History, inspiration and reliability The Bible History, inspiration and reliability

Objections The Bible is full of contradictions and errors. Historians and scientists have long since proven that the Bible is inaccurate and unreliable. How can you be sure the Bible is the same now as when it was written, given that it’s been copied and translated so many times?

Reliability of the Bible Authenticity - Is what we have now a fair representation of what was first written? Accuracy - Is what we have now a fair representation of what actually happened? Authority - Is what we have now a fair representation of what God wanted to communicate to us? Accumulation - How do we know the right books were chosen to be in the Bible?

Three tests Bibliographic Internal External

Bibliographic

Old Testament Standardized by Masoretic Jews by sixth century AD. Emphasis on accuracy in copying. Oldest complete manuscript Aleppo Codex 1000AD Comparison with earliest copies, e.g. Dead Sea scrolls and Septuagint (3rd century BC) show little deviation

New Testament Unparallelled quantity of manuscripts in ancient literature. >5000 Greek manuscripts, 8000 Latin manuscripts >20000 quotations. Every other Greek author, far less manuscripts, e.g. Plato – 7, Aristotle – 49 Found from Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, Greece to Italy. Dated within 50-100 years of original. Complete 300-400 years of original.

Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus

New Testament Variations are minor. >99.5% pure with any variations having no real doctrinal consequences. Dates of the manuscripts from AD 117 onwards

Internal Tests What claims does the Bible make about itself?

Biblical Authors 1 Jn 1:1-3 - 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—  2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—  3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

2 Pet 1:16 16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

Luke 1:1-4 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us,  2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us,  3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,  4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

External Tests

External evidences Historicity of Jesus Writings of early historians Archaelogy - tablets Geography -

Canonization How were books in the Bible decided

New Testament In the early church the accepted books were quite clear even early on. Irenaeus quoted 21 books by AD 200 27 books described by mid 200 AD (Origen of Alexandria) Athanasius – list of 27 books in 367AD Since then no changes.

Criteria Apostolicity – apostle or associate Orthodoxy – conform and consistent to rest of teaching Catholicity – accepted by majority of churches

Translations

Bible Translations Translated into 670 languages (full bible). Some portion translated into 3312 languages. Many different English translations. Difficult process because not always easy to convey the meaning behind phrases – regardless of whether you know the original text or not.

Formal equivalence – literal King James Version New King James Version English Standard Version

Balanced NIV Holman Christian Standard Bible New English Translation

Dynamic equivalence - paraphrasing Good News Bible Today’s English Version God’s Word Translation

Psa 51:5 ESV - Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,     and in sin did my mother conceive me. NIV - Surely I was sinful at birth,     sinful from the time my mother conceived me. New Living Translation - For I was born a sinner—     yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.

Phil 3:8 ESV - 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ NIV -8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ NET - 8 More than that, I now regard all things as liabilities compared to the far greater value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things—indeed, I regard them as dung!—that I may gain Christ,

Translations by single or small committee Be wary of these, e.g. New World Translation – JW Jn 1:1,2 - 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. (ESV) Jn 1:1,2 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,and the Word was a god. 2  This one was in the beginning with God.

Conclusion

Have confidence in the Bible It is the reliable word of God. There is vast evidence, internal and external to support this.

Rom 1:16, 17 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.  17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”