We’ve discussed what the Bible is, now we’ll touch on how it was written.

Direct Revelation. This has to do with those instances where God speaks audibly, literally and directly to one of the writers in Scripture. A specific example of this would be found in the book of Revelation, where God tells the Apostle John to “write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Interviews and Research. Luke’s writings are a great example of this. Luke, a doctor, was not one of the Apostles. Luke wasn’t around for all the same experiences and miracles that Apostles like Peter and John saw firsthand. Luke actually became a follower of Jesus through their (The Apostles) ministry. He wrote an account of the life of ministry of Jesus (the Gospel of Luke) and a subsequent book about the continuing ministry of the Apostles after the ascension of Jesus (The Book of Acts). Luke was able to write these accounts by relying on personal interviews and researching whatever written resources were available.

Personal Experience. The Apostles spent a lot of time with Jesus. They heard Him teach, saw Him heal others, listened to Him speak in parables, and witnessed the circumstances of His death and then His literal resurrection. They had a lot of firsthand knowledge to go on while writing. It is very likely that they consulted with every possible source out there for clarity and accuracy. Imagine that you were going to write about something that you experienced with a group of friends 20 years ago. You would remember it well, but nobody would think twice if you checked with others to make sure you had all your details straight. Would it be surprising that ancient writers living in a world without electronic media or handheld devices decided to clarify their memories as best as they could?

The Bible: * What is it? * How was it written? * Who decided what was Scripture? * How should we use it?