Reliability of the Bible Different attitudes about reliability Totally unreliable Partially reliable Completely reliable

Reliability of the Bible Various views of inspiration Mechanical Noematical Universal Natural Degrees Verbal, Plenary, Isa. 51:15, 16; Jer. 1:9

Reliability of the Bible Inspiration or non-inspiration? If not, another human document If not, a fraud If not, no revelation from God If not, no understanding of salvation If so, believe & obey, 2 Thes. 1:7-10

Reliability of the Bible Textual Evidence Biographical test “Examination of textual transmission” Evidence That Demands A Verdict, Vol. 1

Reliability of the Bible Textual Evidence Author When Written Earliest Copy Time Span No. of Copies Caesar 100-44 B.C. 900 A.D. 1,000 10 Plato 427-347 B.C. 1,200 7 Tacitus 100 A.D. 1100 A.D. 20 Pliny 61-113 A.D. 850 A.D. 750 Thucydides 460-400 B.C. 1,300 8 Evidence That Demands A Verdict, Vol. 1

Reliability of the Bible Textual Evidence Author When Written Earliest Copy Time Span No. of Copies Herodotus 480-425 B.C. 900 A.D. 1,300 8 Sophocles 496-406 B.C. 1000 A.D. 1,400 193 Aristotle 384-322 B.C. 1100 A.D. 49 Homer 900 B.C. 400 A.D. 500 643 NT 40-100 A.D. 125 A.D. 25 24,000+ Evidence That Demands A Verdict, Vol. 1

Reliability of the Bible Textual Evidence Biographical test Over 24,000 ancient MSS (copies) Over 5,300 Greek Over 10,000 Latin Over 4,000 Slavic Evidence That Demands A Verdict, Vol. 1

Reliability of the Bible Textual Evidence Biographical test Troubled text Iliad: 15,600 lines – 764 in question NT: 20,000 lines – 40 in question 5.0% vs. 0.5% Evidence That Demands A Verdict, Vol. 1

Reliability of the Bible Textual Evidence Biographical test Variations Hort: 1/8th in dispute Geisler & Nix: variations mostly minor Geisler & Nix: 98.33% pure Evidence That Demands A Verdict, Vol. 1

Reliability of the Bible Textual Evidence Biographical test Isaiah 53 166 words – 17 letters in question 10 letters are spelling differences 4 letters are stylistic differences Other 3, one word added in verse 11 found in LXX Evidence That Demands A Verdict, Vol. 1

Reliability of the Bible Textual Evidence Internal test “contradictions or known factual” errors? Eyewitness accounts Lk. 1:1-3; 2 Pt. 1:16; 1 Jn. 1:3; Acts 2:32 How could it be made up? Variations lend credibility Evidence That Demands A Verdict, Vol. 1

Reliability of the Bible Textual Evidence External test Other historic documents confirm? Josephus discussed John the Baptist By name Arrest, imprisonment, execution Influence in preaching Evidence That Demands A Verdict, Vol. 1

Reliability of the Bible Textual Evidence External test Archeological evidence Jericho’s walls fell outward, Josh. 6:20 Erastus pavement stone, Rom. 16:23 Synagogue of Hebrews, Acts 18:4-7 Census, Lk. 2:1-3 Evidence That Demands A Verdict, Vol. 1

Reliability of the Bible Textual Evidence External test Archeological evidence Luke mentioned 32 countries 54 cities 9 Mediterranean islands 95 people A Study Course In Christian Evidences

Reliability of the Bible Textual Evidence External test Archeological evidence Sir William Ramsay – skeptic, 1800s “Luke’s history is unsurpassed in respect of its trustworthiness.” Evidence That Demands A Verdict, Vol. 1

Reliability of the Bible Scientific Foreknowledge Five fundamentals of science Time Force Action Space Matter Beginning God Created Heavens Earth Gen. 1:1 A Study Course In Christian Evidences

Reliability of the Bible Scientific Foreknowledge Ocean’s currents Matthew Fontaine Maury 1806-1873 Psalm 8:8 – “Paths of the seas” Discovered circulation currents A Study Course In Christian Evidences

Reliability of the Bible Scientific Foreknowledge Ocean’s valleys Job 38:16 Men thought ocean bottom was flat Valley found in 1870s – 5 ½ miles deep Philippine valley – 7 miles deep A Study Course In Christian Evidences

Reliability of the Bible Scientific Foreknowledge Other facts Life in the blood, Lev. 17:11-14 Female with seed, Gen. 3:15 Law of Entropy, Heb. 1:11 Spherical earth, Isa. 40:22 A Study Course In Christian Evidences

Reliability of the Bible Inspired of God Old Testament, 2 Pt. 1:20, 21 Claims Moses, “The LORD said” 45 times David, 2 Sam. 23:1, 2 Prophets, Isa. 1:18; Hos. 1:1

Reliability of the Bible Inspired of God Old Testament, 2 Pt. 1:20, 21 Proofs Prophecy, Dan. 2:44; Isa. 53:7-12 Christ, Lk. 24:44; Mt. 22:43; Jn. 10:35

Reliability of the Bible Inspired of God New Testament Claims Jesus, Jn. 16:13 Luke, Acts 2:4 Philip, Acts 8:14 Paul, 1 Cor. 11:23; 14:37; Gal. 1:12 Peter, 2 Pt. 3:15, 16

Reliability of the Bible Inspired of God New Testament Proofs Textual Evidence Miracles, Mk. 16:20; Heb. 2:3, 4

Reliability of the Bible Inspired of God New Testament Proofs Jesus Christ Lived, died, resurrected Matthew, Mark, Luke, John Peter Jude James Paul

Reliability of the Bible Inspired of God Translation does not destroy inspiration OT Greek: Septuagint (LXX) Quoted by Jesus & others Mt. 22:31, 32; Ex. 3:6 Gal. 3:17; Ex. 12:40 Heb. 1:5; Psa. 2:7 Acts 28:26, 27; Isa. 6:9, 10

Reliability of the Bible Inspiration or non-inspiration? If not, another human document If not, a fraud If not, no revelation from God If not, no understanding of salvation If so, believe & obey, 2 Thes. 1:7-10