Did You Get the “TEXT” About My Son? – Part 2
by Larry La Douceur
Last Sunday’s sermon (Did You Get the “TEXT” About My Son?), helped with one very important building block as we build a foundation upon which we can rest our faith...
We have seen that it is more logical based on the evidence (Text messages from history) to believe that Jesus did in fact historically exist and since He actually existed, that requires everyone to give some sort of answer to the question posed by Jesus Himself:"But who do you say that I am?" - Matthew 16:15
We only have two choices, He either is the Lord or He is a lie. The evidence, Text Message’s from the Lord (the Bible) and from historical evidence will assist us as we seek to determine the truth.
Illustration - Two men had an argument. To settle the matter, they went to a judge for arbitration. The plaintiff made his case. He was very eloquent and persuasive in his reasoning. When he finished, the judge nodded in approval and said, “That’s right, that’s right.”
On hearing this, the defendant jumped up and said, “Wait a second, judge, you haven’t even heard my side of the case yet.” So the judge told the defendant to state his case. And he, too, was very persuasive and eloquent. When he finished, the judge said, “That’s right, that’s right.”
When the clerk of court heard this, he jumped up and said, “Judge, they both can’t be right.” The judge looked at the clerk of court and said, “That’s right, that’s right.”
Roger von Oech, Ph.D., A Whack on the Side of the Head, Warner Books, 1983, p. 23.
When it comes to Jesus and our faith in Him, we never want to be in the position of the judge in that illustration. The word of God sometimes leaves us with only two alternatives and we can’t say, “That’s right, that’s right.” to both.
Please consider the following Scripture verses;
1st Corinthians 15:14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. (NIV)
The Apostle Paul explained in his letter to the Corinthians, either Jesus rose from the dead and their testimony about God is true, or he and other "eyewitnesses" are in fact "false witnesses".
The Apostle Peter also weighs in with a similar statement, which allows for two options,
2nd Peter 1:16 We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." 18We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. (NIV)
Peter explicitly tells us, they did not follow cleverly invented stories, he was an eye witness. And as Christian’s our faith should not rest on "cunningly devised fables”, we must constantly search for the truth.
When it comes to Jesus and our faith in Him, the only detailed record we have that describes the life and death of Jesus is found in the New Testament. Again we will have two choices, we can believe the New Testament (Gods Text message to us), or we can reject it. God with certainty would want us to believe the message He sent about His Son.
If I were to ask today, why do you believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God? Many great answers would be forthcoming; Because He died on the cross and arose from death, because He is the fulfillment of hundreds of Messianic prophecies, because He performed many miracles in the presence of numerous witnesses. All of these are great answers and your answers helped demonstrate that you already believe in the Son of God and He is who God said he was, but since there are two choices and the other is to reject the word of God and His Son, and many will, we will take a closer look the New Testament as a historical record.
New Testament - Evidence for Early Existence
The New Testament is an accurate historical record of events that occurred during the First Century A.D. And of great significance is the fact that it was written during the First Century A.D. as well.
How soon after an event takes place and was recorded is very important.
When an event is recorded long after it occurred;
It is not likely to have been written by "eyewitnesses", additionally
it is not likely to have been written when "other eyewitnesses" were around to corroborate or dispute its accuracy.
Internally the Bible certainly claims both eye witnesses were involved and early existence of the Text.
Luke 1:1Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. - The most suggested period for the writing of Luke is 59-63 A.D.
Please notice how the writer of Acts uses the word, “we”,
Acts 16:11From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day on to Neapolis. 12From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.
13On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. (Claims to be present during events)
In 1st Peter 5:1 we read; To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: - Simon Peter says, he was a witness of Christ’s sufferings.
Biblical scholars date 1st Peter around 62-64 A.D. and obviously 2nd Peter was dated sometime after that date (see verse immediately below).
2nd Peter 3:1Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.
Simon Peter, the author of 2nd Peter claims to be an eyewitness of the transfiguration.
2nd Peter 1:16 We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.
PAPYRI FRAGMENTS – Further evidence of early existence of the New Testament
Our English word "paper", is derived from the word "papyrus". The papyrus plant is a triangular reed, which is sturdy, slender, light in weight and very easy to carry. For the purpose of writing nothing better was known at the time, therefore it was used to record on for thousands of years. The earliest existing documented papyrus comes from Egypt’s 1st Dynasty, and could date back to 4,000 BC. Papyrus continued to be used until about the 11th century AD.
CHESTER BEATTY BIBLICAL PAPYRI
http://www.cbl.ie/Collections/The-Western-Collection/Papyri/Biblical.aspx
These Papyri were found between 200-250 A.D., contained the Gospels, Acts, Paul’s Epistles, and Revelation and they were made public on November 19, 1931
PAYPRUS BODMER II - This papyrus codex consists of 75 leaves and 39 unidentified fragments and was probably made up of originally 39 sheets of papyrus, folded and arranged in quires to form 78 leaves and 156 pages. Dates back to about 200 A.D and contains most of the Gospel according to John. The Papyri Bodmer VII and VIII, are also from the 3rd century. VII contains a manuscript of Jude in a mixed text, and VIII contains I and II Peter.
PATRISTIC WRITINGS - (Early Christian Fathers used Scripture)
In the Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians, this dates back to 120 A.D.,
Polycarp quotes from multiple New Testament Books. In his writings you will find quotes from the Synoptic Gospels, Acts, Romans, 1st Corinthians, 2nd Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, 2nd Thessalonians, 1st and 2nd Timothy, Hebrews, 1st Peter, and 1st John
Addition useful information on Polycarp - http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/polycarp.html
In the Epistle of Clement, to the Corinthians, he also quotes from the Synoptic Gospels, Acts, Romans, 1st Corinthians, Ephesians, Hebrews, 1st Peter and add Titus to the list of Scripture that was used very early in Church history. These writings were dated 95 A.D.
Ignatius - Quotes from Matthew, John, Romans, 1st & 2nd Corinthians,
Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus, when he wrote to several churches in Asia Minor.
Can we draw any conclusions from the mountain of evidence about early existence of the New Testament?
Today we know there is so much evidence that we can state that the New Testament was in existence by the end of the first century A.D.
Nelson Glueck, former president of the Jewish Theological Seminary, Jewish Reformed scholar and archaeologist, stated "In my opinion, every book of the New Testament was written between the forties and eighties of the First Century A.D"
W. F. Albright, biblical archaeologist - William F. Albright, one of the world’s leading biblical archaeologists, adds a helpful comment: "We can already say emphatically that there is no longer any solid basis for dating any book of the New Testament after about A.D. 80, two full generations before the date of between A.D. 130 and 150 given by the more radical New Testament critics of today." This statement is crucial because it means that some of Christ’s opponents, who were living when He was on earth, were undoubtedly still around when the New Testament books were penned. Their presence would have prompted the New Testament writers to give careful attention to the veracity of the statements. And we can be certain that if any errors were made in their accounts the opponents of Christ (of which there were many) would have been quick to expose them
Today we know there is so much evidence that we can state that the New Testament was in existence by the end of the first century A.D. and it was being used in multiple geographical locations during the second and third centuries.
Conclusion
Last week in the sermon, “Did You Get the Text About My Son”, we established the historical fact that Jesus the Man did exist.
Today we built a foundation on the fact that the New Testament was written by eye witnesses and it was written early enough that other eyewitnesses could corroborate or dispute its accuracy.
Please keep in mind some of these eyewitnesses paid the price of imprisonment, rejection, and martyrdom because they stood up for the truth that Jesus Christ is the risen Lord and only savior of mankind!
The Bottom Line – Jesus did in fact exist, the Testimony from eyewitnesses about Him is accurate and His followers were willing to die because of these truths.
Friends, Guests, brothers and sisters in Christ, what will you do with Jesus and the Testimony about Him in the Word of God. Will you accept the truths God presented in His Holy Word about His Son Jesus? Is today the day you confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior and accept His plan for your salvation?
Let’s pray together!
