A General Introduction

to the Bible

Revised and Expanded

NORMAN L. GEISLER

and

WILLIAM E. NIX

(c) 1968, 1986 by

Norman L. Geisler

and William E. Nix

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the authors except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

All Scripture quotations in this book, unless noted otherwise, are from the New American Standard Bible, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, and 1977 by The Lockman Foundation, and are used by permission.

The use of selected references from various versions of the Bible in this publication does not necessarily imply publisher endorsement of the versions in their entirety.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Geisler, Norman L.

A general introduction to the Bible.

Bibliography: p.

Includes indexes.

Bible Introductions. I. Nix, William E.

II. Title.

BS475.2.G39986220.6′186–57

ISBN 0-8024-2916-5

1234567Printing/RR/Year99089888786

To our wives,

BARBARA and EULAINE,

who have been

constant sources of encouragement

and assistance

Contents

chapter

Illustrations

Foreword to the Revised Edition

Foreword to the First Edition

Preface to the Revised Edition

Preface to the First Edition

Part One:

Inspiration of the Bible

1. The Structure and Divisions of the Bible

2. Definitions of Revelation and Inspiration

3. Scriptural Claims for Inspiration in General

4. Specific Claims of Inspiration in the Old Testament

5. Supporting Claims for the Inspiration of the Old Testament

6. Specific Claims for the Inspiration of the New Testament

7. Supporting Claims for the Doctrine of Inspiration to the Reformation

8. Doctrines of Inspiration Since the Reformation

9. Divergent Views of Revelation and Inspiration in the Modern World

10. Contemporary Theories of Revelation and Inspiration

11. Evidences for the Inspiration of the Bible

Part Two:

Canonization of the Bible

12. Determination of Canonicity

13. The Discovery and Recognition of Canonicity

14. Development and History of the Old Testament Canon

15. The Old Testament Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha

16. Development and History of the New Testament Canon

17. The New Testament Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha

Part Three:

Transmission of the Bible

18. Languages of the Bible

19. Writing Materials

20. Manuscript Transmission, Preparation, and Preservation

21. Old Testament Manuscripts

22. New Testament Manuscripts

23. Papyri, Ostraca, Inscriptions, and Lectionaries

24. Patristic Witnesses to the Text of Scripture

25. Development of Textual Criticism

26. Restoration of the Scripture Text

Part Four:

Translation of the Bible

27. Translations Containing the Old Testament Text

28. Translations Containing Both the Old and New Testament Texts

29. Latin Versions of the Old and New Testament Texts

30. The Bible in English

31. Modern English Versions and Translations of Scripture

32. Modern Speech Versions and Translations of Scripture

Conclusion

Appendix

Glossary

Photographs...