THE ATTRIBUTES OF THE BIBLE

A. THE BIBLE IS AN INSPIRED WORD. Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible starting with the creation and the events that took place in the Garden of Eden. Some of these events took place more than 2000 years before Moses was ever born. How could he write in such detail? He was inspired by God. The Spirit of the Lord rested upon him and he received divine intellect.

B. ALL THE WRITERS OF THE BIBLE WERE CHOSEN BY GOD TO DO SO. They wrote of their

• Past: History relative to the nation and that which was relative to God alone. Moses wrote the Pentateuch that included history relative to God in the creation of the world, and man in his occupancy of the earth. • Present: A recording or a keeping of an account of events as they happen. This was done so as to pass the record of God’s dealings with the nation down to the next generation so that they might know the character of their God. The Pentateuch also included the recording of present day events as they happened during Moses' life span.

He wrote of the receiving of the Ten Commandments, the burning bush, the viewing of the hind parts of God, the coming out of Egypt, etc. • Future: This is prophecy or the foretelling of things to come. Some things God revealed to the prophet and instructed him to rehearse it in the ears of the people were for the purpose of revealing the integrity of God and the infallibility of His spoken Word. Moses also declared that one day the Lord would raise up a prophet liken unto himself. This was prophecy relative to the coming of Christ.

C. Job wrote concerning his present state of being as well as the history of God in eternity past and eternity future. See if you can find an example of each; past, present and future.

D. ALL THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE WERE PRESERVED BY GOD. Remember Paul warned Timothy to go forth in that which he had learned and was assured of

2 Timothy 3:14

But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

The 66 books we call the Bible have been proven to be alive with the power of God. They are sufficient in their claim to be the preserved Word of God. They produce what they promise and they maintain what they produce.

E. THE BIBLE IS WRITTEN ABOUT SIX PRINCIPLE FIGURES: God the Father, Jesus Christ, Satan, the Jews, the Gentiles and the Church.

F. THE BIBLE IS WRITTEN TO THE JEWS AND THE CHURCH.

Romans 3:1-2

1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? 2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

G. THE SCRIPTURES HAVE NO PRIVATE INTERPRETATION.

2 Peter 1:20-21

20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

The scriptures interpret themselves. Your opinion is not lawful. THE HOLY GHOST MUST INSPIRE WHAT YOU SAY.