for-word what He wanted written down so the writers of the Bible became human typewriters or did He make full use of their characters and personalities making full use their literary writing styles to bring into being His Word? Were the authors of the Bible conscience of the fact that they were penning the very Word of God or were they oblivious to this realty?
In this teaching we seek to answer these questions and many more as we explore the Biblical concept of inspiration and the evidence to support it from Archaeology.
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Alan shares a gripping testimony about the dangers of Reiki and the spiritual implications of practicing such energy healing techniques.
This message is part of The Sanctuary Conference 2014. For information about future conferences please visit:
http://www.sanctuaryconference.co.uk
Romans chapter 6
Paul brings a strong word calling the Body of Christ to holiness. There is much misunderstanding in the Body of Christ regarding what true holiness consists of. On one extreme there is a total absence of such a concept and on the other legalism abounds. Paul seeks to bring the balance through the sound teaching and exposition of Romans chapter 6 and surrounding chapters. May the Lord open your eyes and grant you grace to see these precious truths!!
This message is part of The Sanctuary Conference 2014. For information about future conferences please visit:
http://www.sanctuaryconference.co.uk
How We Got Our Bible (Pt. 1)
To say that the Bible is unique is perhaps an understatement. No other book in the history of mankind has so served to shape and influence the lives of so many for the good than has the Bible. Written over a period of about 1500 years; comprised of 66 books written in three different languages (Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek) on three different continents (Africa, Asia and Europe) by more than 40 different authors most of whom never met or knew each other, coming from totally different backgrounds. God inspired these men through the agency of His Holy Spirit to write down the exact revelation of His mind and will whilst at the same time making use of their individual personalities and characters. You have tax-collector by the name of Matthew, a Prime Minister by the name of Daniel, a shepherd by the name of Amos, a King by the name of David and a military general by the name of Joshua. You have a fisherman by the name of John, a cupbearer by the name of Nehemiah, a priest by the name of Ezekiel, a doctor by the name of Luke and so the list could continue!! Paul wrote from prison in Rome, Ezekiel from captivity in Babylon and John from exile on the Isle of Patmos. David wrote from his royal palace in Jerusalem and his son Solomon later did the same. Yet In spite of this, the 66 books of the Bible speak with such unanimity and consensus, a single voice that’s without contradiction.
This teaching take's a look at the character of the Bible, its structure and it's composition.
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1 Corinthians 13:11
How did men of God become such in their generation? Answer...they grew into such!! In this message Paul exhorts the Body of Christ to come to a place of maturity and manhood in their spiritual lives. It is high time for Christians to grow up! Away with childhood things; away with the carnal! God is seeking a spiritual people who will stand as men!!
This message is part of The Sanctuary Conference 2014. For information about future conferences please visit:
http://www.sanctuaryconference.co.uk