C.R.E Revsion Kit Chapter 2
The Bible
What is the bible?The bible is the holy word of God.
It is an accepted book by Christians, through which God communicates to them.
The Bible is an inspired word of God.
Give reasons as to why the Bible is referred to as the Library of Books.
It consists of various kinds of books.
Its books were authored differently.
It was written at different time and in different circumstances and situations.
It is a Reference book.
It is arranged sequentially.
The Bible was directed to different people, conveying various messages.
It is written in various styles.
It is written over a long span of time.
It is divided into two main parts: the Old and New Testament.
It is composed of various sections e.g. epistles, torah, Historical, etc.
Why is the Bible seenas the word of God?
The authors were inspired by God.
God revealed himself to human authors e.g. Moses.
The Bible contains a concrete message of God for daily living.
God dictates his relationship with man through the laws and guidelines offered
in the Bible.
Through the Bible, the nature and character of God is revealed through his
mysterious acts.
The Bible makes clear God‟sintension and implementation to salvage
mankind since the time of Abraham: the founder of faith, to the time of Jesus
Christ, our savior.
The book of Revelation, the Apocalypse, evidences that the message in the
bible was from God and it was not human imagination.
God is presented to have written some scripture himself e.g. the handwriting
on the wall in the book of Daniel “Mene Mene Tekel Parsil”.
The Bible contains the divine call of prophets by God, whose utterances were
later fulfilled. An example is Micah, who prophesied the birth of Jesus Christ. Jesus was born in Bethlehem: David‟s city, in a manger.
How does God speak to human beings through the Bible?
Through Jesus Christ, who preached, healed, taught and addressed various issues
concerning our day to day living.
Through the Holy Spirit, God enabled Peter to denounce the dishonesty of Annanias
and Saphirra.
God speaks to men through prophets. Jeremiah tells people of the new covenant that
is fulfilled through Jesus Christ.
God communicates to people through dreams and visions. For example, the Old
Testament prophets had visions. Amos had five visions directed to the people of
Judah.
Through allegories e.g. Ezekiel‟s vision of dry bones.
Through extra-ordinary events. The Israelites experienced God‟s power when they
miraculously managed to cross the Red Sea. God speaks to men through the Ten Commandments, which give directives on which
course of life a true Christian should pursue. How does the Bible suit contemporary Christian living?
The Bible is the key resource material in the teaching of Christian Religious
Education in schools.
It is used in oathing to signify God‟s presence and to stick to the truth.
It instills knowledge about God.
It is used in Liturgical functions like weddings funerals, baptism, etc.
The Bible is used in swearing in leaders at any level where necessary.
It teaches us the role that God plays in our lives.
It teaches us on how to live cohesively with fellow men.
We read the Bible to realize spiritual nourishment in our lives.
List the human authors of the Bible.
Moses, who wrote the books of the Torah. David, the second king of Israel, who wrote the Book of Psalms.
Solomon, the father of wisdom, who wrote songs of Songs, among others.
Major and Minor prophets, who wrote different books taking after their names. For
instance, Hosea and Daniel made such writings. Disciples of Jesus Christ e.g. Matthew, Mark and Luke, who wrote the Synoptic
gospels.
Luke, who wrote Acts of the Apostles. Paul, who wrote several epistles e.g. Corinthians, Romans, etc. The apostle John, who
wrote the book of Revelations.
State the literary styles usedby the biblical authors.
Legislative text e.g. Leviticus;
Wise sayings e.g. Proverbs.
Prophetic speeches like those of Jeremiah. Poetic styles e.g. Job, Psalms, Proverbs, etc. Gospels i.e. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.Letters/epistles e.g. the Pauline and general epistles.
History e.g. the Acts.
Philosophical essays e.g. Job.
Prayers e.g. Nehemiah.
Songs of songs, written by Solomon.Religious epics, e.g. Exodus.
Narratives e.g. Genesis.
List the divisions of the Old Testament.
The Torah/Pentateuch/Law/Mosaic books i.e. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers
and Deuteronomy.
Historical books i.e. Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2
Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther.
Major prophetic books i.e. Jeremiah,
Lamentations, Ezekiel and Isaiah.
Minor prophetic books i.e. Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Hagai, Malachi and Zechariah.
Poetic books i.e. Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Songs of Solomon.
List the divisions of the New Testament.
Biographical/gospels i.e. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The first three are also
referred to as the Synoptic gospels. Historical i.e. Acts of the Apostles. This was written by Luke: who also wrote the
Gospel of Saint Luke, who was a physician.General/pastoral Epistles i.e. Jude, James, 1 and 2 Peter and 1, 2 and 3 John.
Pauline epistles i.e. Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippians, 1 and 2
Thessalonians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon and Hebrews.
Apocalypse/Prophetic books i.e. the book of Revelation, written by John.
Explain the translations of the Bible from original languages to local languages.
The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew, a language used in Palestine. It was then translated into Greek language. This was referred to as the Septuagint. This version was used by the Jews of dispersion/Diaspora. The Septuagint refers to the seventy scholars and scribes who worked on the original Hebrew language, translating it into Greek.
Later in the 4th century AD, the Bible was translated into Latin. This translation was done by a Christian scholar called Jerome. This version was called the Vulgate, meaning “For Common use”. During the Reformation and even after, the national languages of different countries were used in worship instead of Latin.
The first English and German translations were done at this time. Still, the Catholic Church continued with the Vulgate.
The first Bible translation in East Africa was done by Johann Ludwig Krapf.
Krapf took nine years to translate the German Bible, especially the New Testament part of it, into Kiswahili.
From there, other local languages received their translation e.g. Gikuyu in 1951, Kikamba in 1956, Kimeru in 1964, Kalenjin in 1968, Luhyia in 1974,modern Swahili in 1977, etc. The process is still going on through the Bible Society of Kenya.
List the various versions of the Bible
Revised standard version
Good news Bible
The African bible
New international Bible
The living Bible
Common Bible
Jerusalem Bible
King James version
New king James version
English Bible
The authored version
The Gideon‟s international version
New American Bible
List the effects of the translation of the Bible into African languages
It enhanced the spread of Christianity
If eroded illiteracy and promoted literacy
It triggered evangelism like bush fire
It accelerated the development of African Independent churches/ schools
Many Africans accepted/ welcomed Christianity
Missionaries acquitted themselves wives the African language established them to further Christianity
It led to the development of printing institutions
It created employment
Africans demanded leadership
If led have room to research on the African religion/ led to the appreciation of the African culture
It promoted ecumenical amalgamation
The word of God reached many people in their own languages
Reading the Bible enabled people to realize or detect faults in preaching
It caused enthusiasm for formal education.
Name the Books that belongs to the apocrypha
Apocrypha are the extra books accepted by the Catholic Church. - Canonical books.
Tobit
Maccabes 1 and 2
Part of Daniel
Wisdom books
Baruch
Esdras
Part of Esther
Ecclessiasticus
Show quest for the Bible translation today
Not all local languages have bible translations
There is still need for more translation
To ease evangelization
Because of the emerging issues which are due to the necessity to revise old versions into new ones to be included
Due to current changes in language
For better understanding
The interchurch relations (the Ecumenical movement) still call for translate.
Why is the Bible called Good news
It betters God‟s relationship with mankind
It assures people eternal life
Man remains hopeful through the Biblical doctrine
The biblical content reconciles man with God
The biblical inspires people and gives them salvation.
Give reasons why reading the Bible is important to Christians
It gives moral and spiritual guidance
It helps Christians understand the meaning of their lives and relationship to God and to one another
It helps the discover the will of God for he reveals himself through the Bible
It helps them understand the universe and their relationship to it
Reading the Bible gives guidance on the relationship among human beings
It is the world of God
It source for consolation to Christians
It is a source of inspiration
It is a source of knowledge
It helps Christians discover who they are
Reading the Bible is a way of worshiping
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