Week 1: Where did the Bible come from?
The Bible is how God tells us what He is like, how much He loves us, and how we can know Him. God’s Word also tells us how to please Him with our thoughts, attitudes, and actions. The Bible is clearly a very important book, but where did it come from?
Be ready to read the following passages:
Let’s start it.
For over 1,500 years the Holy Spirit inspired 40 different men to write down God’s instructions and the stories of His people. Set a timer for 15 seconds and see how many of those 40 writers your family can name. Go!
Let’s learn it.
Many books of the Bible are named after the men who wrote them (like Isaiah and Luke) or for the group of people they were written to (like Romans and Ephesians). The Apostle Peter tells us how the writers of the Old Testament knew what to say to the nation of Israel. Take a moment to read 2 Peter 1:20-21 before continuing. God’s Spirit rested on godly men and told them what God wanted His people to know.
The books of the Old Testament were copied onto scrolls and taught to the Jewish people year after year, yet they still didn’t understand what God was trying to teach them. Many Jews thought they would go to Heaven if they could obey exactly what Scripture said – but it was impossible for even the best person to live without sinning. What did Jesus tell them about Scripture in John 5:39-40?
They would go to Heaven by believing that Jesus is God’s Son and by trusting Him as Savior, not by trying to be good people. The Holy Spirit guided some of Jesus’ disciples to write about other things Jesus said and did, about what happened after He went back to Heaven, and about how He expects His followers to live. Ask a family member to read 2 Timothy 3:16-17 before you continue.
For hundreds of years, scribes and monks continued to copy the writings of the Old and New Testaments by hand, but there were so few copies that only priests and pastors could read them. Then, in 1456, a man named Johann Gutenberg invented a way to print whole books much faster. The book most often printed was the Scriptures. Because of its importance, this collection was known simply as “the Book” (Biblos in Greek) – and is what we know today as the Bible.
Let’s discuss it.
- The books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are called “the Gospels” because they tell us about the life and teachings of Jesus. Discuss what you know about God from these four books.
- What have you been taught from the Bible? How has the Bible helped you to correct a wrong attitude or to better obey God?
Let’s do it.
Today, each of us can own a copy of God’s Word. You may even have instant access to the Bible on a tablet or cell phone, but knowing that we can read it any time can lessen our appreciation of it. Make a commitment as a family to treat Scripture with the importance it deserves by reading and obeying it.
First, make an appointment with God each day to read His Word and talk to Him through prayer. Ask each family member to share when they plan to have their time alone with God. Parents and younger children can set aside time together.
Next, decide what day and time each week you can have a family devotion. Choose a time when everyone can be there, and you won’t be rushed. The Bible is the most important book ever written. How will you show God this week that His Word is important to you?