Inspiration & Illumination
What does "INSPIRATION" mean when referring to the Bible?
God guided the authors to write His truth (God- breathed).
What are the Dead Sea Scrolls?
Ancient manuscripts containing Old Testament books, found near the Dead Sea.
What is a prophecy?
A message or prediction given by God about future events.
What does the word “canon” mean when talking about the Bible?
A collection or list of books accepted as Scripture.
Who started the Protestant Reformation?
Martin Luther
What does "ILLUMINATION" mean?
When the Holy Spirit helps believers understand God's word.
When were the Dead Sea Scrolls discovered?
Between 1946 and 1956.
If God kept His promises in prophecy, what does that mean for us today?
We can trust that God will also keep His promises to us.
Why were some books included in the Bible and others not?
They were recognized as inspired by God and consistent with His message.
What year did Luther post his 95 Theses?
1517
What does the Bible teach about where Scripture comes from?
Why are the Dead Sea Scrolls important?
They confirm that the Old Testament text has been accurately preserved.
One prophecy said the Savior would be born in a small town. Which town was that?
Bethlehem.
How many books are in the Bible today?
66 (39 in the Old Testament, 27 in the New Testament).
What was Luther’s main belief about the Bible?
That the Bible alone is the highest authority for truth (not church traditions).
True or False: Inspiration means God dictated every word directly to the writers.
False: He used their personalities, gifts, and styles under divine guidance.
What 2 languages were many of the Old Testament manuscripts written in?
Aramaic and Hebrew
How do the suffering servant and the birth-in-Bethlehem prophecies together strengthen belief in Jesus as the Messiah?
They show that multiple prophecies, written centuries apart, pointed to the same person, proving God’s plan and the Bible’s reliability.
Name the 3 tests a book had to pass to be accepted into the New Testament canon.
1) Written by an apostle (or someone closely connected to an apostle), 2) Consistent with God’s message, 3) Widely recognized and used by the early church.
What language did Luther translate the Bible into for the common people?
German
Why is illumination important for believers today?
It allows us to personally apply and understand Scripture to our lives today.
Name and describe one archaeological discovery that supports biblical accuracy.
Moabite Stone, The Lachish Letters, Cyrus's Cylinder, the Rosetta Stone, Black Obelisk.
Give an example of a prophecy that came true.
Acceptable answers: the Messiah being born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53), or other examples discussed in class.
Why is it significant that the canon was recognized and preserved over time?
It shows that God’s Word was carefully protected and reliably passed down, proving its trustworthiness.
How did the Reformation help preserve and spread the Bible?
It led to Bible translation, printing, and public access to Scripture.