1. What’s Wrong with the Da Vinci Code?

2. How Can You Tell?
If the New Testament books in general have through all these centuries been reliably preserved with their contents free from significant change?
If the contents of the gospels are substantially accurate, or if there is reason to consider them all just fiction

3. Ways To Tell Bible Writers and their Testimony Stability of Scripture
Early Bible Manuscripts
Early Christians
Non-Christians

4. Early Christians Tell Who Wrote the N.T.
1 Clement (of Rome) (16 pgs) /98 A.D.
Epistle of Barnabas (13 pgs) c.100 A.D.
Papias disciple of John (3 pgs) A.D.
-Wrote 6 volumes which have been lost
Didache (Teach. of 12 Disc.)(6 pgs) < 125 A.D.
(anonymous) to Diognetus (6 pgs) c.130 A.D.
Polycarp, disciple of John (4 pgs) c.150 A.D.
Justin Martyr (119 pgs) A.D.
Shepherd of Hermas (47 pgs) A.D.
Theophilus (33 pgs) /188 A.D.
-his harmony/commentary on the gospels is lost

5. More Early Christians Athenagoras (34 pgs) c.177 A.D.
Caius’ Muratorian Canon (3 pgs) A.D.
Irenaeus (264 pgs) A.D.
Tertullian (830 pgs) A.D.
5 Books in Reply to Marcion (24 pgs) c.200 A.D.
Clement of Alexandria(424 pgs) /220 A.D.
Hippolytus, (233 pgs) /6 A.D.
Novatian (39 pgs) A.D.
Anonymous against Novatioan (7 pgs) c.255 A.D.
Origen (429 pgs) A.D.
Cyprian (270 pgs) A.D.
Not shown are Ignatius (c ), Bardaisan of Syria ( ), Melito of Sardis (d.177/180), Julius Africanus.

6. Notes on the Following Charts
W Books and quotes mentioned by writer or by name
J Books only mentioned as the words of Jesus / Savior
S Mentioned as scripture or by apostle(s)
Q Quote of 1 or more verses
½ Quote of ½ of a verse
A Allusion
4G Mention of 4 gospels

7. Who Told Us What -TL Writer Clem. R. Barnab. Papias Didache Diognet.
Polycarp
Justin M.
Hermas
Theoph. Mt J Q W A Mk - Lk Jn
Acts
Rom
1 Cor
2 Cor
Gal
No gospels besides 4.

8. Who Told Us What -ML Writer Clem. R. Barnab. Papias Didache Diognet.
Polycarp
Justin M.
Hermas
Theoph.
Eph - Q
Php W
Col A
1 Th
2 Th
1 Tim
2 Tim
Titus
Phm

9. Who Told Us What -BL Writer Clem. R. Barnab. Papias Didache Diognet.
Polycarp
Justin M.
Hermas
Theoph.
Heb Q -
Jms A
1 Pet
2 Pet
1 Jn
2 Jn
3 Jn
Jude
Rev ? W

10. Who Told Us What -TR Writer Athenag. Muratori. Irenaeus Tertull.
5 Books
Clem. A.
Hippol.
Novatian
Anon.
Cyprian Mt Q 4G W J Mk - Lk Jn
Acts
Rom
1 Cor S
2 Cor
Gal

11. Who Told Us What -MR Writer Athenag. Muratori. Irenaeus Tertull.
5 Books
Clem. A.
Hippol.
Novatian
Anon.
Cyprian
Eph - W B
Php
Col Q
1 Th
2 Th
1 Tim
2 Tim
Titus
Phm

12. Who Told Us What -BR Writer Athenag. Muratori. Irenaeus Tertullian
5 Books
Clem. A.
Hippol.
Novatian
Anon.
Cyprian
Heb - W Q
Jms
1 Pet
2 Pet
1 Jn
2 Jn
3 Jn
Jude A
Rev

13. What About Hebrews?
Irenaeus in Fragment 37 indicated Hebrews 13:15 was written by Paul. Tertullian said the same.
The style is different, but if Paul usually wrote in Greek, and Hebrews was written in Hebrew, that might explain it.
Regardless, the readers must have known the writer, based on Hebrews 13:18-24

14. Different Religious Groups
27 Books – N.T. Scripture
Early church writings
Ascetic Gnostics. Many accepted Paul’s writings
Over 30 different schools of Gnostics
Libertine Gnostics. Many accepted Paul’s writings
Ebionites only accepted a shortened form of Matthew
Other religions: Greco-Roman gods, Zoroastrianism, Mithraism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Mandaeans, etc.

15. Verses Christians Quoted Before 125 A.D.
Writer Mt Mk Lk Jn Ac
Paul
Other
Clement R. 7 2 4
9 ¼
E. Barnabas
3 ½
1 ½ 1
Ignatius
Diognetus
3 ¼
Polycarp
9 ½
2 ½
22 ½ 14
Didache 17 5
95/96 A.D. Persecution of Domitian

16. Verses Christians Quoted 126-170/217 A.D.
Writer Mt Mk Lk Jn Ac
Paul
Other
Justin Martyr 57 2 32 1
Hermas
Theophilus 5 7
Melito of S.
Athenagoras 4
Muratorian
177 A.D. Persecution of Marcus Aurelius, Gnostics

17. Verses Christians Quoted 182-250 A.D.
Writer Mt Mk Lk Jn Ac
Paul
Other
Irenaeus
223 18
130
109 88
291
82½
Tertullian
65+
Clement A.
181 33
116 77 38
623
178
Hippolytus 95 24 66 80 1
128 53
Novatian 4
Cyprian
209 20
101
110 59
689
166
202 A.D. Persecution of Septimus Severus
many hundreds
Some numbers include some allusions too.

18. Tatian, a Gnostic Non-Christian
Quotes 79% Mt Mk Lk Jn
Other
of the gospel
819
402
919
855
verses in the
76%
59%
79%
97%
Diatessaron
172 A.D. Tatian died

19. Jewish Talmuds Refer to Jesus
Babylonian Talmud
Tol’doth Yeshu
Barailyu
The Amoa ‘Ulla’
Ye. IV 3
Baraita
Tractate Sanhedrin

20. Josephus (93/94 A.D.)
Josephus wrote about Jesus and His half-brother James.
While the Latin version has some later additions, the Arabic edition still shows Josephus had a positive view of Jesus and James.

21. Roman Non-Christians
Suetonius (120 A.D.) – disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus
Lucian of Samosata (2nd century satirist) – Christians worshipped Christ.
Cornelius Tacitus (c.55-c.117 A.D.) – Christus executed under Pontius Pilate.
Pliny the Younger (112 A.D.) – Christians sang a hymn to Christ as to a god.
Phlegon (soon after 137 A.D.) – eclipse at noon and earthquake, 33 A.D.

22. Other Non-Christians
Thales/Thallus referenced by Julius Africanus (writing A.D.) – darkness at the death of Christ
Mara Bar-Serapion (> 72 A.D.) –the wise King the Jews executed

23. Bible Manuscripts < 177 A.D.
110/ /138
p52 (John Rylands)
Jn 18:31-33;37-38
A.D.
p104
Mt 21:34-37,43,45?
p46 (Chester Beatty II)
70% of Paul, Heb
c.125 A.D.
p87
Phm 4 verses
2nd century
Magdalen papyri
10 verses in Mt 26
100/ /175
p66 (Bodmer II), p14/15, p75
92% of the Gospel of John
A.D.
p64, p67 (same ms)
19 verses in Mt
Early-mid 2nd
p4 (like p64, p67)
95 verses in Lk
c.170 A.D.
Uncial 0212
Diatessaron pieces
c.175 A.D.
p90
Jn 18:36-19:7

24. Bible Manuscripts 177-250 A.D. a
177 A.D. 97% John, 70% Paul/Hebrews. Aurelius’ persecution
2nd century
p98
Rev 1:13-2:1
Mid/Late 2nd cent.
p77 and p103
16 verses of Mt
A.D.
p32
Titus 1:1-15;2:3-8
c.200 A.D. p1
16 ½ verses of Mt
ca.200 A.D.
p23 Urbana
Jms 1:10-12,15-18
Late 2nd/early 3rd
p38
Acts 18:27-19:6,12-16
Uncial 0189
Acts 5:3-21
A.D.
p29
Acts 26:7-8,20
p45 (Chester Beatty I)
833 verses - Mt 71; Mk 147; Lk 242; Jn 84; Acts 289

25. Bible Manuscripts 177-250 A.D. b
Early 3rd century p5
47 verses in John
p30
25 verses 1,2 Th
A.D.
p39
John 8:14-22
A.D.
p13
110 verses of Heb
3rd century p9
1 Jn 4:11-12,14-17
p20
Jms 2:19-3:3a,4-9
p40
36 verses of Rom
c.250 A.D.
p22
Jn 15:25-16:2; 16:21-32
250-6/251 A.D. Severe persecution by the Emperor Decius across the entire Roman Empire

26. Bible Manuscripts 260-300 A.D. a
3rd century
p27
30 verses of Rom
p28
Jn 6:8-12, 17-22
p35
Mt 25:12-15,20-23
p. Antinoopolis 2.54
Mt 6:10-12
Mid 3rd century
p37
Mt 26:19-52
p49 + p65
29 verses of Eph
p80
Jn 3:34
p91
Acts 2:30-37,46-3:2
p69
9 verses of Lk
p70, p101
19 verses of Mt

27. Bible Manuscripts 260-300 A.D. b
3rd century
p95
Jn 5:26-29,36-38
A.D.
p47 (Chester Beatty III)
31% of Rev –125 verses
Mid/Late 3rd cent.
p18
Rev 1:4-7
c.260 A.D.
p53
12 verses Mt; 12 verses of Acts
Late 3rd century
p12
Heb 1:1
p15
1 Cor 7:18-8:4
p16
Php 3:10-17; 4:2-8
p17
Heb 2:12-19

28. Bible Manuscripts 260-300 A.D. c
Persecution during Diocletian’s Reign ( A.D.)
A.D.
p50 (p. Yale 1543)
Acts 8:26-32; 10:26-31
c.300 A.D.
p72
1 Peter 1:1-5; 2 Peter 1:1-3:18; Jude 1-25
– 191 verses
ca.300 A.D.
p24
Revelation 5:5-8; 6:5-8
p78
Jude 4-5,7-8
p92
Eph 1:11-13,19-21; 2 Th 1:4-5,11-12

29. Bible Manuscripts 260-300 A.D. d
ca.300 A.D.
p102
Mt 4:11-12,22-25
Uncial 0162
John 2:11-22
Uncial 0171
Mt 10:17-23,25-32; Lk 22:44-50,52-56,61,63-64
Uncial 0220
Rom 4:23-5:3; 5:8-12
Uncial 0232
2 John 1-9

30. Summary
Wild assertions are only easy to make if you ignore historical evidence
It is false to call Gnostics Christians
21 Early Church Fathers < 258 A.D. show we have the right books preserved
Tatian’s Diatessaron < 172 A.D. quotes 79% of the gospel verses
7 Jewish Talmuds plus Josephus mention Jesus

31. More Summary
5 Roman sources ( A.D.) refer to Christ or darkness at the time of the crucifixion
2 other non-Christian sources show the darkness at the time of Jesus’ death and the executed wise king of the Jews
50 Early Bible Manuscripts < 300 A.D. show we have the right books preserved