Apologetics Lesson 4 | The Reliability of the Bible

Questions:

1. Although we’ve already shown that Christianity does not rest on man’s intellectual ability to prove the claims of the Bible, it is beneficial to examine some of the evidence that supports Christianity.

2. Hence, Christian apologist have for centuries been defending the Bible against the attacks of critics and skeptics.

Scriptures Doctrine of Scripture

2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV)

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

2535 θεόπνευστος (theopneustos), ον (on): adj.; ≡ Str 2315; TDNT 6.453—LN 33.261 inspired of God, inspired (neb, reb), God-breathed (niv), (2Ti 3:16+)

Swanson, James. 1997. In Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament), electronic ed. Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

3. How many time is “Thus sayeth the Lord used in the Old Testament?

Difficulties of the Apologetic Task

4. The Bible claims to be God’s word, not just a newspaper account or a historical record.

5. The Bible is perfectly reliable.

The Reliability of the Old Testament

6. The reason we know miraculous events took place is those who saw them recorded them.

7. Why do you think that some are dead set against the idea of miracles?

8. The Hebrew text for the OT has been well preserved. The Bible’s accuracy is unparalled in any other Near-East literature

9. Who were the Massoretes?

10. A copy of Isaiah from 150 B.C. proved to highly accurate to a version written in 900 AD. This is one proof of the preservation of the Bible.

11. No Archaelogical study has ever contradicted a Bible reference.

12. Archaeology disproves many alleged biblical errors and inaccuracies.

New Testament Accuracy

13. There are about 5800 Greek manuscripts of the New Testament in existence today.

14. This historical accuracy of the New Testament is verifiable.

15. Archaeology has Repeatedly vindicated Luke’s historical accounts, so that Luke is now considered among the best ancient historians ever.

16. The NT was translated into many languages, such as Latin, Syriac and Egyptian  (a.k.a Coptic)

17. Luke wrote the book of Luke and Acts

18. The Bible is historically verifiable, accurate and trustworthy

In Jerusalem sits an ancient water reservoir that served the city and the Temple during the time of Solomon’s Temple; it was known as the upper pool. Later during the expansion of the Second Temple, a second pool was constructed to increase water capacity. As Herod the Great continues his expansion in Jerusalem these pools became a popular place for washing and were thought to be healing waters. They would come to be known as Bethesda, which means “house of mercy,” or “house of grace.”

This is an inscription to Erastus the city Treasurer in Corinth

Roving views of Ephesus sites, including a street, a courtyard, the façade and interior of the library, and the theater (the site of the anti-monotheism riot of Acts 19:23–41).

Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed—waiting for the moving of the water; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and stirred the water: whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was healed of whatever disease he had. John 5:2-4 (ESV)

Bonus Content

Apologetics Supplemental Learning Guide : Lesson 4

Evidence for Jesus Raising from the. Dead

A. His death is verifiable

a. There is no record of a person surviving a crucifixion

b. Journal of American Medical association and National Institute of Health verify this fact. These are non-religious journals of medicine and medical sources

On the Physical Death of Jesus Christ

William D. Edwards, MD; Wesley J. Gabel, MDiv; Floyd E. Hosmer, MS, AMI

Author Affiliations

JAMA. 1986;255(11):1455-1463. doi:10.1001/jama.1986.03370110077025

Abstract

Jesus of Nazareth underwent Jewish and Roman trials, was flogged, and was sentenced to death by crucifixion. The scourging produced deep stripelike lacerations and appreciable blood loss, and it probably set the stage for hypovolemic shock, as evidenced by the fact that Jesus was too weakened to carry the crossbar (patibulum) to Golgotha. At the site of crucifixion, his wrists were nailed to the patibulum and, after the patibulum was lifted onto the upright post (stipes), his feet were nailed to the stipes. The major pathophysiologic effect of crucifixion was an interference with normal respirations. Accordingly, death resulted primarily from hypovolemic shock and exhaustion asphyxia. Jesus' death was ensured by the thrust of a soldier's spear into his side. Modern medical interpretation of the historical evidence indicates that Jesus was dead when taken down from the cross.

(JAMA 1986;255:1455-1463)

See Also: Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2021; 34(6): 748–752.

Published online 2021 Jul 30. doi: 10.1080/08998280.2021.1951096

PMCID: PMC8545147

PMID: 34733010

Medical views on the death by crucifixion of Jesus Christ

Gary Habermas, PhD,a Jonathan Kopel, PhD,b and Benjamin C. F. Shaw, PhDa

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8545147/

c. There are multiple accounts of Jesus’ death close to the event

i. “5,800 Greek There are approximately 5,800 Greek manuscripts of the New Testament. In addition, there are 10,000 Latin” credit: Houston Christian University https://hc.edu/museums/dunham-bible-museum/tour-of-the-museum/past-exhibits/biblical-manuscripts/#:~:text=There%20are%20approximately%205%2C800%20Greek,9%2C300%20manuscripts%20in%20other%20languages.

ii. Flavius Josephus is A Roman employed Jewish Historian. He describes the crucificxion in Antiquities Book 18,3,3

iii. Publius Cornelius Tacitus (Tacitus) is considered on of Romes best historians. Tacitus refers to Jesus’ crucifixion. He also acknowledges the presences of Christians during that time period. Source Annals Book 15 Chapter 44 written by Tacitus in 116 A.D.

iv. Multiple other contemporary sources verify his death on the cross.

B. Resurrection accounts are close to the source of the event.

a. First Christian creed 1 Corinthians 15 within 20-25 years of The death of Jesus.

C. The tomb was verified be Empty

Matthew 28:11–15 LEB

And while they were going, behold, some of the guard of soldiers went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. And after they had assembled with the elders and had taken counsel, they gave a rather large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, “Say ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him while we were sleeping.’ And if this matter is heard before the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So they took the money and did as they were told, and spread abroad this report among the Jews until this very day.

The Bribery of the Soldiers

Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

Matthew 28:11-15

D. Eye witness Testimony

Up to 9 sources outside the New Testament that attest to Jesus’ Ressurection

Roman governor Pliny the Younger wrote to Emperor Trajan that early Christians would “sing hymns to Christ as to a god”. 112 AD He was writing about how to deal with Christians

Phlegon - Greek Historian born in Ad 40 makes reference to the resurrections events of Christ. Hew wrote Olympiads and Chronciles. The quotes below are testaments to the events of the day. [ Credit is due to NeverThirsty.org for Content and seminars by Lee Strobel]

“And with regard to the eclipse in the time of Tiberius Caesar, in whose reign Jesus appears to have been crucified, and the great earthquakes which then took place . . .”  – Origen, Against Celsus, Book 2.33

“Phlegon mentioned the eclipse which took place during the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ, and no other (eclipse); it is clear that he did not know from his sources about any (similar) eclipse in previous times . . . and this is shown by the historical account of Tiberius Caesar.” – Philopon, De. opif. mund. II 21 2

“Phlegon records that, in the time of Tiberius Cæsar, at full moon, there was a full eclipse of the sun from the sixth hour to the ninth – manifestly that one of which we speak. But what has an eclipse in common with an earthquake, the rending rocks, and the resurrection of the dead, and so great a perturbation throughout the universe? . . . And calculation makes out that the period of 70 weeks, as noted in Daniel, is completed at this time.” – Julius Africanus, Chronography, 18.1

“In the fourth year, however, of Olympiad 202, an eclipse of the sun happened, greater and more excellent than any that had happened before it; at the sixth hour, day turned into dark night, so that the stars were seen in the sky, and an earthquake in Bithynia toppled many buildings of the city of Nicaea.” – Phlegon’s 13th book quoted in Jerome’s translation of Eusebius’ Chronicle, 202 Olympad.