This week our SSL entitled, "The Origin and the Nature of the Bible" - will bring us back to the source of the scriptures and the acknowledgement of how God reveals Himself to humanity. With the emphasis on the five points, we will try to dig deeper into the mine of truth. We believe, that the Bible was written by humans, but the Bible is considered by many as the "Word of God"!

Why and How we can understand the Word of God?

Through this lesson, we will know:

• The description of the way the Bible exist.

• The process of writing was disclose in itself.

• The interpretation is provider by the medium appointed by God.

As it was written, inspiration says, "Others, however, fail of a satisfactory understanding of the great problem of evil, from the fact that tradition and misinterpretation have obscured the teaching of the Bible concerning the character of God, the nature of his government, and the principles of his dealing with sin." {GC88 492.1}

Memory Text: 1Thess. 2:13

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the WORD OF GOD which ye heard of us, ye received [it] not [as] the word of men, but as it is in TRUTH, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

Prayer Thought: 1SM 19.4

“The Scriptures were given to men, not in a continuous chain of unbroken utterances, but piece by piece through successive generations, as God in His providence saw a fitting opportunity to impress man at sundry times and divers places. Men wrote as they were moved upon by the Holy Ghost.” (1SM 19.4)

1. The Revelation: 2 Pet. 1:21

a. Who is its author? The Origin of Revelation

Those Bible writers claimed that they wrote the scriptures but on the other hand - they testify that whatever they wrote - they are not their own ideas (Rev. 2:7)

• Authorship:

The Author of nature is the Author of the Bible. Creation and Christianity have one God. God is revealed in nature, and God is revealed in His word. In clear rays the light shines from the sacred page, showing us the living God, as represented in the laws of His government, in the creation of the world, in the heavens that He has garnished. His power is to be recognized as the only means of redeeming the world from the degrading superstitions that are so dishonoring to God and man. {CT 395.2}

• Content:

The Bible contains that which will give the Christian vigor of spirit and intellect. The Psalmist says, "The entrance of thy word giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple." The Bible is a wonderful book. It is a history that opens up to us the past centuries. Without the Bible we would have been left to conjectures and fables in regard to the occurrences of past ages. It is a prophecy that unveils the future. It is the word of God unfolding to us the plan of salvation, pointing out the way by which we may escape eternal death and gain eternal life. Of all the books that flood the world, however valuable, the Bible is the Book of books, most deserving of our study and admiration. It gives not only the history of this world but a description of the world to come. It contains instruction concerning the wonders of the universe, it reveals to our understanding the character of the Author of the heavens and the earth. In it is the revelation of God to man. {ST, January 30, 1893 par. 6}

b. Who is its agent? The Channel of God's Revelation

God reveals the secret things to His agent - the messenger, the prophet - showing the mode of inspiration through His appointed medium (Amos 3:7)

• In Period of Crisis:

"Some were God's messengers raised up in periods of great crisis, to warn the church and the world of threatened judgments, and to call men back to allegiance to God. Such were Samuel, Elijah, John the Baptist, and others. John disclaimed the prophetic title, claiming rather that he was a voice or a messenger of God, sent to prepare the way of the Lord in calling Israel to repentance. But as God's messenger he was declared by Christ to be a prophet, and 'even more than a prophet.' Luke 7:26. 'Surely the Lord will do nothing, but He revealeth His secrets unto His servants the prophets.' Amos 3:7." -- "The Present Truth," Vol. 5, No. 72.

• To Lead and Save

Thus must it be today, because "the secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law." Deut. 29:29. God knows how to lead and how to save. I cannot, therefore, give you light beyond what inspiration makes known. I can only speak of the things that are revealed. (2TG 41.4)

• Secret Things of God Revealed

Are not these tests strong enough to convince any of you that the secret things of God, such as the concealed prophecies, are not disclosed by finite men, -- no, not by the Devil either, that when God wants a thing to be a secret, it remains concealed until He Himself reveals it? Then, when it is revealed all are to know that God Himself is at work. Are not therefore the wise men of the day making fools of themselves by airing their private interpretations of the unrevealed Scriptures? (2TG 24.16)

• Messenger of the Covenant: Union of Men and Spirit

There it is stated that Christ went and preached to the antediluvians by the same "Spirit" Who "quickened" Him. Being stated that He went by the Spirit and not in person, it proves that Christ accomplished this by that same Spirit through Noah. Hence, Christ being the "Messenger of the covenant, and He being in Noah by the Spirit, compels us to acknowledge that the title, "messenger of the covenant," belongs not only to those mentioned in this article, including Noah, but to all God's chosen messengers in whose message is Christ, by that same Spirit.

It is for the fact of this union -- the Spirit in the messengers that the Word says, "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Pet. 1:21.) Briefly summarized, the words, "messenger of the covenant," mean nothing more or less than to say, The Holy Spirit in Heaven's visible representative, or the invisible Christ in the message. (1SC 4.6)

c. Who is its aim? The Target of His Revelation

• Listeners of the Word:

Those who will listen to His word will have faith (Rom 10:17) for these are "profitable for DOCTRINE, for REPROOF, for CORRECTION, for INSTRUCTION in righteousness" (2Tim. 3:16)

"The excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it." "The words that I speak unto you," said Jesus, "they are spirit, and they are life." "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent." {ST, April 11, 1906 par. 6}

• Those who accepts the Words:

The creative energy that called the world into existence is in the Word of God. This Word imparts power; it begets life. Every command is a promise; accepted by the will, received into the soul, it brings with it the life of the Infinite One. It transforms the nature and recreates the soul in the image of God. {ST, April 11, 1906 par. 7}

The life thus imparted is in like manner sustained. "By every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God," shall man live. {ST, April 11, 1906 par. 8}

• Those who Choose to Access the Words:

The mind, the soul, is built up by that upon which it feeds, and it rests with us to determine upon what it shall be fed. It is within the power of every one to choose the topics that shall occupy the thoughts, and shape the character. Of every human being privileged with access to the Scriptures, God says; "I have written unto him the great things of My law." "Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." {ST, April 11, 1906 par. 9}

2. The Inspiration: 2 Tim. 3:16

The harmonious record of the scriptures, its content, context, coverage, and communication of specific or general information signifies a forensic inspiration that leads to its accuracy and relativity to all ages.

a. The Writer may have a Direct Inspiration (Rev. 14:13; Ezek. 13:18; Deut. 18:18)

Those who loved God and who realized the danger that lay in the struggle for wealth and power, longed for Heaven's enlightenment. They longed for a message direct from the heavenly courts. The heavenly inspiration was begotten, and men began to feel after God, if haply they might find Him. {ST, May 17, 1905 par. 10}

But there are not many of you that really know what is contained in the Testimonies. You are not familiar with the Scriptures. If you had made God's Word your study, with a desire to reach the Bible standard and attain to Christian perfection, you would not have needed the Testimonies. It is because you have neglected to acquaint yourselves with God's inspired Book that He has sought to reach you by simple, direct testimonies, calling your attention to the words of inspiration which you had neglected to obey, and urging you to fashion your lives in accordance with its pure and elevated teachings. {CCh 92.5}

b. The Writer may have an Inspiring Idea (The Book of Proverbs)

Consequently it is to be expected that now, more than ever before, all of us are to meet with the fiercest opposition. So called great men, having not so much even as a spark of Divine light, will, acting like mad men, hastily spread confusion everywhere. This they will do by engendering prejudice, by exalting baseless theories, by fabricating and propagating falsehood, by hurling scorn and ridicule, by mongering gossip and hearsay, and by engaging in character assassination. But none of this will phase those whose fortress is the Lord, and who heed His priceless, precious, inspiring counsel in the following passages:

"...Do not be unbelieving. The more you are jostled, misapprehended, misstated, misrepresented, the more evidence you have that you are doing a work for the Master, and the more closely you must cling to your Saviour." -- (8T 130)

"All who in that evil day would faithfully serve God according to the dictates of conscience, will need courage, firmness, and a knowledge of God and His word; for those who are true to God will be persecuted, their motives will be impugned, their best efforts misinterpreted, and their name cast out as evil." --(GW 264)

c. The Writer may have selective inspiration (Luke 1:3)

It is not essential for you to know and be able to define just what the Holy Spirit is. Christ tells us that the Holy Spirit is the Comforter, and the Comforter is the Holy Ghost, "the Spirit of truth, which the Father shall send in My name." "I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him, for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you" [John 14:16, 17]. This refers to the omnipresence of the Spirit of Christ, called the Comforter. Again Jesus says, "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all truth" [John 16:12, 13]. {14MR 179.2}

There are many mysteries which I do not seek to understand or to explain; they are too high for me, and too high for you. On some of these points, silence is golden. Piety, devotion, sanctification of soul, body, and spirit--this is essential for us all. "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent" [John 17:3]. "This is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life" [John 6:40]. {14MR 179.3}

3. The Writing Process: Jer. 30:2

The Reasons Why God wanted His WORD to be Written

a. To live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (Mat. 4:4, 7) - For "IT IS WRITTEN"

b. To have an individual search and personal knowledge of Christ (John 5:39)

c. To teach, read and study in harmony with the principle set forth in the scripture (Isa. 28:9-13)

d. Every writer build or laid foundation for the others.

In the written form many people can read it.

1 Cor. 3:10 -- "According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon."

The Christian's life is, as it were, a building under construction. One messenger of God lays the foundation, another builds thereupon. Thus to no one messenger is given all the material with which to build. (2TG 27.7)

e. It is preserve through the ages.

f. It can be reviewed, reread and memorized them.

How to Teach the Written Word?

Please click this link:

https://sites.google.com/view/meatindueseason/teaching-techniques-the-bible-instructor?authuser=0

4. The Word: John 1:1

❖ John introduced Jesus as God’s Word incarnate. There’s a parallelism between Christ and the Bible.

— Both have a supernatural origin.

— Both combine divinity and humanity.

— The work of both covers the whole humanity.

— Both came in a specific moment and culture, but their work goes beyond time and space.

— Both come down to a human level so we can understand their message.

❖ There are also difference between them. The Bible is not God incarnate, and it cannot be worshipped. It just testifies of Jesus (John 5:39)

The Son of God stooped to uplift the fallen. For this He left the sinless worlds on high, the ninety and nine that loved Him, and came to this earth to be "wounded for our transgressions" and "bruised for our iniquities." Isaiah 53:5. He was in all things made like unto His brethren. He became flesh, even as we are. He knew what it meant to be hungry and thirsty and weary. He was sustained by food and refreshed by sleep. He was a stranger and a sojourner on the earth--in the world, but not of the world; tempted and tried as men and women of today are tempted and tried, yet living a life free from sin. Tender, compassionate, sympathetic, ever considerate of others, He represented the character of God. "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, . . . full of grace and truth." John 1:14. {AA 472.1}

Christ was the revealer of truth to the world. By Him the incorruptible seed--the word of God--was sown in the hearts of men. But many of the most precious lessons of the Great Teacher were spoken to those who did not then understand them. When, after His ascension, the Holy Spirit brought His teachings to the remembrance of the disciples, their slumbering senses awoke. The meaning of these truths flashed upon their minds as a new revelation, and truth, pure and unadulterated, made a place for itself. Then the wonderful experience of His life became theirs. The Word bore testimony through them, the men of His appointment, and they proclaimed the mighty truth, "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, . . . full of grace and truth." "And of His fullness have all we received, and grace for grace." John 1:14, 16. {AA 520.2}

5. The Interpretation: 2 Pet. 1:20

The Bible shouldn’t be studied or interpreted as any other book.

❖ Then how should we interpret the Bible?

❖ Above all, we must remember that it is the Word of God, so faith is necessary (Hebrews 11:6).

❖ The Holy Spirit inspired the Bible writers, and we must let Him also inspire us as we read it.

❖ Therefore, we should pray before reading the Bible, asking for the inspiration of the Holy Spirit so we can understand it correctly

Therefore, to understand that book is to understand the Bible. "The One who reveals the mysteries to John will give to the diligent searcher for truth a foretaste of Heavenly things. Those whose hearts are open to the reception of truth will be enabled to understand its teachings, and will be granted the blessing promised to those who 'hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein'." -- "The Acts of the Apostles," pp. 584, 585. Thus, when the Revelation is understood, it will unlock the great Store House and bring to light all the prophetic mysteries that are stored in it. (2SR 9.2)

In the last analysis, however, the title Messenger of the Covenant belongs to the Holy Spirit. For example, 1 Peter 3:18-20 states that Christ preached to the antediluvians by the same "Spirit" Who "quickened" Him. But as He preached by the Spirit in the person of Noah, not of Himself, He thereby unfolded the truth that the Holy Spirit is in all His messengers alike.

Thus "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 2 Pet. 1:21. Briefly summarized, the term Messenger of the Covenant means the Holy Spirit (the invisible Christ) in Heaven's visible representative--be it Moses, John, Christ, Elijah, or some other. (1Ans. 79.1, 2)

"'The rebuke of the Lord will rest upon those who would bar the way, that clearer light shall not come to the people. A great work is to be done, and God sees that our leading men have need of more light, that they may unite with the messengers whom He sends to accomplish the work that He designs shall be done...' -- Gospel Workers, p. 304.

Thus they insisted that God wants our leading men to unite with the messengers whom He sends, not the messengers to unite with the leading men.

For more information on how the Bible should be interpreted - Review the Lesson I

1. https://sites.google.com/view/meatindueseason/11-the-golden-bowl-zec-4?authuser=0

2. https://sites.google.com/view/meatindueseason/13-the-grains-of-ezekiel-4?authuser=0