The Eternal Word – Page 1

Checklist

THE ETERNAL WORD ‰ This Lesson

‰ Spiritual Journal
‰ Gospel Tracts
God’s Bible Is For You ‰ Timothy E Lesson
For Next Session
‰ Lesson F

Study #5

Discuss Last Week’s

Assignments –

W
hat is the “authority” in your life? Those who believe 1. Ask him to share
something must have a reason for their beliefs. Just as his Scriptural
there are standards in the business world, in the insights, prayers,
government, and in education – the and applications
Christian needs an absolute from his Spiritual
Lesson Overview Journal.
standard for his beliefs, his duties I. What Is The Bible? 2. Share one of your
– indeed, his whole conduct. II. How Did We Quiet Times.
Receive The 3. Exchange
Many people have as their Bible? highlights of your
authority their inner sermon notes.
III. Do We Have The 4. Ask him about his
CONSCIENCE. “Let your Bible Today? effort of handing
conscience be your guide!” they IV. Why Do We Need out a gospel tract.
say. This sounds good, but The Bible?
according to Titus 1:15 the V. What Should We
conscience may be Do With The Discipler:
D__ __ __ __ __ __; according to Bible? You and your Timothy
1 Timothy 4:2, S__ __ __ __ __ VI. What Great will fill this lesson out
and according to 1 Corinthians 8:7 Personalities together as you work
W__ __ __. Have Said About through it. You have
the answers to the
The Bible blanks in your margin
boxes.
Other people, especially
religious folk, have the
“CHURCH” or man-made
Answers:
CREEDS as their authority. Such
Defiled
standards are unreliable because man Seared
is involved. Colossians 2:8 warns us Weak
Philosophy
 Christian Mentoring from A to Z Tradition
 The Eternal Word – Page 2
against P__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ and Matthew 15:3,6,9 warns
us against T__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __.

For the Christian, only the BIBLE (the Word of God) is the
unchanging authority for faith and practice.

This study will teach you what the Bible is, why you can take it as
your authority, and how to use it as a child of God.
Answers:
66
I. WHAT IS THE BIBLE? Testaments

A. The Bible is a collection of __ __ books, divided The Old Testament

deals primarily with
into two major sections known as the OLD and Israel, and the New
NEW __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __. Testament deals
primarily with
B. Other names given to the Bible are: Christians. However,
1. The __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __. all Scripture is inspired
Romans 10:17 by God and is
profitable for us.
2. The H__ __ __
S__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __.
2 Timothy 3:15 Answers:
C. The Bible is God’s revelation of Himself and His Word of God
Holy Scriptures
ways to man. He reveals:
1. His character – the sovereign God of the
universe. He is the standard of absolute
holiness.
2. His divine judgment for sin and
disobedience.
3. His divine blessing for faith and obedience.
4. His redemption of mankind through the
Lord Jesus Christ as the sacrifice for sin.
5. His eternal plan for the ages – an eternal
kingdom of righteous people over which He
will rule.

 Christian Mentoring from A to Z

 The Eternal Word – Page 3
D. The Books of the Bible are not arranged
chronologically, but rather “topically.” Both of
the Testaments have their books set in groups.
Encourage them to
memorize the books of
the Bible in order.

(All new Christians experience difficulty at first in finding

the books of the Bible, especially during a preaching
service. Don’t be embarrassed to use the index in the front
of your Bible or to accept the assistance of another
Christian. The more you use your Bible the sooner you will
become familiar with the location of its books.)
E. The Old Testament reveals God’s creation of the
universe and then focuses on the nation of Israel,
His chosen people. It covers:
Comment:
1. Creation of the universe
This is a synopsis of
2. Fall of man the Old Testament.
3. Flood Judgment over the earth A good Old Testament
4. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Israel) – fathers of survey book to buy is
the chosen nation Explore the Book, by J.
Sidlow Baxter, or Talk
5. The history of Israel [exile in Egypt (430
Thru the Bible, by Walk
years), Exodus and wilderness wanderings Thru the Bible
(40 years), Conquest of Canaan (7 years), Ministries.
Era of the Judges (350 years), United
Kingdom under Saul, David, Solomon (110
years), Divided Kingdom of Judah & Israel
 Christian Mentoring from A to Z
 The Eternal Word – Page 4
(350 years), Exile in Babylon (70 years), Comment:
When the Old
Return and rebuilding the nation (140 Testament ended,
years)]. Israel was back in her
land from Babylonian
F. The period of history which falls between the captivity. The Persian
closing of the Old Testament and the opening of Empire controlled the
the New is called “The Intertestamental Period.” Holy Land.
This is not a Biblical name, but it identifies a period When the New
Testament opens, the
of history. Some Bible scholars call it “The 400 Roman Empire
Silent Years.” During this time God did not speak to controls the world.
man through prophets nor inspire the writing of Rome has given
Scripture. This silence was broken when God sent Palestine to Herod to
John the Baptist. He was the prophesied forerunner be king over.
During the 400 years
of Jesus Christ. Through John, Jesus Christ, the between the O.T. and
Apostles, the Holy Spirit, and the Church, God has N.T., the Grecian
spoken volumes to reveal Himself. Empire rose to power
1. The New Testament completed God’s under Alexander the
written revelation. When it was finished, Great and crumbled
after his death.
God said, “If any man shall A__ __ unto
these things, God shall add unto him the
P__ __ __ __ __ __ that are written in this
book” (Revelation 22:18). Answers:
2. The New Testament covers the life of Add
Plagues
Christ, the establishment, growth, and
multiplication of the local New Testament
church, and God’s proclamation of future
events. The focus of the New Testament is
on Jesus Christ, then the Church.

II. HOW DID WE RECEIVE THE BIBLE?

The Bible is not just a book, it is THE Book – different
from any other book that has or will be written. The Bible
is a SUPERNATURAL book because of the way in which
God gave it to mankind.

 Christian Mentoring from A to Z

 The Eternal Word – Page 5
A. Look up and write out 2 Peter 1:21.
(2 Peter 1:21) “For the
__________________________________________ prophecy came not in
__________________________________________ old time by the will of
_________________________________________. man: but holy men of
God spake as they
This verse of Scripture teaches three important facts were moved by the
Holy Ghost.”
concerning how we got the Bible.
1. It wasn’t made up by men – “... came not by Comment:
the W__ __ __ of man...” “...Moved by the Holy
2. Men of God wrote the Bible – “... holy men Ghost” means they
were carried along by
of God spake...”
the Holy Ghost. This is
3. God authored the Bible – “... as they were illustrated by a toy boat
M__ __ __ __ by the Holy Ghost.” Over that is carried along by
2000 times in the Old Testament alone, the the river. The river
Bible asserts that God spoke what is written supports it, carries it,
and determines the
within its pages.
direction it is going.
B. God used human writers to pen His Words.
1. God employed over 40 men from all walks
of life to record the Bible. This was
accomplished over a period of 1,600 years.
2. Most of the Old Testament was originally
written in HEBREW. The New Testament
was originally written in GREEK.
C. God authored the Bible.
God wrote & man wrote?
A good way to illustrate this miracle is to consider
how you would write things down on paper. First, it
is the pen that actually does the writing – but it only
writes as you move it. Second, the characteristics of
the script will depend on the kind of pen or writing
instrument you use. Write your name down on
paper using a “fine ball-point pen,” a “felt-tip
marking pen,” and a paintbrush – note there will be
the same words, but a different appearance!

 Christian Mentoring from A to Z

 The Eternal Word – Page 6
Explain these 2 vital
1. The way in which God gave us the Bible is concepts:
called INSPIRATION. Inspiration means Revelation – “the
divine act of
“breathed out by God.”
communicating to man
2. The Holy Spirit moved the human writers of truth which otherwise
the Bible in such a way that they recorded man could not know.”
the very words of God, though couched in The Bible is God’s
their own literary style. God limited Himself written revelation to
man.
to their knowledge, their vocabulary, their
Inspiration – “the Holy
experiences, as He told them what to write. Spirit’s superintending
3. Because the Bible is the INSPIRED Word of over the writers of
God, we must accept it as the authority for Scripture so that while
all we believe and do. writing according to
their own styles and
• BEWARE of men who say, “The personalities, the result
Bible BECOMES the Word of God” was God’s Word
when it speaks to you personally. Read written – authoritative,
trustworthy, and free
Matthew 5:18; 24:35, and 1 Corinthians
from error.” Inspiration
2:13. According to these passages, God was necessary to
has inspired the W__ __ __ __ (not just preserve the revelation
the ideas and thoughts). of God. It guarantees
the accuracy of the
• BEWARE of men who say, “The revelation. Inspiration
Bible CONTAINS the Word of God,” was help from God to
meaning there are parts of it which are keep the report of
not God’s Word. Look up 2 Timothy divine revelation free
from error.
3:16. According to this verse, how much
of the Bible is inspired? A__ __ These concepts are
4. Because the Bible is the inspired Word of foundational to a
God, it is T__ __ __ from beginning to end proper understanding
(Psalm 119:160). of the Bible. A good,
conservative theology
book (e.g. Basic
D. God directed men to compile the separate books of Theology, by Charles
the Bible. Ryrie) will be a help in
understanding their full
1. The first book of the Bible was written impact.
approximately 1405 BC, and the last one
was written around AD 95. Throughout this
Answers:
 Christian Mentoring from A to Z Words, All, True
 The Eternal Word – Page 7
time God progressively revealed Himself
and His purposes in the inspired Scriptures.

How do we know which books of sacred

writings were supposed to be included in the
Bible?
2. Over the centuries, three widely recognized
principles were used to validate those
writings that came as a result of divine
revelation and inspiration.
Comment:
A good book written
Which books go in the Bible? from an apologetical
Test #1 – the writing had to have a recognized point of view is
prophet or apostle as its author (or one closely Evidence that
associated with them). Demands a Verdict, by
Test #2 – the writing could not disagree with or Josh McDowell. The
first section of an
contradict previous Scripture. apologetical book
Test #3 – the writing had to have general consensus usually deals with how
by the church as an inspired book. When various we got our Bible.
councils in church history met to consider the canon
(Bible), they did not vote for the canonicity of a The subject of
apologetics is the
book but rather recognized, after the fact, what God defense of the faith.
had already written.

3. The Old Testament had, by the time of

Christ, been written and accepted in the
Jewish community. The Old Testament
canon of Christ’s day confirms our own, and
it does not contain the 14 uninspired and
spurious Apocryphal books. The Apocrypha
is neither cited by any New Testament
writer, nor did Jesus affirm any of it.
 Christian Mentoring from A to Z
 The Eternal Word – Page 8

III. DO WE HAVE THE BIBLE TODAY?

The original manuscripts of the Bible have been long lost.
Does this mean we no longer have the pure Word of God?
A. Look up Psalm 119:89, Isaiah 40:8 and Matthew
24:35.
1. Not only did God give us His Word, but He
also promised to preserve it until the end of
the world.
2. According to Isaiah 40:8, the Word of God
will stand F__ __ E__ __ __.
3. Matthew 24:35 says God’s Word will not Answers:
P__ __ __ A__ __ __. For ever
Pass away
4. God anticipated the battle that would rage
over the Bible. Satan denied God’s Word to
Eve (Genesis 3:4), King Jehoiakim of Judah
actually tried to destroy it (Jeremiah 36:23),
and it’s destruction has been the edict of
kings and emperors ever since. Godless,
atheistic governments have banned it.
B. How has God preserved His Word?
God has providentially kept His Word from
destruction and corruption in two ways:
1. Through the centuries, the Lord has raised
up men with a love for His Word to keep it
from harm. Zealous Jewish patriots, and
then later, simple Bible-loving Christians,
have kept the Scriptures available to all
generations. Satan has, on numerous
occasions, attempted to remove the Bible
from the face of the earth. Hellish decrees
have seen the Bible banned, burned,
banished, and battered by scornful men.
2. The Hebrew text of the Old Testament has been
faithfully preserved by meticulous Jewish
 Christian Mentoring from A to Z
 The Eternal Word – Page 9
scribes – it is called the Masoretic Text. The
Greek text of the New Testament has been
faithfully preserved in numerous manuscripts,
one compilation of which is called the Textus
Receptus, or Received Text.

Over 3,000 ancient manuscripts of the New

Testament, along with an additional 2,000
lectionaries (selected readings) still exist today – the
majority of them attesting to the Received Text.
This is a mountain of evidence.

3. Beware of other Bibles such as the Revised

Standard Version (RSV), Good News for
Modern Man Bible, the New English Bible,
etc. – they are less accurate translations.
Two exceptions are the New American

 Christian Mentoring from A to Z

 The Eternal Word – Page 10
Standard Version (NASV) and the New
International Version (NIV) which are good
translations but based upon fewer
manuscripts (see diagram below). The
translation theory behind the NIV is less
accepted in conservative circles.

Comment:
These versions are
copyrighted and
protected by the
publishers. For a paid
royalty the publishers
have allowed their
translations to be used
in digital and online
Bibles. The King
James Version enjoys
the benefit of not being
copyrighted. Since
God didn’t deliver His
Word to man for him to
restrict its use or
create big business
with it, the use of the
KJV sets well with us.
You may copy and
disperse it without fear
of breaking the law or
of litigation.

If you don’t already possess a Bible, you may

purchase one from our church bookstore. The cost
of Bibles range from a few dollars to one hundred
dollars – depending on the quality of paper and the
type of binding.

 Christian Mentoring from A to Z

 The Eternal Word – Page 11
C. Do we need to know Hebrew and Greek to
understand the Bible?
Mastery of the original languages will always yield
a rich understanding of Scripture. However, we
have the preserved Word of God in our language.
With the preponderance of Bible helps
Comment:
(commentaries, word studies, Bible histories and We use the King
geographies, Bible customs and manners, lexicons, James Version of the
interlinears, and so on) any diligent student of the Bible for all teaching,
Scriptures can learn the Bible without learning preaching,
memorization, etc.
Hebrew and Greek. God gave us the Scriptures to
because we believe it
learn of Him and obey; they’re not just for the is the most formally
academic exercise of study. accurate translation of
1. The version of the Bible translated from the the Scriptures in the
Masoretic Text and the Textus Receptus is English language. This
is not the issue around
the King James Version, also known as the
which our church
Authorized Version. revolves, nor do we
2. The King James Version is the most malign other
authenticated translation of the English conservative Bibles.
Bibles. The issue of versions
is complex, emotionally
charged, and is often
D. Have critics of the Bible harmed the authority of divisive. Rather than
the Scriptures in any way? wasting time and
energy debating this,
Absolutely not! In fact, history, geology, we solely use the King
archeology, and sciences in general are all on the James Version and
side of the Bible. They attest to its accuracy. seek to evangelize and
make disciples of all
Though the Bible is not primarily a history book or
nations. We will keep
a science book; it is historically and scientifically the main thing the
accurate. The science of archeology has repeatedly main thing.
validated the accuracy of the Biblical record of
historical events. There have always been skeptics
with their theories. Their theories crumble and the
skeptics die – the Bible stands!

 Christian Mentoring from A to Z

 The Eternal Word – Page 12

Last eve I paused beside

the blacksmith’s
door,
And heard the
anvil ring the vesper
chime.
Then looking down I saw upon the floor,
Old hammers worn with beating years of
time.
How many anvils have you used, said I,
To wear and batter all these hammers so?
Just one, said he, and then with twinkling
eye,
The anvil wears the hammers out, you know.

Just so, thought I, the anvil of God’s Word

For ages skeptics’ blows have beat
upon.
And though the noise of
falling blows was heard,
The anvil is unharmed, the
hammers – gone!

IV. WHY DO WE NEED THE BIBLE?

Answers:
A. Look up 1 Peter 2:2; Matthew 4:4; Psalm 19:10. Food
Sword
According to these Scriptures, the Bible is our
spiritual F__ __ __ .
B. Look up Hebrews 4:12 and Ephesians 6:17.
The Bible is our spiritual S__ __ __ __ .
 Christian Mentoring from A to Z
 The Eternal Word – Page 13
C. Look up Psalm 119:11.
Answers:
This verse says the Bible keeps us from S__ __ . Sin
D. Look up Psalm 119:105. Guidebook

According to this Scripture, the Bible is life’s:

_________________________________ (Use your
own words.)
E. Look up 2 Timothy 3:16.
The Bible is profitable for:
D__ __ __ __ __ __ __ (what is right)
Answers:
R__ __ __ __ __ __ (what is not right) Doctrine
C__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (how to get right) Reproof
and I__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ in Correction
righteousness (how to keep right). Instruction

F. Look up 1 Thessalonians 4:18 and Psalm 119:50.

The Word of God is for our C__ __ __ __ __ __ .
Answer:
Comfort

V. WHAT SHOULD WE DO WITH THE BIBLE?

A. John 5:39; Acts 17:11 _______________________ Answers:
Search it
B. 2 Timothy 2:15 ____________________________ Study it
Do it
C. James 1:22 ________________________________ Compare passages
Meditate upon it
D. 1 Corinthians 2:13 ________________________ Hide it (memorize)

E. Psalm 1:2; Joshua 1:8 ______________________

F. Psalm 119:11 ______________________________

You may wish to write the following statement in your

Bible as a wise reminder:
“THIS BOOK WILL KEEP YOU FROM SIN —
OR SIN WILL KEEP YOU FROM THIS BOOK.”

 Christian Mentoring from A to Z

 The Eternal Word – Page 14

VI. WHAT GREAT PERSONALITIES HAVE

SAID ABOUT THE BIBLE
A. President George Washington
“It is impossible to rightly govern
the world without the Bible.”
B. President John Adams
“The Bible is the best book in the
world. It contains more...than all
the libraries I have seen.”
C. President John Quincy Adams
“It is an invaluable and inexhaustible mine of
knowledge and virtue.”
D. President Andrew Jackson
“That book, sir, is the rock on which our Republic
rests.”
E. President Abraham Lincoln
“But for this Book we could not
know right from wrong. I believe
the Bible is the best gift God has
ever given to man.”
F. President Theodore Roosevelt
“No educated man can afford to be ignorant of the
Bible.”
G. President Herbert Hoover
“The whole of the inspirations of our civilization
springs from the teachings of Christ...to read the
Bible...is a necessity of American life.”
H. William Gladstone

 Christian Mentoring from A to Z

 The Eternal Word – Page 15
“I have known ninety-five great men of the world in
my time, and of these, eighty-seven were followers
of the Bible.”
I. General Douglas MacArthur
“Believe me, sir, never a night
goes by, be I ever so tired, but I
read the Word of God before I go to
bed.”
J. Sir Isaac Newton
“We account the Scriptures of
God to be the most sublime philosophy. I find more
sure marks of authenticity in the Bible than in any
profane history whatsoever.”
K. Sir Francis Bacon
“The volume of Scriptures...reveal the will of God.”
L. Charles W. Mayo
“In sickness or in health, one can find comfort and
constructive advice in the Bible.”
M. Daniel Webster
“I believe the Scriptures of the Old and New
Testament to be the will and the Word of God.”
N. Benjamin Franklin
“Young men, my advice to you is that you cultivate
an acquaintance with, and a firm belief in, the Holy
Scriptures.”
O. Patrick Henry
“This is a Book worth more than all
the others that were ever printed.”
P. Horace Greeley
“It is impossible to mentally or socially enslave a
Bible-reading people.”
 Christian Mentoring from A to Z
 The Eternal Word – Page 16
Q. Charles Dickens
“It is the best Book that ever was or ever will be in
the world....”
R. J. Edgar Hoover
“The Bible is the unfailing guide which points the
way for men to the perfect life.”
S. Helen Keller
“In the Bible I find a confidence
mightier than the utmost evil....”
T. King George V
“The English Bible is...the most
valuable thing that this world affords.”
U. Jesus Christ
(John 17:17) “Sanctify them through thy
truth: thy word is truth.”
(John 5:39) “Search the scriptures; for in
them ye think ye have eternal life: and they
are they which testify of me.”

Some points to ponder –

“In concluding this section it may be necessary to stop here
and consider some anticipated objections about all these
‘pious commercials’ for the Bible. Some have felt the
statements made by political persons, such as U.S.
presidents, were made solely for election purposes, for, it is
claimed, no atheist could ever be voted into the White
House. But to say this is to deny the integrity of almost
every American president. It should also be pointed out that
many of these statements were made at a time when either
the man was not a candidate for reelection, or had already
moved out of the White House.

 Christian Mentoring from A to Z

 The Eternal Word – Page 17

Furthermore, while history shows many famous ‘Bible

haters’ who later became ‘Bible lovers,’ it never records the
opposite. To take this a step further, it can be shown that no
evil and murderous dictator or tyrant in history was ever a
friend of the Bible and that no good and wise leader was
ever an enemy of God’s Word. Thus to deny the authority
of the Bible is to set oneself against practically every great
leader in Western civilization.”
Wilmington’s Guide to the Bible, page 798

SPIRITUAL GROWTH ASSIGNMENT

Review this spiritual
growth assignment
‰ Read your F Lesson (Family) and answer all the questions. with your Timothy.
‰ Continue reading through the New Testament and doing your
daily Quiet Time by writing your own Scriptural insight,
application, and prayer.
‰ Continue taking sermon notes. Encourage your
‰ Give out some gospel tracts to someone. Timothy and cast a
‰ Where would you like to meet for next week’s session? vision for him
regarding spiritual
‰ Be sure to bring your Bible, pen, F Lesson, and Spiritual growth.
Journal.
Pray for him and have
him pray aloud.

REMEMBER!!!
Turn in the
“Discipler Report
Back” page by
dropping it off at
the Hospitality
Booth in the church
foyer.

 Christian Mentoring from A to Z

 The Eternal Word – Page 18

Discipler This is a
sample of
Report Back the

E
“Discipler
Report
Back” page
that you
removed
I met with_________________________________on from the
____/____/____ and reviewed the contents of this back of your
lesson. My comments regarding the discipleship time Timothy’s
together are: lesson.
___________________________________________
___________________________________________ Return that
___________________________________________ sheet to the
___________________________________________ Hospitality
(make comments only if they are needed to help the Pastoral
Booth in the
staff assist you in ministering to this person)
church foyer.

Discipler’s Name _____________________________

Please drop this off at the Hospitality Booth in the

church foyer on the first service after conducting
this session. This will help the Pastoral staff stay
current with the status of our new converts and
new members being discipled.
Thank You

 Christian Mentoring from A to Z