Apologetics - The Bible

crash course in Bible Apologetics - fancy seminary word which means to defend the faith. Make a good argument explaining why you believe what you believe.

1 Peter 3:15 NLT

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.

we are to be disciples, so we should be able and ready and eager to explain

Why do I believe the Bible?

for me it is the foundation of my hope in this life and the next life

for me to dismiss the Bible would be the same as dismissing God

since I believe it is God’s revealed word, the Bible has the final say so on what is right and wrong, how to live, how to think, and how to act.

2 Timothy 3:16 NASB95

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

So why do I believe what this verse says? Why do I put so much stock in the Bible? Why do I take it so seriously?

Why is the Bible MORE than just a good read? Why do I believe the Bible is true and other religious books are not?

some will say, that is how I was raised

some will say, the teachings have helped me

because it is the Bible, and I just believe it

God said it, I believe it, and that settles it

(in the end everyone has their reasons for believing or not believing)

better question:

Should I believe the Bible? and Why?

problems with standard answers

How I was raised - some were raised to believe something else. So who is to say which is right?

The teachings have helped me - you can find others who will testify that some other religion changed their lives for the better. So whose experience is more valid

good testimony but not really answering the question

Because it’s the Bible - someone else could say because it’s the Koran . . . how do you know God said it?

Eyewitnesses

The bible is a reliable collection of historical documents

2 Peter 1:16 NASB95

For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

The Bible is historical . . . not fairy tales, myths, or legends

these things happened and were recorded by eyewitnesses (constant theme)

Luke 1:1–4 NASB95

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.

multiple eyewitnesses, and these things were written down when other eyewitnesses were still alive to refute it, if something untrue was written

I write down what happened at church

and another person who was there confirms what I wrote down, “yep that’s what happened”

1 John 1:1–2 NASB95

What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us—

John says, we have seen with our own eyes, touched . . . we have seen and testify (WE)

when you have multiple witnesses in court, you will win your case

1 Corinthians 15:3–8 NLT

I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.

witnesses, multiple witnesses

This is the same reason why we believe George Washington was the 1st president of the United States . . . multiple witnesses

2 Peter 1:17–18 NASB95

For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased”— and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

these eye witnesses testify of not just normal events but also they recorded supernatural events . . . not just amazing but supernatural . . . God type events . . . something beyond human

here they describe the Transfiguration

but they also recorded the miracles of Jesus

and of course we have THE SUPERNATURAL event, THE MIRACLE . . . . his ressurrection was witnessed

The eyewitnesses are why we can say that the Bible is a historical document. It happened and witnesses recorded it.

every religion has people who are willing to die for what they have heard and believed, but Chritstianity is the only one who has witnesses who were willing to die for what they saw and knew to be true (for them it is not faith that he rose, but the knowledge that he rose)

Prophecies

2 Peter 1:19 NLT

Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts.

eyewitness accounts and number 2, prophecies

Bible is full of accurate prophecies fulfilled, examples

Daniel - human history explained in detail for it happened

Prophecies about Jesus - at least 300. impossible for a man to MAKE those many things come true about them on purpose (starting with birth)

Even prophecies that are yet to be fulfilled are amazing considered WHEN they were written - John prophesying that no one in the whole world will be able to buy or sell anything without permission from the anti-Christ (2000 years ago that sounded insane, not it sounds easily possible)

a third reason

Existence of Israel

Bible is the story of Israel

Bible speaks on Israel and gives Prophecies about Israel

I will scatter you, but bring you back

always be my people

throughout history, when people are dispersed from their homeland they lose their identity: customs, religion, and language, divine preservation

with most other nations in the Bible, you don’t see anymore - Hittites, Jebusites, Amorites, Philistines . . . . dispersed, lost identity, host history

Egyptians we still have, but they were never dispersed, but as a nation, their state religion is Islam . . . different

but Israel has held on to their identity and religion and language even though there have been hundreds of years when they had not place to call home

because God preserved them and the founding of their nation and religion is true, another prophecy come true

Their country was directly founded by God - as described in the Bible

from Call of Abraham to Miracles in Egypt

no matter what they go through - God preserves a remnant

oldest religion still here

Christians know that Christianity is the fulfillment of Judaism - largest religion . . . this is no accident, the Bible is true

There is godly power behind Israel, it’s founding is not a fairy tale

The Bible is incredibly consistent

66 books

3 languages

3 continents

40 authors

over a span of 1,500 years

and it tells one story . . . and there is incredible agreement! . . . a miracle book really

98% of contradictions are easily explained and are not contradictions . . . if you read in context

those that we can’t explain yet, are not that big

And no one has ever provided outside evidence that the bible is not true . . . though people have been trying and claiming (without evidence)

compared to Koran - have to trust just one person and hope he got it right . . . no witnesses

But the Bible was written by men!

2 Peter 1:20–21 NASB95

But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

yes, men inspired and moved by God’s holy spirit

God has always used people

the questions is not if it was written by men, but is it reliable . . . yes it is (prophecies, eyewitnesses)

we believe other things that men wrote, if they are reliable . . . same for the Bible

The Bible has been changed over the years!

there are over 6000 manuscripts (copies) that we used to get the BIble

there are also a few thousand ancient translations from these manuscripts

we also have quotations from church fathers who quoted the Bible(disciples of Peter, John, ect.)

an ancient person would have to change many thousands of documents to tamper with the message of the Bible . . . impossible

make a comparison: Julius Caesar - 10 manuscripts, and we believe it without question

also, his manuscripts (earliest copies) are 900 years after the fact (can’t find the older ones)

Bible manuscripts are only 120 years after the fact

How do we know which copies are right?

some people made mistakes in copying down the scriptures

John went to the store. John went to the stoe. John wint to the store. Joh went to the store.

we can figure out that it is John went to the store.

White man’s book/bible!

The Bible is a middle eastern book

The bible was in Africa before it was in Europe

All people are represented in the Bible

the fact that you say it’s the white man’s book shows how brain washed you are . . . they fooled you into thinking it was their religion

We all live by faith!

it takes more faith to believe that there is no god

life and order and scientific laws came about from chaos

you can’t argue with a skeptic, because they are not seeking the truth, just seeking a reason to live in darkness

John 3:19 NASB95

“This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.

These arguments are for seekers

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