Synopses & Reviews
"The chain of communication from God to us is strong. It has several solid links: inspiration, collection, transmission, and translations. Together, these four links provide the contemporary Christian with the moral certitude that the Spirit-inspired original text of Scripture has been providentially preserved by God, so that for all practical purposes the Bible in our hands is the infallible and inerrant word of God."
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: inspiration, canonicity, major manuscripts and recent discoveries, textual criticism, Greek and Latin translations, and modern English translations. The entire field of general biblical introduction is covered.
"Throughout history God has given to us an inspired and inerrant word written in the languages of humanity. The Bible is the collection of that record of 'God-breathed' Scripture." - Norman Geisler and William Nix
NORMAN L. GEISLER (Th.B., William Tyndale College; A.B., Wheaton College; M.A., Wheaton College Graduate School; Ph.D., Loyola University) Distinguished Professor of Apologetics at the Veritas Evangelical Seminary in Murrieta, California (www.VeritasSeminary.com). He has authored or co-authored somewhere in the vicinity of eighty books, including A General Introduction to the Bible, Baker Dictionary of Christian Apologetics, Christian Ethics, and Systematic Theology.
WILLIAM 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 has taught at several colleges and seminaries, and served as Dean at Southern Evangelical Seminary. Dr. Nix currently serves at Veritas Evangelical Seminary as Professor of Historical and Theological Studies and Director of Master of Theological Studies.
Synopsis
Where did the Bible come from' How do we know the right books are in the Bible' Does the Bible contain errors' What are the oldest copies we have of the Bible' How do we know that the Bible hasn't been changed over the years' Why are there so many translations of the Bible, and which one should I use' These are just some of the important questions about the Bible that are discussed in this book. Understanding basic facts about the origin of the Bible is essential for every Christian, but it can also be confusing and difficult. Here, two well-known scholars, authors of a more technical book, A General Introduction to the Bible, explain simply and clearly these basic facts. Inspiration, the biblical canon, major manuscripts, textual criticism, early translations, and modern versions are some of the major topics discussed. Careful explanations of important points are given throughout, as the entire field of biblical introduction is covered. Completely updated and revised edition of the 1974 work (more than 78,000 copies sold). Helpful charts have been added, along with an index of subjects, persons, and Scripture. This book is ideally suited for Bible students, pastors, and professors. While writing for readers without previous training, the authors do not gloss over difficult and complex issues when they arise. The nature of inspiration, the extent of the canon, and the usefulness of modern versions are all clearly discussed. The authors write: "The chain of communication from God to us is strong. It has several solid links: inspiration, collection, transmission, and translations. The strength of these links provide the contemporary Christian with the moral certitude that the Spirit-inspired original text of Scripture has been providentially preserved by God so that for all practical purposes the Bible in our hands is the infallible and inerrant word of God."
About the Author
NORMAN GEISLER (Th.B., William Tyndale College; A.B., Wheaton College; M.A., Wheaton College Graduate School; Ph.D., Loyola University) is Distinguished Professor of Apologetics at Veritas Evangelical Seminary in Murrieta, California. Norman has been teaching Bible and related topics for over 50 years. He is the author or co-author of some 80 books, including A General Introduction to the Bible, From God To Us: How We Got the Bible, and A Popular Survey of the New Testament. He has also written hundreds of articles. He and his wife Barbara of 56 years have six children, fifteen grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. They live in Charlotte, NC.WILLIAM 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 serves at Veritas Evangelical Seminary, Murrieta, CA as Professor of Historical and Theological Studies and Director of Master of Theological Studies. He resides in Dallas, Texas.
Table of Contents
1. The Character of the Bible2. The Nature of Inspiration3. The Inspiration of the Old Testament4. The Inspiration of the New Testament5. The Evidences for the Inspiration of the Bible6. The Characteristics of Canonicity7. The Development of the Old Testament Canon8. The Extent of the Old Testament Canon9. The Development of the New Testament Canon10. The Extent of the New Testament Canon11. Languages and Materials of the Bible12. The Major Manuscripts of the Bible13. Additional Witnesses to the Bible Text14. The Development of Textual Criticism15. Restoration of the Bible Text16. Aramaic, Syriac, and Related Translations and Bibles17. Greek and Related Transitions18. Latin and Related Transitions19. Early English Translations20. Modern English Bible Translations21. English Bible Translations and the New MillenniumIndex of SubjectsIndex of PersonsIndex of Scripture