BIBLE INSPIRATION
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
The Bible is here, it therefore must somehow be explained.
The Bible is here, it therefore must somehow be explained.
Is it what it claims to be?
Is it genuine in all respects?
Is it trustworthy? Is it inspired?
Or, on the other hand, is it a forgery, a fake, or a fraud?
How can the Bible be explained?
Is it from God or man?
The inspiration of the Bible is indeed a weighty matter, and of extreme importance.
The inspiration of the Bible is indeed a weighty matter, and of extreme importance.
If it is inspired of God, then it is supremely authoritative.
If it is not inspired of God, then we should pay no more attention to it than any other good book.
Today due to skepticism and modernism, many believe that the Bible is little more than a good book, written by a few good men giving us a few good teachings.
How did the Bible get here, and how do we know that the Bible is not just another good book written by man?
How did the Bible get here, and how do we know that the Bible is not just another good book written by man?
Many ask the question and seek no answer.
Others seek the answer temporally, but soon give up, not deeming it worth their time.
There are many who claim to be seeking an answer, but do not approach the study with an open mind.
These are hardly a fair treatment of such an important matter
The Bible claims to be the inspired word of God.
The Bible claims to be the inspired word of God.
This is easy to see as we look through its pages.
There are 3,800 claims of inspiration in the Old Testament alone.
Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.
The fact that such claims are made, would not, of course, guarantee the genuineness of the assertion.
Many book claim inspiration (e.g. The Book of Mormon), and these, of course, are frauds!
The question is, is there enough evidence to prove that the Bible is the inspired word of God? The answer is YES!!!
I believe that if people were REALLY convinced that the Bible is the inspired word of God, they would be more concerned about studying and obeying God's divine will!
I believe that if people were REALLY convinced that the Bible is the inspired word of God, they would be more concerned about studying and obeying God's divine will!
Let me now lead you into the evidences of the Bible's inspiration - proofs undeniable.
Let me now lead you into the evidences of the Bible's inspiration - proofs undeniable.
DISCUSSION
THE UNITY OF THE SCRIPTURES
THE UNITY OF THE SCRIPTURES
Do you think that it seems reasonably possible that 40 men, from varying backgrounds, and scattered across more than a 1,000 years in time, could have designed some 66 metal components, which accidentally came together to form a precision machine that would revolutionize the world?
Do you think that it seems reasonably possible that 40 men, from varying backgrounds, and scattered across more than a 1,000 years in time, could have designed some 66 metal components, which accidentally came together to form a precision machine that would revolutionize the world?
Not hardly! That would be impossible!
Yet this is precisely the kind of thing that happened in the case of the Bible
The Bible was written by some 40 different men over a period of about 1600 years.
The Bible was written by some 40 different men over a period of about 1600 years.
These writers varied in culture and educational background
There were kings, shepherds, fisherman, tax collectors, doctors, and even a dresser of sycamore trees.
The Bible was written in three different languages
And in all of this was produced a volume of 66 books that is characterized by such an amazing unity and beautiful continuity that it could not be explained by human origin.
For example, from Genesis to Revelation there is a marvelous unfolding of the general theme of man's fall from his holy estate, God's plan for his redemption (as carefully worked out across the centuries), the atoning death of Jesus, and the ultimate victory of the Christian system.
For example, from Genesis to Revelation there is a marvelous unfolding of the general theme of man's fall from his holy estate, God's plan for his redemption (as carefully worked out across the centuries), the atoning death of Jesus, and the ultimate victory of the Christian system.
No serious student of this matter can fail to be awed by this vast body of consistent evidence that can only argue for an inspired document.
Moreover, there are countless instances of minute agreement between the biblical writers in matters of history, culture, geography, biography, etc., for which there is absolutely no explanation save there was a divine oversight involved in the production.
THE ACCURACY OF THE BIBLE
THE ACCURACY OF THE BIBLE
If the Bible is the verbally inspired word of God, one ought to be able to expect it to be absolutely accurate in the various areas of subject matter upon which it touches.
If the Bible is the verbally inspired word of God, one ought to be able to expect it to be absolutely accurate in the various areas of subject matter upon which it touches.
Works that are strictly human, no matter how scholarly are characterized by unintentional mistakes.
Works that are strictly human, no matter how scholarly are characterized by unintentional mistakes.
When the Encyclopedia Britannica was first published, it contained so many mistakes regarding places in America that the publishers of the New American Cyclopedia issued a special pamphlet exposing the blunders of its rival!
In 1992 the Texas State Board of Education was looking at 10 History textbooks, and to their amazement, found that they contained 3,707 mistakes. One text book even said that the atomic bomb was dropped on Korea!
The Bible, though, is always amazingly accurate in its historical and geographical details.
The Bible, though, is always amazingly accurate in its historical and geographical details.
For example, at least 40 times the Bible mentions a race of people called the Hittites, and for years critics scoffed at the mention of the Hittites in the Bible because secular history and geography failed to provide documentation that they ever existed.
In 1906 the Hittite capital was uncovered in Turkey, and more than 10,000 clay tablets were uncovered and some of them tied in with patriarchs in the book of Genesis.
Everything that the Bible had said about the Hittites corresponded exactly!
The Bible was not mistaken, it has been right all along!
In the book of Acts there are mentioned 32 countries, 54 cities, 9 Mediterranean islands, and 95 specific people (62 of which are not mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament)
In the 1800's Sir William Ramsey, a scholar who was a skeptic of the authenticity of the Book of Acts, set out on an archaeological expedition in Asia Minor in hopes of proving the inaccuracy of the Book of Acts.
After years of research, literally digging up the evidence, Ramsey was forced to conclude that Acts was historically accurate.
Only inspiration of God could account for such accuracy.
With every turn of the spade the Bible is proven to
The existence of King Sargon (mentioned only once in the Bible - Isa. 20:1) was doubted by Bible critics for many years
They speculated that the name sargon was "invented" by the biblical writers to fill some chronological gaps.
Then, excavations in Mesopotamia in 1843 by Englishman Austen Layard and Frenchman Paul Emil Botta uncovered the entire palace of King Sargon (pictures can be found in Halley'sBible Handbook
One piece found was a stone weighing 40 tons - rather weighty evidence, wouldn't you say, that King sargon actually existed!?
The Bible very plainly speaks of a king by the name of Belshazzar (cf. Dan. 5:22; 7:1; 8:1)
It was common practice for Bible critics to make fun of and ridicule the Bible concerning Belshazzar, because secular records had never been found which substantiated what the Bible said.
Then, in 1876 Sir Henry Rawlinson discovered more than 2,000 tablets concerning Babylon.
These disclosed records of a man named Belshazzar who, in the absence of his father Nabonidus, became king.
The Bible was right all along.
SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCES
SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCES
7 He stretcheth out the north over empty space, And hangeth the earth upon nothing.
This is a well known fact today, that the earth hangs on nothing.
There are no suspending wires, no supporting beams
People in Job's day thought ... four elephants standing on a turtle, or a strong man .....
How did Job know this? A lucky guess?
22 As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured; so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.
Hipparchus (150 BC) - 1,026 stars ...Ptolemy (150 AD) counted 1,056 stars
The late Carl Sagan counted 25 sextillion stars (that it is 25 with 21 zeros behind!), and he said he is not even close to finish counting
How did Jeremiah know this? Did he pull out his telescope or go up in his space ship?
Just another lucky guess?
22 It is he that sitteth above the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in;
"Circle" = KLUG = roundness, sphere
The people in Isaiah's day and even up to the time of Columbus thought the earth was flat.
How did Isaiah know the earth was round?
Just a lucky guess?
8 The birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, Whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
Matthew Fontaine Maury (1806-1873) was once confined to his bed during a lengthy illness
His son read Psalm 8:8 to him
Maury dedicated his life to finding these paths in the sea
He was the first to discover that there were circulating systems in the sea.
Ships today use these currents to expedite sea travel.
Just another lucky guess?
16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? Or hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep?
It has been recently discovered that there are fresh water springs in the sea.
How did Job know this?
Job also mentions the "depth" ("recesses of the deep" - ASV) = refers to that which is hidden and known only by investigation.
Man in previous centuries thought the ocean to be a shallow extension from one continent to another
There have been found recesses in the oceans up to seven miles deep
How did Job know about these recesses?
Just a lucky guess?
1 And the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
"Finished" = past definite tense = indicates an action completed in the past, never to occur again.
This is exactly what the "first law of thermodynamics" states i.e. neither energy nor matter can be created or destroyed (it simply changes form).
How did Moses know this? Did he go Harvard University?
Was it just another lucky guess?
6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath; for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment; and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.
Isaiah informs us here that the earth is wearing down
This is exactly what the "second law of thermodynamics" states, that everything is wearing out.
This has been a very recent discovery
How did Isaiah, 1,000's of year before hand know about this?
Just a lucky guess?
11For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh atonement by reason of the life. 12Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood. 13And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among them, who taketh in hunting any beast or bird that may be eaten; he shall pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust.
14For as to the life of all flesh, the blood thereof is all one with the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh; for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.
Life is in the blood
Blood carries oxygen that makes life possible
Hemoglobin carries the oxygen, and there are 270,000,000 molecules of hemoglobin per red blood cell
If there were any less we couldn't live
Life is in the blood
They bled poor old George Washington to death not knowing this
How did Moses know this? Just a lucky guess?
12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any foreigner that is not of thy seed.
Commanded to circumcise on the 8th day
Vitamin K which helps clot the blood doesn't start pro-ducing until the 5th day and on the eighth day it is at its highest level
The 8th day was the first safe day for circumcision.
How did Moses know this? Did he do research in his laboratory?
Was it just a lucky guess?
PROPHECY
PROPHECY
The prophet Isaiah based the credibility of his message on the validity of predictive prophecy. To the promoters of idolatry in his day, he issued a challenge...
The prophet Isaiah based the credibility of his message on the validity of predictive prophecy. To the promoters of idolatry in his day, he issued a challenge...
22 Let them bring forth, and declare unto us what shall happen: declare ye the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or show us things to come.
Isaiah was asking this: "You, who claim to speak revelations in the name of your gods, does subsequent history verify your predictions?"
Well, what about the Bible? Does it pass the prophecy test?
Exactly what is predictive prophecy?
Exactly what is predictive prophecy?
It is a miracle of knowledge, a declaration or presentation of something future, beyond the powers of human wisdom to discern or to calculate.
In order for prophecy to be valid, the following criteria must be present:
Proper timing (i.e. significantly preceding the fulfillment).
Specific details - not vague generalities or remote possibilities.
Exact fulfillment - not merely a high degree of probability
The prophecies of the Bible fit these standards exactly!
Prophecies concerning the rise, decline and fall of various nations.
Prophecies concerning the rise, decline and fall of various nations.
In Deuteronomy 28:47-68 the demise of Israel is foretold as a result of her future rebellion
53 And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, whom Jehovah thy God hath given thee, in the siege and in the distress wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee.
28 And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to-day, and we will eat my son to-morrow. 29 So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him; and she hath hid her son.
10 The hands of the pitiful women have boiled their own children; They were their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
Because of Israel's rebellion Isaiah foretold:
That the Lord would raise up the Assyrians to punish Israel...
5 Ho Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, the staff in whose hand is mine indignation! 6 I will send him against a profane nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
And, that Assyria would later be destroyed...
24 Therefore thus saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian, though he smite thee with the rod, and lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt. 25 For yet a very little while, and the indignation against thee shall be accomplished, and mine anger shall be directed to his destruction.
History reveals that this is exactly what happened...
24 And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Avva, and from Hamath and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel; and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.
13 Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fortified cities of Judah, and took them.
Many other could be given
Prophecies concerning people
Prophecies concerning people
13 Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fortified cities of Judah, and took them.
We are informed that Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, came up against the fortified cities of Judah and took them
Assyrian records indicate that they took 46 cities
In recent times historians were puzzled why Sennacherib did not take Jerusalem
The Bible tells us! It was prophesied that he would not
32 Therefore thus saith Jehovah concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come unto this city, nor shoot an arrow there, neither shall he come before it with shield, nor cast up a mound against it. 33 By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and he shall not come unto this city, saith Jehovah.
35 And it came to pass that night, that the angel of Jehovah went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when men arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. 36 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.
It was further foretold that Sennacherib would return to his own land and there fall by the sword.
7 Behold, I will put a spirit in him, and he shall hear tidings, and shall return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.
Some 20 years later, he was assassinated by his sons with a sword ....
37 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh. 38 And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esar-haddon his son reigned in his stead.
Or what of good king Josiah? His work was foretold (and called by name) 330 years before it was fulfilled...
2 And he cried against the altar by the word of Jehovah, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith Jehovah: Behold, a son shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he sacrifice the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men’s bones shall they burn upon thee.
There is also King Cyrus (he being called by name) who foretold of 150 years before his birth...
28 That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure, even saying of Jerusalem, She shall be built; and of the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.
Prophecies concerning the Messiah
Prophecies concerning the Messiah
There are more than 330 distinct prophecies in the Old Testament concerning Jesus, everyone relating to His earthly life, and everyone coming true.
Notice just a few examples:
Born of a virgin
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Seed of Abraham
Genesis 12:2 (ASV)
2 and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing:
Tribe of Judah
10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh come: And unto him shall the obedience of the peoples be.
Family line of David
13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. 14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son: if he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men; 15 but my lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. 16 And thy house and thy kingdom shall be made sure for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
Bethlehem the place of birth
2 But thou, Beth-lehem Ephrathah, which art little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall one come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.
Betrayed for 30 pieces of silver
12 And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my hire; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my hire thirty pieces of silver.
Hands and feet pierced
16 For dogs have compassed me: A company of evil-doers have inclosed me; They pierced my hands and my feet.
Raised from the dead
10 For thou wilt not leave my soul to Sheol; Neither wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption.
He would set up His kingdom during the time of the Roman empire
44 And in the days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall the sovereignty thereof be left to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
What is amazing is that all these prophecies were made anywhere from 5,000 to 400 years before they were fulfilled.
CONCLUSION
If the Bible is the inspired word of God, and the evidence clearly shows that it is, then surely intelligent men and women will want to give their attention to it.
It is only by means of this medium that God communicates His will to humanity in this age.
Let us therefore explore the rich pages of His book and be impressed with its fascinating record of divine history and the plan of salvation is sets forth for mankind.
Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.
seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue;
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day.