Session 2: The Evidence I Can Examine For Myself

Jesus’ Invitation To Examine The Evidence Jesus Wants Us To Consider The Evidence – John 5:31-37 – John 10:37-38 Amazing Evidence Still Exists Today For Us To Examine! – Matthew 15:14

I Believe God Is Our Creator: Examine The Evidence Only Two Options Exist… – The Naturalist: Everything is the result of chance. – The Super-Naturalist: Everything is the result of creation. Evidence #1: Petrified Trees In Rock Layers Evidence #2: Dinosaur & Human Footprints Evidence #3: Ramapithecus Evidence #4: God’s Description of His Creation – Romans 1:20, Hebrews 3:4

I Believe The Bible Is God’s Word: Examine The Evidence Only Two Options Exist… – God Had Nothing To Do With This Book. – God Was Involved In Revealing This Book. Evidence #1. The Bibliographical Test Evidence #2. The Internal Evidence Test Evidence #3. The External Evidence Test Evidence #4. The Caution of Jewish Copyist Evidence #5. God’s Description Of His Word – 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:21 THE BIBLIOGRAPHICAL TEST Evaluates The Number Of Copies & The Time Span To The Original. - Greek Manuscripts: 5,686 - Other Languages: 19, This is a total of over 24,970 MSS! - The New Testament was originally written between 50 AD AD, only 20 years after the events it describes! THE INTERNAL EVIDENCE TEST Evaluates The Internal Consistency & Accuracy Of The Document - Is The Document Free of Known Errors 1.) The Unexplained Is Not Unexplainable 2.) Note The Context & Language Being Used 3.) Similar Passages Contain Complementary Details 4.) A Mistake In A Copy Does Not Prove A Mistake In The Original - Did The Writer Use Primary Sources Luke 1:1-3 THE EXTERNAL EVIDENCE TEST Evaluates Other Historical Materials To Confirm Or Deny The Documents’ Accuracy & Reliability - Archeology repeatedly confirms the accuracy of historical details recorded in the Bible. “In all, Luke names thirty-two countries, fifty-four cities and nine islands without an error.” (Geisler)

Can You Understand It? Original Message? What If You Had 8 Copies – Let’s meet at two pm. – Let us meet at 2 pm. – Letz me at too. – Let’s meet at two pm. – Let’s meet at 2. – Let’s meet at 12 pm. – Let’s meet at 2 pm.

Can You Understand It? Original Message? What If You Knew Which Copies Came From The Most Careful Scribes? – Let’s meet at two pm. – Let us meet at 2 pm. – Letz me at too. – Let’s meet at two pm. – Let’s meet at 2. – Let’s meet at 12 pm. – Let’s meet at 2 pm.

Can You Understand It? Original Message? What If You Also Knew Which Copies Were Closest** To The Original? – Let’s meet at two pm.** – Let us meet at 2 pm. – Letz me at too. – Let’s meet at two pm.** – Let’s meet at 2. – Let’s meet at 12 pm. – Let’s meet at 2 pm.

Can You Understand It? Original Message? What If You Also Knew Which Scribes Were Willing To Die For Their Message? – Let’s meet at two pm.** – Let us meet at 2 pm. – Letz me at too. – Let’s meet at two pm.** – Let’s meet at 2. – Let’s meet at 12 pm. – Let’s meet at 2 pm.

The Bible Can’t Be Beat! “In real terms, the New Testament is easily the best attested ancient writing in terms of the sheer number of documents, the time span between the events and the document, and the variety of documents available to sustain or contradict it. There is nothing in ancient manuscript evidence to match such textual availability and integrity.” – Ravi Zacharias

I Believe Jesus Is The Only Way: Examine The Evidence If We Believe God Is Our Creator & The Bible Is His Word We Must Accept Jesus. Evidence #1: Jesus’ Amazing Life Evidence #2: Jesus’ Teaching In John 14:6 Evidence #3: God’s Description of His Son – Matthew 17:5, Acts 17:30-31 If I Believe This, Then Do I Go Out And Live Like It Everyday?

Session2: The Evidence I Can Examine For Myself