Welcome To Our Services This Morning January 2, 2011 "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth" (Jesus of Nazareth from John 4:24) This morning's Scripture reading is... 1 Peter 3:13-22

Faith firm belief in something for which there is no proof (M-W) The assent of the mind to the statement or proposition of another, on the ground of the manifest truth of what he utters (Webster's 1913) from root of fidere (latin) "to trust," (O.E.D) "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." (He.11:1 - NIV)

How Did We Get The Bible? According To The Bible OT completed and accepted by 400BC OT known as "The Law of Moses" or "The Law" or "The Law & The Prophets" or "The Law, The Psalms & The Prophets" in NT writings every book of OT quoted or referenced in NT possible exception - Esther

How Did We Get The Bible? According To The Bible Apostles' Authority - Ma. 28:16-20, Jo. 20:22 Told the source of their words - Ma. 10:20, Jo.14:26 H.S. works through Apostles - Ac. 2:1-4, 14 H.S. works through others - Ac. 8:14-19, 19:1-7 the word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, effecting of miracles, prophecy, distinguishing of spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues (1 Co. 12:4-11) The end of miraculous gifts - 1 Co. 13:8-10 "when the perfect comes, the partial will end." the perfect is The Bible!

How Did We Get The Bible? How We Can Know The Bible Is The Perfect OT Precedent - Ma. 5:17-18, Dt. 31:24-26, Js. 1:7-8, 1 Pe. 1:10-12, Jo. 1:45, Lk. 10:26, etc "After Moses finished writing in a book the words of this law from beginning to end, he gave this command to the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD: 'Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God. There it will remain as a witness against you.'" (NIV) "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth,.. meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it;..." (NASB)

How Did We Get The Bible? How We Can Know The Bible Is The Perfect OT Precedent - Ma. 5:17-18, Dt. 31:24-26, Js. 1:7-8, 1 Pe. 1:10-12, Jo. 1:45, Lk. 10:26, etc "Philip found Nathanael and said to him, 'We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.'" (ESV) "He said to him, 'What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?'" (NKJV)

How Did We Get The Bible? How We Can Know The Bible Is The Perfect OT Precedent - Ma. 5:17-18, Dt. 31:24-26, Js. 1:7-8, 1 Pe. 1:10-12, Jo. 1:45, Lk. 10:26, etc Dying Apostles - Ac. 8:14-19, 19:1-7 Jewish oral vs. Greek/Roman writing culture Writings of Apostles & NT Writers- Ma. 4:4, 2 Ti. 3:16-17, 2 Pe. 1:19-21, 3:14-16, Re. 1:1-3, 2 Co. 10:8-16, Ep. 3:1-7, Jo. 20:30-31, Lk. 1:1-4, 2 Jo. 12, 3 Jo. 13-14, Jd. 3, 1 Co. 4:6

How Did We Get The Bible? According To History The Council of Nicaea (325AD) The Councils of Hippo (393ad)& Carthage (397, 419ad) these councils were called and held by officials of the Catholic Church The NT Canon was known & accepted by Christians before any of these councils

NT Supported By Known Facts Of History How Did We Get The Bible? According To History The Church Fathers? Christian writers from 100AD - 400AD men from all parts of known world (Roman Empire) most of these writings in defense of Christianity "all" NT quoted or referenced by CF before 200AD earliest known quote by Clement of Rome (95-98AD) NT Supported By Known Facts Of History

How Did We Get The Bible? According To History How did The NT writings spread so far so fast? Acts 8:1, 4 (1) "Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles." (4) "Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word."

How Did We Get The Bible? According To History How did The NT writings spread so far so fast? Galatians 1:1-2 "Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia" Colossians 4:16 "When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part read my letter that is coming from Laodicea."

How Did We Get The Bible? According To History How did The NT writings spread so far so fast? James 1:1 "James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings" 1 Peter 1:1 "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen"

How Did We Get The Bible? According To History How did The NT writings spread so far so fast? Revelation 1:4 "John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne"

How Did We Get The Bible? According To History How did The NT writings spread so far so fast? Zeal of the Christians to spread the word about the Messiah Christians realizing importance of Apostles' writings Christians copying & sharing Apostles' writings Roman Empire safe & easy travel (roads & sea lanes) common language of the empire An apostle as a Roman citizen (Paul-Ac.22:25)

How Did We Get The Bible? According To Ancient Manuscripts 5000 Greek manuscripts & fragments 5000 manuscripts & fragments in Latin Ryland's Papyrus Jo. 18:31-33, 37-38 90's-150AD

How Did We Get The Bible? According To Ancient Manuscripts 5000 Greek manuscripts & fragments 5000 manuscripts & fragments in Latin Magdalen Papyrus Ma. 26:23, 31 50-70AD? (150'sAD)

How Did We Get The Bible? According To Ancient Manuscripts 5000 Greek manuscripts & fragments 5000 manuscripts & fragments in Latin Author Plato Caesar Aristotle Homer NT Date 427-347bc 100-44bc 384-322bc 900bc 50-100ad earliest copy 900ad 1100ad 400bc 50-130ad app. span 1200yrs 1000yrs 1400yrs 500yrs 0-80yrs # copies 7 10 49 643 5,686 accuracy ? 95% 99.5%