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Tips on the Bible
(Lecture notes on Bibliology by Rev. Dr. C. C. Anyanwu)

DEFINITIONS OF RELATED TERMS:
1.     BIBLIOLOGY:
This simply means a study of the Bible. But in a broader spectrum, it means more than studying the Bible
verse by verse and page by page.  Properly put, therefore, it might well mean the science of the Bible.
The study of the actual make up of the Bible, the composition of the Word of God.  It looks into the origin,
and the origin and the inspiration.  The idea of inherency, the idea of canonicity, the authority, and revelation
of the Bible.  A student of bibliology is called a bibliologist. and to be so named means that one has taken care
to investigate the points noted above.

As a literary composition, the Bible is the most remarkable book ever made.  It is a divine library of 66 books,
some of considerable size, and others no longer than a tract.  These books comprehend various forms of
literature, history, biography, poetry, proverbial sayings, hymns, letters, directions for elaborate ritualistic worship,
laws, parables, riddles, allegories, prophecies, drama and others.  They embrace all manner of literary styles in
human expression.

The Bible is the book that reveals the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, doom of sinners
and the happiness of believers.  It's doctrines are Holy, it's precepts binding, it's histories true, and it's
decisions immutable.

The wise old saying is, "read to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be high."  The Bible contains light
to direct you and comfort to cheer you.  It is the travelers map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldiers
sword, and the Christians chatter. Christ is it's ground subject, it is written for our good and glory of God is it's end. It should fill your memory, rule your heart, and guide your feet in righteousness, and true holiness. It should be read frequently, prayerfully, meditatively, searchingly, and devotionally. It must also be studied constantly, perseveringly, and industriously. Read it through and through until it becomes a part of your being and generates faith that will move mountains.

The Bible is a mine of wealth, the source of health, and a world of pleasure. It is given to you in this life, but it will be opened at the judgment, and will stand forever. It involves the highest responsibility that will reward the least to the greatest of labor, and will condemn all who trifle with it's sacred contents.

2.     CANON:
According to Dr. David Allan Hubbard, "The word 'canon', was borrowed by the Greeks from the Smits who in turn adopted it from the Sumerians.  Professor F.F. Bruce feels that it came into English through Latin from the Greek word 'Kanon'. Both men agree that the Greek used it and the word came to have a variety of meanings related to measurement which includes: rule, standard law, boundary, list, index, and so on.