2. Introduction
Our faith must be based on more than wishful thinking!
“Faith is the great cop-out, the great excuse to evade the need to think and evaluate evidence. Faith is the belief in spite of, even perhaps because of, the lack of evidence.”
—Richard Dawkins
“The Bible has noble poetry in it; clever fables; and some blood-drenched history; and a wealth of obscenity; and upwards of a thousand lies.”
—Mark Twain
Every Christian has an apologetic responsibility!
1 Peter 3:15: “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear”

3. Introduction Three goals:
(1) Strengthen our faith in God’s Word: 1 Cor. 2:6-13; 2 Pet. 1:1; Rom. 10:17
(2) Strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ; that He is indeed God’s Son and our Savior: Matt. 1:23; Titus 2:13; 2 Pet. 1:1
(3) Prepare us to do the very thing Peter exhorts us to do: 1 Pet. 3:15
We want to address four important issues:
Does the Christian faith have an intelligent and rational basis?
Is the New Testament a historically and geographically reliable document?
Was the New Testament written before the end of the first century ad?
How does the reliability of the New Testament compare to other books of antiquity?

4. Knowing God (7): Is it reliable? The New Testament Romans 10:6-8
“But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, ‘Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 7 or, “’Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith which we preach):”
Romans 10:6-8
Knowing God (7):
The New Testament
Is it reliable?
Romans 10:6-8

5. New Testament Reliable?
Rational faith?
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1
“to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of things pertaining to the kingdom of God.”
Acts 1:3
“And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”
John 20:30-31
“For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.”
2 Peter 1:16
Does the Christian faith have an intelligent and rational basis?
God appeals to the heart and the mind: Matt. 22:36-38; Jn. 8:32;
17:17
One does not have to commit intellectual suicide in order to have Biblical faith!
New Testament Reliable?

6. New Testament Reliable?
Rational faith?
Webster: “conviction of the truth of some statement or the reality of some being or phenomenon especially when based on examination of evidence.”
Did you know that the scientific method is based on this definition of faith?
It is extremely rare that anything can be proven to be absolutely true! e.g., = 4
The Christian’s faith is NOT blind faith! It is belief “based on the examination of evidence.”
New Testament Reliable?

7. New Testament Reliable?
“And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.”
Luke 2:1-5
“Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.”
Luke 3:1-2
Is the Bible reliable?
Is the Bible a historically and geographically accur-ate document?
The Bible appeals to history and geography and pro-vides accounts of real events that happened in real places.
Luke mentions times, places, people and events that can be “checked out”!
“The facts backing the Christian claim are not a special kind of ‘religious’ fact. They are the cognitive, informational facts upon which all historical, legal, and ordinary decisions are based.”
Clark Pinnock, Christian Theologian and Apologist
New Testament Reliable?

8. New Testament Reliable?
Is the Bible reliable?
What’s the significance of historical & geographical references in the Bible?
Historical method: Our legal system is built on weighing evidence by witnesses and determining the witness’s veracity (trustworthiness).
If a witness’s testimony is factually correct about things we know, their credibility is accepted on things we don’t know about (and vice versa).
New Testament Reliable?

9. New Testament Reliable?
Is the Bible reliable?
Sir William Ramsay: one of the greatest archaeologists who ever lived.
Ramsay was highly skeptical of the book of Acts and Luke’s veracity as a historian. He set out to prove Luke fabricated his historical record.
New Testament Reliable?

10. “I may fairly claim to have entered on this investigation without prejudice in favour of the conclusion which I shall now seek to justify to the reader. On the contrary, I began with a mind unfavourable to it, (i.e., Acts written in first century A. D., cvt) for the ingenuity and apparent completeness of the Tubingen theory had at one time quite convinced me. It did not then lie in my line of life to investigate the subject minutely; but more recently I found myself brought into contact with the Book of Acts as an authority for the topography, antiquities and society of Asia Minor. It was gradually borne upon me that in various details the narrative showed marvelous truth. In fact, beginning with a fixed idea that the work was essentially a second century composition, and never relying on its evidence as trustworthy for first century conditions, I gradually came to find it a useful ally in some obscure and difficult investigations.”

11. “Luke is a historian of the first rank; not merely are his statements of fact trustworthy; he is possessed of the true historic sense; he fixes his mind on the idea and plan that rules in the evolution of history, and proportions the scale of his treatment to the importance of each incident. He seizes the important and critical events and shows their true nature at greater length, while he touches lightly or omits entirely much that was valueless for his purpose. In short, this author should be placed with the very greatest of historians.”

12. New Testament Reliable?
NT written before 100 a.d.?
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
John 14:26
“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.”
John 15:26
“And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.”
John 16:8
“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come”
John 16:13
“how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:”
Ephesians 3:3-5 (cf. 2 Tim. 3:16-17)
“These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches…”
1 Corinthians 2:13
“But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Galatians 1:11-12
Some scholars claim the NT was NOT written before 200 a.d.
Jesus was a liar! Jn. 14:26; 15:26; 16:8, 13
NT writers not inspired! 1 Cor. 2:13; Gal. 1:11-12; Eph. 3:3-5
New Testament Reliable?
“how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets”
Ephesians 3:3-5 (cf. 2 Tim. 3:16-17)

13. New Testament Reliable?
NT written before 100 a.d.?
“And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’ 10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them. 11 Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days. 13 And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there.”
Acts 16:9-13
“Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.”
Luke 1:1-4 (cf. Acts 1:21-22)
“For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.”
2 Peter 1:16-18
Makes God a liar!
“But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up — if in fact the dead do not rise.”
1 Corinthians 15:13-15
Some scholars claim the NT was NOT written before 200 a.d.
Jesus was a liar! Jn. 14:26; 15:26; 16:13
NT writers not inspired! 1 Cor. 2:9-10; Gal. 1:11-12; Eph. 3:3-5
The Gospels and Acts were not written by eyewitnesses! Lk. 1:1-4; Acts 1:21-22
Written by liars and frauds who misrepresented them-selves! Acts 16:9-13; 2 Pet. 1:16-18
New Testament Reliable?
“how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets”
Ephesians 3:3-5

14. New Testament Reliable?
NT written before 100 a.d.?
Ample evidence NT WAS written before 100 a.d.
Internal evidence :
Ending of the book of Acts: Acts 28:30-31
Destruction of Jerusalem: Matt. 24:1-35; Mk. 13:1-31; Lk. 21:5-33
No mythologizing of the apostles: 1 Tim. 1:15; Mk. 14:72
New Testament Reliable?

15. New Testament Reliable?
NT written before 100 a.d.?
Ample evidence NT WAS written before 100 a.d.
Early New Testament MSS :
John Rylands MS: oldest fragment of NT; ~130 a.d.
Bodmer Papyrus II: a.d.; most of the Gospel of John
Chester Beatty Biblical Papyri: 3 MSS dated a.d.; good portion of entire NT.
New Testament Reliable?

16. New Testament Reliable?
NT written before 100 a.d.?
Conclusion:
“We can already say emphatically that there is no longer any solid basis for dating any book of the New Testament after 80 a.d.”
W. F. Albright, biblical scholar & archaeologist
“In my opinion, every book of the New Testament was written between the forties and eighties of the First Century a.d.”
Nelson Glueck, renowned
Jewish archaeologist
Conclusion:
“If the ancient preachers who lived between a.d quoted extensively from the New Testament, it means that the New Testament had to be complete, already circulating among the Christians, and accepted as Scripture long before they quoted it. It also means that we can compare the New Testament that we read in the twenty-first century to the quotes that such preachers produced in those early years. What we find when we compare the two is that they are virtually identical.”
Kyle Butt, Apologetics Press
Conclusion:
“…there are more than 36,000 New Testament quotations present in the writings of early church fathers who wrote prior to the council of Nicaea in 325 a.d.”
— datingthenewtestament.com
Ample evidence NT WAS written before 100 a.d.
Patristic writings :
Polycarp: personal acquaintance of the apostle John; quotes from
at least 13 NT books and epistles (120 a.d.).
Ignatius: wrote several letters to churches in Asia Minor; quotes extensively from synoptic gospels and John’s gospel, plus at least 8 of Paul’s epistles (115 a.d.).
Clement of Rome: wrote epistle to church at Corinth (95 a.d.); quotes at least 7 NT books.
New Testament Reliable?

17. New Testament Reliable?
The NT as a historical document
Secular historians do not doubt the histori-icity of:
Plato: b.c.; “The Republic”
Aristotle: b.c.; “Ethics,” “Politics”
Demosthenes: b.c.; “On the Crown”
Thucydides: b.c.; “History of the Peloponnesian War”
Pliny the Younger: a.d.; “Letters”
New Testament Reliable?

18. New Testament Reliable?
The NT as a historical document
“One problem I constantly face is the desire on the part of many to apply one standard or test to secular literature and another to the Bible. One needs to apply the same test, whether the literature under investigation is secular or religious.”
—Josh McDowell
Evidence That Demands a Verdict
Scholars evaluate ancient literature using the bibliographical test.
Are the MSS a faithful representative of the original (autograph)?
Are the MSS free of changes, errors or collusion?
New Testament Reliable?

19. New Testament Reliable?
The NT as a historical document
The bibliographical test:
Number of copies: the more the better; more copies allows more “cross-checks” to increase accuracy.
New Testament Reliable?

21. New Testament Reliable?
The NT as a historical document
The bibliographical test.
Number of copies: the more the better; more allows “cross-checks.”
Time span: length of time between MSS and original writing (autograph).
New Testament Reliable?

23. New Testament Reliable?
The NT as a historical document
Variance in MSS.
If the variance between
MSS are few & minor, then the process of copying thru the centuries has been faithful to the autographs.
Philip Schaff: 150,000 “alternate or various readings” among the New Testament MSS.
Spelling changes: e.g., “favour” vs. “favor” or “Saviour” vs. “Savior”
Word order: e.g., “the Lord Jesus Christ” vs. “Christ Jesus the Lord”
New Testament Reliable?

24. New Testament Reliable?
The NT as a historical document
“Whatever the correct view, it is important to note the truthfulness of this passage is not in dispute. The main events of Mark 16:9-20 are recorded elsewhere, so at any rate we are not in danger of forfeiting heavenly treasure. The variant readings in the manuscripts are not of such a nature that threaten to overthrow our faith. Except for a few rare instances we have an unquestioned text, and even then one principle of faith or command of the Lord is not involved.”
—Neil R. Lightfoot
How We Got the Bible (p. 39)
Only one passage is classified as a substantial variation :
Mark 16:9-20
Codex Sinaiticus (350 a.d.) and Codex Vaticanus (325 a.d.) do not contain these verses.
Hundreds of other reliable early MSS (early 200s a.d.) and early Christian writers contain/cite these verses and attribute them to Mark!
New Testament Reliable?

25. New Testament Reliable?
The NT as a historical document
“To be skeptical of the resultant text of the New Testament books is to allow all the classical works of antiquity to slip into obscurity, for no documents of the ancient period are as well attested bibliographically as the New Testament.”
John Warwick Montgomery,
Christian apologist and recipient of 11 earned
degrees including PhD, ThD and LLD
Conclusions of the scholars:
“The evidence for our New Testament writings is ever so much greater than the evidence for many writings of classical authors, the authenticity of which no one dreams of questioning. And if the New Testament were a collection of secular writings, their authenticity would generally be as beyond all doubt.”
— F. F. Bruce
New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable?
“No fundamental doctrine of the Christian faith rests on a disputed reading. ...It cannot be too strongly asserted that in substance the text of the Bible is certain: especially is this the case with the New Testament.”
— Sir Frederick Kenyon, early 20th century
biblical scholar and palaeographer
“There is no body of ancient literature in the world which enjoys such a wealth of good textual attestation as the New Testament.”
— F. F. Bruce
New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable?
New Testament Reliable?

26. New Testament Reliable?
Conclusion
Don’t be ashamed of the Word of God!
Our faith is based on the most accurate, reliable and well-documented book EVER written!
Most carefully orchestrated lie in history? NO!
Liars, frauds, & deceivers wrote the greatest book on morality and ethics ever written? NO!
Men suffered extreme hardship, persecution and martyrdom for what they knew to be a lie? NO!
New Testament Reliable?