APO Defending Your Faith An Overview of Apologetics

The Argument for the Bible As a prophet, Jesus prophesied concerning Himself Jesus was a prophet The Bible is a basically reliable historical document

The Argument for the Bible Matthew 5:18 - “ 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” What did Jesus prophesy concerning the Bible?

Communicable and Incommunicable Attributes Mark 13:32 - “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

Accommodation Theory: The relationship between the divine nature of Jesus and the human nature of Jesus is of such perfect harmony that anything the divine nature knows the human nature knows as well. Communicable and Incommunicable Attributes

Examples of Jesus’ Supernatural Knowledge Before He met Nathan’a-el, He knew all about him (John 1:43-51). He told the woman of Sychar (the woman at the well) her whole life story (John 4:1-42). He has prophetic insight where He predicts the future with uncanny accuracy.

The Humanity of Jesus James 3:1 “Not many of you should become teachers,” Matthew 18:6 “but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” Is it a sin to be mistaken if you have no way of knowing otherwise?

The Humanity of Jesus John 12:49 “For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak.” John 18:37 “…for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

Calvin’s “Indicia” Antiquity – The Scriptures have existed for many, many years. – No volume has ever been subject to the critical evaluation and care of the scribes and copyists in terms of preservation. – No book, in the history of humanity, has ever been subjected to anything even near the careful scrutiny of its details as the Bible has been.

Calvin’s “Indicia” The Heavenliness of the Matter – The content and scope of Scripture The Harmony of all of the parts of Scripture – Failed attacks against the Scripture using so called “incongruities” Resources – – Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties by Gleason Archer

The Deity of Jesus John 1:1-4 “ 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.”

The Deity of Jesus John 1:1 - PROS - “and the Word was with God” - in a “face to face” relationship John 20:28 – Thomas declares Jesus “My Lord and my God!” Romans 9:5 – “To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.”

The Deity of Jesus John 8:58 – Jesus testifies “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” (Exodus 3:14) Matthew 12:8 - Jesus declares “For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” Mark 2:5-12; Luke 7:36-50 – Jesus declared that He has the ability to forgive sins

Summary We established the authority of Scripture (we began as the Scripture being a basically reliable historical document) Establish Jesus as a true prophet Jesus being a true prophet declares that the Scriptures are nothing less than the Word of God The Scriptures being the Word of God, declare that Jesus is the Son of God, the eternal Logos

APO Defending Your Faith An Overview of Apologetics