1. 1 Is the Bible True? Objection: “The Bible cannot be true since it has so many historical and geographical errors, internal contradictions, and is full of myths and legends.”

2. 2 I.The Uniqueness of the Bible A.In its composition B.With regard to its circulation C.With regard to its translations D.With regard to its durability E.With respect to the effects on people’s lives

3. 3 II.The Accuracy of the Bible Manuscript Integrity

4. 4 Is the Bible Historically Reliable?

5. 5 Author: Julius Caesar Date of authorship: 50 BC Book: The Gallic War Commentaries SBF 28

6. 6 400 300 200 50 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 ---------------------------|-------------------------------------------------- Centuries B.C.Centuries A.D. 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - Centuries A.D. Understanding Manuscripts Printing Press Julius Caesar wrote The Gallic War Commentaries Scribal Copying of Manuscripts

7. 7 Scribal copying was done by hand until invention of the printing press, c. 1439. Understanding Manuscripts

8. 8 Ancient Manuscripts —How Many? SBF 31

9. 9 24,633 Ancient Manuscripts - How Many? SBF 31 The BEST!

10. 10 Ancient Manuscripts – How accurate? The BEST! SBF 36

11. 11 “Scholars are satisfied that they possess substantially the true text of the principal Greek and Roman writers whose works have come down to us, of Sophocles, of Thucydides, of Cicero, of Virgil; yet our knowledge of their writings depends on a mere handful of manuscripts, whereas the manuscripts of the New Testament are counted by hundreds, and even thousands.” “Scholars are satisfied that they possess substantially the true text of the principal Greek and Roman writers whose works have come down to us, of Sophocles, of Thucydides, of Cicero, of Virgil; yet our knowledge of their writings depends on a mere handful of manuscripts, whereas the manuscripts of the New Testament are counted by hundreds, and even thousands.” — Manuscript scholar Sir Frederic Kenyon SBF 31

12. 12 400 300 200 50 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 ---------------------------|-------------------------------------------------- Centuries B.C. Centuries A.D. 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - Centuries A.D. Understanding Manuscripts Printing Press Julius Caesar Scribal Copying of Manuscripts Earliest known manuscript Aristotle wrote Poetics Virgil wrote Aeneid Earliest known manuscript

13. 13 Ancient Manuscripts - How Early? The BEST! SBF 34

14. 14 Gospels of Mary, Thomas, Phillip, Judas, etc. Jesus’ Death New Testament & Resurrection Quoted by Others Eyewitness Time Period 30405060708090100110 ------------------------------------------------------------------|----------- First Century A.D. Legends of Jesus Begin 120130140150160170180190200 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Second Century A.D. Origin of the New Testament Earliest Gospel Manuscripts Matthew, Mark, Luke, John Late, Legendary Sources for The Da Vinci Code Early, Eyewitness Sources for the New Testament John Rylands Fragment Jesus’ Death New Testament & Resurrection Quoted by Others Eyewitness Time Period 30405060708090100110 ------------------------------------------------------------------|----------- First Century A.D. John Rylands Fragment Legends of Jesus Begin 120130140150160170180190200 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Second Century A.D. Jesus’ Death New Testament & Resurrection Quoted by Others Eyewitness Time Period 30405060708090100110 ------------------------------------------------------------------|----------- First Century A.D. John Rylands Fragment Legends of Jesus Begin 120130140150160170180190200 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Second Century A.D. Legends of Jesus Begin 120130140150160170180190200 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Second Century A.D. Legends of Jesus Begin 120130140150160170180190200 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Second Century A.D.

15. 15 “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 regarded as beyond all doubt.” — British scholar F.F. Bruce SBF 34

16. 16 II. The Accuracy of the Bible “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

17. 17 II.The Accuracy of the Bible History & Archeology Early Chapters of Genesis Moses - Pentateuch - Writing Examples: Hittites Belshazzar in Daniel 5 Harbor size of Caesarea Luke’s writings Jericho

18. 18 Harbor Caesarea

19. 19 Testimonies of Archeologists “It may be categorically stated that no archeological discovery has ever controverted a biblical reference.” - Nelson Gluck

20. 20 Testimonies of Archaeologists “Archaeology has not produced anything that is unequivocally a contradiction to the Bible. On the contrary...there have been many opinions of skeptical scholars that have become codified into ‘fact’ over the years but that archaeology has shown to be wrong.” - John Mcray

21. 21 Testimonies of Archeologists “The Bible is supported by archae- ological evidence again and again. On the whole there can be no question that the results of excavation have increased the respect of scholars for the Bible as a collection of historical documents.” - Millar Burrows

22. 22 Testimony of Historian “Christianity, like the Judaism from which it sprang, is a historical religion, or it is nothing. It does not deal in myths and metaphors and symbols, or in states of being and cycles. It deals in facts.” - Paul Johnson

23. 23 II.The Accuracy of the Bible Miracles Distinguish between God and the Bible Public nature Early circulation of N.T. documents

24. 24 II.The Accuracy of the Bible Bible Explains Reality Explains what I know about myself and the world around me

25. 25 III. The Inspiration of the Bible A.The Bible claims for itself to be inspired. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking and training in righteousness.” II Timothy 3:16 “For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” II Peter 1:21 “Thus says the Lord...”

26. 26 III. The Inspiration of the Bible B.Fulfilled Prophecy Birth of Christ Example: City of Tyre Person of Jesus Christ