Why Do We Believe…

The Bible

Look for 4 Things

1. God has protected His Word with omnipotent sovereignty

2. God has crafted this Love Story intricately

3. God has proven His Perfection undeniably

4. God has set apart His Son exclusively

Answers for Our Faith

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

1 Peter 3:15-16

The Bible’s Claim

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Biblical Overview

• Latin Biblia translated Bible – means book with the implication of “The Book”

• 66 Books, human authorship, God inspired– 39 Old Testament– 27 New Testament

• OT – Written between 1400’s ~ 400 B.C.

• NT – Written between 40 and ~100 A.D.

• Written by 40 authors

Old Testament Overview

• Written in Hebrew and Aramaic (Tanakh)– Torah – the Law (first 5 books)– Nebhiim – the Prophets– Kethubim – the Writings

• Translated to Greek (3rd – 1st century B.C.)– Septuagint (means 70)– 70 scribes translated Hebrew OT to Greek – 5 Sections: Law (Pentateuch), history, poetry,

wisdom, prophets (perpetuated by Jerome’s Latin Vulgate – common speech – 400 AD)

New Testament Overview

• Written in Greek

• Written mostly by Jews (except Luke, Acts)

• Gospels ordered by Augustine

• Letters ordered by size and audience

Diverse Authorship

• Authors of various occupations– Shepherds, Fishermen, Tax Collector, Doctor, Military

General, Royalty, Prime Minister, Cup Bearer, Pharisee

• Written in various places

Various Places

Diverse Authorship

• Authors of various occupations– Shepherds, Fishermen, Tax Collector, Doctor, Military General,

Royalty, Prime Minister, Cup Bearer, Pharisee

• Written in various places• Written in three languages• Many of the authors were wholly disconnected

from each other by distance and time, yet...

It is one cohesive unfolding story about God’s redemption of man.

Canonicity

• The word "canon" is derived from the Greek noun κανών "kanon" meaning "reed" or "cane," or also "rule" or "measure," which itself is derived from the Hebrew word קנה "kaneh" and is often used as a standard of measurement.

• The canon of scripture are those writings that meet the standard of measurement as divinely inspired.

Old Testament Canon

What determined admittance to OT canon?– Claim of Divine authority– Authenticated manuscripts– General acceptance by recognized leaders– Agreement with rest of scripture– Divinely inspired

Evidence of OT canon– Septuagint (3rd – 1st century B.C.)– Jesus referenced the OT– Jewish Council of Jamnia (A.D. 90)

Outside of the OT Canon

• Apocrypha “hidden” books written during the silent years (300 BC to 100 BC)– No claim of divine authority– No predictive prophecy (no prophet between Malachi

John the Baptist)– Disagree with rest of scripture

• Purgatory, salvation by works, prayers for the dead, pre-existence of souls, creation out of matter

Tobit, Judith, The Additions to Esther, The Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus (Sirach, or the Wisdom of Jesus ben Sirach), Baruch, The Letter of Jeremiah, The Prayer of Azariah and the Song of the Three Young Men, Susanna, Bel and the Dragon, First Maccabees, Second Maccabees, First Esdras (Third Esdras), Second Esdras (Fourth Esdras)The Prayer of Manasseh

New Testament Canon

• Establishment of NT canon– Recognition that Apostles were writing Scripture

1 Peter 3:15-16– Muratorian Canon (A.D. 170)– Eusebius’ list (A.D. 260-340)– Anathasius’ letter (A.D. 367)– Church Councils

• Council at Rome (A.D. 382) recognized 27 books• Council at Hippo (A.D. 393) ratified Rome council• Council at Carthage (A.D. 397) ratified Rome council

New Testament Canonicity

• What determined admittance to the NT canon– Authority of the Apostles– Teach orthodox doctrine– Continuously used by church from beginning– Divine inspiration (Spirit’s witness)

• Why the need for the NT canon (approved list)– Eye witnesses gone– Gnosticism– Early perversions of the canon– Need for translation– Persecution– Codex verses Scrolls

Summary: Formation of NT Canon

Period Characteristics Approximate Dates

Significant Sources Books Received Books Questioned

Apostolic Fathers

No serious debate, no official pronouncements

100 – 140 AD

Quotations in Apostolic Fathers

Four Gospels

Pauline Epistles

None

Gnostic Opposition

Reaction against Gnostic truncation of canon (especially writings of Marcion)

140 – 220 AD

Quotations in Church Fathers

Muratorian Canon

Gospel of Truth (Gnostic)

Four Gospels, Acts, 13 Pauline, 1 Peter, 1 John, Jude, Revelation

Hebrews, James, 2Peter, 2-3 John, Shepherd of Hermas, Didache, Revelation of Peter

Final Solidification

General agreement by end of fourth century

220 – 400 AD

Origen Four Gospels, Acts, 13 Pauline, 1 Peter, 1 John, Revelation

Hebrews, James, 2 Peter, 2-3 John, Jude, Shepherd of Hermas, Didache

Eusebius Four Gospels, Acts, 14 Pauline, 1 Peter, 1 John

James, 2 Peter, 2-3 John, Jude, Revelation, Shepherd of Hermas, Didache

Athanasius (Paschal letter of 367 AD – final acceptance in East)

Present Canon

Synod of Rome (382 AD – final acceptance in West)

Present Canon

Synod of Carthage (397 AD – acceptance by entire church)

Present Canon

Debated NT CanonQuestioned Book Reasons Given for Acceptance Reasons Given for Exclusion Result

Hebrews Thought Pauline in East Thought non-Pauline forgery in West

Accepted

James Thought genuine in East Authorship questioned in West Accepted

2 Peter Petrine authorship Authorship questioned, Similarity of chapter 2 to Jude

Accepted

2-3 John Johannine authorship Lack of citations in early writings Accepted

Jude Early citations, Apostolic authorship Authorship questioned Accepted

Revelation Widely recognized as Johannine Questioned by Eusebius largely because of his opposition to chiliasm

Accepted

The Shepherd of Hermas Edifying contents, Visions from God Non-apostolic origin, Late date Excluded

Didache Record of genuine apostolic traditions Uncertain origin, Late date Excluded

Revelation of Peter Suspected Petrine authorship, Similarity to John’s Apocalypse

Authenticity doubted Excluded

Manuscript Accuracy

• Hebrew Scribes (Talmudic rigor)– No word or letter from memory– Hair width spacing between letters– Do not begin the name of God with a pen newly

dipped in ink

• Old Testament Manuscripts– Masoretic period (500 to 900 A.D.) - Hebrew– Greek manuscripts – Septuagint (from 400

A.D.) [fragments from 200 B.C.]

Manuscript Accuracy• New Testament Manuscripts

– Jerome’s Latin Vulgate (A.D. 382) complete OT and NT– John Wycliffe (A.D. 1384) first complete English manuscript

• Based upon Latin Vulgate (sources prior to Byzantine Text)– Textus Receptus – “Received Text”

• Printed Greek NT by Erasmus (1516)• Utilized Majority Text – Byzantine Manuscripts (post 4th cent.)• Used by William Tyndale for English translation (1525)

– Became large basis of King James Bible in 1611

• Used by Martin Luther for German translation

• Early Church Fathers’ references

Manuscript ComparisonComparison: Early secular manuscripts vs. New Testament

AuthorWhen

WrittenEarliest Copy

Time Span

No. of MS Copies

Plato (Tetralogies)

427-347 B.C.

A.D. 900 1200 years 7

Aristotle384-322

B.C.A.D. 1100 1400 years 49

Homer (Iliad)

900 B.C. 400 B.C. 500 years 643

New Testament

A.D. 40 – 100

A.D. 125 25 years Over 24,000

Manuscript Accuracy

Dead Sea Scrolls

Discovered in 1947 in area of Qumran

Dead Sea Scroll Jar

11 Caves

Manuscript Accuracy

Dead Sea Scrolls

• Dated from 300 B.C. to 68 A.D.• 800 Texts• 200 copies of the Hebrew

Scriptures (fragmentary)• Isaiah was complete

Isaiah Scroll: 2:21 – 3:24

Manuscript Accuracy - Summary

Hebrew Scribes (post 1500 B.C.)

Translation to Greek Septuagint (~200 B.C.)

Codex Vaticanus Codex Sinaiticus

(~400 A.D.)

Jerome’s Latin Vulgate (382 A.D.)

Apostle/Eyewitness Writings (1st Century A.D.)

24,000 NT Manuscripts Various Text Families

Wycliffe Bible English (1384 A.D.) Erasmus Greek NT –print

“Textus Receptus” (1516 A.D.)

Confirmation by Early Church Fathers

Douay Rheims (1582 A.D.) Catholic Bibles Tyndale Bible – print (1525 A.D.)

King James Version (1611 A.D.)

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DEAD SEA SCROLLS (1st and 2nd Cent B.C.)

Protestant Bibles

Archeological Evidence

• Noah’s Flood (extra-biblical sources)

Most ancient civilizations have accounts of a great flood.

The Gilgamesh Epic dates prior to 1500 B.C. The epic was recorded in Akkadian (language of the Babylonians) on clay tablets. Tablet 11 is shown and contains a story about the flood, a large boat and the destruction of man.

The Torah was written later!

Archeological Evidence

• Cyrus the Great (ruled Persia from 539-530 B.C.) "This is what the LORD says— who says of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd        and will accomplish all that I please;        he will say of Jerusalem, "Let it be rebuilt,"        and of the temple, "Let its foundations be laid." (Isaiah 44:28, written 160 years before Cyrus)

Cyrus’ Tomb (discovered 1951)Cyrus Cylinder (decree to rebuild temple)

Archeological Evidence

• Pontius Pilate (discovery in 1961)

In the recent past critics were questioning the existence of Pontius Pilate (the one who ordered the crucifixion of Jesus).

Here from the ruins of an amphitheatre near Caesarea is a block with the inscription:

“Pontius Pilate, Prefect of Judea”

Part of a larger dedication to Tiberius Caesar.

Archeological Evidence

• Caiaphas – High Priest (discovery in 1990)

In 1990 the family tomb of Caiaphas was accidentally uncovered during the construction of a water theme park in Israel.

One of the bone boxes (ossuaries) was inscribed twice with “Joseph son of Caiaphas”

The historian Josephus identifies Joseph Caiaphas as the Jewish high priest from A.D. 18 to 36.

Prophetic Accuracy

The Nation Israel1. Scattered among the nations (Deut 28:64)2. No rest during exile (Deut 28:65-66)3. God would restore the nation (Jer 16:14-16)4. The desolate land would blossom (Zech 7:14, Isa 27:6)5. God will defend Israel in battle (Zech 12:8)6. Israel will be trouble for the whole world (Zech 12:2-3)7. In the end, all nations will be against Israel (Zech 14:2)8. Jesus will return and defend them (Zech 14:3-4, Rev 16)9. Finally recognize Jesus as Messiah (Zech 12:9-10)10. Nations judged based on treatment of Israel (Joel 1:1-2)

Prophetic Accuracy

Triumphal Entry (Daniel’s 70 weeks)• From the issuing of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem until the Messiah comes

will be 7+62 sevens = 69 sevens (69 weeks of years)• 69 x 7 = 483 years• 483 x 360 = 173,880 days (using the 360 day/year calendar)• Date of decree to rebuild Jerusalem (not temple) 1 Nisan 444 B.C. (March 5)

(Nehemiah 2:1-9)• 173,880 x 365.24219 days/year = 476.0677 years = 476 years and 25 days• March 5, 444 B.C. + 476 years = March 5, 33 A.D. (1 B.C. to 1 A.D. is 1 year)• March 5, 33 A.D. + 25 days = March 30, 33 A.D.• The exact day of the triumphal entry of Christ!

So Daniel prophesied about 100 years before the decree by Artaxerxes that 173,880 days after the decree, the Messiah would be presented to Israel, and then killed.

Historical Accuracy

Resurrection of Jesus• 1 Corinthians 15:14-17 – The resurrection is pivotal• 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 – Many witnesses• Acts 2:22 – Common knowledge in Jerusalem• Acts 26:24-28 – Common knowledge to Roman leaders

Paul Maier, Historian – “If all the evidence is weighed carefully and fairly, it is indeed justifiable, according to the canons of historical research, to conclude that the tomb in which Jesus was buried was actually empty on the morning of the first Easter. And no shred of evidence has yet been discovered in literary sources, epigraphy, or archaeology that would disprove this statement.”

Prophetic Accuracy• Prophecies of Jesus as the Messiah

– Verifiable because the Septuagint (~270 B.C.) and Dead Sea Scrolls

– 300 prophecies in total

Prophecy OT Prediction NT FulfillmentHeir of the throne of

DavidIsaiah 9:7 Luke 1

Born of a Virgin Isaiah 7:14 Luke 1

Betrayed for 30 pieces of silver

Zechariah 11: 12-13 Matthew 27:1-10

Hands and feet would be pierced

Psalm 22:16, Zechariah 12:10

John 19:37; 20:25

Raised from the dead Psalm 16:10 Matthew 28

Christ’s Endorsement

• Matthew 4:1-11 – While being tempted Jesus responded with Scripture

• Matthew 5:17-18– "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or

the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”

• John 5:39-40– You diligently study the Scriptures because you think

that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

It’s Martyrs

• Apostles (and Stephen)– 11 of the 12 apostles (all but John)

• Church Fathers– Ignatius, Polycarp, Justin Martyr,

Origen

• Reformation Martyrs– Thomas More, William Tyndale

The Bible’s Power

• Answers life’s most profound questions

• Contains unparalleled wisdom

• Possesses power to change lives

• The very Words of God

What do we believe…

• The Bible is about God’s redemptive plan• The Bible is inspired by the Spirit of God• The Bible is inerrant in its original text*• The mainstream translations are true to the

original manuscripts• The Bible is accurate• The Bible is trustworthy!• The Bible has the power to change lives

Delight in the Words of God

Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man

       who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked        or stand in the way of sinners        or sit in the seat of mockers.  

But his delight is in the law of the LORD,        and on his law he meditates day and night.

 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,        which yields its fruit in season        and whose leaf does not wither.        Whatever he does prospers.

References

• Josh McDowell, “A Ready Defense”, 1993• Josh McDowell, “The Resurrection Factor”, 1989• Chuck Missler, “Cosmic Codes”, 1999• Robert C. Walton, “Charts of Church History”,1986• www.allaboutarcheology.org• www.bible-history.com• www.blueletterbible.org, Don Stewarts FAQ’s• www.biblicalarcheology.net• www.jesusplusnothing.com