The Bible was written in multiple languages by dozens of authors whose lives spanned a period of more than fifteen hundred years. How did it all come together?
Best-selling authors Norman Geisler and William Nix thoroughly answer this question and many more in this revised and expanded edition of a classic which has sold more than 78,000 copies. Helpful charts, photos, and indices have been added, rendering this book ideally suited for Bible students, pastors, and professors.
Major topics addressed include: theories of inspiration, the process of canonization, major manuscripts and recent discoveries, textual criticism, Greek and Latin translations, and modern English translations. The entire field of general biblical introduction is covered.
This is a long-trusted resource for understanding why we can trust the Scriptures really are God’s word.
“This subject is called canonicity. It is the second great link in the chain from God to us. Inspiration is the means by which the Bible received its authority; canonization is the process by which the Bible received its acceptance.” (Page 87)
“The word inspiration (Gk., theopneustos) is used only once in the New Testament (2 Tim. 3:16), and it refers to the Old Testament writings as being ‘breathed out’ by God.” (Page 16)
“(1) The Bible claims to be the Word of God; (2) the Bible proves to be the Word of God.” (Page 66)
“What the evidence does show is that there was a continuing prophetic community that preserved, arranged, and even updated names and places, sometimes adding new revelations, but never making content changes in former revelation. A divinely inspired and inerrant writing has no mistakes in it to correct.” (Pages 113–114)
“In the active sense, the Bible is the canon by which all else is to be judged. In the passive sense, canon meant the rule or standard by which a writing was judged to be inspired or authoritative.” (Pages 87–88)
In the Logos edition, this volume is enhanced by amazing functionality. Important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Perform powerful searches to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.
Willliam E. Nix (A.B., Wayne State University; A.M., University of Michigan; Ph.D., University of Oklahoma) is an editorial and educational consultant based in Dallas, Texas. He is author of Transforming Your Workplace for Christ and co-author of From God to Us and A General Introduction to the Bible with Dr. Norman Geisler. He has also written several articles. Dr. Nix resides in Dallas, Texas.
Norman Geisler (Th.B., William Tyndale College; A.B., Wheaton College; M.A., Wheaton College Graduate School; Ph.D., Loyola University) is co-founder of Veritas Evangelical Seminary in Murrieta, California www.VeritasSeminary.com. He has taught theology, philosophy, and apologetics on the college or graduate level for 53 years at some of the top seminaries in the United States, including Trinity Evangelical and Dallas Seminary, and has been guest professor at numerous other schools. Dr. Geisler has been a leader in the defense of the inerrancy of the Bible and was a founder of the International Council on Biblical Inerrancy and a framer of the famous “Chicago Statement”; It has been a standard in the field of biblical inerrancy. Norman is the author or co-author of some 80 books including A General Introduction to the Bible, Baker Dictionary of Christian Apologetics, Christian Ethics, and Systematic Theology. He has also written hundreds of articles. He and his wife of 57 years, Barbara, have six children, fifteen grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. They live in Charlotte, North Carolina.