The Bible for Today

As Seventh-day Adventist Christians we believe that God reveals Himself to us in this fallen world. Among all the various ways He has done so, the Bible is, we believe, the greatest expression of that revelation available today-the final and ultimate standard of truth for a fallen world.

The Bible does, indeed, make claims about itself that very few books ever do. Even more so, it comes with a massive amount of evidence to back up those claims. It is self-authenticating; its proof comes built right in.

It's not just the incredible prophecies, however impressive; it's not just its historical accuracy, however authenticating; it's not just the revelation of God as revealed in its pages, however powerful. Though all these have their role in showing that the Bible is the Word of God, perhaps the greatest evidence for the Bible is the influence and impact for good it has had and still continues to have on the lives of those who apply its teaching to themselves. Despite all the evidence of prophecy, history, and so forth, in some ways the most powerful proof is found in the Bible's amazing ability to bring hope, joy, and promise to people thousands of years after it was first written. For many centuries now, people all over the world have found in the Bible the answers to their deepest needs. And why not? After all, it's the greatest revelation of the only One who can meet those needs-our Creator and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

With such claims made for the Bible, it's no wonder that people have challenged its authenticity and reliability. Is it truly the Word of God? Does the Creator of the universe really speak through its pages? How reliable are the texts? What scientific evidence, if any, backs up its claims? What does archaeology say regarding the Bible? And even if we believed that the Book is inspired, is it applicable to us who live in the twenty-first century? And if it is, how and why?

These, and more, are some of the questions our Bible study guide for this quarter will address. We just as easily could have titled it "Why I believe in the Bible," for in it the authors show why they do trust the Bible and have made it the spiritual and moral guide of their lives.

Even more important, during this quarter we seek to show just how relevant the Bible remains for us today-pretty impressive for a book whose latest sections were written about seventeen hundred years before doctors finally discovered that it might be a good idea to wash their hands before surgery. Again, it's in this, the Bible's power to change our lives for good, that we find some of the greatest proof of its relevancy and importance.

Jonathan Kuntaraf, also known as Oey Giok Kun, is a native of Indonesia. At the time of this writing he was associate director of the Sabbath School/Personal Ministries Department at the General Conference. He and his wife, Dr. Kathleen Liwidjaja (an associate in the Health and Temperance Department at the General Conference), have two grown children.

Contents:  (all lessons may not be posted)

Giardina Sabbath School Study Helps

Jerry Giardina of Pecos, Texas, assisted by his wife, Cheryl, prepares a series of helps to accompany the Sabbath School lesson. He includes all related scripture and most EGW quotations. Jerry has chosen the "New King James Version" of the scriptures this quarter. It is used with permission.  The study helps are provided in three wordprocessing versions Wordperfect; Microsoft Word;  RTF for our MAC friends (this is now a zip file); and HTML (Web Pages).

Last updated on April 3, 2007

Editorial Office: 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904.

Principal Contributor  Jonathan and Kathleen Kuntaraf Editor Clifford R. Goldstein Associate Editor Lyndelle Brower Chiomenti Publication Managers Soraya Homayouni Parish Lea Alexander Greve

Editorial Assistants  Larie S. Gray Tresa Beard Pacific Press Coordinator Paul A. Hey Art and Design Lars Justinen Concept Design Dever Design

Copyright © 2007 by the Office of the Adult Bible Study Guide, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist. All Rights Reserved.

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