" ...but that the spirit of God always works through his word when there's a Revival
when there is repentance, it's based on his word and needs a revival, amen
we need Christians right that are going to be able to say God by your spirit may your word be what it's supposed to be
may I meditate on it when I rise up and sit down when I go to bed when I rise up ..."
~ Susan C. Lim
While Christians generally acknowledge that the Bible is God's Word, many of us lack robust confidence in the reality of its trustworthiness. We may not be sure if we really believe what we read. But the more we understand how Scripture came to be, the more we discover its power and truth.
Historian Susan Lim unpacks how the history of the Bible bolsters our faith and anchors us through the changing tides of time. The story of Scripture, while messy and complicated at times, is also the story of how God shepherded his people throughout the centuries in and through these writings. Susan Lim explains how Christians came to accept certain documents as inspired and not others, and how the books we now call the Bible came to be assembled and canonized as authoritative. The same Spirit of God who oversaw the writing of Scripture continues to be at work actively in us in our receiving and reading of it, to grow us in faith and maturity.
Those of us who confess that Jesus is Lord can also confess with confidence that Scripture is God's Word. As the church through the ages has received and passed down the sacred Scriptures, so too can we receive for ourselves the living Word that God still speaks through today.
Watch Susan C . Lim on youtube click here
虽然基督徒普遍承认圣经是上帝的话语，但我们中的许多人对其可靠性缺乏坚定的信心。 我们可能不确定我们是否真的相信我们所读到的内容。 但我们越了解圣经是如何形成的，我们就越发现它的力量和真理。
历史学家苏珊·林 (Susan Lim) 揭示了圣经的历史如何增强我们的信仰，并在时代的变迁中为我们提供锚定。 圣经的故事虽然有时混乱而复杂，但也是神如何在几个世纪以来通过这些著作牧养他的子民的故事。 林解释了基督徒如何接受某些文献为受默示的文献，而不是其他文献，以及我们现在称为《圣经》的书籍如何被汇编并被封为权威。 监督圣经写作的同一位神的灵，在我们接受和阅读圣经的过程中，继续在我们里面积极地工作，使我们的信心和成熟度得以成长。
我们这些承认耶稣是主的人也可以充满信心地承认圣经是神的话语。 正如历代教会都接受并传承了圣经一样，我们自己也能接受神今天仍在说话的活生生的话语。
Suīrán jīdū tú pǔbiàn chéngrèn shèngjīng shì shàngdì de huàyǔ, dàn wǒmen zhōng de xǔduō rén duì qí kěkào xìng quēfá jiāndìng de xìnxīn. Wǒmen kěnéng bù quèdìng wǒmen shìfǒu zhēn de xiāngxìn wǒmen suǒ dú dào de nèiróng. Dàn wǒmen yuè liǎojiě shèngjīng shì rúhé xíngchéng de, wǒmen jiù yuè fāxiàn tā de lìliàng hé zhēnlǐ.
Lìshǐ xué jiā sū shān·lín (Susan Lim) jiēshìle shèngjīng de lìshǐ rúhé zēngqiáng wǒmen de xìnyǎng, bìng zài shídài de biànqiān zhōng wèi wǒmen tígōng máo dìng. Shèngjīng de gùshì suīrán yǒushí hǔnluàn ér fùzá, dàn yěshì shén rúhé zài jǐ gè shìjì yǐlái tōngguò zhèxiē zhùzuò mù yǎng tā de zi mín de gùshì. Lín jiěshìle jīdū tú rúhé jiēshòu mǒu xiē wénxiàn wèi shòu mò shì de wénxiàn, ér bùshì qítā wénxiàn, yǐjí wǒmen xiànzài chēng wèi “shèngjīng” de shūjí rúhé bèi huìbiān bìng bèi fēng wèi quánwēi. Jiāndū shèngjīng xiězuò de tóngyī wèi shén de líng, zài wǒmen jiēshòu hé yuèdú shèngjīng de guòchéng zhōng, jìxù zài wǒmen lǐmiàn jījí dì gōngzuò, shǐ wǒmen de xìnxīn hé chéngshú dù déyǐ chéngzhǎng.
Wǒmen zhèxiē chéngrèn yēsū shì zhǔ de rén yě kěyǐ chōngmǎn xìnxīn dì chéngrèn shèngjīng shì shén de huàyǔ. Zhèngrú lìdài jiàohuì dōu jiēshòu bìng chuánchéngle shèngjīng yīyàng, wǒmen zìjǐ yě néng jiēshòu shén jīntiān réng zài shuōhuà de huóshēngshēng de huàyǔ.
While Christians generally acknowledge that the Bible is God's Word, many of us lack robust confidence in the reality of its trustworthiness. We may not be sure if we really believe what we read. But the more we understand how Scripture came to be, the more we discover its power and truth.
Historian Susan Lim unpacks how the history of the Bible bolsters our faith and anchors us through the changing tides of time. The story of Scripture, while messy and complicated at times, is also the story of how God shepherded his people throughout the centuries in and through these writings. Lim explains how Christians came to accept certain documents as inspired and not others, and how the books we now call the Bible came to be assembled and canonized as authoritative. The same Spirit of God who oversaw the writing of Scripture continues to be at work actively in us in our receiving and reading of it, to grow us in faith and maturity.
Those of us who confess that Jesus is Lord can also confess with confidence that Scripture is God's Word. As the church through the ages has received and passed down the sacred Scriptures, so too can we receive for ourselves the living Word that God still speaks through today.
그리스도인들은 일반적으로 성경이 하나님의 말씀임을 인정하지만, 우리 중 많은 사람들은 성경의 신뢰성에 대한 확고한 확신이 부족합니다. 우리는 자신이 읽은 내용을 정말로 믿는지 확신할 수 없습니다. 그러나 성경이 어떻게 만들어졌는지 더 많이 이해할수록 우리는 성경의 힘과 진리를 더 많이 발견하게 됩니다.
역사가 수잔 림(Susan Lim)은 성경의 역사가 어떻게 우리의 믿음을 강화하고 변화하는 시대의 흐름 속에서 우리를 고정시켜 주는지 설명합니다. 성경의 이야기는 때로 난잡하고 복잡하기는 하지만, 하나님께서 수세기에 걸쳐 이 글을 통해 자신의 백성을 어떻게 인도하셨는지에 대한 이야기이기도 합니다. 임씨는 기독교인들이 어떻게 특정 문서를 영감받은 문서로 받아들이고 다른 문서는 받아들이지 않게 되었는지, 그리고 우리가 지금 성경이라고 부르는 책들이 어떻게 권위 있는 문서로 정리되고 정경화되었는지 설명합니다. 성경 기록을 감독하신 동일한 하나님의 영은 우리가 성경을 받아들이고 읽는 과정에서 우리 안에서 활발히 활동하여 우리의 믿음과 성숙을 자라나게 하십니다.
예수님이 주님이심을 고백하는 우리는 또한 성경이 하나님의 말씀임을 확신을 가지고 고백할 수 있습니다. 교회가 여러 시대에 걸쳐 성경을 받아 전해 준 것처럼 우리도 하나님께서 오늘날에도 여전히 말씀하시는 살아 있는 말씀을 우리 자신을 위해 받을 수 있습니다.
geuliseudoindeul-eun ilbanjeog-eulo seong-gyeong-i hananim-ui malsseum-im-eul injeonghajiman, uli jung manh-eun salamdeul-eun seong-gyeong-ui sinloeseong-e daehan hwaggohan hwagsin-i bujoghabnida. ulineun jasin-i ilg-eun naeyong-eul jeongmallo midneunji hwagsinhal su eobs-seubnida. geuleona seong-gyeong-i eotteohge mandeul-eojyeossneunji deo manh-i ihaehalsulog ulineun seong-gyeong-ui himgwa jinlileul deo manh-i balgyeonhage doebnida.
yeogsaga sujan lim(Susan Lim)eun seong-gyeong-ui yeogsaga eotteohge uliui mid-eum-eul ganghwahago byeonhwahaneun sidaeui heuleum sog-eseo ulileul gojeongsikyeo juneunji seolmyeonghabnida. seong-gyeong-ui iyagineun ttaelo nanjabhago bogjabhagineun hajiman, hananimkkeseo susegie geolchyeo i geul-eul tonghae jasin-ui baegseong-eul eotteohge indohasyeossneunjie daehan iyagiigido habnida. imssineun gidoggyoindeul-i eotteohge teugjeong munseoleul yeong-gambad-eun munseolo bad-adeul-igo daleun munseoneun bad-adeul-iji anhge doeeossneunji, geuligo uliga jigeum seong-gyeong-ilago buleuneun chaegdeul-i eotteohge gwon-wi issneun munseolo jeonglidoego jeong-gyeonghwadoeeossneunji seolmyeonghabnida. seong-gyeong gilog-eul gamdoghasin dong-ilhan hananim-ui yeong-eun uliga seong-gyeong-eul bad-adeul-igo ilgneun gwajeong-eseo uli an-eseo hwalbalhi hwaldonghayeo uliui mid-eumgwa seongsug-eul jalanage hasibnida.
yesunim-i junim-isim-eul gobaeghaneun ulineun ttohan seong-gyeong-i hananim-ui malsseum-im-eul hwagsin-eul gajigo gobaeghal su issseubnida. gyohoega yeoleo sidaee geolchyeo seong-gyeong-eul bad-a jeonhae jun geoscheoleom ulido hananimkkeseo oneulnal-edo yeojeonhi malsseumhasineun sal-a issneun malsseum-eul uli jasin-eul wihae bad-eul su issseubnida.
Title : Oh , The Deep Love of Jesus
lyrics:
Oh, the deep, deep love of Jesus!
Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free
rolling as a mighty ocean
in its fullness over me.
Underneath me, all around me
is the current of thy love
leading onward, leading homeward
to thy glorious rest above.
O the deep, deep love of Jesus
Spread his praise from shore to shore
how he loveth, ever loveth
changeth never, nevermore;
O the deep, deep love of Jesus
Tis a heav'n of heav'ns to me;
and it lifts me up to glory
for it lifts me up to thee.
[Bulletin Blurb:
The second line of this hymn describes the love of Jesus as “vast, unmeasured, boundless, free.” In our finite, physical world, it is difficult to genuinely comprehend this concept. The ocean is the largest thing on earth. Its deepest point is deeper than the highest mountain on earth, yet God's love is deeper still. From any point on the coast, we can see just a small fraction of the sea. We know that the vast ocean has boundaries, but God's love is boundless. ]
Representative Text:
1.
O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
vast, unmeasured, boundless, free,
rolling as a mighty ocean
in its fullness over me.
Underneath me, all around me,
is the current of Thy love;
leading onward, leading homeward
to Thy glorious rest above.
2.
O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
spread His praise from shore to shore!
How He loveth, ever loveth,
changeth never, nevermore!
How He watcheth o'er His loved ones,
died to call them all His own;
how for them He intercedeth,
watcheth o'er them from the throne.
3.
O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
love of every love the best;
'tis an ocean vast of blessing,
'tis a haven sweet of rest.
O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
'tis heav'n of heav'ns to me;
and it lifts me up to glory,
for it lifts me up to Thee.
REVIEWS
"Being in a Bible study with Susan and her family for the last five years, I have witnessed firsthand Susan's passion for the Scriptures and the powerful and gracious work God has done in her life through the Scriptures. My confidence in Scripture has been strengthened and my heart has been refreshed by reading Light of the Word, and I believe this book will serve you well, no matter where you are in your faith journey. It is a book I will come back to again as a trusted resource." ~ Eric Geiger, senior pastor of Mariners Church.
"Light of the Word is a wonderful introduction to the Bible. Along with addressing some of the big questions about how the Bible was put together and reasons we have to believe it is true, Susan Lim shares her personal story of leaving Buddhism and becoming a Christian. She also recounts how—years later—she came to embrace the Bible as God's Word. This is a fascinating book that will help readers better engage the Bible." ~ Sean McDowell, associate professor of apologetics at Biola University and coauthor of Evidence That Demands a Verdict.
"As both a Christian and a pastor, I know the essentiality and importance of having confidence in the fact that our Bibles are truly the Word of God. Having spent many years teaching the Bible and calling others to trust it explicitly, I'm especially thankful for this new and thoughtful book by Susan Lim on this crucial topic of the trustworthiness of Scripture. Looking at the Bible through the historical lens, Susan substantiates over and over again that all Scripture is indeed God-breathed. This book will be high on my recommended reading list."
~Brian Brodersen, pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and author of Spiritual Warfare: Fighting the Good Fight of Faith.
"An insightful, practical, and honest book, which my dear friend Susan Lim shares from her heart. She challenges us to cultivate a daily habit of reading God's Word, Genesis through Revelation, so we can grow deeper in our faith. It is refreshing to read her prayer that 'we would dance with the Lord—absorbing, meditating, responding, and living out his love by the power of the Spirit.'" ~Marilyn Long, president of the Long Family Foundation.
"A warmly personal story of how Susan Lim's heart and head both came to a genuine transformative faith. Through a story that is uniquely hers and yet also everyone's, you will see how historical facts strengthened her conviction in Scripture as the Word of God. Lim invites you to walk alongside, to see how faith in Jesus is enriched by faith in God's Word." ~ E. Randolph Richards, provost and professor of biblical studies in the School of Ministry at Palm Beach Atlantic University.
"In our age, it is not unusual to hear baseless criticism of the Bible's authenticity, accuracy, and historical viability. Many Christians don't have access to resources to combat these attacks. Susan Lim gifts us with an accessible, rich, and personal account of discovering (or rediscovering!) the truth that the Bible is in fact the Word of God. Read, learn, and recommit yourself to saturating yourself in Scripture!"~Kyle Strobel, professor of spiritual theology and formation at Biola University's Talbot School of Theology.
"Susan Lim's book Light of the Word is an amazing overview of all the important subjects related to the Bible. With incredibly clear explanations, the book tackles many of the challenges that skeptics may make concerning the Bible. In addition, her footnotes are extremely thorough and helpful for further study. This book is scholarly as well as deeply personal. Light of the Word gave me a greater desire to study the Bible and a newfound confidence in God's Word; it is a must-read for anyone from the young believer to the mature follower of Christ." ~Benjamin C. Shin, associate professor of Christian ministry and leadership at Biola University's Talbot School of Theology.
"Susan Lim's book Light of the Word is a fascinating and learned exposition of its subject. Not only does the author teach us about the history of the Bible, but she also demonstrates the diverse ways the Bible has functioned in the Christian religion across the centuries. Easy to read, her book does not confront readers with off-putting technical detail. Instead, Lim welcomes us into the company of fellow Bible readers across the centuries."
~ Daniel Walker Howe, Pulitzer Prize winner and Rhodes Professor of American History Emeritus at Oxford University.
"As followers of Jesus, we are regularly told the Bible is God's personal communication to us. If we are honest, many of us struggle to fully accept this profound truth. Often, we have nagging doubts about whether such extraordinary stories can really be true. It's comforting to know we are not alone. I can personally attest to Susan Lim's scholarship and her deep search for an authentic faith—a faith rooted in the Scriptures. I was struck by both her candor and careful approach. At many points, I was deeply moved, challenged, and comforted. What a gift." ~
Tim Muehlhoff, professor of communication at Biola University and author of Eyes to See: Recognizing God's Common Grace in an Unsettled World.
"I was delighted to discover that this academic, historical book read so easily. Susan Lim's inclusion of personal stories and 'Questions to Ponder' allowed me to reflect on how the Word of God is continuously active and vibrant in my own life. As I finished the book, I found myself rekindling my love for God's Word once again. Without hesitation, I am delighted to include this book in my collection of valuable resources that I will share with others." ~ Gloria S. Lee, director of family ministries at Pacific Crossroads Church.
"I absolutely love how Light of the Word reads like a poignant memoir and drops wisdom like a well-researched history book. Not only does Dr. Susan Lim contextualize the Bible with historical gems and vulnerable truths from her own spiritual journey, but she also inspires you to (re)read Scripture with a renewed fervor." ~ Nancy Wang Yuen, sociologist and host of The Disrupters podcast.
"Light of the Word is an engaging journey into the trustworthiness of the Bible. Susan Lim serves as a helpful companion, navigating the intricate complexities of Scripture and stimulating deep reflection through her thought-provoking questions. In an accessible way, she uncovers a treasure trove of resources that showcase the necessity, sufficiency, clarity, and authority of Scripture. Susan's winsome and captivating voice, coupled with her infectious passion for the Word, will rekindle your own enthusiasm and make it irresistible to set aside her book without feeling a renewed desire to immerse yourself in the Scriptures and hear God speak." ~Alastair Sterne, pastor and author of Rhythms for Life: Spiritual Practices for Who God Made You to Be.
"Susan Lim offers an impressive and inspired blend of disciplinary expertise and personal candor that invites the reader to not only consider their relationship with God but also to critically examine their relationship with his Word. Her novel concept of a second confession to receive God's Word as authoritative is both provocative and convicting. Skillfully employing robust factual inquiry, relatable human narrative, and intelligently reflective questions, Dr. Lim creates needed space for wrestling with some unresolved issues in the Scriptures, and as a result readers glean opportunities for working out our salvation to the glory of God."~ Andrea Scott, provost of George Fox University
CONTENTS
Introduction: Loving God's Word
1. The Scriptures and Salvation.
HAVE YOU EVER ASKED GOD POINT-BLANK, "Is the Bible truly your Word?" This is one of the most important questions we canask our Lord, and he will answer those who sincerely ask because that's just who he is. He is a God of clarity and a God of revelation. His answer might not come in a euphoric epiphanyor anemotional experience, but his answer will come to those whosincerely ask.
I asked God that question after that fateful revelation in 2007 about my hidden unbelief. God initially led me in the form ofinquisitiveness. A million other questions suddenly surfaced, questions I had never voiced before. Who wrote these individual books? When were they written? How do we know theyare stillin their original form? Who decided that these books would be compiled into one big book called the Bible? Are there other writings that didn't make the cut? Who translated them into otherlanguages? The questions went on and on.
I realized that I had suppressed these questions mainly out offear. I was afraid to ask these questions because I didn't want other Christians to think I was questioning the inerrancy of God's word. I was afraid to voice my unbelief. I was a Bible study leader and a respected member of the church by this point. I felt like I had a lot to lose by sharing my confusion and doubts. I was also afraid to ask these questions because they could prove my doubts about the truth of God's Word. It's one thing to disbelieve the veracity of Scripture based on cursory knowledge, but what if a thorough examination led to hard and undeniable proof that God's word was a total fabrication? Then my faith would come tumbling down like a house of cards.
But it dawned on me that God wanted me to ask these questions.These questions did not offend or unsettle him. He invited and aroused these questions so I would know his Word better. So would know him better.
EVEN SPIRITUAL GIANTS HAVE DOUBTS
Let's say that a person professed faith in Christ and then learned that a book in the Bible (for example, Esther) never mentions God directly throughout the whole book. And let's say this person doubts if Esther has a rightful place in the Bible, and then this person dies without resolving this query. Does this person get to spend eternity with Jesus? Absolutely. This person's salvation has been secured, even if they had doubts about the rightful place of Esther-book (or any other book) in the Bible. Now, did this person miss out on understanding morefully God's sovereignty and love for his people through the lives of Esther, Mordecai,Haman, and Xerxes? Absolutely, as well. But edification is separate from salvation.
This scenario was true of Martin Luther, the great sixteenth century Reformer, with the book of James. Luther wanted to remove the book of James from the Bible because he felt that it was "really an epistle of straw
. . . for it has nothing of the nature of the Gospel about it" and believe that the " epistle of James gave us much troubles. " Luther was so frustrated with James that he called the author "Jimmy"! In Luther's own words, he stated, "I almost feel like throwing Jimmy into the stove." I am generallyhesitant to disagree with Luther, but I must part ways with himon this one. I believe that the epistle of James highlights the gospel of Jesus with a nuance like none other . My main point is that few would doubt that Martin Luther is in God's presence at this very moment.
I want to reiterate this point because this book should never cause anyone to doubt one's salvation. If you have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, there is nothing,not even a limited knowledge of the Scriptures, that negates your salvation. Even if someone only believes the basic parts of the gospel and then disregards many other parts of Scripture, this person's salvation is no less secure.
Yet you might doubt the veracity of certain parts of Scripture; and perhaps doubt and confusion have set in in other areas of your life as well. It could be a fractured relationship, mounting bills, health concerns, or a relational rift that might make you wonder how your salvation intersects with the daily grind. You thought accepting Christ would solve your problems, but Jesus seems rather far off. You hear that he loves you, and you desperately want to believe this is true. But if you're honest, your soul feels cold. If your life seems confusing, imbalanced, or lacking in hope, God wants you to turn to his Word.
But why would you turn to his Word unless you know that it's truly from him? It can be a vicious cycle of grasping and hoping, doubting and wondering, and pondering how our relationship with Jesus can seem stunted in daily living. If so, the best place to run is to the Scriptures — even if you're unsure of its veracity.
Read it, meditate on it, examine it, and pray it. Also, engage with it, asking God to grant you the knowledge and faith to understand this Word. He will meet you on those pages and orchestrate divine appointments and thoughts to bring you to the truth of his Word. The Word of God promises what no other book can promise, because the Bible is God offering his own heart to us.
THE CANON
If we're honest, though, the Bible can be a daunting read. There are names that are very hard to pronounce. Some stories leave us scratching our heads, and the historical divide between now and then can seem sizable. Names such as Shelumiel and Zurishaddai, tales such as Lot's wife turning into a pillar of salt, and historical factors such as pharaohs and prophets are a few examples. But this is when the craft of history can skillfully bridge the distance between times and cultures.
History can seem like entering time travel and landing in a foreign and unrelatable land. But knowing the history of the Bible is a powerful avenue to accepting God's Word as truth. One way to offset the divide is to start from the present and work backward when possible. Reverse chronological order allows us to begin together here in the twenty-first century and then travel backward collectively. Reverse chronological order can also make the distant past not seem so distant. For example, two thousand years seems like a considerable divide, but the same period might seem more accessible when measured in life spans. If the average life span is seventy years, then thirty life spans ( or even fewer, since lifespans generally overlap ) cover two thousand years, bringing us back to the days of Jesus .
History is also a helpful lens to analyze the claim that the books of the Bible are inspired by God. For Christians, the word canon is used to denote this claim. This means that the Bible we hold in our hands today is composed of the actual books that God inspired. Christians today can be certain that the Bible received from the Israelites in the Old Testament and Christians in the early church is truly God's Word. We believe with confidence that the books identified as authoritative and inspired were correctly received and accepted in these communities.
So what does the term canon mean today? It's not a widely used term in common (meaning non-church, non-academic, or non theological) language. You might know of a person with that name, or the company so named that makes printers, cameras, and such. Or the word might make you think of weaponry used for warfare way back when (that cannon has two n's). But when weuse the word canon associated with the Protestant Bible, it refers to the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, and only those books, as God's Word.7 A mid-twentieth-century biblical scholar defined canon as writings "acknowledged by the Church as documents of the divine revelation." In essence, these are the words God's "breathed" into existence.
The first time canon was used to denote divine revelation was in AD 367 by Athanasius, who held the important position as bishop of Alexandria. In his annual letter circulated to his churches,Athanasius stated that "it seemed good to me... to set before you the books included in the Canon, handed down, and accredited as Divine." Referencing the Old and New Testaments, Athanasius wanted to make sure that these books alone were counted as "divinely inspired Scripture" and not to "mix them up" with "the books termed apocryphal." The books in the canon, then, are not words fabricated from human minds, but they are revelations from the eternal God. God selected human agents to convey his thoughts writing, but they were conduits of these thoughts rather than the originators.
Further, the Latin and Greek etymologies of the word canon refer to a straight rod that could be a measuring stick. The extrapolation from this term can add a dual meaning, where canon also implies the absolute standard (or rule) from which all other standards should be measured. This means that in our post-(post-)modern world, the Bible claims that there is absolute truth and all other truths must bow and submit to the truth proclaimed in the Scriptures. There is no picking and choosing-the entire Bible and its teachings on money, forgiveness, homosexuality, divorce, and all other topics are accepted as the ultimate truth and authority. All this to say, a twenty-first-century Protestant Christian is referring to the thirty-nine books in the Old Testament and twenty-seven in the New Testament when using the term canon.
When such a sizable claim is made in the realm of spiritual matters, people rightfully look to spiritual proof to authenticate the pronouncement. Golden tablets sent from celestial beings sure would be nice right about now to substantiate the divine nature of the Word. For Christians, however, there is no such tale.
Instead, we must look at the messy nature of canonicity while marveling at God's sovereign, divine, and expert hand in creating the Word. How can we bridge the messy with the marveling? Onepowerful method is by fusing history and theology-and praying that both types of information transform into faith.
Even if history proves that Jesus lived and died, historian ScotMcKnight notes that "the historical method cannot prove... that Jesus died for our sins and was raised from the death for our justification." That is, even if historical evidence proves that Jesus died on a Roman cross, history alone cannot prove why Jesus hung on that cross. That's where theology comes in. Borrowing words from theologian Kevin Vanhoozer, "History alone cannot answer the question of what the canon finally is; theology alone can do that."
Discerning which books are actually considered divine in origin requires that historical information is distilled through a theological framework. A correct understanding of God's nature, attributes, and personality are a part of this quest of discernment.History and theology working in tandem help build our faith in Jesus, who was sent to redeem us.
EXPERIENCING AND INVESTIGATING THE SCRIPTURES
Salvation is a mysterious thing, and the moment of salvation can be anything but a definable moment. There are the dramatic stories of conversion, but there are also those who grew up in Christian homes, and somewhere along the way, their parents' faith became their own. Although our Savior is always the same, our salvation stories are personal and nuanced. The same can be said of our relationship with the Scriptures.
My brother's story drives home this point. Henry, who is now a criminal prosecutor, previously found himself on the wrong side of the law. He made some poor choices as a teenager and ended up in jail. At a very low moment in his life, sitting in solitary confinement, he looked around his cell and saw a lone piece of literature: the Gospel of John. He wasn't a follower of Jesus, but desperation made him pick up this book. As he read, he felt a divine presence enter the room and into his soul. His reading of the Word made him believe in the possibility of God's existence in the possibility that the divine and carnal intersect, that hope can be found in the most unexpected places.
This type of experiential interaction with the Word is certainly a gateway into knowing Jesus more, whether as Savior or the Word. Start there, whichever verse the Lord speaks to you. Hang on to that verse or passage for dear life, and then ask him to speak his Word. Along the way, continue to attend church, listen to sermons, join a Bible study, and read books that point to the formation and elucidation of Scripture.
My own journey, combining these elements, took many years.
A pivotal moment came when I experienced the power of the Scriptures in a life-altering way. This was the year that Josephine,my daughter, was born, which turned out to be the hardest year of my life. A few months after giving birth I was diagnosed with a condition called a "petrous apex mucocele" that had gotten out of hand, and I lost hearing in my right ear and lost feeling on the right side of my face. My surgeon told me that I would eventually lose all hearing and all feeling if left untreated. After the diagnosis, I started having panic attacks, where even in broad daylight and open spaces, I felt like I was drowning. Then I started feeling dizzy and blurry in my vision, and I went through more scans and tests than I could remember.
I was extremely fortunate to have a compassionate and skilled doctor who spent hours talking with me about all the options available. Doug and Julie, my pastor and his wife at our church in Woodland, California, walked alongside us every step, offering an incredible amount of prayer and counseling. Brian, my husband,was nothing short of heroic. But it was God's Word that broke through the madness.
2. Old Testament Tradition
3. A Timeline of the Old Testament
4. A Close-Up of the Old Testament
5. Reading Esther: A Case Study
6. Disputed Books of the Old Testament
7. The Old Testament Fakes
8. Miracles
9. A Close-Up of the New Testament
10. Ins and Outs of the New Testament
11. Compiling the New Testament
12. The Church Fathers
13. Completing the Canon
14. Answering Challenges to Scripture
15. Build on Rock
Acknowledgments
Notes
Further Reading
一、圣经与救恩。
你是否曾经直截了当地问过神：“圣经真的是你的话吗？” 这是我们可以问我们的主的最重要的问题之一，他会回答那些真诚地问的人，因为他就是这样的人。 他是一位清晰的神，也是一位启示的神。 他的答案可能不会带来欣快的顿悟或情感体验，但他的答案将会出现在那些真诚询问的人身上。
2007 年，关于我隐藏的不信的重大启示之后，我问上帝这个问题。 神最初以好奇心的形式引导我。 一百万个其他问题突然浮现出来，这些问题是我以前从未提出过的。 这些单独的书是谁写的？ 它们是什么时候写的？ 我们怎么知道它们仍然保持原来的形式？ 谁决定将这些书编成一本大书，称为《圣经》？ 还有其他没有入选的作品吗？ 谁将它们翻译成其他语言？ 问题不断。
我意识到我压抑这些问题主要是出于恐惧。 我不敢问这些问题，因为我不想让其他基督徒认为我在质疑神话语的无误性。 我不敢表达我的不信。 我是一名圣经研究领袖到目前为止，他已经是一位受人尊敬的教会成员了。 我觉得分享我的困惑和疑虑会让我失去很多。 我也害怕问这些问题，因为它们会证明我对神话语的真实性的怀疑。 基于粗略的知识而怀疑圣经的真实性是一回事，但如果彻底的检验得出确凿且不可否认的证据证明上帝的话语完全是捏造的呢？ 然后我的信仰就会像纸牌屋一样倒塌。
但我突然意识到上帝要我问这些问题。这些问题并没有冒犯他或让他不安。 他邀请并引发了这些问题，以便我更好地了解他的话语。 这样才会更了解他。
即使是精神巨人也有怀疑
假设一个人承认信仰基督，然后得知圣经中的一本书（例如以斯帖记）在整本书中从未直接提到上帝。 假设这个人怀疑以斯帖在圣经中是否有正确的位置，然后这个人在没有解决这个问题的情况下就去世了。 这个人能与耶稣共度永恒吗？ 绝对地。 即使他们对《以斯帖记》（或任何其他书）在圣经中的正确地位存有疑问，这个人的救赎已经得到保证。 现在，这个人是否错过了通过以斯帖、末底改、哈曼和薛西斯的生活来更深入地理解神对他子民的主权和爱呢？ 绝对也是。 但造就与拯救是分开的
这种情况对于十六世纪伟大的宗教改革家马丁·路德和雅各书来说都是真实的。 路德想把雅各书从圣经中删除，因为他觉得这“真是一封稻草书信”
。 。 。 因为它与福音的本质毫无关系”，并相信“雅各书给我们带来了很多麻烦。 ” 路德对詹姆斯非常失望，他称作者为“吉米”！ 用路德自己的话说，“我几乎想把吉米扔进炉子里。” 我通常对于是否同意路德的观点犹豫不决，但在这一点上我必须与他分道扬镳。 我相信雅各书以独一无二的细微差别强调了耶稣的福音。 我的主要观点是，很少有人会怀疑此时此刻马丁·路德就在上帝面前。
我想重申这一点，因为这本书永远不应该让任何人怀疑自己的救赎。 如果你已经接受耶稣为主和救主，就没有什么，甚至是有限的圣经知识，来否定你的救恩。 即使有人只相信福音的基本部分，然后忽视圣经的许多其他部分，这个人的救恩也同样有保障。
然而你可能会怀疑圣经某些部分的真实性； 也许怀疑和困惑也出现在你生活的其他方面。 这可能是一段破裂的关系、不断增加的账单、健康问题或关系裂痕，这些都可能让你想知道你的救赎如何与日常的苦差事交织在一起。 你以为接受基督就能解决你的问题，但耶稣似乎还很遥远。 你听说他爱你，你非常想相信这是真的。 但如果你说实话，你的灵魂就会感到寒冷。 如果你的生活看起来混乱、不平衡或缺乏希望，神希望你转向他的话语。
但是，除非你知道他的话语确实来自他，否则你为什么要转向他的话语呢？ 这可能是一个恶性循环：抓紧和希望、怀疑和疑惑，以及思考我们与耶稣的关系如何在日常生活中似乎受到阻碍。 如果是这样，最好的办法就是圣经——即使你不确定它的真实性。
阅读它，沉思它，检验它，并祈祷它。 另外，参与其中，请求上帝赐予你理解这句话的知识和信心。 他会在这些页面上与你会面，并精心安排神圣的约会和思想，带你认识他话语的真理。 神的话语所应许的，是其他书所无法应许的，因为圣经是神将他自己的心献给我们。
佳能
不过，如果我们说实话，读圣经可能会令人畏惧。 有些名字很难发音。 有些故事让我们摸不着头脑，现在和那时之间的历史鸿沟似乎很大。 诸如示路米尔（Shelumiel）和苏里沙代（Zurishaddai）等名字、罗得的妻子变成盐柱等故事，以及法老和先知等历史因素都是一些例子。 但这正是历史之手能够巧妙地弥合时代和文化之间距离的时候。
历史似乎进入了时间旅行并降落在陌生且不相干的土地上。 但了解圣经的历史是接受神话语为真理的有力途径。 弥补分歧的一种方法是从现在开始，并在可能的情况下向后工作。 逆时间顺序让我们一起从二十一世纪开始，然后集体向后旅行。 倒序排列也能让遥远的过去显得不那么遥远。 例如，两千年似乎是一个相当大的鸿沟，但如果以寿命来衡量，同一时期似乎更容易接近。 如果平均寿命是七十岁，那么三十个寿命（甚至更少，因为寿命通常会重叠）就涵盖了两千多年，让我们回到了耶稣的时代。
历史也是分析《圣经》各卷受上帝默示这一说法的有用镜头。 对于基督徒来说，canonis 这个词用来表示这种说法。 这意味着我们今天手中的圣经是由上帝默示的实际书籍组成的。 今天的基督徒可以肯定，从旧约以色列人和早期教会的基督徒那里收到的圣经确实是神的话语。 我们充满信心地相信，那些被认为具有权威性和启发性的书籍在这些社区中得到了正确的接受和接受。
那么“佳能”一词在今天意味着什么呢？ 它不是一个在通用语言（指非教会、非学术或非神学）语言中广泛使用的术语。 您可能知道有一个叫这个名字的人或一个叫这个名字的公司，生产打印机、相机等。 或者这个词可能会让你想起很久以前用于战争的武器（那门大炮有两个 n）。 但是，当我们使用与新教圣经相关的“正典”一词时，它指的是旧约和新约的六十六本书，并且仅指这些书作为神的话语。 一位二十世纪中叶的圣经学者将正典定义为“被教会承认为神圣启示的文献”的著作。 从本质上讲，这些词是上帝“吹”出来的。
正典第一次被用来表示神圣的启示是在 那么，这些话语就不是人类头脑编造出来的，而是来自永恒上帝的启示。 上帝选择人类代理人来书写他的思想，但他们是这些思想的传播者，而不是创始人。
此外，“canon”一词的拉丁语和希腊语词源指的是一根可能是量尺的直杆。 从这个术语的推断可以增加双重含义，其中规范也意味着衡量所有其他标准的绝对标准（或规则）。 这意味着在我们的后（后）现代世界中，圣经声称存在绝对真理，所有其他真理都必须屈服并服从圣经中所宣告的真理。 没有任何挑选——整本圣经及其关于金钱、宽恕、同性恋、离婚和所有其他主题的教义都被视为最终的真理和权威。 综上所述，二十一世纪的新教基督徒在使用“正典”一词时，指的是旧约中的三十九本书和新约中的二十七本书。
当在精神问题领域提出如此大的主张时，人们理所当然地寻求精神证据来验证这一声明。 从天上来的金石板现在肯定会很好地证实圣言的神圣本质。 然而，对于基督徒来说，没有这样的故事。
相反，我们必须正视正典的混乱本质，同时惊叹上帝创造圣言的主权、神圣和专家之手。 我们怎样才能在混乱与惊奇之间架起桥梁？ 一个有效的方法是融合历史和神学，并祈祷这两种类型的信息都能转化为信仰。
即使历史证明耶稣曾活过并死过，历史学家斯科特·麦克奈特指出，“历史方法无法证明……耶稣为我们的罪而死，并为我们称义而从死里复活。” 也就是说，即使历史证据证明耶稣死在罗马十字架上，单凭历史也无法证明耶稣为何被挂在十字架上。 这就是神学的用武之地。借用神学家凯文·范胡泽（Kevin Vanhoozer）的话说，“仅靠历史无法回答正典最终是什么的问题；只有神学可以做到这一点。”
辨别哪些书籍实际上被认为是神圣的，需要通过神学框架提炼历史信息。 对神的本性、属性和个性的正确理解是这种洞察力追求的一部分。历史和神学的协同作用有助于建立我们对耶稣的信心，他被派来救赎我们。
体验和研究经文
拯救是一件神秘的事情，拯救的时刻绝非一个可以定义的时刻。 有一些戏剧性的皈依故事，但也有一些在基督教家庭长大的人，在这个过程中，他们父母的信仰变成了他们自己的信仰。 虽然我们的救主总是一样的，但我们的救赎故事却是个人化且微妙的。 我们与圣经的关系也是如此。
我哥哥的故事说明了这一点。 亨利现在是一名刑事检察官，此前他发现自己站在了法律的对立面。 他在青少年时期做出了一些错误的选择，最终入狱。 在他人生的最低谷，坐在单独的牢房里，他环顾牢房，看到了一本孤独的文学作品：《约翰福音》。 他不是耶稣的追随者，但是 绝望让他拿起了这本书。 当他阅读时，他感到神圣的存在进入房间并进入他的灵魂。 他对圣经的阅读使他相信上帝存在的可能性，即神圣与肉体相交的可能性，这种希望可以在最意想不到的地方找到。
这种与圣言的体验式互动无疑是进一步了解耶稣的门户，无论耶稣是救主还是圣言。 从那里开始，无论主对你说哪一节经文。 为了亲爱的生命，紧紧抓住那节经文或段落，然后请他说出他的话语。 一路上，继续去教堂，听布道，参加圣经学习，阅读指向圣经形成和解释的书籍。
我自己的旅程，结合这些元素，花了很多年。
当我以改变生活的方式体验到圣经的力量时，一个关键时刻到来了。 那一年我的女儿约瑟芬出生了，那一年也是我一生中最艰难的一年。 产后几个月，我被诊断出患有一种叫做“岩尖粘液囊肿”的疾病，这种情况已经失控，我的右耳失去了听力，右脸失去了知觉。 我的外科医生告诉我，如果不及时治疗，我最终会失去所有听力和所有感觉。 诊断后，我开始出现恐慌症，即使在光天化日之下和空旷的地方，我也感觉自己快要被淹死了。 然后我开始感到头晕、视力模糊，我进行了比我记忆中更多的扫描和测试。
我非常幸运有一位富有同情心且技术精湛的医生，他花了几个小时与我讨论所有可用的选择。 道格和朱莉是我在加利福尼亚州伍德兰教会的牧师和他的妻子，他们每一步都与我们同行，提供了大量的祈祷和咨询。 我的丈夫布莱恩简直就是英雄。 但神的话语冲破了疯狂。
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