Lesson 1 for April 4, 2020

The Bible is undoubtedly a singular and unique book.

Its 66 books were written within a period of more than
1,500 years. They were written by 40 authors with little or
no relation between them.
There are more manuscripts of the Bible (24,600) than
any other ancient book. It was the first one to be
translated, and the first to be printed by Gutenberg.
It is the most translated book; it’s been translated into
95% of current languages.
However, its singularity goes beyond. Let’s find out why
it’s so special!

Its main theme

Its origin
Its predictions
Its historical setting
Its transforming power
 “They are not just idle words for you—they are
your life.” (Deuteronomy 32:47 NIV)
Above all, the Bible is the Word of God. It’s a message God
has written for us.
What is this messsage?
In a world of death, God wants to give us life, abundant life
(John 10:10).
How’s He going to do it?
Through Jesus Christ who is the main theme of the Bible.
He is the author of our salvation (Hebrews 5:9). The Old
Testament announces Him, and the New Testament
introduces Him. Both proclaim His redeeming power and
foretell the glorious future He’s prepared for us.

What should I do?

The Bible says that God wants you to accept Jesus as your
Savior, to remain faithful to His Word and to proclaim His
message to the world.
“Jesus said of the Old Testament Scriptures,—
and how much more is it true of the New,—
‘They are they which testify of Me,’ the
Redeemer, Him in whom our hopes of eternal
life are centered. John 5:39. Yes, the whole
Bible tells of Christ. From the first record of
creation—for ‘without Him was not anything
made that was made’—to the closing promise,
‘Behold, I come quickly,’ we are reading of His
works and listening to His voice. John 1:3;
Revelation 22:12. If you would become
acquainted with the Saviour, study the Holy
Scriptures.”
E.G.W. (Steps to Christ, cp. 10, p. 88)
ITS ORIGIN
The Holy Spirit is the 3rd person of the Godhead. He guided the mind of various
people, so they’d write God’s message with their own words. What did those
people have in common?

Different professions, different ages, different levels of education, different

nationalities, different circumstances… but all of them were used by God.
 “Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals
His secret to His servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7)
About 35% of the Bible’s content is prophecy. God foretold what was going to
happen. The prophecies about the life and ministry of Jesus are especially
remarkable.

Jeremiah 33:15 Micah 5:2 Malachi 3:1

• He was a descendant of • He was born in Bethlehem • John the Baptist came
David before Him

Zechariah 9:9 Isaiah 53:5 Isaiah 53:7

• He entered Jerusalem riding • He was beaten and • He didn’t defend Himself
a donkey wounded

Zechariah 13:7 Psalm 22:17 Psalm 22:18

• His disciples ran away • His hands and feet were • They divided His clothes
nailed

Isaiah 53:9 Psalm 16:10 Hosea 6:2

• He was buried among the • His body was not corrupted • He was resurrected on the
rich third day
“Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He
reveals His secret to His servants the
prophets.” (Amos 3:7)
These prophecies were fulfilled with amazing
accuracy. This is strong proof that Jesus was the
Messiah the prophets had foretold.
Jesus also prophesied future events: His own
death and resurrection (Luke 9:22); the
destruction of Jerusalem (Matthew 24:2); and His
Second Coming (John 14:1-3).

Everything happened as He had foretold, so we

can be sure the last prophecy will surely be
fulfilled: Jesus will come again!
The Bible is a historical book, unlike other “holy” books which
mainly contain philosophical thoughts.
Specific people, events, places, cities, mounts and rivers are
mentioned.

The focus of the Old

Testament is the history of
a people who await the
coming of the Messiah.

The focus of the New

Testament is the
fulfillment of those
promises, Jesus, and
the historical event of
His resurrection.
 There are specific details about His
tomb: its owner, the guards at the
door, and the seal of the priests.

The women and the disciples saw Jesus

and touched Him. The Bible tells how
Jesus ate, walked and talked with them.
The Bible makes it clear: the resurrection
of Jesus was AN ACTUAL EVENT.

The Bible also states that it was the “firstfruits” of

our future resurrection (1Co. 15:20).
Therefore, we can be sure that our resurrection
will also be AN ACTUAL EVENT.
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper
than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division
of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a
discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
(Hebrews 4:12)

God uses the Bible to move us to conviction,

repentance and a life change. It transforms
people, families and entire nations.
When King Josiah found “the book of the
law”, he was deeply moved. He encouraged
others to make a change in their lives, thus
transforming the whole nation
(2 Kings 22:3-20).
The transforming power of the Bible is one of
its most characteristic peculiarities.
Thousands of transformed lives are the proof
that the Bible is the revealed Word of God.
“The whole Bible is a revelation of
the glory of God in Christ.
Received, believed, obeyed, it is the
great instrumentality in the
transformation of character. It is
the grand stimulus, the
constraining force, that quickens
the physical, mental, and spiritual
powers, and directs the life into
right channels.”

E.G.W. (The Ministry of Healing, cp. 39, p. 458)