03-3. More about the Bible

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets.  I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.  For assuredly, I I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.

Jesus said to him, ” ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’  On these two commandmenets hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

… the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord …

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

“Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah”

The means of completing the Old Testament list are not known, but its authority is based on:

• At the time of Jesus, the Hebrew Scriptures consisted of the Law, Prophets and Holy Writings.  Jesus accepted these and taught His disciples from them;
• Quotations in the New Testament appear from all but four of these books;
• The list is acknowledged by world-wide Jewry.

Jesus’ authoritative words were reported by the apostles who had heard him, and their letters were publicly read.

The New Testament books were written during AD 50 – 100, they were collected and read in churches, and later were carefully examined and compared with other writings, with complete agreement being reached in AD 300 – 400.  But the main part of the list was recognised from early times.

For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.

Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.

It’s now a tradition for each person to have a their own paper bible, but that is a relatively recent trend.  Printed bibles only date from 1440.  Until then, people relied on having the bible read to them, from scrolls, or parchment.  And until about 100 years ago, families would tend to have a single family bible, due to the cost.  And that was the King James Version.  From about 70 years ago, multiple versions have appeared.

Is there any good reason why printed paper version of the bible is still preferred by many older people, while many younger people enjoy electronic and audio versions?

Do large electronic screens restrict our thinking and limit our being open to guidance of the Holy Spirit?  If so, does that also apply to small mobile phone screens?

The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls shows the value of storing records on good quality paper or parchment that will last through the centuries.  How much of what you store on USB sticks will be accessible in 10 or 20 years?  Have you lost family memories recorded on VHS tapes?  How much of the information we can now access on the internet will be available in 50 or 100 years?

 Now, I can carry multiple versions of the bible in my pocket on my mobile phone, and access a specific verse more quickly than with a paper bible.  Are digital copies of the bible equally valid?

This also raises the question of what is the appropriate format for spreading the gospel, and for worship.  The internet has provided new opportunities which many churches have been slow to take up.

Then he (Moses) took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people.

(At the end of every seven years) when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing.

. . . And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.