Why the Bible?

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Why the Bible?

• Questions for seekers

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Never a book like the Bible

• Over 40 authors
• 1,400 years
• No contradictions
• Over 25,000 mss

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Never a book like the Bible

• THE STYLE OF WRITING IS
• Focused
• Ethical
• Relevant
• And real

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Never a book like the Bible

• THE BIBLE DEFIES NATURAL EXPLANATION IN THE AREA
  OF DETAILED UNBELIEVABLE PROPHECY
• Nations, capitals, cities, and Jesus Christ

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• Writhe and groan, O daughter of Zion, like a
  woman in labor, for now you shall go out from the
  city and dwell in the open country you shall go
  to Babylon. There you shall be rescued there the
  LORD will redeem you from the hand of your
  enemies. (Micah 410 ESV)
• Prophesied 100 years before the event when
  Babylon was just another city in Assyria

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• Behold, I am stirring up the Medes against them,
  who have no regard for silver and do not delight
  in gold. Their bows will slaughter the young men
  they will have no mercy on the fruit of the womb
  their eyes will not pity children. And Babylon,
  the glory of kingdoms, the splendor and pomp of
  the Chaldeans, will be like Sodom and Gomorrah
  when God overthrew them. (Isaiah 1317-19 ESV)
• Prophesied 180 years before Babylon was great and
  the Medes were unheard of

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• who says of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and he
  shall fulfill all my purpose saying of
  Jerusalem, She shall be built, and of the
  temple, Your foundation shall be laid. (Isaiah
  4428 ESV)
• Prophesied 200 years before and NAMED the Persian
  King Cyrus by name

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Never a book like the Bible

• THE BIBLE DEFIES NATURAL EXPLANATION IN THE AREA
  OF PRE-SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE
• The weight of air
• Round earth
• Water cycle
• Wind circuit
• Paths in the sea
• Existence of dinosaurs

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Never a book like the Bible

• THE BIBLE DEFIES NATURAL EXPLANATION IN THE AREA
  OF HISTORICAL/GEOGRAPHICAL EVENTS
• The Hittite nation
• Writing in Moses day
• Grapes in Egypt
• Iron in Israel, etc.
• Archaeol. map for believers, Jews, unbelievers

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Never a book like the Bible

• THE BIBLE LIFTS, ENCOURAGES, GIVES HOPE AND
  DIRECTION
• Just consider the violence, caste systems, and
  disrespect to women that exists in non-bible
  based societies

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Never a book like the Bible

• More criticism, examination, attack, and
  translation than any other book in history, yet
  mss from 250 B.C. show it to be unchanged for
  over 2,000 years.

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This book makes claims like no other

• knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of
  Scripture comes from someone's own
  interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced
  by the will of man, but men spoke from God as
  they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2
  Peter 120-21 ESV)

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This book makes claims like no other

• All Scripture is breathed out by God and
  profitable for teaching, for reproof, for
  correction, and for training in righteousness,
  that the man of God may be complete, equipped for
  every good work. (2 Timothy 316-17
  ESV)

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This book makes claims like no other

• Now we have received not the spirit of the world,
  but the Spirit who is from God, that we might
  understand the things freely given us by God. And
  we impart this in words not taught by human
  wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting
  spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
  (1 Corinthians 212-13 ESV)

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This book makes claims like no other

• For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when
  we made known to you the power and coming of our
  Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of
  his majesty. (2 Peter 116 ESV)

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This book makes claims like no other

• That which was from the beginning, which we have
  heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we
  looked upon and have touched with our hands,
  concerning the word of lifethe life was made
  manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it
  and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was
  with the Father and was made manifest to usthat
  which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to
  you, so that you too may have fellowship with us
  and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and
  with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing
  these things so that our joy may be complete. (1
  John 11-4 ESV)

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This book gives answers like no other

• I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in
  himself, that it is not in man who walks to
  direct his steps. (Jeremiah 1023 ESV)
• The heart is deceitful above all things, and
  desperately sick who can understand it?
  (Jeremiah 179 ESV)
• There is a way that seems right to a man, but its
  end is the way to death. (Proverbs 1412 ESV)

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This book gives answers like no other

• Answers, guidance that cant be found elsewhere
• Answers from the Creator of the universe
• Answers that affect us now and in eternity

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• The most important thought that ever occupied my
  mind is that of my individual responsibility to
  God.