May 5, 2024

Walk Through the Bible

Passage: II Peter 1:19-21; I Peter 1:23-25

Tonight we will fly over the whole Bible, or the Bible as a whole. Then starting next week we will fly over the 66 books of the Bible one at a time. We will start with the really big picture and then 66 sort of big pictures.

The Bible is an utterly unique book, it really is in a class by itself, there is no other book even remotely close to it. It is unique for several different reasons.

First of all it is a collection of 66 different books of all kinds of genres of literature. It is made up of histories, poetry, law, proverbs, prophecies, Gospels, personal letters, and apocalyptic literature.

It is written by 40 authors of different cultures, backgrounds, education, occupations including kings, peasants, shepherds, doctors, fishermen, tax collectors, scholars, all writing in a vast variety of locations including wilderness, dungeon, palace, prison, wilderness, dungeon, palace, prison, wilderness, dungeon, palace, prison, in exile, at home, in exile on an island.

It is written over a period of 1600 years, from 1500 BC by Moses to 100 AD by John. It is written in three languages Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic; on three continents, Europe, Asia and Africa.

It is written in different times: war, peace, poverty, prosperity, freedom and slavery, reflecting a wide range of moods and emotions from the heights of joy to the depths of despair

What would you expect from a book written by such a diverse group of people in such a diverse set of circumstances over so long a period of time? So if someone claims there is one single theme in the Bible, would you believe it? How could such a thing be possible?

Don’t people say the Bible is filled with contradictions? Isn’t the God of the OT different from the God of the NT? How can you reconcile all the differences, the terrible wars and atrocities of the OT with the message of Jesus and His love in the NT?