Different attitudes about reliability  Totally unreliable  Partially reliable  Completely reliable

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

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

Biographical test  “Examination of textual transmission” Evidence That Demands A Verdict, Vol. 1

AuthorWhen Written Earliest Copy Time Span No. of Copies Caesar B.C.900 A.D.1,00010 Plato B.C.900 A.D.1,2007 Tacitus100 A.D.1100 A.D.1,00020 Pliny A.D.850 A.D.7507 Thucydides B.C.900 A.D.1,3008

Evidence That Demands A Verdict, Vol. 1 AuthorWhen Written Earliest Copy Time Span No. of Copies Herodotus B.C.900 A.D.1,3008 Sophocles B.C.1000 A.D.1, Aristotle B.C.1100 A.D.1,40049 Homer900 B.C.400 A.D NT A.D.125 A.D.2524,000+

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

Biographical test  Troubled text ∙ Iliad: 15,600 lines – 764 in question ∙ NT: 20,000 lines – 40 in question Evidence That Demands A Verdict, Vol. 1

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

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

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

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

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

External test  Archeological evidence ∙ Luke mentioned -32 countries -54 cities -9 Mediterranean islands -95 people A Study Course In Christian Evidences

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

Five fundamentals of science  Time  Force  Action  Space  Matter A Study Course In Christian Evidences Beginning God Created Heavens Earth

Ocean’s currents  Matthew Fontaine Maury  Psalm 8:8 – “Paths of the seas”  Discovered circulation currents A Study Course In Christian Evidences

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

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

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

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

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

New Testament  Proofs ∙ Textual Evidence ∙ Miracles, Mk. 16:20; Heb. 2:3, 4

New Testament  Proofs ∙ Jesus Christ -Lived, died, resurrected -Matthew, Mark, Luke, John -Peter -Jude -James -Paul

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

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