CAN WE TRUST OUR BIBLE?

I Peter 1:24-25

N.T. EPISTLES FOR MORE THAN ONE CHURCH One Province Gal 1:2 Many Provinces I Pet 1:1

N.T. EPISTLES FOR MORE THAN ONE CHURCH One Province Gal 1:2 Many Provinces I Pet 1:1 Churches Everywhere I Cor 1:2 The Colossians would have at least four letters

OBLIGATIONS OF N.T. CHURCHES THAT RECEIVED APOSTOLIC LETTER Recognize Apostolic Authority Authenticate Them Duplicate Them Obey Them 2 Thess 1:7-9

RECOGNITION OF APOSTLE’S AUTHORITY Beginning of Paul’s Writing 2 Th 3:6, MiddleI Cor 14:37-38; Gal 1:8 End2 Tim 3:16-17 Each Letter by Itself is Authoritative

The Scripture Says: I Tim 5:17-18 Deut 25:4 Luke 10:7 Luke’s Writings Were Considered on Equal Footing With Moses’ Writings

2 Pet 3 Peter’s Epistles v.1, 2 Paul’sv.15 Othersv.16 Paul’s Writings Were Considered Scripture

God Didn’t Expect Them To Be Gullible They could be tested, or authenticated. Rev 2:6, 15; 2:2. 2 Cor 11:13 How? 2 Cor 12:12; I Jn. 4:1, 6 False epistles. 2 Th 2:1-2

AUTHENTICATE EPISTLES Paul’s Methods: –Signed with own hand. 2 Th 3:17; Gal 6:11 –Sent by Known Associate 2 Cor 7:6-8; 8:16-18 Church’s Reaction –Accept Paul’s Authentication –Pass the Facts on to Others

DUPLICATION OF EPISTLES Colossians Col 4:16 Corinthians Galatians and Asians There were uninspired books never accepted. There were people then, as today who won’t accept truth. 3 Jn 9-10 Some “puzzles,” but none of the 27 books of the N.T. were seriously questioned.

BIBLE MANUSCRIPTS OF N.T. AD 1611 AD 1881CopiesAD Papyri Uncials Cursives 2764 Today 8000 Miniscules 15,000 Fragments 19,284 Versions

P46 Chester Beatty

ORIGINAL’S LOST Wycliffe 1388 Tyndale 1534 Coverdale Great Geneva Bishops Douay (Cath) King James 1611 Vulgate 4th ASV 1881 NAS 1963 Manuscripts Versions Writers

Can we Trust the Bible? You can have all Confidence that you have GOD’S WORD in your hands

OBLIGATIONS OF N.T. CHURCHES THAT RECEIVED APOSTOLIC LETTER Recognize Apostolic Authority Authenticate Them Duplicate Them Obey Them. I Pet 1:22-23; Mt 7:21-23