Bible Lessons International
Encyclopedia
Bible Lessons International (BLI) is a non-profit Bible study
ministry and 501(c)(3) corporation based in Marshall, Texas
. The ministry, according to information published on its website, "is dedicated to reaching the world for Jesus Christ with the goal of empowering God's people to interpret the Bible for themselves." Verse-by-verse, exegetical commentaries are offered entirely for free by the organization, which says its materials are "committed to the trustworthiness and authority of Scripture, emphasizing the intent of the original inspired authors by means of their historical setting, literary context, grammatical features, choice of words, genre and parallel passages."
, a retired professor of Biblical Hermeneutics (interpretation).. A certificate of restated articles of incorporation with the new name of Bible Lessons International was issued by the Secretary of the State of Texas on Sept. 30, 1998. The organization currently has its offices in Marshall, Texas. BLI is funded by individual donors from all over the world, and publishes a semi-annual newsletter that is sent to nearly 10,000 people on the organization's mailing list.
In its early days, BLI published written materials through the Uniform Sunday School Series offered by the Southern Baptist Convention
. Utley also presented his commentaries in the "You Can Understand the Bible" television series and radio programs. Materials in the form of printed commentaries, cassette tapes and VHS tapes, as well as CDs and DVDs, were also offered for sale on the organization's original website, www.biblelessonsintl.com.
However, in 2003, Utley said he decided to stop selling his materials and start giving everything away. "... When I was still teaching at East Texas Baptist University
I received an e-mail from Logos, where my New Testament commentaries are included in their materials. Bill Bright
, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ
, had contacted Logos and wanted to produce a CD-ROM of their training materials to give away to pastors worldwide, to be translated into 50 languages. They wanted to translate all of my commentaries and include them on the CD-ROM. I quickly and excitedly gave permission to do so ... Not long after this, I was teaching at the Emmaus OMS Seminary in Cap-Haitien, Haiti. I went to a local church on Sunday morning and as the pastor preached, God spoke to my heart: 'Go home and give all your Bible studies away, free to the world.' I was not really surprised by this because for many years in my overseas travels it had become obvious to me that many countries have no Bible study materials in their languages. When they are available, the cost is about four times as much as in the USA. So, this had been a desire of mine for a long time. However, I had never made the mental connection between these two experiences until I heard that Bill Bright
had gone to be with the Lord without completing the CD-ROM project. I wondered to myself, 'Why would God open this door, just to close it?'" he said.
Resources offered by BLI may also be obtained at other online locations and libraries, including www.WorldCat.org,, www.archive.org, www.ibiblio.org, East Texas Baptist University's online Mamye Jarrett Library and www.logos.com.
Written Bible commentaries are presently offered or currently undergoing translation into the following languages: Afrikaans, Amharic, Arabic, Armenian, Bangla, Bulgarian, Burmese, Chinese, English, Eritrean, French, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Korean, Malayalam, Nepali, Oromo, Persian
, Portuguese, Pashto, Punjabi, Russian, Saraki, Serbian, Sindhi, Slovak, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, Telugu, Thadou, Thai, Turkish, Urdu and Vietnamese. The pace of translations has increased over the years, with more than 50 different translations in progress as of late 2010.
BLI's first CD compilation was published in 2005 as "The NASB (Update) Study Bible New Testament Supplement." The CD contained English commentaries with Biblical cross-references from the following Bible translations: The New American Standard (1995 update), New King James Version, New Revised Standard Version, Today’s English Version and the New Jerusalem Bible. Subsequent releases were entitled: "CD-ROM Computer Bible Commentary" (2009), and "Verse-By-Verse Computer Bible Study Library" (2010).
As of Fall 2010, more than 70,000 free CDs and DVDs containing Bible study guide commentaries and multimedia sermons and commentaries had been distributed to people in more than 146 countries. BLI's most recent publication, the "Verse-By-Verse Computer Bible Study Library," is a free two-disc set containing a CD with all of Dr. Utley's written Old and New Testament commentaries, translations and other Bible study helps, plus a DVD containing more than 850 minutes of video, 600 minutes of MP3 audio and the PDF version of Dr. Utley's "Bible Interpretation Seminar Textbook." The DVD also includes MP4 video files that can be downloaded and viewed by iPod
and iPhone
users.
In addition to mailing CDs and DVDs to individuals, BLI has sent entire sets of printed commentaries to numerous state and federal prison libraries. The materials are also distributed through several organizations, including the National Baptist Educational Convention, World Baptist Alliance and Sovereign World Trust.
Bible study
Bible study may refer to:* Biblical studies, the academic discipline* Bible study , sometimes known as "Devotions" or "Quiet Time"Other articles related to the study of the Bible:* Biblical criticism* Biblical hermeneutics* Biblical theology...
ministry and 501(c)(3) corporation based in Marshall, Texas
Marshall, Texas
Marshall is a city in Harrison County in the northeastern corner of Texas. Marshall is a major cultural and educational center in East Texas and the tri-state area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Marshall was about 23,523...
. The ministry, according to information published on its website, "is dedicated to reaching the world for Jesus Christ with the goal of empowering God's people to interpret the Bible for themselves." Verse-by-verse, exegetical commentaries are offered entirely for free by the organization, which says its materials are "committed to the trustworthiness and authority of Scripture, emphasizing the intent of the original inspired authors by means of their historical setting, literary context, grammatical features, choice of words, genre and parallel passages."
History
BLI was founded in Lubbock, Texas in 1976 under its original name of International Sunday School Lessons, Inc. by Dr. Robert James (Bob) UtleyBob Utley
Bob Utley is a contemporary Bible teacher who is best known for his commentary series that covers the Old and New Testaments.-Education:Utley attended East Texas Baptist University from 1969–1972 and graduated with a Bachelors in Religion. He then pursued a Masters in Divinity from Southwestern...
, a retired professor of Biblical Hermeneutics (interpretation).. A certificate of restated articles of incorporation with the new name of Bible Lessons International was issued by the Secretary of the State of Texas on Sept. 30, 1998. The organization currently has its offices in Marshall, Texas. BLI is funded by individual donors from all over the world, and publishes a semi-annual newsletter that is sent to nearly 10,000 people on the organization's mailing list.
In its early days, BLI published written materials through the Uniform Sunday School Series offered by the Southern Baptist Convention
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
. Utley also presented his commentaries in the "You Can Understand the Bible" television series and radio programs. Materials in the form of printed commentaries, cassette tapes and VHS tapes, as well as CDs and DVDs, were also offered for sale on the organization's original website, www.biblelessonsintl.com.
However, in 2003, Utley said he decided to stop selling his materials and start giving everything away. "... When I was still teaching at East Texas Baptist University
East Texas Baptist University
East Texas Baptist University is a private, coeducational Christian university in Marshall, Texas, United States associated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas.- History :...
I received an e-mail from Logos, where my New Testament commentaries are included in their materials. Bill Bright
Bill Bright
William R. "Bill" Bright was an American evangelist. The founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, he wrote The Four Spiritual Laws in 1952 and produced the Jesus Film in 1979.-Early life:...
, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ
Campus Crusade for Christ
Campus Crusade for Christ is an interdenominational Christian organization that promotes evangelism and discipleship in more than 190 countries...
, had contacted Logos and wanted to produce a CD-ROM of their training materials to give away to pastors worldwide, to be translated into 50 languages. They wanted to translate all of my commentaries and include them on the CD-ROM. I quickly and excitedly gave permission to do so ... Not long after this, I was teaching at the Emmaus OMS Seminary in Cap-Haitien, Haiti. I went to a local church on Sunday morning and as the pastor preached, God spoke to my heart: 'Go home and give all your Bible studies away, free to the world.' I was not really surprised by this because for many years in my overseas travels it had become obvious to me that many countries have no Bible study materials in their languages. When they are available, the cost is about four times as much as in the USA. So, this had been a desire of mine for a long time. However, I had never made the mental connection between these two experiences until I heard that Bill Bright
Bill Bright
William R. "Bill" Bright was an American evangelist. The founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, he wrote The Four Spiritual Laws in 1952 and produced the Jesus Film in 1979.-Early life:...
had gone to be with the Lord without completing the CD-ROM project. I wondered to myself, 'Why would God open this door, just to close it?'" he said.
Activities
At present, BLI distributes its free materials through its website www.freebiblecommentary.org. Here are posted for free download the entire collection of Dr. Utley’s audio, video and written commentaries, sermons and other Bible study aids. All materials are copyrighted, but can be printed or copied if credit is given to Dr. Utley and if a link to the website is included in the copied material.Resources offered by BLI may also be obtained at other online locations and libraries, including www.WorldCat.org,, www.archive.org, www.ibiblio.org, East Texas Baptist University's online Mamye Jarrett Library and www.logos.com.
Written Bible commentaries are presently offered or currently undergoing translation into the following languages: Afrikaans, Amharic, Arabic, Armenian, Bangla, Bulgarian, Burmese, Chinese, English, Eritrean, French, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Korean, Malayalam, Nepali, Oromo, Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
, Portuguese, Pashto, Punjabi, Russian, Saraki, Serbian, Sindhi, Slovak, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, Telugu, Thadou, Thai, Turkish, Urdu and Vietnamese. The pace of translations has increased over the years, with more than 50 different translations in progress as of late 2010.
BLI's first CD compilation was published in 2005 as "The NASB (Update) Study Bible New Testament Supplement." The CD contained English commentaries with Biblical cross-references from the following Bible translations: The New American Standard (1995 update), New King James Version, New Revised Standard Version, Today’s English Version and the New Jerusalem Bible. Subsequent releases were entitled: "CD-ROM Computer Bible Commentary" (2009), and "Verse-By-Verse Computer Bible Study Library" (2010).
As of Fall 2010, more than 70,000 free CDs and DVDs containing Bible study guide commentaries and multimedia sermons and commentaries had been distributed to people in more than 146 countries. BLI's most recent publication, the "Verse-By-Verse Computer Bible Study Library," is a free two-disc set containing a CD with all of Dr. Utley's written Old and New Testament commentaries, translations and other Bible study helps, plus a DVD containing more than 850 minutes of video, 600 minutes of MP3 audio and the PDF version of Dr. Utley's "Bible Interpretation Seminar Textbook." The DVD also includes MP4 video files that can be downloaded and viewed by iPod
IPod
iPod is a line of portable media players created and marketed by Apple Inc. The product line-up currently consists of the hard drive-based iPod Classic, the touchscreen iPod Touch, the compact iPod Nano, and the ultra-compact iPod Shuffle...
and iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
users.
In addition to mailing CDs and DVDs to individuals, BLI has sent entire sets of printed commentaries to numerous state and federal prison libraries. The materials are also distributed through several organizations, including the National Baptist Educational Convention, World Baptist Alliance and Sovereign World Trust.