Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate

Ezra is an example of one of the people I find in Scripture who studied and obeyed God’s Word. The other is found in Acts 17:11:

"These Jews were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they eagerly received the message, examining the Scriptures carefully every day to see if these things were so."

This all has to do with the Bible and its authority. I’ve challenged myself, and I challenge you too, to memorize these verses in An Advanced Scripture Memory Program online under that title, about 200 verses total. They are all from the NET (New English Translation) Bible.

Ezra 7:10 – "Now Ezra had dedicated himself to the study of the law of the LORD, to its observance, and to teaching its statutes and judgments in Israel."

Ezra was a priest and scribe who intentionally oriented his life toward God. The Hebrew behind “dedicated” is הֵכִין (hechin), meaning to direct, prepare, or focus, showing that Ezra deliberately set his heart (לִבּוֹ) on studying, obeying, and teaching God’s Law. His devotion was purposeful, making God’s Word the center of his life, scholarship, and leadership.

Source: (at least one) --

Blenkinsopp, Joseph, Ezra-Nehemiah: A Commentary – Focuses on Ezra as a model of piety and scholarship, noting that Ezra 7:10 illustrates his dedication to study, obedience, and instruction of the Law.

https://bible.org/article/advanced-scripture-memory-program

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Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

Who was Ezra? When did he write his Bible book?

Writer: Ezra
Place Written: Jerusalem
Writing Completed: c. 460 B.C.E.
Time Covered: 537–c. 467 B.C.E.

What testifies to the accuracy of the book of Ezra?

Today the majority of scholars accept the accuracy of the book, The New Westminster Dictionary of the Bible frankly saying that, “There is no doubt about the reliability of the historical contents.” (Edited by H. Gehman, 1970, p. 291) The record in the book is, therefore, dependable, and Ezra was a historical person.

Concerning the canonicity of Ezra, W. F. Albright writes in his treatise, The Bible After Twenty Years of Archaeology: “Archaeological data have thus demonstrated the substantial originality of the Books of Jeremiah and Ezekiel, of Ezra and Nehemiah beyond doubt; they have confirmed the traditional picture of events, as well as their order."

And since the book of Ezra is a continuation of Chronicles, it is generally believed that it was written at the same time, about 460 B.C.E. The Bible book of Ezra picks up where 2 Chronicles leaves off. Its writer is Ezra the priest.

The book of Ezra covers a period of 70 years​, from 537 to 467 B.C.E.

Ezra, as a priest, scholar, skilled copyist, and man who had “prepared his heart... to teach in Israel regulation and justice” and to correct the things wanting in the worship of Jehovah that was carried on among the repatriated Israelites, was eminently qualified to write the book bearing his name.

Ezra was well qualified to record this history, even as he had recorded Chronicles. (Ezra 7:6, 10) Since the book of Ezra is a continuation of Chronicles, it is generally believed that it was written at the same time, about 460 B.C.E.

The book of Ezra covers 70 years, from the time that the Jews were a broken, scattered nation marked as “the sons of death” to the completion of the second temple and the cleansing of the priesthood after Ezra’s return to Jerusalem.​—Ezra 1:1; 7:7; 10:17;

The book is honest in its use of the first person for the writer from chapter 7, verse 27, through chapter 9. Most scholars are in agreement that the book of Ezra carries on the history at the point where the Chronicles leave off, as a comparison of 2 Chronicles 36:22, 23 with Ezra 1:1-3 will show. This again points to Ezra as the writer. Jewish tradition likewise assigns the writership to Ezra.

There is no question about its place in the canon of the Bible. It carries the record of God's dealings with the Jews down to the time of the assembling of the Hebrew catalog, which work was largely accomplished by Ezra, according to Jewish tradition. 

The book of Ezra vindicates many prophecies concerning the restoration of Jerusalem and proves it is indeed an integral part of the divine record, and it also harmonizes completely. 

In addition, it honors pure worship and sanctifies the great name of Jehovah God.

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