The Bible, You Can Trust It Pt.1
External Evidence
John 18:38 (NIV) "What is truth?" Pilate asked.
Evangelical Fundamental Born-again Youth
Eighty percent (80%) of kids involved in church agree that religious beliefs are important to them, and
Sixty-one percent (61%) say the Bible is accurate. (39%) do not believe that the Bible is True!
I. The Bible Text is Trustworthy – manuscript evidence
Sometimes we hear that the Bible has been translated so many times that we do not have a reliable text.
a. Old Testament – Hebrew and Aramaic
i. As of 1788 there were only 731 known OT manuscripts.
ii. Prior to the finding of the Dead Sea scrolls in 1947 the oldest OT manuscript for Isaiah was dated 1,100 AD
iii. The Dead Sea Isaiah scroll is dated 250 BC and a comparison shows that they are 99.8% exact copies, with the primary differences in spelling.
iv. The passion of the scribes copying the texts preserved the originals - The way the Masoretes would copy the texts. They would say each word aloud as they copied it. When finished they would count the words and letters in the old and new copy, if the numbers did not correspond then they would start over. Once done they would destroy the old copy.
b. New Testament - Greek
i. There are 5,686 Greek manuscripts some of which date back to 50 years after the books written.
ii. We also have 19,284 copies of ancient translations along with many quotations of the New Testament by the Early Church Fathers.
iii. There is more manuscript evidence for the New Testament than any other ancient book.
iv. F.F. Bruce has said that “there is no body of ancient literature in the world which enjoys such a wealth of good textual attestation as the New Testament.”
v. While we do not have the original written documents, but because of the manuscript evidence, the copies of the ancient translations, and the quotations of the New Testament by the early church fathers we can stand firm that what we hold in our hands are English translations that reflect the original manuscripts.
II. The Bible is Trustworthy – it does not contradict science or history
Sometimes we are presented that evolution is an accepted fact.
a. There is no evidence that one species has ever developed into another species. Of course there has been development within a particular species.
b. Roughly 80% of Darwin’s book “The Origin of the Species” conflicts with modern scientific discovery. http://www.ukapologetics.net/8DARWIN.htm (Robin A. Brace)
c. It is believed that toward the end of Darwin’s life he disavowed the theory of evolution and embraced creationism.
Elizabeth Lady Hope, claimed she had visited a bedridden Charles at Down House in the autumn of 1881. She alleged that when she arrived he was reading the Book of Hebrews, that he became distressed when she mentioned the Genesis account of creation, and that he asked her to come again the next day to speak on the subject of Jesus Christ to a gathering of servants, tenants and neighbors in the garden summer house which, she said, held about 30 people. This story first appeared in print in the American Baptist journal, the Watchman Examiner.
d. Many Liberal scholars stated that the Bible was not true because there was no evidence of Ur of the Cladees, but the latest evidence demonstrates that an advanced civilization existed at Ur during the 21st and 20th centuries before Christ.
e. Nelson Gluck, a famous Jewish archeologist has said “it may be stated that categorically that no archeological discovery has ever controverted a biblical reference.”
f. Tacitus, a 1st century Roman historian said that when the Emperor Nero was shifting the blame of the burning of Rome that “Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our Procurators, Pontius Pilatus.”
John 17:17 (NIV) Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
Flavius Josephus
Jewish historian, born A.D. 37, at Jerusalem; died about 101.
About this time lived Jesus, a man full of wisdom, if indeed one may call Him a man. For He was the doer of incredible things, and the teacher of such as gladly received the truth. He thus attracted to Himself many Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was the Christ. On the accusation of the leading men of our people, Pilate condemned Him to death upon the cross; nevertheless those who had previously loved Him still remained faithful to Him. For on the third day He again appeared to them living, just as, in addition to a thousand other marvellous things, prophets sent by God had foretold. And to the present day the race of those who call themselves Christians after Him has not ceased.
The Bible, You Can Trust It Pt.2
Internal Evidence
John 17:17 (NIV) Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
I. The Bible is Trustworthy – its unity
Around 40 different people with occupations from King to farmer over a period of 1,600 years, in three continents (Africa, Asia, and Europe) covering a distance of around 1,500 miles, and in 3 different languages yet all 66 books combined to make a unified whole.
a. Moses wrote the 1st 5 books while wondering in the wilderness
b. At least four of Paul’s letters were written from prison
c. Daniel wrote from the courts of Babylon
d. Some of the Psalms were written by David while tending sheep
e. John wrote Revelation while in exile on an island
II. The Bible is Trustworthy – prophecy
Two tests to be used to determine whether a prophet was speaking God’s words: 1 had to have 100% accuracy, 2 had to be consistent with scripture, to violate these was punishable by death.
a. Jesus would be born in Bethlehem – Micah 5:2 (720 BC)
b. He would be preceded by a messenger – John the Baptist Isa 40:3-4 (700 BC), Mal 3:1 (430 BC)
c. Betrayed by a friend Ps 41:1 (1,000 BC)
d. Sold for 30 pieces of silver Zech 11:12 (500 BC)
e. The money thrown into God’s house Zech 11:13 (500 BC)
f. Jesus would die by crucifixion when crucifixion had not even been invented yet Ps 22:16 (1,000 BC)
g. The soldiers would gamble for his clothing Ps 22:18 (1,000 BC)
h. There were more than 300 prophecies fulfilled by Jesus during His life time. For 1 person to have fulfilled 48 of the prophecies it would be 1 with 157 zeros. Which would be the state of Texas covered by silver dollars around 18’ deep.
III. The Bible is Trustworthy – what it says about itself
a. Inspired (God breathed)
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV) 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
b. Indestructible
Matthew 24:35 (NIV) 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
1 Peter 1:23 (NIV) 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
c. Invincible
Isaiah 55:11 (NIV) 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
d. Infallible (with out error)
Matthew 5:18 (NIV) 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
IV. The Bible is Trustworthy - its transforming power
Christian scholar Harold Lindsell gives this perspective on the life-transforming power of the Scriptures:
We can trust the Bible [because] it does what it claims it will do: it transforms lives. Millions of people have testified that they have been forgiven and have received the gift of eternal life. Their prayers have been answered; their deepest needs satisfied. Lives have been radically changed. Thieves steal no more, liars become honest, adulterers live holy lives, and covetous people lose their greed. Churches, schools, and hospitals have risen as proof of the salutary effect the gospel of Jesus Christ has had on multitudes. If the Bible is indeed the Word of God, it should demonstrate its ability to transform lives and bring meaning.
