Bibliology

1 Bible Facts and Trivia

1.1 Introduction

The Bible is the account of God’s efforts to reveal Himself to mankind.

Human authors around 40 Including Moses, Joshua, Ezra, Nehemiah, King David and the old Testament Prophets, The New Testament was written by Matthew, Mark. Luke, John, Paul, James, Peter, and Jude. Just to name the obvious. Most have never meet before yet they have common doctrines like Salvations. Redemption, Sacrifices for atonement and forgiveness of sin.

Written over 1500 to 1600 years Moses started in the 1400’s B.C. and the apostle John wrote the book of Revelation around 95 A.D. The book of Job is the Oldest written Book.

Just for fun who can name the shortest verse in our English Bible. [i]

“There are over 6,000 early manuscript copies or portions of the Greek New Testament in existence today. When we include the Latin Vulgate and other early versions, we have over 24,000 early copies or portions of the New Testament (twice that many when including quotes by early church fathers). Some of these date only twenty to thirty years from the original autographs. By comparison, of works by Plato and Aristotle very few copies exist at all, and those were written 1,200 to 1,400 years after the autographs. 14 According to a former director of the British Museum,

The interval then between the dates of original composition and the earliest extant evidence becomes so small as to be in fact negligible, and the last foundation for any doubt that the Scriptures have come down to us substantially as they were written has now been removed. Both the authenticity and the general integrity of the books of the New Testament may be regarded as finally established. 15

The Chester Beatty Papyrus II is the earliest piece of the New Testament known to exist. This contains most of Paul’s letters copied around AD 100.

The John Rylands Manuscript contains part of the Gospel of John copied in AD 130. It can be found in the John Rylands Library of Manchester, England.

The Codex Vaticanus is a Greek copy of the entire Old Testament and most of the New Testament. Copied between the years 325 and 350 16, the Codex Vaticanus has resided in the Vatican’s library since 1481 as one of the most trustworthy witnesses to the New Testament text. 17”

http://www.provethebible.net/T2-Integ/B-0801.htm

1.1.1 Languages

The Old testament was written in Hebrew

The New testament was written in Greek

And there is some Aramaic sprinkled throughout the Bible

A name in Genesis 31:47, one verse in Jeremiah 10:11, six chapters in Daniel 2:4b-7:28; and several chapters in Ezra 4:8-6:18; and 7:12-26. In the New testament Talitha cumi mark 5:41; Ephphatha Mark 7:34; Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani Matthew 27:46; Maranatha 1 Corinthians 16:22 and Abba in Matthew 14:36, Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:6,

1.1.2 Old Testament 39 books

3 and 9 = 39

Torah or the Law 5 books also known as the Pentateuch (Five Scrolls or Five Books)

History 12 books

Poetry 5 books

Major Prophets 5 books

Minor Prophets 12 books

Basically we have the Law, history and Prophecy

1.1.3 New Testament

3 x 9 = 27 but that add to upon each other to = 66

Gospel 4 books (Matthew – John)

History 1 book (Acts)

Epistles or letters 21 books (Romans to Jude)

Prophecy 1 book (Revelations)

Basically we have the Good News, history and prophecy.

1.1.4 Jesus authenticated the scriptures

Jesus mentioned the old testament Prophets, the Law and the Psalms.

Lu 11:51 From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation. (Also in Mat 23:35)

And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: (Luke 24:44-46 KJV)

Don’t forget He quotes the scriptures with authority when tempted, when asked about the greatest commandment and speaking to the rich young ruler, (Mat 4:1-11; 19:16-22; 22:36-40)

Other scripture references:

Creation and Marriage Mat 19:5
The Deluge and Noah’s Ark Luke 17:26-27
Sodom and Gomorrah Luke 17:28-29
Destruction of Tyre and Sidon Matthew 11:21,22
The Passover Mat 26:2
The Law John 7:19
The commandments Mat 19:7-9
Divorce mat 19:7-9
Burning Bush Mk 12:26
Jonah Mat 12:40
Ninevah Mat 12:41
Solomon Mat 12:42
Feast of the Tabernacles John 7
David eating the Show Bread Mat 12:3
Elijah Luke 4:25
Naaman the Leper Luke 4:27
Brazen serpent John 3:14-15
John the Baptist and elijan Mat 17:10-13
Daniels prophecy Mat 24:15
What is truth John 17:17

1.1.5 The Inerrancy of the Bible

The inerrancy of the Scripture means that in its original autographs the Bible contains no mistakes. In the original languages in which it was written, it is absolutely infallible without error whatever.

If one cannot have a positive faith in the infallibility of the Bible, how can we speak with any authority when it comes to the gospel or matters on eternity.

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:13 KJV)

We cannot just pick and choose what verses to stand on and which ones to say well… I think.

Get at least 2 verses and if you can find ten you are better off because in the presence of 2 or 3 witnesses is how God confirms His presence and His truth.

1.1.6 The word given to mankind

The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it. (Psalms 68:11 KJV)

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Peter 1:21 KJV)

The Lord gave His word to holy men of God that were moved by the Holy Ghost.

They are good for “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV).

“The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29 KJV).

God reveals to us through His word the secret things and the mysteries He wants us to know.

Paul 2 Cor 12:1; Cornelius & Peter Acts 10;

We are not to add or take away from God’s word. Deuteronomy 4:2, 12:32; Proverbs 30:6; Revelations 22:18-19.

1.1.7 Church Fathers

In the first seven centuries men like Clement of rome, Hermas, Ignetius, Polycarp, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Origin, Tertulian, Eusebius [yoo’sḗbḗus], Jerome and Augustine. 96- 325 A.D. These being the better know, quoted freely from the Bible even siting the 27 books and virtually every verse. As of 1983 Guy Duffield and Nathaniel Van Cleave have found all the New Testament verses except eleven.

Old Testament

The Dead Sea Scrolls were an amazing find. They have found pieces of every book in the Old testament except Esther. The most complete book that was found was the book of Isaiah. It was 95% accurate with differences only being in spelling or grammar. For instance in England they spell color colour; honor, honour.

1.1.8 Fulfilled Prophesy

Many prophecies in the Bible have been fulfilled, and this fact helps develops faith and trust in the Bible. As we study world history in the light of these prophecies it adds authenticity.

There are over a hundred prophecies in the Old Testament that predict events that would happen in the life of Jesus, the Messiah, hundreds of years before they happened. The odds of one person being able to fulfill all these prophecies with 100% accuracy is 10 to the 18th power. That’s a “1” with 18 zero’s after it, (1,000,000,000,000,000,000). Two of the most common chapters in the Bible that reveal facts regarding the life of Jesus are Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53. Below are some of the prophecies about Jesus written in the Old Testament and their fulfillment in the New Testament.

Event Predicted	Old Testament Prophecy	New Testament Fulfillment
Born of a virgin	Isaiah 7:14	Matthew 1:18, 22-25
Born of the tribe of Judah	Genesis 49:10	Luke 3:23, 33
Born in Bethlehem	Micah 5:2	Matthew 2:1
Sold for 30 pieces of silver	Zechariah 11:12	Matthew 26:15
Hands and feet pierced	Psalm 22:16	John 19:35-37
Silent at trial	Isaiah 53:7b	Matthew 27:12-14

1.1.9 God knows before the scientists or explorers discover the truth.

His word revealed to mankind scientific facts before man knew about them e.g. gravity the world is round:

Job 26:7 reads, “He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth on nothing.” Job was written thousands of years ago. Long before anyone would have known for sure that the earth rotates around the sun.

Isaiah 40:22 mentions that the earth is round, “It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth”. Columbus in 1492 was trying to find the edge of the earth. People in that day thought the earth was flat. If he looked to the Bible he could have known that the earth was round even before science confirmed it.

We are to search His word (Proverbs 2:1-5)

I have found a three cord rope which is hard to break in the book of Proverbs.

Bible Facts and Trivia

The Bible is actually a library of 66 books, written by 44 authors over a period of about 1500 years. The 39 books of the Old Testament were composed between 1400 and 400 B.C., the 27 books of the New Testament between A.D. 50 and A.D. 100.

Discover: Who wrote the Bible?
Discover: How Many Bible Promises are There?

When the Bible was first written, there were no chapters or verses as today. In fact, many of the early, handwritten manuscripts were written without spaces between the words! Stephen Langton divided the Bible into chapters about A.D. 1228. The Old Testament was divided into verses by R. Nathan in A.D. 1448, and Robert Stephanus divided the New Testament into verses in A.D. 1551. The first complete Bible with chapter and verse divisions was the Geneva Bible of A.D. 1560.

Bible Trivia: King James Version

Here are some interesting facts and trivia regarding the King James Version of the Bible produced in A.D. 1611.

Books of the Bible:

Old Testament: 39 books
New Testament: 27 books
Complete Bible: 66 books
Middle book of the Old Testament: Proverbs
Middle book of the New Testament: 2 Thessalonians

Verses:

Old Testament: 23,214 verses
New Testament: 7,959 verses
Complete Bible: 31,173 verses
Middle verse of the Bible: Psalms 103:1,2
Middle verse of the Old Testament: 2 Chronicles 20:17
Middle verse of the New Testament: Acts 17:17
Shortest verse of the Old Testament: 1 Chronicles 1:25
Shortest verse of the New Testament: “Jesus wept.” John 11:35; “Rejoice evermore” 1 Thessalonians 5:16
Longest verse in the Bible: Esther 8:9
Verse containing all letters of the alphabet except “J”: Ezra 7:21
Verse containing all letters of the alphabet except “Q”: Daniel 4:37
Verses most alike: Psalm 107:8,15,21, 31

Chapters:

Old Testament: 929
New Testament: 260
Entire Bible: 1,189
Middle chapter of Old Testament: Job 29
Middle chapter of New Testament: Romans 13
Middle and shortest chapter of Bible: Psalms 117
Longest chapter in the Bible: Psalm 119
Chapters that are most alike: 2 Kings 19 and Isaiah 37

Words:

In the Old Testament: 592,439 words
In the New Testament: 181,253 words
Complete Bible: 773, 692 words
Longest word in the Bible (18 letters): Maher-shalal-hash-baz (Isaiah 8:1)
Words occurring only once in the Bible: eternity (Isaiah 57:15); grandmother (2 Timothy 1:5); gnat (Matthew 23:24)

Bible Facts and Trivia

Discover: Who wrote the Bible?
Discover: How Many Bible Promises are There?