God's Best--His Word

God’s Best: His Word ALL SCRIPTURE IS GOD BREATHED (2 TIMOTHY 3:16) Is the Bible Reliable? This We Believe, p.1: “Inerrant in its original writing, the Bible is the only authoritative and infallible rule of faith and conduct for humanity” Is the Bible Reliable? 2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is inspired by God and proftable for teaching, for reproof, for correcton, for training in righteousness; Is the Bible Reliable? 2015 Barna Research: The Bible represents absolute moral truth. • 56% of Christans strongly agree. • 27% somewhat agree. • 17% don’t agree Is the Bible Reliable? Barna Research: The Bible is accurate in all the principles it teaches. • 2011: 48% agree • 2016: 33% agree Categories of Evidence • • • • Science & Archaeology—historically reliable Prophecy—miraculous inspiration Manuscript—faithful to original text Attestation—trustworthiness of canon Claim: Bible is scientifcally and historically unreliable Creation account • Flood • Exodus • Question for Young Earth Creationists • Age of rocks and stars • (How old did Adam appear on day 1?) • Questions for Old Earth Evolutionists: • Origin of life • • Irreducible complexity • • (particularly DNA) (co-dependent systems) Cambrian explosion complex life forms Question for Theistic Evolutionists • How can there be death before sin? • Fall of man, redemptive death of Jesus undermined Bible Science Harmony Bible Science Harmony Bible Science Harmony Bible Science Harmony Bible Science Harmony Bible Science Harmony Bible Science Harmony Bible Science Harmony Bible Science Harmony Historical Reliability Sumerian King List Flood Legends -- Indexed by Region Europe Greek, Arcadian, Samothrace Roman Scandinavian, German Celtic, Welsh Lithuanian, Transylvanian Gypsy Turkey Near East Sumerian Egypt, Babylonian, Assyrian, Chaldean, Hebrew, Islamic Persian, Zoroastrian Africa Cameroon Masai (East Africa), Komililo Nandi, Kwaya (Lake Victoria) Southwest Tanzania, Pygmy, Ababua (northern Zaire), Kikuyu (Kenya), Bakongo (west Zaire), Bachokwe? (southern Zaire), Lower Congo, Basonge, Bena-Lulua (Congo River, southeast Zaire) Yoruba (southwest Nigeria), Efk-Ibibio (Nigeria), Ekoi (Nigeria) Mandingo (Ivory Coast) Asia Vogul Samoyed (north Siberia) Yenisey-Ostyak (north central Siberia), Kamchadale (northeast Siberia) Altaic (central Asia), Tuvinian (Soyot) (north of Mongolia) Mongolia, Buryat (eastern Siberia) Sagaiye (eastern Siberia) Russian Hindu, Bhil (central India), Kamar (Raipur District, Central India), Assam Tamil (southern India) Lepcha (Sikkim), Tibet, Singpho (Assam), Lushai (Assam), Lisu (northwest Yunnan, China), Lolo (southwestern China), Jino (southern Yunnan, China), Karen (Burma), Chingpaw (Upper Burma) China Korea Munda (north-central India), Santal (Bengal), Ho (southwestern Bengal) Bahnar (Cochin China), Kammu (northern Thailand) Andaman Islands (Bay of Bengal) Zhuang (China), Sui (southern Guizhou, China), Shan (Burma) Tsuwo (Formosa interior), Bunun (Formosa interior), Ami (eastern Taiwan) Benua-Jakun (Malay Peninsula), Kelantan (Malay Peninsula), Ifugao (Philippines), Kiangan Ifugao, Atá (Philippines), Mandaya (Philippines), Tinguian (Luzon, Philippines) Batak (Sumatra), Nias (an island west of Sumatra), Engano (another island west of Sumatra), Dusun (British North Borneo), Dyak (Borneo), Ot-Danom (Dutch Borneo), Toradja (central Celebes), Alfoor (between Celebes and New Guinea), Rotti (southwest of Timor), Nage (Flores) Australia Arnhem Land (northern Northern Territory) Maung (Goulburn Islands, Arnhem Land), Gunwinggu (northern Arnhem Land) Gumaidj (Arnhem Land) Manger (Arnhem Land) Fitzroy River area (Western Australia) Australian, Mount Elliot (coastal Queensland), Western Australia, Andingari (South Australia), Wiranggu (South Australia), Narrinyeri (South Australia), Victoria, Lake Tyres (Victoria), Kurnai (Gippsland, Victoria), southeast Australian Maori (New Zealand) Pacifc Islands Kabadi (New Guinea), Valman (northern New Guinea), Mamberao River (Irian Jaya), Samo-Kubo (western Papua New Guinea), Papua New Guinea Palau Islands (Micronesia), western Carolines New Hebrides, Lifou (one of the Loyalty Islands), Fiji Samoa, Nanumanga (Tuvalu, South Pacifc), Mangaia (Cook Islands), Rakaanga (Cook Islands), Raiatea (Leeward Group, French Polynesia), Tahiti, Hawaii North America Innuit, Eskimo (Orowignarak, Alaska), Norton Sound Eskimo, Central Eskimo, Tchiglit Eskimo (Arctic Ocean), Herschel Island Eskimo, Netsilik Eskimo, Greenlander Tlingit (southern Alaska coast), Hareskin (Alaska), Tinneh (Alaska and south), Loucheux (Dindjie) (Alaska), Dogrib and Slave (Tinneh tribes), Kaska (northern inland British Columbia), Thompson Indians (British Columbia), Historical Reliability Flood Legends •Gilgamesh Historical Reliability Patriarchal Narratives (Genesis): •Situated—details would not have been known if written much later • Common names • Use of Camels (Gen 12:16) • Price of slaves over time Historical Reliability Egyptian Inscription: “Ta Shasu Yahweh” Historical Reliability Ipuwer Papyrus Historical Reliability • • Jericho ruins • Rubble outside wall • Pots of grain intact • Idols missing heads • Burn layer Cypriot pottery and scarab seals confrm Historical Reliability “House of David” Historical Reliability “House of Yahweh” Historical Reliability Moabite Stone •2 Kings 3 Historical Reliability Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser •2 Kings 9-10 Historical Reliability Bullae with names of court ofcials •Jeremiah 40-41 Historical Reliability King Belshazzar •Daniel 5 Historical Reliability Stone Water Pots •John 2:6 Historical Reliability Pontius Pilate To the Divine Augusti (this) Tiberieum ... Pontius Pilate ... prefect of Judea ... has dedicated (this) Historical Reliability Lived 37 – 100 AD Jesus “At this time there was a wise man who was called Jesus… Pilate condemned him to be crucified… [His disciples] reported that he appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was alive;…” Antiquities 18.3.3 Prophecy Isaiah 11:11-12 Then it will happen on that day that the Lord Will again recover the second time with His hand The remnant of His people, who will remain, From Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, And from the islands of the sea. And He will lift up a standard for the nations And assemble the banished ones of Israel, And will gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. Prophecy Isaiah 66:8 “Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a land be born in one day? Can a nation be brought forth all at once? As soon as Zion travailed, she also brought forth sons. Prophecy Dead Sea Scrolls •Complete •Dated Isaiah multiple times •Youngest date: 150-100 BC So What? Psa 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. 2Ti 3:15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Joh 1:14 And the Word became fesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.