Historical Foundations for Understanding the Bible: Lesson 1

By Henry Horton

Have you read the scriptures for years, with little or no understanding? This book presents a brilliant approach to understanding the ancient sacred narrative. This invaluable study tool refreshes the understanding of what one knows, and clearly explains the unfamiliar.

This documented study gives an exceptionally reliable explanation of the original intent and meaning of the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation.

This plain-spoken chronology increases understanding of the scriptures as it explains and provides documentary evidence of their, divine origin, historical accuracy, and inerrant authority.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HenryHorton
• Release date: Dec 24, 2018
• ISBN: 9781980588481

Book preview

Table of Contents

Historical Foundations for Understanding the Bible

Copyright

Preface

INTRODUCTION

VOLUME 1

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF GENESIS

THE LIFE AND ROLE OF MOSES IN SCRIPTURE

THE POWER OF STORYTELLING

HUMANITY’S STRONG THIRST FOR TRUTH

WHY IS THE BIBLE SO MISUNDERSTOOD?

THE INFLUENCE OF TRANSLATION AND THEOLOGY

THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTEXT

HUMAN THINKING VS GODLY REVELATION

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

BONUS LESSONS

THE AWAKENING

THE KINGDOM OF GOD

WHAT IS A KINGDOM?

GOD’S MESSENGER

CONCLUSION

About the Author

Historical Foundations for Understanding the Bible

Volume 1

Dr. Henry Horton

Copyright © 2017 Dr. Henry Horton.

All rights reserved. No parts of this work may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any other information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Editing and Formatting by Anessa Books

All scriptural quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the King James Version of the Bible.

A Documentation of Historical Truth from Creation to Jesus Christ to the Present.

For Seekers of Truth the World Over

Preface

Our world, for all its technical and political savvy finds itself in an uncommon quandary. For all we have learned about our universe, modern technology, and respect for the dignity of humanity we seem to have missed the meaning and unchallenged authority of the ancient sacred writings. Our world seems bent on destruction. Confusion runs rampant, skepticism and a sense of hopelessness prevails throughout. Individuals, family groups, and even nations seek a sanctuary.

We sense something is wrong and knowingly or instinctively we realize we have missed God and our thirst for divine truth. This thirst has birthed a fresh and unusual hunger unfulfilled by what we see around us even in common place religion. Our quest is for authentic interaction with the imperceptible divine. We pursue a deeper closeness with God Himself.

An awareness of this wide sweeping hunger led me to research and present Historical Foundations for Understanding the Bible.

These foundational teachings are a resource for believers and non-believers alike. They offer clarity of the original God-breathed Scriptures. Our improved understanding of the sacred historical writing’s more fully informs our perception about the transformative intimacy with God.

A correct sense of the meaning and direction of the ancient consecrated writings opens our access to godly peace and reestablishes our confidence for the future. Historical insight and proper perception of divine meaning requires the guidance of the Holy Spirit. His guidance leads seekers to be wise, confident, and able to negotiate the events along life’s course.

Acquiring wisdom is not always easy. But wisdom is necessary for a proper understanding of the vital message deposited in the sacred writings for humanity’s guidance on Earth. Further the promise of scripture, is that God’s Spirit will guide us into all truth. The divine text reminds us that "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding" (Proverbs 4:7).

The apostle Paul recognized the essential need for the believer to understand God’s Word. Writing to the devotees at Colossae he encouraged them with these words, "For this cause we also, since the day we heard it (your faith in Christ), do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and Spiritual understanding" (Colossians 1:9).

The carnal mindset is an enemy of human peace. It obstructs divine wisdom essential to understanding God’s message. However, the original sacred text reports that Father God reveals divine mysteries as a reward to earnest seekers. "For he that cometh to God must believe that He is (exists), and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6b). Further, the scriptures declare, It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter" (Proverbs 25:2).

The believer's position as kings and priest is evidenced in Revelation 1:6. "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever Amen. (Revelation 1:5-6).

So, it is the believer's privilege to search out these divine mysteries. The highest hope of present-day seekers is to gain an infallible understanding of God’s revealed Word and to know God intimately. The most beneficial use of this knowledge is, first, to apply it in their own life. Then to help others comprehend and share with the world the confidence and peace found in this transformational revelation.

Dr. Henry Horton

INTRODUCTION

PREPARATION TO UNDERSTAND DIVINE WRITINGS

Most people take learning for granted. Learning is the activity of gaining information from external sources and transferring that information to our own mind. Information to augment our knowledge-base comes from several sources, life experiences, education, and the media in all its forms. This brief description of a complex human learning system is intended to move us beyond the point of assuming, to realize that learning is not automatic but needs intentional focused actions.

Learning is made easier when the target audience is provided with accurate background information regarding the subject matter. Learning is also easier