What does the Bible say about the Bible ? Part 3
What does the Bible say about the Bible?
We briefly started from Jesus' mentioning about the Bible, then went on to the old testament in last episode. And today, I'd like to went through the different section of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament).
The making of the Wisdom Books
The name of the book doesn't necessarily mean that only one person is responsible for writing (or producing) the book. It is the first time, I noticed the name of Baruch, for this writing. And I realized there are also clues in the Wisdom books.
The Wisdom Books (Ketubim) has been my favorite portion of the Hebrew Bible.
There is no weird story about people fighting, killing, deceiving and no miracles, only a collection of ancient wisdom. How simple is that! I liked that as a person who claim to be the pursuer of wisdom.
Before I read the whole Proverbs, I used to think it was written solely by Solomon, but I could see that it was a collection of wisdom accumulated over a long period of time.
It starts with Solomon, son of David, king of Israel (1:1) who was reigned in B.C 970 through B.C 931, then "The saying of the wise ones" (22:17) - who are they? The scripture didn't say.
Then, more proverbs of Solomon, complied by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah (25:1). Here's something interesting. Hezekiah was born in B.C 739 and died in B.C 687. So, there is at least about 200 years gap.
It could indicate that the books of Proverbs are not written in one place, but accumulated for a longer period of time. Then there's a mentioning of "the saying of Agur son of Yakeh"(30:1), and the sayings of king Lamuel, that his mother taught him (31:1), and King Lamuel wasn't a king in Israel's history.
(The main idea of Proverbs: The theology of the proverbs is that anytime in history if a person act in justice, generosity, in wisdom, we are witnessing the image of God in that person. )
And let's go back to the New Testaments and see if there are more hints about the nature of the Bible.
From the New Testament
To whom the gospel according to Luke is written to?
Luke's account has an interesting set of clues. Let's see who he is writing to.
(KJV) Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
(ESV) just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught."
Who's Theophilus?
He's not mentioned else where in the Bible. There is a probably guess that he's the patron who endorsed the investigation for Luke. So, what I see here is that the intended reader of the one of the four gospel, is not a spiritual group. It was meant to be a investigation report.
Who wrote Romans?
Of course, the author is Paul, but who is involved in the making of the Romans? There is a name that comes up - Tertius.
About 1 Peter ?
The author is Peter, but there's a name of the scribe, Silas, mentioned in the letter.
How about
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