Ministry School

 

The lovely poppy field is where Captain Moth-Butterfly was detecting on Saturday.  He found no gold, but brought back some great photos.

I was on the School on Thursday night. This was my material:

4. The Bible reveals its Author

Play the VIDEO. Then read 2 Timothy 3:16, and discuss the questions that follow.

VIDEO: Who Is the Author of the Bible?​—Excerpt (2:48)

• If men wrote the Bible, why is it called the Word of God?

• Do you think it is reasonable to believe that God could transmit his thoughts to human writers.

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/meetings/r1/lp-e/2022/23

And this is how it went, with a little improv en route:

Sue:  We have just seen that the Bible consists of 66 books and was written by some 40 writers over many hundreds of years. And yet it claims to be the inspired word of God not the word of man.  To examine that claim further we are going to look at this interesting video.   (They watch video)  Now, they quoted 2 Timothy 3:16, and I would like us to read the whole verse before we discuss the video.  Would you read it for me?

HH: "All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness." 

Sue: So do you see from the verse why the Bible is called the Word of God?

HH:  Yes.  It claims that all Scripture is inspired by God.

Sue:  It does. And did you notice how Jehovah transmitted his word to these human authors, how he inspired them?

HH:  Yes. The video said by means of dreams, in visions, and also sometimes God used angels.

Sue: Exactly.  Which brings us to the second question. Does it seem reasonable to you that God could transmit his thoughts to human writers?

HH: It still seems a strange idea to me. But that little video had two interesting illustrations that did help. There was one about the business man dictating a letter to his secretary, so that although it was the secretary who typed it up, it was the business man’s thoughts the secretary was writing down, not his own.  And then it also made the point that even us humans can talk to each other across vast distances. They can even talk to the astronauts out in space now!

Sue:  Yes, that is a good point isn’t it?  I can now talk face to face every week to my brother and his family who live in Australia, and I just take it for granted, yet 30 years ago it would have seemed like a miracle.  So it’s not unreasonable to believe that the Almighty God could transmit his thoughts to humans when he wanted to.  It clearly would be no problem for him.  But why has Jehovah done this? What is he telling us? Did you notice what that Scripture I just read said? 

HH:  Yes, it said that the Bible was beneficial and could set things straight.

Sue:  Yes. Bear in mind that Jehovah really loves us, wants nothing but the best for us and that He is the Source of all wisdom, so his word is a perfect guide. As you continue this study, you will find that the Bible promises us more happiness right here on the earth than we can now imagine. This is a promise for the future, when God’s Kingdom is ruling over us, but it also helps us right now.  And you start to learn and to apply Jehovah’s word in your life, you will find out how powerfully it can set things straight even in the very difficult and confusing world we find ourselves living in.  And as you find out just how much it helps you, you will become more and more convinced that it is the word of our Creator, Jehovah.

Bonescan on Friday - done and dusted, but of course I now await the results. What I really need is a brand new face and body to go with these shiny new front teeth, but I will have to wait patiently on Jehovah for that.

But here is a comforting promise: "His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth:" - Job 33;25