A Ready Defense March 20, 2005
Is the Bible Reliable?
Review: This AM we’re going to finish our series entitled A Ready Defense. 1 Pt. 3:15 says, “But set part Christ as Lord of your life, and if you are asked about your Christian hope, always being ready to explain it.” This verse speaks to our responsibility to be able to defend what we say we believe. In particular, we’ve been learning about how we can share w/ others the truth w/in us by answering their most prominent objections to Christianity. Today, we’re going to conclude our study by answering the question, “How can I know if the Bible is reliable?”
Intro: I often encounter people w/ concerns over the veracity over the Scriptures? It seems that people often want to know how and why a book written so many years ago is so important and necessary for life today. In fact, some people have made it their life’s ambition to destroy and discredit the validity of the Bible. Yet all have failed. Their lives have come and gone yet the Bible remains as influential as ever.
Verse: For all men are like grass, and their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of the Lord stands forever. 1 Pt. 1:24-25
Point: The Bible isn’t just any book – it’s the breath of God. It’s His love letter to His creation. It shows us what is true and how to live. It corrects us when we turn from God’s way. It shows us how to get on the right track and then how to stay on track.
Verse: 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Point: The Bible is applicable for life and serves to provide guidance and encouragement revealing the deepest ambitions and desires of a person’s heart.
Verse: Hebrews 4:12
Note: The Bible is a living book and its value immeasurable. (See Psalm 19)
Trans: Despite these truths, I’m afraid we’ve taken God’s Word for granted. Many have lost interest and believe, like the rest of the lost world, that the Bible is antiquated and irrelevant. We seek for ways to dodge its commands, instead of to obey it.
Quote: Most people are bothered by those passages of the Bible they don’t understand, but the passages that bother me most are those I do understand. Mark Twain
Why? B/c the Bible demands not just that you hear the Word, but that you apply the Word to your life. It asks you to live for someone and something greater than yourself.
Note: Where is the hunger and thirst for it? (Story: Man who read the Bible w/ his tongue)
Trans: So what do people do? Either they live it, try to ignore it, or attempt to discredit it. In fact, the most prevalent question asked about the Bible from those seeking to ignore or discredit it is – “Isn’t the Bible Full of Errors?
Trans: People are asking, “Does the Bible really work?”
Funny: A legalistic Seminary student wanted to have a scriptural basis for everything he did. He felt he was on solid ground if he could quote a Bible verse to okay his actions. He did all right until he began to fall in love w/ a beautiful co-ed. He wanted to kiss her, but he just couldn’t find a verse to okay it. So, true to his conscience, he’d walk her to the dorm each night, look at her longingly, and quickly say “Good night." This went on for weeks, and all the time he was searching the Bible trying to find one verse to okay kissing her good night. But he couldn’t find one, until finally he came across that passage in Romans that says, “Greet each other w/ a holy kiss." He thought, at last, I have scriptural authority for kissing her good night. But to be sure, he went to a professor to check it out. After talking w/ the prof., he realized the verse dealt more w/ a church setting than a dating situation. So once again he didn’t have a passage of scripture to okay kissing his girl good night. That evening he walked her to the dorm and once again started to bid her good night. But as he did, she grabbed him, pulled him toward her, and planted a Big Red 15 second kiss right on his lips. At the end of the kiss, the Seminary student gasped for air, stammered, “Bible verse, Bible verse." The girl grabbed him a 2nd time, and just before kissing him again, said, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Note: Anyone can accuse the Bible of being inaccurate, but can they prove it. When I’m asked, “Isn’t the Bible full of errors?” I respond by asking, “Which error bothers you the most?” I enjoy watching the response. I’ve never had anyone offer me an answer. Some say, “Well, that’s what I’ve always heard.” So I offer this response.
I The Bible Is RELIABLE
A The TEXT is Reliable
Note: There are 14,000 manuscripts and fragments of the O.T. If you lay all of them side by side you’ll find 1 variation every 1580 words, and 99% are spelling variations!
Insert: Until 1947, the best text available was Masoretic Text (500-900 A.D.) found in Tiberias. That left a 1300 year gap b/w the text and completion of the Hebrew Bible. Critics claimed the text had to have changed over the years. Then a Bedouin boy named Muhammad found the DSS. These scrolls were written about 250-150 BC. Suddenly manuscripts were available that were 1000 years older and closer to originals! Critics couldn’t wait to point out the changes and discrepancies. Instead scholars found them 95% identical. Think about it – 1000 years of copying and recopying and the only changes were in spelling! Jesus wasn’t kidding when he said, “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” Mathew 5:18.
Note: There are 24,000 copies of the NT. 5,300 in Greek, 10,000 in Latin, 9,300 in other languages. Lay them side by side and you’ll find less than 1 variation in a 1000 words. The variations are from a scribe copying a word wrong or inverting a letter.
Quote: Any doubt the Scriptures have come down to us substantially as they were written has now been removed. Both the authenticity and the general integrity of the books of the NT may be regarded as finally established. Fredrick Kenyon
B The CONTENT is Reliable
Note: Some say that there are apparent contradictions but a closer look proves differently.
A People Misunderstand Statements as Contradictory
1 The Genealogy of Jesus
Note: Some people think the Bible contains the two conflicting genealogies of Jesus. One was recorded by Matthew and the other by Luke. Fact is, Luke was tracing the genealogy of Mary and Matthew was tracing the genealogy of Joseph.
2 The Suicide of Judas
Note: Matthew claimed Judas hung himself. Peter claimed Judas was crushed by the impact of a fall. Matthew doesn’t deny the fall and Peter doesn’t deny the hanging.
Each was simply pointing out different aspects associated w/ the suicide death of Judas. Each was making a point for the purpose of his reading audience. We know Judas hung himself over the valley of Hinnom – 40 feet to valley floor. The simple answer is either the tree branch snapped, the rope came untied, or someone came along and cut him down so that he fell 40 feet to the valley floor.
B People Misunderstand the Literary Style
Note: Some say Genesis 1-2 contradict one another. In Gen. 1, man is created last, but in Gen. 2, mans is created first. Critics of the Bible claim there are 2 different stories floating around. Moses didn’t know which one was true, so he included both. Don’t overlook the obvious. Moses wasn’t that stupid. He’d never have included 2 contradictory accounts. Something else is going on here. Gen. 1 provided an overview of creation – like an outline, while Gen. 2 filled in the details about man. This was a common literary style of ancient near east. Authors would first introduce a subject by summarizing it, and then they would follow up with a more detailed account. The second account is complementary, not contradictory.
C People Misunderstand the Impact of Lost in Translation
Note: Concerning Paul’s conversion, Acts 9:7 says that the men w/ Saul stood speechless w/ surprise, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice, but they saw no one! But in Acts 22:9, “The people w/ me (Paul) saw the light but didn’t hear the voice.”
Note: This is a classic contradiction if there ever was one. However, the contradiction is found in the English translation, not in the Greek. The verb “to hear” is akouo – it’s not the same in the two accounts. Acts 9 claims they heard a noise, but it doesn’t tell us if they understood it or not. Acts 22:9 states they didn’t understand the noise. Here again, the passages are complementary not contradictory. The Greek text makes it obvious – that’s why the author, Luke saw no conflict w/ his accounts.
II The Bible is REMARKABLE
A The COLLECTION is Remarkable
Note: 1500 years in the writing (40 generations) from 40 authors from every walk of life.
Moses: Politician; Joshua: Soldier; Nehemiah Cupbearer; Solomon: King; Daniel: Prime Minister; Amos: Herdsman. Luke: Doctor; Paul: Rabbi. Peter: Fisherman;
Note: Moses was in the wilderness. Jeremiah was in a dungeon. Daniel wrote from a Babylonian hillside and in the palace. Paul wrote from a prison cell. John had been banished to the Isle of Patmos. Joshua wrote during rigors of military campaign. David wrote during war time. Solomon wrote in the midst of prosperity and peace
3 different continents: Asia – Africa – Europe – (16 different countries)
3 different languages: Hebrew – Aramaic – Greek
It covers hundreds of controversial subjects and yet speaks with incredible unity.
Trans: In the Bible there is a complete harmony that can’t be explained by coincidence or collusion. From cover to cover you’ll find there is:
One hero – the Messiah One villain – Satan
One problem – Sin One purpose – Salvation
Note: Let me ask you something: How could this incredible Book be written apart from divine intervention? Clearly, there was a master architect who designed this book.
A The HISTORY is Remarkable
Insert: Critics of the Bible are always trying to use archeology and history to discredit the Bible. For instance, some have claimed Pilate never existed, yet recently archeology has uncovered a theater in Caesera bearing his name
Some claim the Hittites never existed, but archeology has proved otherwise by recently uncovering 1200 years of Hittite history.
Other critics have claimed King Belshazzer of Babylon never existed, but archeology has confirmed his reality.
Point: Every time a spade goes into the ground – another critic gets buried!
Quote: Robert Wilson, fluent in more than 45 languages and dialects said, “I may add that the result of my 45 years of study of the Bible has led me to a firmer faith that in the O.T. we have as a true and historical account of the history of the Israelite people.”
Quote: Nelson Glueck, former president of the Jewish Theological Seminary, one of the greatest archeologists ever said, “I’ve been accused of teaching the verbal, plenary inspiration of the Scripture. I want it to be understood that I have never taught this. All I have ever said is that in all of my archeological investigation I’ve never found one artifact of antiquity that contradicts any statement of the Word of God.”
B The PROPHECY is Remarkable
Note: The Bible contains 1,817 individual predictions, concerning 737 separate subjects, found in 8,352 verses, that’s 27% of the 31,124 verses found in the Bible!
Insert: The Bible predicted the rebirth of Israel – to the day! Do the math associated w/ the prophecy in Ezekiel 4:3-6, calculate the days using a lunar calendar, take into account the leap years and the duplication of 1 BC and 1 AD – May 15, 1948. The exact date the British officially declared Israel a nation!
Insert: The Bible Predicted the Arrival of the Messiah – to the day! Do the math associated w/ the prophecy in Daniel 9:24-27, calculate the days using a lunar calendar, take into account the leap years and the duplication of 1 BC and 1 AD – March 30th AD 33. March 30th was a Sunday that year – the exact date of the triumphant entry! Daniel even predicted the Messiah would be killed after his entry. The Bible not only predicted the entry of the Messiah – but his execution 173,885 days in advance!
Note: The OT contains 48 specific prophecies w/ some 300 ramifications referring to the Messiah. Every prophecy was published at least 500 years before Christ was born. . .
Micah 5:2 predicted that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.
Isaiah 40:3 predicted he’d be preceded by a messenger (John the Baptist)
Zechariah 9:9 predicted he would ride triumphantly into Jerusalem on a colt.
Psalm 41:9 predicted he would be betrayed by a friend.
Zechariah 11:12 predicted he would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver.
Psalm 22:16-17 predicted he’d be crucified 600 years before it was invented.
Isaiah 53:12 predicted that the Messiah would be crucified w/ thieves.
Trans: 48 prophecies – all fulfilled in Jesus. The mathematical odds for Jesus to fulfill 17 of 48 prophecies is 1 chance in 48030 (1 in 480 billion x 1 billion x 1 trillion).
Trans: If every chance is represented by a grain of sand that sand would fill the galaxy – Mark 1 grain of sand w/ red paint – mix it w/ the 480 billion x 1 billion x 1 trillion other grains. Now if we blind fold you and set you adrift in galaxy of sand the likelihood that you‘d pick the red grain on your first try is 1 in 48030. And that’s the mathematical probability of Jesus fulfilling just 17 of 48 specific prophecies!
III The Bible is REDEMPTIVE
Trans: Throughout the Bible, there’s one story: God’s endeavoring to redeem His creation.
Quote: The Bible wasn’t given for our information but for our transformation. D.L. Moody
Note: The Bible is about God is seeking to provide a means for redeeming His lost creation. You could say that there is a scarlet thread running through history and the Bible of how God has done and is doing everything it takes to be re-united w/ His lost creation. He wants all of us to know Him and to be redeemed by Him.
Joke: One day a pastor noticed a little girl standing outside the preschool Sunday School classroom waiting for her parents to pick her up for “big church.” He noticed that she was holding a big storybook under her arm entitled “Jonah and the Whale.” Feeling a little mischievous, he knelt beside the girl and asked, “What’s that you have in your hand?” This is my storybook about Jonah and the whale,” she answered. “Tell me something, do you believe that story about Jonah and the whale?” The girl said, “Why, of course I believe it!” The pastor inquired further, “You really believe a man can be swallowed up by a big whale, stay inside him all that time, and come out okay?” She declared, “Yes! This story is in the Bible, and we talked about it in Sunday School today.” Then the pastor asked, “Can you prove to me this story is true?” Finally the pastor asked, “What if Jonah’s not in heaven?” The girl said, “When I get to heaven, I’ll ask Jonah.” Finally the pastor asked, “What if Jonah’s not in heaven?” The girl put her hands on her hips and sternly declared, “Then YOU can ask him!”
Trans: The Bible story is about how you and I can know God. Each and every story is tue and accurate. The Bible is the very breath of God spoken to His creation in written form to reveal to each of us who God is and
Story: In the 1920 Stalin ordered a purge of all Bibles and believers. In Stavropol, this order was carried out completely. Thousands of Bibles were taken and believers were sent to the gulags, where many died as enemies of the state. In 1994, a Commission team was sent to Stavropol. They didn’t know the history of the city, but when the team had difficulty getting Bibles shipped from Moscow, someone mentioned they knew a warehouse outside of town, where the confiscated Bibles had been stored instead of destroyed. The team prayed and determined to go to the warehouse and ask if the Bibles could be redistributed. Permission was given. The next day the team returned w/ a truck and several Russians to load the Bibles. One helper was a young man – a hostile, agnostic man who came only for the day’s wages. As they loaded the Bibles one man noticed the student had disappeared. When they found him, he was in a corner weeping. He’d slipped away hoping to take a Bible for himself, but what he found pierced him deeply. Inside pages of the Bible he picked up was the handwritten signature of his own grandmother. It was her personal Bible. Out of the thousands of Bibles still left in that warehouse, he stole the one that belonged to his grandmother – a woman persecuted for her faith.
Verse: For you have been born again. Your new life did not come from your earthly parents b/c the life they gave you will end in death. But this new life will last forever b/c it comes from the eternal, living word of God. 1 Peter 1:23
