Foundational Truths In Bible Study

  1. There Is A God
    1. existence of the universe
      1. every effect must have an adequate cause
      2. the amount of usable energy is decreasing
    2. design in the universe
      1. you can set your watch by it
      2. natural world provides models for man's inventions
    3. existence of concepts such as love, morality, aesthetics
      1. man starts out with a sense of right and wrong
      2. man also has a sense of "oughtness"
      3. every society has some standard of morals
  2. The Bible Is God's Word
    1. consistency and unity of theme
      1. among forty authors
      2. in three languages
      3. over sixteen centuries
    2. impartiality
      1. punishment of Moses, Deut. 3:25-27
      2. David and Bathsheba, 2 Sam. 11
      3. Peter's denial, Mt. 26
    3. archaeology
      1. bricks with and without straw in Egypt
      2. the Hittites, discovered in early 20th century
      3. second century manuscript quoting Mt., Mk., Lk., Jn.
    4. scientific accuracy
      1. position of the earth, Job 26:7
      2. roundness of the earth, Isa. 40:22, Luke 17:34-35
      3. currents in the sea, Psa. 8:8
      4. dimensions of the ark, Gen. 6:15
      5. medical knowledge, Lev. 13, Num. 19, Deut. 23, etc.
    5. fulfilled prophecy
      1. fate of Babylon, Isa. 13:19-22
      2. destruction of Tyre, Ezek. 26
      3. life of Christ, Isa. 7:14, Mic. 5:2, Psa. 22, Isa. 53, etc.
  3. Jesus Christ Is God's Son
    1. not a legend
      1. early writers, e.g. Josephus
      2. existence of the movement
    2. not a lunatic
      1. great teacher, Mt. 7:12
      2. confounding of the critics, Mt 22
    3. not a liar
      1. fulfilled prophecy
      2. consistency of his life
    4. resurrected