A popular question that has surfaced within our Western culture is the question “What is Truth?” In Season 1 we are going to begin to address this question and what better place to start that with the Bible. During this season we are going to address several questions non-Christians and Christians alike have about the Bible.

In this first episode we will address the question “Where did the Old Testament come from?” We get into the types of materials that were used to write on, how oral transmission worked, and common misunderstandings about the formation of the Bible.

EPISODE NOTES

1. INTRO- WE”RE BACK!!! (00:35)
   1. Welcome to Season 1
      1. Introduce the new format
      2. Introduce Season 1- “What Is Truth”
   2. Give a teaser or brief summary of this episode
2. COMMON MISUNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT THE HOW THE BIBLE CAME TO BE (02:53)
   1. First, you have to establish a standard by which to judge whether or not something came from God or not. Most people who judge the legitimacy of the Bible have no such standard. (02:53)
   2. Personal past experience of how we thought the Bible came to be (06:20)
   3. Golden tablets from the sky (9:11)
   4. Biblical writers in a trance
3. HOW WAS THE OLD TESTAMENT COLLECTED? (11:07)
   1. Parts were written in stone, others on clay pots
      1. We have several mentions of Moses being commanded to write down commands from God
         1. Exodus 34:27 “27 And the Lord said to Moses, “Write these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.” (13:04)
         2. Exodus 24:3-4 3 Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the rules.[a] And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words that the Lord has spoken we will do.” 4 And Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. He rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.
      2. Supposed Jewish Council- Was there a council that canonized the Hebrew Bible?
         1. Definition of “canon” (15:19)
         2. Was there a Jewish council? (16:03)
   2. Oral transmission was critical (19:23) 
      1. Talk about how this worked
      2. Address the accusation of the oral transmission being similar to a game of Telephone.
   3. At some point you have to ask, “Are these writings historical accounts of actual events and actual encounters people had with God?” (22:59)
      1. Some think the authors of these books in the Bible are biased in some way but they are writings just like we have of other historical events and people throughout history. We just need to ask the question “Are they reliable?”
   4. Jesus recognized books of the Hebrew Bible by often referring to “The Scripture” and “As it is written.
      1. Shane comment about Psalms (25:35)
4. Outro
   1. Website www.switchinglensespodcast.com
   2. Social media 
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Email the show at [email protected]

Music by Brian Buchanan and Trap Lofi Guitar Beat [ FREE NO COPYRIGHT ] lost found - soloftt x lowly in heart x middle child