What the Bible Is
Is there an Adventist Bible?
No, there is no “Adventist Bible.” We use the same Bible that many other Protestant denominations use.
Some people may ask this question because they’ve heard of Ellen White, who wrote a prolific amount of books, articles, and letters.
The Adventist Church acknowledges that Ellen White had the gift of prophecy, but we don’t allow her writings to take precedence over the Bible. They point us to the Bible and give us guidance in our study.
Like many other Christians, Adventists also use commentaries and Bibles that contain study notes. We have published Bibles that contain study notes with Ellen G. White’s comments, such as the Remnant Study Bible or the Mission Study Bible.
These tools don’t replace the Bible; they simply help us study the Bible and come to know God more deeply.
How do Adventists regard the Bible?
Adventists view the Bible as the foundation of all our beliefs—but not just beliefs like the creation of the world, the origin of life, or the future hope of eternity with Jesus. The Bible also helps us to get to know God for who He really is.
Through the stories of the Bible, we see God’s unfailing love and mercy for people and His longing to transform our lives.
As we see God’s character reflected through the principles of the Bible, we also learn how to live day by day.
Approximately how many authors wrote the Bible? Name 10.
Over 40 Authors
What is a canon, and what does it mean Biblically?
The word canon is derived from the Greek word kanōn, which means “standard,” “rule,” or “measuring rod.”
So the biblical canon is the list of books recognised as truly inspired by God and therefore authoritative.
How many books are in the Bible and how many are in each section?
New Testament: 27
Total: 66
What is thought inspiration?
This means that God didn’t verbally dictate every word of Scripture to the authors.
They weren’t tape recorders who simply took dictation from heaven, though in some cases, certain authors were instructed to write concepts down word for word (usually preceded with “thus saith the Lord”).
Most of the time, however, those who were “moved by the Holy Spirit” wrote down the truths God had given them, using their own voice and style and situated within their specific cultural and historical context (Jeremiah 3:20; 2 Peter 1:21).
Thought inspiration explains the wide variety of styles found in the Bible—everything from the poetry of David in the Psalms to the deep theological writings of the apostle Paul. All these books were written in the styles of the individual authors as the Holy Spirit guided them.
God inspired authors of varying ages, personalities, perspectives, genders, social statuses, and economic statuses so that we could learn about Him from different viewpoints and situations:
“All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16, NASB).
Which books of the Bible do Adventists accept?
Like most Protestants, Adventists believe all 66 books of the Bible, both Old Testament and New Testament, comprise the Word of God and are equally inspired (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21).
However, believing that all books of the Bible are the Word of God doesn’t mean that every specific instruction is still applicable today.
For example, Adventists don’t follow the Old Testament rules concerning how to deal with those who have leprosy (Leviticus 13). The instructions given to the children of Israel at the time were indeed inspired. And the principles of cleanliness and hygiene behind those instructions were inspired. But we apply them differently today than back then.
When dealing with passages of Scripture where context and relevance must be determined, Adventists use the concept of “present truth,” the idea that at certain times in sacred history, certain truths have particular importance and relevance. The principles are timeless, but the actual application may vary.
How long was the Bible being written for?
The 66 books of the Bible were written over 1,500 years. The last book of the first part, known as the Old Testament, was finished about 330 years before the birth of Jesus Christ, the founder of Christianity.
The second part of the Bible – the New Testament – was finished around 90 AD. The structure of the Bible that we have today was finalised around 400 AD although it was more than a thousand years before it was available to ordinary men and women in English.
What is the apocrypha, and why is it not accepted?
The Apocrypha is a group of Jewish religious books written mainly between the Old and New Testaments (about 200 BC–AD 100). These books, such as Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach, and 1 and 2 Maccabees, contain historical accounts and moral teachings. They were written in a time when no widely recognized prophets were active in Israel, often called the “intertestamental period.”
However, most Protestants, including Seventh-day Adventists, do not accept the Apocrypha as inspired Scripture. These books were not part of the Hebrew Bible used by the Jews, and Jesus and the apostles never quoted them as Scripture. Some of their teachings also differ from doctrines found in the rest of the Bible, and they do not claim the same prophetic authority as the Old Testament books.
The Bible is divided into two sections. What are they called, and what do they focus on?
1. The Old Testament: This covers the history from creation to before the birth of Jesus, including the Law, history, poetry, and prophecy.
2. The New Testament: This details the life of Jesus (Gospels), the Acts of the Apostles, epistles (letters) to churches, and prophecy regarding the end times (Revelation).
How is the Bible the Word of God?
Adventists believe that the Bible is the written Word of God because God inspired its writers to reveal the truths about Himself, history, salvation, and the parts of the future He wants us to know (2 Peter 1:21). It also gives us His principles for a satisfying life (John 10:10; Matthew 4:4).
We accept what is called “thought inspiration,” as opposed to “verbal inspiration.”
What versions or translations do Adventists read/accept? And why?
KJV, NKJV, ESV
What are the Dead Sea Scrolls?
The Dead Sea Scrolls are a collection of over 900 ancient manuscripts, discovered between 1947 and 1956 in caves near the Dead Sea in the West Bank (Qumran).
For centuries the oldest manuscripts of the Old Testament still in existence were copies dating from the 9th century AD. Then in 1947 hundreds of ancient leather manuscripts were discovered in jars in a cave at the Dead Sea. These were far older – dating back to the 1st century BC. The collection included complete copies of Old Testament books. Scholars noted there was virtually no difference between them and later scripts, which suggests the copying process had been accurate and reliable.
What do Adventists think about the Apocrypha?
Adventists believe:
The 66 books of the Bible are inspired and canonical
The Apocrypha may be read for historical background
But it should not be used to establish doctrine
The Bible interprets itself (sola scriptura)
Ellen White supported this view:
Useful historically, but not equal to Scripture.
What languages was the Bible written in?
Old Testament: Primarily Hebrew and Aramaic
New Testament: Greek
Adventists believe that the Bible is a self-authenticating document. What does this mean and why is this so?
It means that the Bible can prove itself to be true and trustworthy.
For instance, many prophecies in Scripture came true centuries later. Examples of these are found in Daniel 2 and 7. And looking back today, we can see that these things happened just as Scripture had predicted.
Even the Old Testament predictions of the coming of the Messiah—which Jesus fulfilled perfectly—provide powerful evidence for the truth of Scripture.1
As Jesus said:
“And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe” (John 14:29, NKJV).
Scripture affirms itself in other ways as well, including the powerful, personal impact it can have on people who accept its teachings (Hebrews 4:12).
The Bible authenticates itself as the Word of God for those who are open to accepting it and learning from its teachings.
Does the Bible provide advice for every single specific situation?
No.
Though there are many examples of the Bible giving us specific direction, this doesn’t mean that it provides that for every situation. For instance, the Bible certainly has nothing specific to say about spending too much time on social media.
Instead, the answers we look for are written in the form of principles.
Scripture talks about how to best use our time (Ephesians 5:15–17; Colossians 4:5). And it also indicates the kinds of things we should focus on (Philippians 4:8). These principles can then be used to help someone with the question of how much time to spend on social media.
And that’s the beauty of the Bible’s principles. They are applicable across time, culture, and context.
What was the role of King James in the history of the Bible?
King James I of England (and VI of Scotland) commissioned the translation of the Bible known as the King James Version (KJV), published in 1611. He did not write the text himself but authorized 47 scholars to create a new, accurate translation to replace existing versions, aiming to settle religious disputes. He aimed to unify the Church of England by producing a consistent, scholarly English translation that lacked the partisan notes of the popular Geneva Bible.
How did the canonization of the Old Testament take place?
The Old Testament canon was recognized long before Christianity began. The Jewish people accepted certain writings as Scripture based mainly on whether they were connected to prophets or inspired leaders, whether they agreed with earlier revelation, and whether they were widely used in worship and teaching. By the time of Jesus, the Hebrew Scriptures were already established and divided into the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings. Jesus and the apostles quoted these books as the Word of God, showing that they accepted the Old Testament canon that is still used today by Protestants.
Why do we believe that the Bible is infallible?
Because we believe the Bible is the Word of God, Adventists accept the infallibility of Scripture (Psalm 119:160; John 17:17).
This term tells us that what the Bible teaches about history, salvation, prophecy, and last-day events is always correct.
At the same time, we understand it’s possible for minor mistakes in copying to have happened throughout the ages. After all, the Bible you have is only a copy of a copy of the original manuscript.
However, these discrepancies have always been relatively insignificant and have never changed the essential meaning of the text. God wouldn’t let that happen.
The underlying principles in Scripture stand firm. They are God’s perfect revelation of His will to humanity (Psalm 19:7–9).
What verses tell us how to study the Bible?
Isaiah 28:10, 2 Timothy 2:15, 2 Timothy 3:16-17
What were the three categories that the Hebrew Bible was originally divided into?
The five books of the Torah (Teaching), the eight books of the Nevi’im (Prophets), and the eleven books of the Ketuvim (Writings).
How did the canonization of the New Testament take place?
The New Testament canon developed during the first century after Christ. As the apostles preached and wrote, churches began circulating their letters and the Gospel accounts. Not every Christian writing was accepted as Scripture, so believers used clear standards to determine which books belonged in the Bible. A book had to be connected to an apostle or a close associate of an apostle, such as Mark or Luke. It also had to agree with the teachings of Jesus and the Old Testament and be accepted by many churches across different regions. In addition, these writings showed spiritual authority and power to teach truth and lead people to Christ.
These two Old Testament chapters contain prophecies that were fulfilled centuries later, showing the accuracy of Scripture.
Daniel 2 and Daniel 7?