Bibliology

BIBLIOLOGY
Rhema Nigeria
Table of Content
I. Introduction
II. Proof of Divine Origin
III. The Canon of the Scriptures
IV. The Transmission of Manuscripts
V. History of The English Bible
VI. The structure of the Bible
VII.How Reliable is a translation
VIII.Difficult Passage, Alleged Errors And
Contradictions
I Course Introduction
• One main theme: Redemption
• One central figure: Jesus Christ
• How we received the Bible as it
is today
• How we can know the Bible is
the actual Word of God
A.One volume, 66 books, 40
writers, 1500 years span.
B.One Author, The Holy Spirit
How writers received the Word
of God.
1. By REVELATION: God
breathed. 2 Tim. 3:16, 2
Peter 1:21
II Proof of the Divine Origin of
the Bible
2. PROPHETIC CONSCIOUSNESS
(INSPIRATION): “The
unqualified conviction on the
part of the prophet (or apostle)
of a Divine call and commission to
proclaim the very words of God.”
the Bible
Revelation is WHAT is revealed;
Inspiration is HOW it is revealed

the Bible
3. God also gave His
message by visions, dreams, and
apparent, “mouth to mouth”
revelations. Num. 12:6-8.
4. Spoken word / Written
word Ex 19: 7-8, Ex 31:18
II Proof of the Divine Origin
of the Bible
A.THE BIBLE: Its own proof. Speaks
with ultimate, self-vindicating
authority.
B.TESTIMONY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
Rom. 8:16
C.DURABILITY OF THE BIBLE: Matt.
24:35; 1 Peter 1:24,25
the Bible
D. ITS MESSAGE
E. ITS UNITY
F. ITS INFLUENCE
G. ITS FULFILLED PROPHECY
UNIQUENESS OF OUR BIBLE:
A.Supernaturally given
B.Human and Divine combined
C. Unique in its "Life-giving"
power
CONCLUSION:
The only reasonable
explanation for the
SUPERIORITY of the Bible is
that it is the Word of God!
• PURPOSE: To show how the
Books of our Bible came to be
recognized as genuinely
inspired of God
CANON defined: Literally
"cane" or "rod of
measurement." Standard of
measurement.
Also means a list of books that
are genuine
STANDARD ONE:
INTRINSIC VALUE
(Def. Inward nature; permanent attribute
or characteristic; something inseparable.)
STANDARD ONE: INTRINSIC VALUE
A.CHRIST CENTERED
B.PRECISION (Accurate, exact, definite)
C.DEPTH OF MEANING
D.MESSAGE IS UNIVERSAL
E. HIGH MORAL TONE
STANDARD TWO: USAGE
Answered so many questions
concerning matters of faith and
practice in the early church that the
letters were copied and passed on to
other churches. The New Testament
writings were called, "circular letters."
STANDARD THREE: WRITTEN BY
PEOPLE CLOSE TO JESUS
Three writers were among the
original twelve disciples. Two were
His half brothers. All were His
contemporaries. All were filled
with the same Holy Spirit
CANON OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
A. Writings began to be recognized as sacred,
Deut. 31:24-26
B. Testimony of Jesus. Luke 24:27,44; John
5:39, 10:35; Matt. 12:40, 19:4-6, 24:15; Matt
23:35, 2 Chro 24:17-22
C. Date: Ezra arranged all the books in order
about 475 B.C., except Nehemiah and Malachi,
Which were written later
i. Hebrew Bible - Same as ours. Different
arrangement though: 24 books.
ii. Apocrypha: Written between 3rd and 1st century
BC. Means “Hidden” or “concealed”. Not
considered to be scriptures by the Jews or Early
Church Fathers. 1st copies of Septuagint didn’t
contain Apocrypha – it was later added to
Septuagint.
Apocrypha is not considered scripture because:
1. Not written by recognised OT prophets
2. Apocrypha books are not quoted in the New
Testament, while almost all OT books are
3. Early Church Fathers didn’t accept it
4. Dead Sea Scrolls (oldest copies of OT existing
today) quote OT books but not Apocrypha
CANON OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
A. When the NT was written: During
the lifetime of the disciples who walked
with Jesus
B. The Muratonian Fragment: This
manuscript dating 140-150 AD lists all NT
books except Hebrews, James, 1st and 2nd
Peter. Discovered by Muratoni (Librarian of Milan)
C. Peter's claim. 2 Peter 1:15,16,
3:1,2,15,16
D. Early Translations of the Bible:
As early as 2 century AD; from
nd
original Greek into other languages

shows NT canon
E. Early Church leaders: Men who
lived between 100-300 AD
acknowledged and approved NT
books; some of these men knew the
original disciples of Jesus. Early Church Fathers like:
Clement of Alexandra, Theophilus of Antioch, Irenaeus (pupil of Polycarp who was
a pupil of apostle John), Tertullian and Origen
F. The Church historian, Eusebius:
Bishop of Caesarea in early 4th
century AD (called Father of Church
History)
G. Date: Council of Carthage, 397 A.D
NOTE:
WHOLE BIBLE NOW A
CLOSED CANON
Deut. 4:2, 12:32; Proverbs
30:5,6; Rev. 22:18,19
CONCLUSION: "The Church cannot give
more force or authority to a book than has
in itself. A council cannot make that to be
Scripture which in its own nature is not
Scripture.” - Martin Luther
God determines canonicity; man can
only recognize it.
IV. The Transmission of
Manuscripts
PURPOSE: To show how Bible
scholars today know that we
possess an accurate copy of the
AUTOGRAPHS (originals) which
are not now in existence
Manuscripts
LINKS IN THE CHAIN:
(Six links from the ORIGINALS
to our MODERN Bible is
called, "TRANSMISSION OF
MANUSCRIPTS.")
Manuscripts
O.T LINKS IN THE CHAIN:
1. AUTOGRAPHS (Originals):
Written in Hebrew and
Aramaic. Copies don’t exist
today.
Manuscripts
2. Ancient Manuscripts:
i. Dead Sea Scrolls
ii. Masoretic Text
Manuscripts
3. Early Translations:
i. Septuagint
ii. Old Latin
iii. Syriac Translation
iv. Latin Vulgate (St Jerome)
Manuscripts
4. Modern Translations:
Taken from the 2nd and 3rd link in the
chain to produce an accurate copy of
the original manuscripts.
Manuscripts
N.T LINKS IN THE CHAIN:
1. AUTOGRAPHS (Originals):
Written in Greek. Some things
Jesus & Paul said were quoted in
Aramaic.
Copies don’t exist today. Lost.
Manuscripts
2. Ancient Manuscripts:
Earliest Manuscripts in the Greek
Language numbering over 3,000 still
in existence today:
• Bodmer Papyri 150-200 A.D
• Chester Beaty Papyri 200-250 A.D
• John Rylands Fragment 117-138 A.D
• Codex Vaticanus 325-350 A.D
• Codex Sinaiticus 340 A.D
• Codex Alexandrianus
Manuscripts
3. Early Translations:
i. Old Latin
ii. Aramaic / Syriac Translations
iii. Coptic Translation (from
Egypt)
Manuscripts
Papyri
Manuscripts
Manuscripts
Manuscripts
4. Quotations from writings of
Early Church Fathers help to
establish the validity of the NT.
These devout authors copied carefully. They lived close
enough to Apostolic days to have access to manuscripts
not in existence today; maybe some originals.
Manuscripts
Such men are:
• Clement of Rome: A friend of Peter and Paul. He said Paul went to Spain. Clement
died as a martyr about 102 AD.
• Ignattius: Bishop of Antioch and pupil of John, familiar with Paul’s writings. Used
many quotes from Matthew. Condemned to be devoured by wild beasts at about
108 to 110 AD.
• Justin Martyr: 100- 165 AD: He referred to gospels, Acts and many of Paul’s
Epistles.
• Origen of Egypt: 185- 254 AD: Quotes v2/3rds of the NT
• Iraneus: 140 – 202 AD: Quoted from 4 gospels, Acts, Paul’s epistles, general epistles
and Revelation. He heard Polycarp’s preaching.
• Papias: Lived around 140 AD. Eusebius quoted his writings
• Polycarp: 69 155 AD. Pupil of John. Quoted several NT books, familiar with Paul’s
epistles and Acts. Martyred.
• Tertulian:160- 220 AD : taught at school at Carthage. Quoted all NT except
rd
Manuscripts
5. LECTIONARIES (Church service books
with readings from the New Testament).
• Some date back to the 4th century. Most from 7th
to 12th centuries. Most are in the Greek language.
There are about 2,100 manuscripts. They contain all
the New Testament except Revelation and parts of
Acts. These help us understand the Bible.
Manuscripts
6. Modern Translations:
Taken from the 2nd and 3rd link in the
chain to produce an accurate copy of
the original manuscripts.
In our case, the English Bible etc.
I. JOHN WYCLIFFE 1329-1384
A. Translated from Latin Vulgate into English.
B. Why did he do it? He said, "The Sacred
Scriptures are the property of the people and
one which no one should be allowed to wrest
from them.”
C. His belief that the Scriptures were the final
authority brought him into conflict with his
Roman Catholic Church.
JOHN WYCLIFFE 1329-1384
D. Only the Latin Vulgate was considered sacred
by the Roman Catholic Church, so although
Latin had become a dead language, it was
still the only version read and no one but
scholars could understand it.
B. WYCLIFFE is called, "The Morning Star of the
Reformation," 3 for his was FIRST ENTIRE
BIBLE IN ENGLISH, all hand-copied .
II. WILLIAM TYNDALE (1484-1536) "FATHER OF
THE ENGLISH BIBLE."
A. Translated the N.T. from Greek into English;
1525.
B. Fled England because of persecution.
C. Before finishing the O.T., was betrayed,
arrested, and burnt at the stake, 1536.
D. Ninety per cent of his translation got into the
King James Version
III.COVERDALE BIBLE (1535) 1st
Revision of Tyndale.
• This was the FIRST PRINTED
COMPLETE BIBLE IN THE
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
IV. MATHEWS BIBLE (1537) 2nd Revision of Tyndale
• The Matthew Bible, also known as Matthew's Version,

was first published in 1537 by John Rogers, under the
pseudonym "Thomas Matthew". It combined the New
Testament of William Tyndale, and as much of the Old
Testament as he had been able to translate before being
captured and put to death. The translations of
Myles Coverdale from German and Latin sources
completed the Old Testament and the Biblical apocrypha
, except the Apocryphal Prayer of Manasses.
V. THE GREAT BIBLE (1539) 3rd Revision
of Tyndale.
• The Great Bible includes much from the

Tyndale Bible, with the objectionable
features revised.
VI. GENEVA BIBLE (1560) 4th Revision of
Tyndale
A. First entire Bible in verse in the

English language.
B. Became a -popular Bible.
VII.DOUAY VERSION (Roman Catholic Bible) a
translation from Vulgate into English, N.T. in
1582; O.T. in 1610.
• The Douay–Rheims Bible (also known as the

Rheims–Douai Bible or Douai Bible, and
abbreviated as D–R and DV) is a translation of
the Bible from the Latin Vulgate into English
made by members of the English College, Douai,
in the service of the Catholic Church
VIII. KING JAMES VERSION (1611) 5th Revision
of Tyndale.
A. Fifty-four scholars appointed by King
James I.
B. All were believers who wanted to be
accurate.
C. All available English versions were
consulted.
VIII. KING JAMES VERSION (1611) 5th Revision
of Tyndale.
D. O.T. taken from MASORETIC copies of

the Hebrew text.
E. N.T. taken from "TEXTUS-
RECEPTUS." This text was based on the Greek
of Erasmus, Stephanus, and Beza and came
from Antioch of Syria.
IX. SOME MODERN ENGLISH VERSIONS
A. REVISED STANDARD VERSION, 1952. Text

tainted by scholars of liberal theological
persuasion.
B. AMPLIFIED BIBLE. Alternate translations in
the text
C. LIVING BIBLE. Not a translation, but a
paraphrase, of the KJV by KenTaylor
IX. SOME MODERN ENGLISH VERSIONS
A. NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE. A
revision of the American Standard Version in
1970. Accurate and faithful to the text and
spirit of the original.
B. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV, 1978)
Scholars from 13 different denominations,
and from U.S., Great Britain, Canada,
Australia and New Zealand.
Most widely accepted and most popular of the new versions
PURPOSE: How are the Books of the Bible
arranged? What are the books that are not
inspired called?
I. DIVISIONS IN OUR BIBLE:
Old Testament, 39 Books
New Testament, 27 Books
Total 66 Books
II. WHY ONLY 24 BOOKS IN THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES?
There are three major divisions of the 24 books
1. The Law (5 books)
(Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy)
2. The Prophets ( 8 books)

4 EARLIER PROPHETS (Joshua, Judges, Samuel (1&2),Kings (1&
2)
4 LATER PROPHETS (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and one
book containing the 12 Minor Prophets (Hosea,
Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk,
Zephaniah,
Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi)
3. The Writings (11 books)

3 POETICAL (Psalms, Proverbs, Job)
5 THE ROLLS (The Song of Solomon, Ruth,
Lamentations,
Esther, Ecclesiastes)
3 HISTORICAL (Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah and Chronicles
( 1&2)
24 Total
Our OLD testament book
There are three divisions of the 39 books
1. Historical – 17 books : Genesis through to Esther
The Historical books can be further divided into 2 categories
A. The LAW
(Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy)
B. General History
(Joshua, judges, Ruth, 1& 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 &2
Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther)
Our OLD testament book
2. Poetic – 5 books : Job through Song of Solomon
3. Prophetic – 17 books: Isaiah through Malachi
The book of Prophets further divided into Major & minor
Prophets
Major Prophets: (Isaiah, Jeremiah, lamentations, Ezekiel
Daniel)
Minor Prophets: (Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah,
Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi)
Books that are divided differently in our English Old
Testament:
2 Samuel............. 1 Book
2 Kings.............. 1 Book
2 Chronicles.......... 1 Book
Nehemiah from Ezra... 1 Book
Twelve Minor prophets classified as separate books in
our Bible...... 11 Books
• 15 more books by count than in the Hebrew Scriptures
Summary:
24 Books in the Hebrew Bible
15 Books separated from the 24 Books
in our Bible.
39 Total Books in our Bible. Thus our
Old Testament and the Hebrew
Scriptures are IDENTICAL!
III. NEW TESTAMENT STRUCTURE
There are four divisions of the New testament

1. Gospels – 4 books: Mattew, Mark, Luke and John
2. History – 1 book: Acts
3. Epistles – 21 Books : Romans through Jude
4. Prophetic – 1 Book: Revelation
--------------
27 Total
1. The four Gospel books can be divided into Synoptic or not
Synoptic comes from a Greek word that means “viewing at a

glance”
Synoptic gospels: Mattew, Mark, Luke
They present the same general view of the life and teaching
of Jesus.
Non Synoptic gospel: John
2. The Epistles (Further divided by who wrote them)
A. Epistles of Paul: 1&2 Cor., Gal., Eph., Phil., Col., 1&2 Thess., 1
& 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Romans
B. Epistles of John: 1 John, 2 John, 3 John
C. Epistles of Peter : 1 Peter, 2 Peter
D. Epistles written by others : Hebrews (?) , James , Jude

2. The Epistles (can be divided into other categories)
A. Early Epistles of Paul: 1&2 Thess., 1&2 Cor., Gal., Romans ,
B. The prison Epistles of Paul: Ephesians , Philippians, Colossians,

Philemon.
C. The Pastoral Epistles of Paul : 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus
D. The general Epistles : James, 1&2 Peter, Jude, Hebrews , 1,2,3

John
• Bible not originally in chapter and verses
• OT was 1st divided into sections; also
whole Bible
• Originally no spaces between words
• Between 150BC and 150AD Hebrew Bible
was divided into words
• Verse divisions were made around 200AD
and were standardised by Rabbi Ben
Asher in 1st half of 10th century AD
• Chapter divisions were later adopted from
Latin versions about 13th century of the
Christian era. In the early 1200’s, an English
theologian, Stephen Langton, began a
standardized system of chapter divisions.
Hugo produced a Latin Bible in 1231 with
standard chapter division
• Robert Stephens in 1545 produced one of
the 1st with verse divisions- a vulgate Bible
• King James Bible NT was translated from the
Greek Textus Receptus.( made during Middle
Ages) this differs in some wording from Codex
Alpha and Codex B, which come from Alexandrian
Text Family. The Textus” Receptus “(Received”) is
from” Koine” (“common’) Family of manuscripts
and some consider it more accurate than
Alexandrian Family Texts. 2 main types of Greek
manuscripts - Alexandrian (from Alexandrian,
Egypt) and Koine (from Antioch in Asia Minor)
VII. How Reliable is a translation?
PURPOSE: What factors are involved in the
accuracy of a translation?
FACTOR #ONE: INTEGRITY OF THE COPY OF THE

ORIGINAL FROM WHICH THE TRANSLATION IS MADE
• There are two families of Greek text manuscripts
from which our English New Testament could be
translated:
1. BYZANTINE (SYRIAN FROM ANTIOCH) FAMILY
2. ALEXANDRIAN FAMILY
PURPOSE: What factors are involved in the
accuracy of a translation?
FACTOR #TWO: KNOWLEDGE OF THE

LANGUAGE OF THE ORIGINALS AND OF THE
TRANSLATION
• Example: A translator of the English N.T.
must have a good knowledge of Greek and
English
PURPOSE: What factors are involved in
the accuracy of a translation?
FACTOR #THREE: UNDERSTANDING
OF THE SCRIPTURES POSSESSED BY
THE TRANSLATORS
• (How well do the translators
know the scriptures?)
There are three views of translators:
1. ORTHODOX,
CONSERVATIVE POSITION
2. LIBERAL VIEW
3. NEO-ORTHODOX VIEW
Bible Translation is more than just
substituting an English word with a
foreign one.
Translators must consider CULTURE
as well as VOCABULARY.
EXAMPLE: Mark 10:8 speaks of marriage, "So
they are no longer two but one FLESH." In the
Philippines, the AKLANON language uses the
word for FLESH to mean only the meat that
hangs in the open market, and never to a
person's body as the English does. So -the
translation reads: "And will become two halves
of CHEST, they're not anymore two but only one." CHEST
is the traditional Aklanon location of the emotions and
soul.
The most important translation of the Bible is not
from the original languages to English, but from the
printed page into your life. If you have never read
through a complete book of the Bible, we suggest
you begin by reading the Gospel of John. We
encourage you to recognize that the Bible is not
merely a book. It is God’s message to us all, and God
continues to speak through it today. There is, after
all, a reason far more Bibles have been produced
than any book in history. Read it and see.
www.bible.org
• Two organizations are out front
in the ministry of translating
1. WYCLIFFE BIBLE TRANSLATORS
2. EVANGEL BIBLE TRANSLATORS
ADDENDUM: THE ONGOING WORK OF
TRANSLATING THE BIBLE
There are over 6,000 languages in the
world. A little over 2,000 have the
Bible or a part of it in their vernacular.
This leaves a little less than 4,000 who
still need a Bible.
WHO WILL RISE TO THE CHALLENGE?
VIII. DIFFICULT PASSAGES, ALLEGED
ERRORS AND CONTRADICTIONS
PURPOSE: This lesson shows that no difficulty or
alleged error, even if not solved, affects any
fundamental doctrine or any admonition from God
that will get us safely from here to hereafter.
SUGGESTIONS FOR DEALING WITH DIFFICULTIES

1. DON'T BE SURPRISED at difficulties. God is INFINITE.
He makes no mistake. Writers were finite men
2. DIFFICULTIES MAN CAN'T SOLVE doesn't prove that it
cannot be solved.
SUGGESTIONS FOR DEALING WITH DIFFICULTIES
3. ASK GOD'S GUIDANCE
4. NOTE THE EXACT WORDING
5. Read the context. Read another translation
6. Consider background and customs of Bible days in
Bible lands
7. As last resort consult a good commentary or ask a
reliable Bible teacher or preacher
8. Sometimes it is a mistake of a copyist
9. TRUTH HAS MANY SIDES
SOME ALLEGED AND SOME REAL DIFFICULTIES
A. Matthew's supposed mistake. Matt. 27:8-9; Zech, 11:12,13
B. Paul's alleged mistake. 1 Cor. 10:8; Numbers 25:9
B. The Four Gospels are four portraits of Jesus from different
viewpoints.
C. WHERE DID CAIN GET HIS WIFE?
D. GOD HARDENING PHARAOH'S HEART Rom 9:19; Explained
- 1-33, Mark 6:46-52, Heb 3:4-4:11
E. DOES GOD SEND LYING SPIRITS? 1 Kings 22:19-23; 1
Sam. 16:14
F. Jonah (Jesse), Sin Born Blind, Thief on the cross.
FIGURATIVE SPEECH CANNOT BE TAKEN LITERALLY
A. SIMILE: A figure of speech in which one thing is
likened to another. Matt. 13:24
B. METAPHOR: A figure of speech in which one
thing is likened to another different thing being
spoken of as if it were the thing. John 15:5; Matt.
5:13; John 6:35
C. HYPERBOLE: Exaggeration for effect. Matt. 23:24
FIGURATIVE SPEECH CANNOT BE TAKEN LITERALLY
E. WHY GOD USES FIGURES AND SYMBOLS

1. God gave us imagination. We think in pictures.
2. The CONCRETE helps us understand the ABSTRACT.
3. Is the poetical element in prose, adding light and
sparkle.
4. Fires our imagination, creating an emotional response.
5. Makes it easier to apply truth.
6. Increases the pleasure of reading and listening to the
Scriptures.
7. Helps us remember truth and is relaxing.
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BIBLIOLOGY

Revelation is WHAT is revealed;

Inspiration is HOW it is revealed

original Greek into other languages

• The Matthew Bible, also known as Matthew's Version,

• The Great Bible includes much from the

A. First entire Bible in verse in the

• The Douay–Rheims Bible (also known as the

D. O.T. taken from MASORETIC copies of

A. REVISED STANDARD VERSION, 1952. Text

2. The Prophets ( 8 books)

3. The Writings (11 books)

There are four divisions of the New testament

1. The four Gospel books can be divided into Synoptic or not

Synoptic comes from a Greek word that means “viewing at a

2. The Epistles (Further divided by who wrote them)

C. Epistles of Peter : 1 Peter, 2 Peter

D. Epistles written by others : Hebrews (?) , James , Jude

2. The Epistles (can be divided into other categories)

A. Early Epistles of Paul: 1&2 Thess., 1&2 Cor., Gal., Romans ,

B. The prison Epistles of Paul: Ephesians , Philippians, Colossians,

D. The general Epistles : James, 1&2 Peter, Jude, Hebrews , 1,2,3

FACTOR #ONE: INTEGRITY OF THE COPY OF THE

FACTOR #TWO: KNOWLEDGE OF THE

SUGGESTIONS FOR DEALING WITH DIFFICULTIES

E. WHY GOD USES FIGURES AND SYMBOLS

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